Write On Time

My Brother's Keeper

Today my heart is heavy for the poor of this world. I am not only referring to the poor in foreign countries but also right here at home. I am talking about the single mother trying to make ends meet to the families that are walking out the doors of their homes holding their belongings, only to turn the key for the last time as their homes are now bank owned. There are so many truly in need that it can feel a bit overwhelming. To me the need always looks so big and beyond anything that I could possiby do to help. Sometimes I look the other way hoping that someone else much better off will do something. Do you do that too or am I the only one? Sometimes I wonder how I could possibly meet someone's need when I have so many of my own. At times I think that we are too busy, consumed with self and what's going on in our own little corner of the world, that we don't take the time to consider others.

Let's go back to that single mother attempting to live on one income. Has it ever crossed your mind to pay for her groceries or fill her tank with gasoline? Or maybe since school is starting in a few days, buy the backpacks for her children and fill them with back to school supplies? If you are a parent, you know what a blessing that would be! And then there are those families that have lost their homes. What could you possibly do about that? Maybe you are an empty nester that currently has a couple of vacant bedrooms that could be a welcome refuge for a few months while they save money to get a new place to live. Ah, but that would require sacrifice wouldn't it? 

I started thinking about this the other day; if the whole world is turning their head the other way hoping that someone else will meet the need, what happens? The bible tells us that the poor will always be with us. "For the poor will never cease to be in the land; therefore I command you, saying, you shall freely open your hand to your brother, to your needy and poor in your land." Deuteronomy 15:11  Well, there it is! We are commanded to meet needs. We can never solve world hunger, but we can all do something for someone. If we truly have the heart of a giver, God will show us what to do. I pray that my blog today will inspire you to ask God to show you one way each day that you can help another person.

"The rich and the poor have a common bond, the Lord is the maker of them all." Proverbs 22:2

The Good, The Bad and The Ugly

It is amazing that we have the ability to affect how someone feels when he or she is in our presence. Our tongue is one of the smallest parts of our body but one of the most powerful. We can use it to speak life into someone, which is a good thing. In addition, we can use it to speak words that make someone feel bad and this makes the entire situation ugly.

I personally have been on both sides of this. I've been torn down, built up, and have also been the one to tear down and build up. People are just people! We are human beings and we make mistakes. Sometimes we chose the wrong words or act the wrong way, even me. I can only be accountable for the words that I speak, and I want my words to encourage and exhort others, not tear them down.The only way that I can make sure that happens is to daily surrender my tongue and the words that roll off of it to God. 

Lord, help me not to dwell on things that people say. You know my heart and the way that I feel. You know that I long to honor you with my life and all that I do. You know how I feel about you and that I love you. Please help me to honor you and others with good words. Words that lift the spirit, not break it.

"For we all make many mistakes, but those who control their tongues can also control themselves in every other way. We can make a large horse turn around and go wherever we want by means of a small bit in its mouth. And a tiny rudder makes a huge ship turn wherever the pilot wants it to go, even though the winds are strong. So also, the tongue is a small thing, but what enormous damage it can do. A tiny spark can set a great forest on fire. And the tongue is a flame of fire. It is full of wickedness that can ruin your whole life. It can turn the entire course of your life into a blazing flame of destruction, for it is set in fire by hell itself. People can tame all kinds of animals and birds and reptiles and fish, but no one can tame the tongue. It is an uncontrollable evil full of deadly poison. Sometimes it praises our Lord and Father, and sometimes it breaks out into curses against those who have been made in the image of God." James 3:2-9 (NLT)

Honoring Life

The other day while driving down the road, I started thinking about life and death. I know a lot of people don't like to think about the latter, but these are two things that are certain for all of us. We can exercise, eat right and take care of ourselves, but the fact still remains that we only have a certain number of days allotted to us on this earth.  There is a day that we are born called our birth day. And then there is a day that is chosen for us to die. On the day that a baby is born, there is joy, excitement and laughter; a new life. On the day that one dies there is sorrow, tears and sad faces; the end of a life.

One thing that I have witnessed with my own eyes in watching people die is that after they have breathed their last breath, everything that they have worked for in this life still remains. We enter into this world empty handed and we definitely leave this world the same way. What matters is what you do with the life that God has given you and the relationships that you have with others around you. The love that you have shown others and received from others is what's important. Did you take the time to care for those that needed to be cared for or were you too busy making money and looking out for your own best interests? I encourage you to examine yourself today. Pause and think about how you are spending your time and resources. Honor life today, because when death comes it's too late.

"There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven - A time to give birth and a time to die."

