Roberts Quotes for the Week (#10) by Robert Ricciardelli

Sunday, August 22, 2010

Lovingly Waiting For Their Return by Robert Ricciardelli

The father of the prodigal son was a parent that never quit praying for children who had gone their own way. Both sons went away from the father's heart, one through choosing to leave, and one through envy and bitterness. So the father waits and loves until the children make the choice to return home. We likewise must be like this father, like our Father in heaven.

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Saturday, August 21, 2010

Community of Trust by Robert Ricciardelli

Trying to build community in the absence of trust is impossible. People become guarded and cautious in everything they say and do. Communication becomes a way to protect oneself, avoiding risk rather than expressing themselves. To  build community as God defines it is to create a safe place where people can share in the atmosphere of love, honor, and freedom. Transformation and destinies are realized in such a place.

Friday, August 20, 2010

God is Not Interested in Your Comfort by Robert Ricciardelli

God is more interested in your character than your comfort; God is more interested in making you more like Him than He is in making your life happy. We can be happy here on earth, but that's not the goal of life. The goal is to grow in wisdom, stature, and favor, before God and man. All things, even the toughest of things work together for good towards the goal. The goal is Christ-likeness

Thursday, August 19, 2010

Welcoming Them Home by Robert Ricciardelli

We welcome home those that have lost their way by embracing and loving them. We meet their needs by feeding them, clothing them, and making them our honored guests. We do not demand explanations on why they left, but show our joy that they are with us again. Love and forgiveness from the heart allows for the past to be wiped clean. What counts is the here and now, in the homecoming of our brothers and sisters.

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Father Grows Us to Be Like Him by Robert Ricciardelli

When we abide and are at "home" with God as His children, what then? As His eternal children we become like Father and become fathers ourselves. Sons have to become fathers; daughters have to become mothers. Growing up and becoming like God is seeking to live His perfect standards of love and compassion, by His Spirit. We must fin and welcome home our lost brothers and sisters in the way our Father welcomed us home.

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

You Are Already Home by Robert Ricciardelli

Going home is a lifelong journey. Home is where the heart is, and it is who we are in eternity now and eternity's future. Along the way there are parts of ourselves that wander off or get stuck from truly "being" home. At times we can truly feel lost or alone. Even when home seems far off, Jesus walks and talks with us on the way. If we listen carefully, we will find that we are already home while on the way.

Monday, August 16, 2010

Taking Up Our Cross by Robert Ricciardelli

Jesus asks us to take up our cross and follow Him. We do not need to look for it as it is a part of our life in this world. But are we willing to take it up, to accept it as our cross? Maybe it is a health or family conflict to no choice of our own. Freedom comes through Christ for many burdens, and there will always be challenges in this life, but we can take up these crosses and follow Jesus with them.

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