Time, Talent, Treasure

       I enjoy traveling but leaving and returning can be stressful.  There always seems like so much to do.  When we return one of the first things I must do, is catch up on the mail!  While I’m able to keep up with the checkbook and important stuff because our daughter takes care of the mail as it comes, I’m still required to go through, eliminate that which is no longer necessary, file, and then take care of those things which she is unable to, while we’re away.  

Aside from this there is general cleaning that must be done.  Houses do not like being left un-attended and after everything comes in, you have to put it all away, and inevitably there are dust bunnies that have moved in with the occasional cobweb, etc!  

Sometimes this is a problem even when a family doesn’t travel.  They are in their home most of the time (and when illness is present, even more so), and still keeping up can be problematic! Yet we are often reminded to use our time and talents to the best of our abilities.

How can we do that? Illness including the COVID issue, has our lives of helping our neighbors, non-profits, and other ways to pay it forward, altered.  It’s frustrating!  Even many of our workplaces have changed; we work from home. Almost everything, at some level is done via the internet.  

Another element of ‘time and talent’ includes ‘treasure.’   Some people call this our reputation.  It’s what we stand for and what we believe, and even how we live our lives.  As we reflect on our past, we probably can recall people who have not only lived their lives in ways that influenced ours, but also were deliberate in providing guidance.  Some may have helped us unaware; or at least to a point, unaware.

Can you recall a teacher, another person in a different profession, a relative, neighbor or even a stranger who influenced what you believe and how you live your life?  Perhaps there was something that specifically influenced you to follow your chosen career.  They shared their ‘treasure’!  Is there a way you could pay it forward to someone else?  

What about someone who has shared their faith?  Do you consider that your ‘treasure’? It’s an amazing gift, and sometimes as Believers, we cringe when we think about sharing our story!  But isn’t that what God wants us to do?  Even if we don’t feel ‘theologically qualified’ we can share what God has done for us!  We have a story to tell!

It may be a little challenging, but perhaps you could be creative.  Along with ‘mentoring’ someone else, what about thanking someone for their input in your life?  Each of these might be initiated by a hand written note (much more thoughtful than just an email), or via a phone call.  

Our world has changed.  But giving should not change.  We are a people who do best when ‘we can give away’ the best of what we’ve gotten!  I’m not talking about material goods (although that’s not bad either when we have more than we need!); but giving of ourselves, in whatever way we can.  We still need to be good neighbors with kind hearts.  Children still need to see that behavior so they can grow into ‘giving adults.’  It’s the way we were designed!

Be bold!  Reach out with your particular treasure—something you can give away – of yourself--- a smile, kind word, help in a garden, cut a lawn, cook a meal or dessert and leave it for someone who may not have enough.  (You may have to make contact with a person if you are leaving food!)  Be creative!  Take time to do what matters!  Impact someone else’s life this week!

#kindness  #RandomActsOfKindness  #CreativeKindness  #treasure  #ChildrenLearn  #TeachingChildren  #GiveItAway  

Photo Credit:  free pics of sharing kindness 

Guardian Angels

  One Sunday some months ago while singing during the worship part of the service, I felt an arm go around my waist from the left side.  I was on the end of the row and looked to my left to see who’d come up to me.  There wasn’t a single person next to me in the isle, and no one was walking away.  The feeling was so personal and left me filled with wonder.

As I recall, I had been going through some really tough times when this happened and yet I was stumped, in part, of what had happened.  No human had touched me.  Had the hand of God literally come down to comfort me?  Or, was it an angel sent by God to remind me of his closeness?

Other times I have felt the presence of someone in my room, even felt the mattress move, enough so, that I looked up.  Once was during the night when my husband was away.  I wasn’t afraid, it just struck me as odd, and it made me wonder if I was losing my mind!  

God does assign us guardian angels; the Bible tells us so.  Angels were created to be his messengers.   It was an angel to spoke to Mary about the child Jesus, she would carry, and again when they made the announcement to the Shepherds that the Christ was born.  Angles have also been ministers to Believers like when Daniel faced the lions in the Lion’s Den.  And, Nebuchadnezzar recognized them as protectors as described in Daniel for Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego.

The celestial beings were created to be in God’s service and be obedient.  It’s true, not all angels were content with obedience and led them to be dismissed from heaven.  But for those who chose (or choose) to do the will of God, it’s wonderful to know even now they can come to us for comfort, to speak on God’s behalf, protect us, perhaps even when we didn’t know we were in harm’s path and can minister to us when we are need. 

Occults are all around us.  Yet, there are those who don’t believe in the spiritual world.  As Believers we must believe in the spiritual world, if we believe in Christ Jesus and the Holy Spirit, who has come to comfort us.  And yes, part of the heavenly spiritual world does include Angels.  

There’s a song that has the line, “angels among us.”  This is also a true statement and can come in the form of actual people we can see. Hebrews 13:2 even cautions us to be hospitable to strangers because we may be entertaining ‘angels unaware.’  The thought that on any given day I could be ‘entertaining an angel’ is a little intimidating.