Ecclesiastes 3:1-2

Today would have been my mom's 75th birthday. Wow! It is hard for me to imagine my mom at that age. She went to be with the Lord at 58 years old. She was a wonderful woman that loved God, her family and life.  I still miss her, but because of my faith in Christ and hers also, we will be together again one day. So until then, Happy Birthday Mom!

Pursue Peace

I have been under the weather for the past couple of days. When this happens, I always look at the spiritual side of myself first. What is the reason for the physical breakdown in my body? Is there sin in me that I have failed to recognize? If we will allow God to examine us, He will let us know if there is anything there or not. After doing this, I came to the conclusion that my body just needed a peace filled rest. "Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS. For my yoke is easy and My burden is light." Matthew 11:28-30 (NASB) 

My previous post was on the topic of grace. I needed to be reminded that I must extend that to myself as well. Sometimes we just need to take a day off from life. We are all so busy trying to produce and that often robs us of our peace. It's amazing the number of people that are currently on medication for anxiety! God's Word tells us that "Anxiety in a man's heart weighs it down, but a good word makes it glad." Proverbs 12:25 (NASB)

I can relate to that because when I wasn't feeling good, my heart felt heavy. I felt very anxious inside. Why? There was an inner conflict going on inside of me. Feeling like I needed to accomplish things, I was not really able to rest. Then God brought a good word to me in reminding me in scripture that He is in charge of what needs to be accomplished. "The Lord will accomplish what concerns me." Psalm 138:8a (NASB) Wow! What peace that good word brings to me.

If peace eludes you today, do something to pursue it. Life will take it from you. Those that mean well will take it from you. Overdue bills will take it from you. But we must choose to be peaceful on purpose. Each time that anxiety shows up in you, pick up God's Word. He has something wonderful waiting for you. After all, He is the Prince of Peace." For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; and the government will rest on His shoulders; and His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace." Isaiah 9:6 (NASB)

 

Garments Of Grace

There is one thing today that most of us will do and that is to get dressed. When I do, I want to do what scripture tells me and that is to clothe myself with humility. If we will do this we will receive grace. I'm not sure about you, but I need to be shown grace everyday in everyway by everyone in my life. I must extend that grace to others as well. " Clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble." I Peter 5:5 (NASB)

I think that our expectations of each other can sometimes be too high. Do we allow others to learn and grow as we have been allowed to do?  I will never get everything right and should not be expected to. I can only give my best, the same goes for you. Let us wear the garments of grace today.  "All of you be harmonious, sympathetic, brotherly, kindhearted, and humble in spirit; not returning evil for evil or insult for insult, but giving a blessing instead; for you were called for the very purpose that you might inherit a blessing." I Peter 3:8-9 (NASB)

As I walk out this life with Christ, I am on a journey. On this trek I want to be in forward motion. There have been times where I have been afraid of doing the wrong thing or saying the wrong word. When this happens it causes me to stop and stand still. When I come to a stop that is not ordained by God, I am being held up from making the progress that He wants me to make. I want others to think well of me, but ultimately it is His will that I want accomplished in my life. It's His plan that I am working on!

Filling Station

It's Monday morning and I'm running on empty. I'm in desperate need of a filling up. Are you? Thinking back, I know that I started off the weekend with a full tank. Where did it all go? Even if I can't answer that question, I can tell you how to re-fuel. God is the One who sustains me. He is my filling station. His Word tells us in Psalm 55:22 NASB, "Cast your burden upon the Lord and He will sustain you; He will never allow the righteous to be shaken." 

Just like our vehicles, when the tank is drained of fuel it must be filled up again. If it's not, it won't move. As we all drive to the pump, we know that there is a price to be paid. Especially these days as we are all paying a higher cost for our fuel. There is also a price that we must pay as we go to God for our filling. The cost is that of surrender. We must lay it all down and go to Him and express our need for Him and a desire to be filled up once again. If we will do that, He sees our empty state and gladly fills us up with a new tank of His fresh love.

As a prayer intercessor, I am continuously interceding on behalf of the needs of others. I am a vehicle, an earthly container that is gladly being used to do the Lord's work. When you give of yourself in this way, it's very rewarding but it can also be depleting. It's imperative that I keep myself filled up. Even if you don't find that calling upon your life, there are many things that drain you. Life is hard. I encourage you to go to the One that longs to fill you to an overflowing.

