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"WHICH SHE DID" "Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas: this woman was full of good works and almsdeeds which she did. And it came to pass in those days, that she was sick, and died: whom when they had washed, they laid her in an upper chamber." (Acts 9:36-37)This woman that went by the name of Tabitha/Dorcas is worthy of our attention. Whenever I see a person's name in the Bible, I like to find out what that name means. The name Tabitha or Dorcas means Gazelle. A Gazelle is a very graceful creature and Dorcas, by all accounts in this passage of Scripture, lived up to her name. Whenever I read the account of this lovely lady, I always like to think of her as "DORCAS THE DAILY DEED DOER."Now, here was a lady whose life was filled with gracious things she did for others. I can't help but think that when people, in and around Joppa, mentioned Dorcas' name, her good works to others and her wonderful spirit of giving would follow. Her labor of love was seen in the coats and garments that she thoroughly enjoyed making for those in need.The story of Dorcas' life is depicted in three scenes in Acts 9. First, her deeds, second, her death, and third, her deliverance. To many, her death and her deliverance seem to stand out in this passage, but often we overlook her deeds. When we look at the last part of verse 36, it says, "...this woman was full of good works and almsdeeds." Ah, but it's those last three words that caught my attention, "WHICH SHE DID" (caps mine)You know folks, it's great to have good intentions on what we're going to do for God tomorrow and beyond; but it's quite another thing to make up our minds and just go ahead and serve Him today! I don't believe that God is all that impressed by what we say we're going to do later on, rather, I believe He's more interested in what we're doing right now.I remember reading a rather humorous story way back when about a woman giving her testimony during a prayer meeting. She said, "Pastor, I aim to start reading my Bible more, I aim to spend more time in prayer, and I aim to witness more to the lost." The wise Pastor replied, "Dear lady, my advice to you and everyone else here tonight would be, let's stop aiming and just start shooting."Like each of us, Dorcas didn't know the day of her death, but she did know the purpose for her life. And that was to serve God everyday starting with the dawning of each new morning You see, Dorcas wasn't a dreamer, Dorcas was a doer! What a wonderful testimony to this woman’s faith as seen in the words of those weeping women who knew her best, "and all the widows stood by him weeping, and shewing the coats and garments which Dorcas made, while she was with them." (v. 39)Before I write my final two sentences at the end of this post, I'm sure some still wet behind the ears, trouble makin', rumor lovin' KNOTHEAD will whisper, "Hey, the Collins fella believes works are necessary for salvation" If you believe that nonsense, then maybe you should get a job as a butcher at a deli, cuz you'd be good at dishing out the baloney. No, we don't do good works to be saved, we do good works because we are saved. We're just working out what God has worked in us (Philippians 2:12-13).Friends, what kind of testimony do we have? Is it a mighty river flowing with everyday good deeds today, or is it just a flimsy annoying faucet drip of maybe get around to it someday.