inspiring thoughts on compassion

This morning, I read some very convicting things from the Bible and from Barbara Bush:

"True compassion is personal, active involvement that expresses God's merciful heart in words and deeds . . . We are to meet others' needs, not to continually satisfy our selfish desires." (ouch!)

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God" (II Cor. 1:3-4).

". . . let us not love with words . . . but with actions and in truth" (I John 3:16-18). (I'm thinking maybe the idea of this verse is to not love with words only, but to love with actions mostly.)

Hosea 11 tells how the Israelites deserved for God to just leave them to the natural consequences of worshiping idols instead of worshiping Him, but He loved them so much that He just couldn't stand to let them go. He lovingly took care of them instead and kept giving them a "second" chance.

Then after reading all this and almost hearing God say, "Hey, Michelle -- I'm talking to YOU," I put on a cd that I don't normally listen to (because it's not Third Day). The songs just reiterated everything that I'd just read. The one that tied it all together was "All That Matters."

I may never be the one that gets a second glance
I may never be the one they call the prettiest
But thats all right with me
And maybe I don't follow every crazy passion
Spend all my time trying to get a good reaction
But thats ok with me
This world is like a trampoline
High and low no in between
Jumping at the chance to please
Everyone but that's not me

Cause all that matters is
All that matters is
I know Your love has set me free
And that's all that matters to me

Some people tell me to step out and do my own thing
And others say I got to blend in just to be the same
And stop being me
But this shallow world is no longer what I'm made of
I've been changed by grace
I've been saved by love
What more do I need

All that matters is
All that matters is
I know Your love has set me free
And that's all that matters to me

My life comes from the One
Who made the stars and brought the sun
He loves me more than these
So I don't need another identity

All that matters is
All that matters is
I know Your love has set me free
AND THAT'S ALL THAT MATTERS TO ME!

If the only thing that really matters is that God loves me and takes care of me, I won't focus on myself. I'll show God's love, mercy, compassion, and comfort to other people.