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There was a"); document.writeln("believer in Joppa named Tabitha (which in Greek is Dorcas). She was always"); document.writeln("doing kind things for others and helping the poor.¹

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Dorcas, or"); document.writeln("Tabitha, was a woman who showed her love for God by serving others. She made"); document.writeln("her community a better place by doing kind things for others and making"); document.writeln("clothing for those in need. We are told in James 1:27 that the religion that"); document.writeln("God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is to look after the orphans and"); document.writeln("widows in their distress, and this was exactly the religion that Dorcas"); document.writeln("practiced. She was deeply loved by those around her.

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In the midst of"); document.writeln("this great ministry Dorcas had of serving those in need, she became ill and"); document.writeln("died. However, the believers had heard that Peter was in a nearby city, so they"); document.writeln("sent messengers to beg him to come as soon as possible! Perhaps they were"); document.writeln("hopeful for a miracle or simply longed to receive words of comfort. When Peter"); document.writeln("arrived at the house, he was taken to the upstairs room where they had laid Dorcas"); document.writeln("in preparation to be buried. The room was filled with widows mourning the loss"); document.writeln("of this amazing woman, and they showed Peter the coats and other clothing items"); document.writeln("that Dorcas had made for them. Her impact on the life of those around her was"); document.writeln("evident, which is perhaps why Peter prayed and raised her from the dead! People"); document.writeln("had already been greatly touched by her love and generosity, but even more came"); document.writeln("to know Christ through her being resurrected from the dead.

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As Christians,"); document.writeln("we are all called to serve others. This should not be an occasional event, but"); document.writeln("rather something that is displayed in everything we do. Whether it be helping a"); document.writeln("work colleague complete a task, making dinner for our families, helping a"); document.writeln("neighbor with school pickups, or serving as a volunteer at church, we have"); document.writeln("countless opportunities to show the love of God through service. May we, like"); document.writeln("Dorcas, love others so evidently that others come closer to God because of it.

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Suggested"); document.writeln("prayer: Heavenly Father, use me as a channel of your love as I serve others."); document.writeln("May my greatest desire be to glorify you in all that I do and to see others"); document.writeln("come to a personal relationship with you. In the name of Jesus I pray, amen.

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1. "); document.writeln("Acts 9:36 (NLT).

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Today\'��s"); document.writeln("Encounter was written by: Crystal B.

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