"The Lord has given Me the tongue of disciples, that I may know how to sustain the weary one with a word." Isaiah 50:4a NASB

A Glorious Glimpse

Wow...did you see it? That moon was huge! As I was driving home tonight I could barely keep my eyes on the road. I couldn't help but reflect on my Creator and His handiwork. I cannot fathom how anyone can look at something so beautiful and still think that there is no God. I can't begin to know His mind but I know His thoughts are many and they are great!

As I admired the bright, huge moon suspended overtop the houses, I couldn't help but thank Him. It looked like it was strategically placed in the sky above. It appeared that way because it is that way and it was His hands that put it in it's place. With each passing car filled with people, I had to wonder if anyone else noticed. And if so, did they acknowledge The One who formed it? Was there an expression of gratitude?

I know that God's Word tells us that one day the moon will turn the color red. (Joel 2:31) Will we all be aware of it or are we too busy running here, there and everywhere that we won't even notice? His Word also tells us that He wants to find faith on the earth. You, oh God, have set things in motion. You have been here from the very beginning and you will be here in the end. Please help me to take time for You. Please find me faithfully waiting and watching for my coming King!

"His splendor covers the heavens, and the earth is full of His praise. His radiance is like the sunlight; He has rays flashing from His hand and there is the hiding of His power." Habakkuk 3:3

Love Them Anyway

Goodbye is sometimes the hardest word to say. Whether it will be said only for a short while or at the final point of one's death, it's never easy. I'm not sure about you, but I know that I've had times in my life where I've had to say goodbye to someone that I loved and cared for. It hurt so badly that it made me wonder if it was worth loving them or not. Of course I came to the conclusion that the love greatly outweighs the pain. So when you are given the opportunity to love, don't hold back because you know that there will eventually be a goodbye that will hurt. Give your all and love them anyway.

The disciples shared a close relationship with Jesus. They loved Him and left everything to follow Him.  When His time on earth was finished, He had to say goodbye to them. I don't think that they were any different than us. When you love someone, it's hard no matter who you are. When Jesus left, the Holy Spirit was promised. He is our friend and comforter, and a gift from God. Include Him, get to know Him, His presence is sweet.

"All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid."  John 14:25-27  NIV

Today's blog is dedicated to Tammy and Tracy. While there is a great geographical distance between you both, you are connected in a divine way. Love until it hurts.

Don't Miss Your Life

Today is the first day of my 46th year of life. I feel so blessed! There are so many gifts in my life. Not gifts that come in wrapping paper and bows, it's better than that. These amazing gifts come in the form of people, real people that God has placed in my life. I have received many email responses with words of encouragement regarding the blog site. I am so appreciative because I know that your words are genuine. Thank you! You are some of the gifts in my life.

I've been awake for a couple of hours now and have cried quite a few tears already. But that's okay because these are tears of joy, gratitude and love. I am not concerned about turning another year older. Hey, it happens and there is not a thing we can do to stop it. Honestly, I have felt like God is standing over me this morning with the biggest shower head you could ever imagine and letting it rain down on me full blast with His blessing of a most incredible love that He has for me. I want to soak in every drop!

So it doesn't matter the number of candles that sit on your cake. What matters is that you let the flame that flickers inside your heart burn brightly in a world that is sometimes dark. God uses others as an expression of His love. Let Him continue to use you today. This year on your birthday, instead of dreading it, embrace it. Live in the now. Don't miss your life!

"For I will pour out water on the thirsty land and streams on the dry ground; I will pour out My Spirit on your offspring and My blessing on your descendants; and they will spring up among the grass like poplars by streams of water. This one will say, 'I am the Lord's'; and that one will call on the name of Jacob; and another will write on his hand, 'Belonging to the Lord,' and will name Israel's name with honor."

Isaiah 44:3-5  NASB

 

Right On Time

Have you ever had something in your heart to do and you try and it seems to go nowhere? Me too. Even if you know that it is God-given, it still does not proceed. I want to encourage you to keep the faith in your dreams. Just because it doesn't seem to be moving forward doesn't mean that it's not. God's timing is perfect. He is never early, never late, only right on time. The Lord has plans for us, His Word says so. He wants us to do well, to not be harmed. Even in the difficult days, He wants us to be hopeful about the future. But the most important thing is that He wants us to seek Him. I don't know about you but it is His plan that I want, not my own. I believe that it's His plan for me to write and I begin doing that today with this blog. I pray that it will be a source of daily encouragement for you. I have been writing for years, only now...it's right on time.

"For I know the plans that I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart. I will be found by you, declares the Lord, and I will restore your fortunes and will gather you from all the nations and from all the places where I have driven you, declares the Lord, and I will bring you back to the place from where I sent you into exile." Jeremiah 29:11-14  NASB