Be an "on purpose lookout" to...

Be an “on purpose lookout” to help someone wherever you go.  The Bible says that Jesus went about doing good. (See Acts 10:38) 

A few days ago, while waiting in line at the post office and I saw an Asian Indian man who was sending something out in the mail.  I was a few spaces back in the line and could see all that was taking place with this man.  Finally, I was called up to take care of my postal needs.  Then, as I was leaving, I could see that he was trying to pay.  Well, that day, the credit / debit card system was not working and he had no cash and he could not call someone to help him with the situation.  I had overheard the amount of his bill and had a “knowing” deep inside of me that I needed to pay this man’s bill.  Fortunately, I had enough money to take care of this for him.  I stepped over and handed the postal worker the money to cover his postage. This man was so shocked, but yet, so grateful.  Words cannot express the thankfulness that he expressed.  I was actually a bit embarrassed because the place was full of onlookers… I didn’t want any attention drawn to myself.   

Now think about it…what if every Christian went about doing good like this every day?  Imagine just how different our world would be!  It doesn’t take much to be kind to others...maybe buying a stranger next in line a cup of coffee or letting the person behind you in line at the grocery store go ahead of you when they only have a couple of items.  Or better yet, when you see that someone is having a bad day…treat them with kindness…even when they are not being very kind to you or others.  We can be very creative about helping others if we put our mind to it! 

Let’s be people who go out of our way to help others.  That’s what Jesus did.  He always stopped to help those in need…even when He was on a “mission” from point “A” to point “B.”  Choose to be an “on purpose lookout” to help others.  Ghandi said, “I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians.  Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.”  I do not want to be seen that way by unbelievers!  I want my Savior to be seen in me.  Help others, be kind and go the extra mile. 

 

Sometimes I think we forget that God is...

Sometimes I think we forget that God is in total control of all things…I know I do every once in a while.  He is never surprised by our circumstances…although I know I am from time to time.

Everything that we will ever need in our lives was taken care of when Jesus gave it all for us on the cross.  He took our pain, sorrow, shame, sickness, disease, death…well, you name it…He overcame it!  What He did on the cross for us IS a finished work.  We don’t have to beg Jesus for anything.  He already knows what we need before we even ask him. (See Matt 6:8)  We simply need to ask Him and then thank Him for it…and, continue to thank Him until we receive an answer.


God says that He will never leave us or forsake us. (See Deut. 31:6)   If God be for me, who can be against? (Romans 8:31)  God is not a man that He should lie. (See Numbers 23:19) He is no respecters of persons…He doesn’t favor one and not the other…He loves us all the same.  (See Acts 10:34)  God is love…and He loves you!


So the next time you find yourself falling into uncertainty about circumstances in your life, just remember that God has you in the palm of His hand and that a way has already been made.  Ask Him for help and praise Him…you won’t be disappointed! 

In the wee hours of the morning...

In the wee hours of the morning, I could hear a faint sound of thunder in the distance.  At that moment, I began to thank God for who He is.  The awesomeness of the lightening and thunder amazes me.  I love it!!  It makes me to think about just how awesome and powerful God is.

God created the Heavens and Earth…just how powerful is He?  You see, the thought of that simply blows my mind!!  Relatively speaking, the lightening He created is a small thing compared to galaxies beyond galaxies of creation.  And yet…how we have a such healthy fear of lightening because of the harm it can cause.  How much more of a healthy fear of our holy Creator should we have?  Do we take Him as seriously as we should?

I don’t ever want to take God for granted…although, because I’m human, I’m sure I have from time to time.

Everywhere we look we can see the awesomeness of God…from the tiniest of particles…fermions, hadrons or bosons (Yes, I had to look those terms up!)…the building blocks of protons and neutrons, to the enormity of the stars, planets and galaxies.   Aaaahh…I just want to bow down at His feet right now.

Selah      

Praise Him for who He is.  Praise Him for His mighty works.  Praise Him for our Salvation through Jesus…who took the sin, shame, sickness and disease of ALL the world upon Himself.  He IS marvelous.  I cannot use or find enough descriptive words here to describe God and His awesomeness.  Let’s not ever take our mighty God for granted.  Take time to praise Him and worship Him throughout your day…every day...and in all things.  He IS worthy!

Choose to enjoy every season.

Aaahhh…yesterday was a beautiful spring day.  My family and I spent the day outside sprucing up our yard for the first time this season.

While I was mowing the yard, I realized just how much I enjoy every season of the year.   I think that I might actually get somewhat bored if we didn’t have season changes…hmmm, maybe.   

 

That got me to thinking about the different seasons of life.  There have been a few seasons in my life that I really did not enjoy going through at all.  But, once I got beyond them and looked back, I can truly say that I appreciate every season that I’ve gone through…hindsight is 20/20. 

The Lord has such an amazing way of taking all things that happen in our lives…good and bad…and working them out for our good. (See Romans 8:28)  I would not be the person I am today if I hadn’t gone through all I’ve been through…praise God!  I am grateful! What I have learned from the different seasons allows me to be in the midst of a challenging season right now and honestly say that I can count it all joy!  (See James 1:2-4)

So when you realize that you’re in the midst of a season that is challenging you, remember to trust God while going through.  Choose to believe that what you are going through is happening for a reason.  The Lord will work it all out for the good.  Choose to have joy.  Choose to enjoy every season. 

Ever have someone judge you...

 

Ever have someone judge you for what you eat, drink or do?  Or…perhaps you have been the one who judged someone else?  Yikes!!

 

Maybe you believe that you shouldn’t take in caffeine or sugar…that’s fine, but don’t put your guidelines off onto someone else…that’s not your job.  And…it doesn’t make you a better person or more holy than anyone else.  If you don’t feel right about something, don’t do it, but don’t judge others because they do the “something” that you don’t do.

 

We are all so very different…a better word is unique.  We all have different strengths and weaknesses, which is why we all have different things that we can do and should not do.

 

Follow the way the Lord is leading you and don’t worry about what others around you are doing.  Do your best to be the unique person that God created you to be.  Only you can be you!!   :)

 

 

If you feel yourself being stretched...

I like to work out and do my best to keep in shape.  In doing so, I often get muscles that desperately need to be stretched. As I’m stretching these muscles, sometimes the pain is nearly unbearable, but I stick with it.  Just when I begin to think that I cannot bear the pain any longer, the muscle will release and it stretches even more.  Eventually, I feel better than when I started.

 

It’s much the same with God.  While we grow, He stretches us.  Often, it's painful while we’re being stretched and just when we think we cannot take it any longer, we get that release that get’s us over the hump, so to speak.  Then He can continue to stretch us even more.  

 

When I look back over my life at the ways that God has stretched me, I can see how the stretching process has been so very beneficial.  With God’s help through the stretching and adding His wisdom, I can definitely handle situations that before, I would not have been able to handle as well or at all.  This is such a good thing!  It’s the process of growing in the Lord. 

God wants and has planned the best life for us.  He never said it would be easy, but it definitely is worth it.

If you feel yourself being stretched, consider it a good thing and know that if you follow through, you will certainly benefit from it.  God is good…always and forever!