What's love got to do it me?

"LEARN TO LISTEN TO ME even while you are listening to other people.  As they open their souls to your scrutiny, you are on holy ground.  You need the help of My Spirit to respond appropriately.  Ask Him to think through you, live through you, love through you.  My own Being is alive within  you in the Person of the Holy Spirit.  If you respond to others' needs through your unaided thought processes, you offer them dry crumbs.  When the Spirit empowers your listening and speaking, My streams of living water flow through you to other people.  Be a channel of My Love, Joy, and Peace by listening to Me as you listen to others" (Jesus Calling, October 31).

As I frantically prepared for today's events and various tasks, I was entirely consumed in what I needed and what I wanted.  After reading the above passage, however, I was struck by the clear message God was sending me through this simple, yet powerfully written devotion.  How many times a day do we think only of ourselves.  As humans, our nature is to only consider the "I" in our daily equation. But!  It is always so much more than "I."  It is he, she, and them.  Friends, family, and strangers.  Old, young, and adolescent.  How many times do we miss the beautiful opportunities gifted to us to reach, change, affect someone else?  How many times do we miss the chance to change "I" to "we" and "us?" 

In light of the recent storm, Hurricane Sandy, we have the chance to witness "I" become "us;" strangers become neighbors; separate families become a united community.  Must it take a tragedy to teach us the importance of reaching out to others?  It doesn't need to be a large community project, but simply helping a neighbor repair a damaged fence, helping an elderly lady to her car, or volunteering at the local shelter.  It doesn't need to be a grand public display.  Sometimes the most private of moments are those that spur the greatest change. 

Each day is a gift from God.  A chance to learn to love like Him more.  We CANNOT do this by ourselves.  Human nature is selfish, but God's nature is selfless.  Human nature is hate, God's nature is Love.  Each day, we have the opportunity to be God to people who may not yet know anything about Him, or be His tool of restoration and hope. 

I read this quote several months ago, and it has stuck with me ever since.  "Be careful how you live, you may be the only Bible some people ever read."  I don't know who said it, but I thank him/her for their convicting honesty.  How true a statement!  Even the smallest action can have enormous consequences-good or bad.  The decision is entirely ours. 

With this said, I held this devotion close to my heart today.  I cannot and will not claim to have been Jesus to everyone I met.  I am still learning each and every second of every day! But I did try to smile to each person I met, offer a kind word to my customers, and simply love even the most unlovable co-workers.  I didn't get a reward or some overt satisfaction over "being good."  Instead, God showed me that some of the greatest blessings come from "faith the size of a mustard seed." 

As you prepare for tomorrow, stop and consider how God can use YOU to make a difference.  How will you "be a channel of His Love, Joy, and Peace?"

God Bless! 

My Father's World

My sincerest hope and prayers go out to the many families and communities affected by Hurricane Sandy.  In my 20 years here in America, this is by far the worst storm I have witnessed.  By the grace of God alone, my family and home were spared; however, that by no means diminishes the great loss suffered by my neighbors.  Please continue to keep our neighbors in your thoughts and prayers, and if an opportunity arises-lend a helping hand, a kind word, or simply a smile.  God Bless!