I know we should always be kind and be at our best, yet am I?  Do I present the Lord when things are going badly?  It’s humbling to know God looks out for us in all sorts of ways.  And it’s comforting to know, regardless of what I’m going through—even if it’s causing me to be afraid or upset, God has an angel ready, in whatever form it comes, to minister to my needs.

#Angels #AngelsAmongUs  #GuardianAngels  

Photo Credit:  https://pixabay.com/images/search/guardian%20angel/ 

Not A Chance Meeting

  Life is busy.  It seems despite my plans to visit people I rarely see when we are back in town, I don’t seem to get it done.  This week I reflected on some people who have made a difference in my life, but with whom I have not seen over an extended period of time, although I’m delighted we have at least had conversation.  

One friend, I’ve known since my high school years and have only seen a handful of times since then, reminded me how important it is to be real.  He recognized that I have always been non-confrontational, non-aggressive, non-antagonistic or quarrelsome.  It’s just not my personality.  This makes me an easy target for those who would choose to torment or take advantage.  Recognizing this in high school, he “had my back” even when I didn’t realize it.  

Another person I’ve known for about forty years, wasn’t my “silent defender” but someone who would listen when I needed to share my heart, support me when I made changes and loved me even on those days I probably didn’t feel loveable!  Our lives and our children’s lives interrupted time spent together, but still after many years of inactive socialization, our friendship remains solid.

One lady I’ve known for over forty-five years, I can barely say, I’ve really “known” for that long.  I knew “who” she was, but during our high school we didn’t travel in the same social circles.  It was years later when we connected again, that a strong friendship of mutual respect was born.

Still another person who made a significant difference in my life I’ve known for nearly half my life.  She served as “surrogate mom” when mine was unavailable.  We’d spend hours doing “mother-daughter” activities even though she had two of her own who she was close to.  I loved spending time with her, and still do, even though those times are now, sadly rare.

We all have friends who have made a difference in our lives.  As I reflected on just a few of the people who made a difference in mine, it reminds me we have a responsibility to those who helped us grow, supported, accepted, and grounded us when we needed it most.  We can know many people, but there are only some who fit the criteria of being a true friend.  These friends deserve more than a chance meeting, as life continues to pass us by.  They deserve the best of the moments we have.

There’s an expression that “people come into our lives for a reason, a season, or for a lifetime.”  I encourage you to reflect on those who have had an impact on your life.  Contemplate how they influenced your decisions and helped mold you into the person you have become.  If you haven’t seen or at least talked with them in a while, make the effort to have a connection.  You’ll find it will make both of you smile!

      The best Friend I've ever had, however, is my 'friendship' with Jesus.  He's always there in any season of my life.  He never changes.  The world does, but He's just the same today as he was yesterday, and will be the same forever.  My meeting Him wasn't by chance.  It was decision on my part, (with nudging from the Holy Spirit) to accept Him as Lord and Savior.

Consider those people who you have the opportunity to know, and have had even a brief relationship with and the impact they've made in your life.  What do you see in your relationships? With your mortal ones, can you see those who've been there for a season, and those who have been near for many seasons?   But can you also see Christ being there for you in all seasons?

Photo Credit:free pictures of all the seasons 

Behind My Door

       

       I was reading of when the Israelites were led out of Egypt, heading for the Promised Land.  They were given victory over the Egyptians when the Red Sea parted and they crossed on dry land, yet their pursuers were caught in the water.  Three days later they thirsted and found only bitter water.  Instead of calling to the Lord for their deliverance, they became angry with their situation and Moses.  (Exodus 15)

Sometimes I am certainly like the Israelites.  God must get real annoyed with me when I attempt to tackle life’s difficulties on my own rather than calling on him.  When Moses called on God, he heard and changed the bitter water to sweet water by placing a cut down tree designated by God into the water.  This is certainly an unlikely answer to this prayer, yet God did just this!   God can handle my problems too, if I’d but ask!

Then there are the days that I genuinely give the “problem” to God, and thirty minutes later I get a phone call—or even just start thinking about the situation again --  and take the problem back because I think I can handle it, after all.  I may subconsciously think God is taking too long or won’t answer the way I think it should be handled, or worse, not handle it at all!

How ‘human’ of me!  I don’t stop long enough to realize in most situations there isn’t a single thing in this world that I can do!  I have no power over my children, unless they want to be cooperative! (Yes, when they are small we think we do.  But even when they are little, they will use their wits and their abilities to thwart you if they think they can.)  As adults, in job situations, marital circumstances, or in behavioral contexts, as parents we can ‘advise’ but they are not necessarily going to heed our advice!

We can want our marriages to improve and try to change our spouse, but that isn’t going to happen either!  We can only be in charge of ourselves.  We can’t change the weather, stop an accident, keep our aged loved ones from succumbing to death, and a hundred other things that are simply out of our control.

Yet there are “trees of sweetness” in each of our lives despite our difficulty, if we ask; and with confident belief, wait for God to answer.   He is ready, willing and able to provide for our needs, when we ask, according to his will.  We need to rely on His power and goodness in our lives by “going into our room, closing the door and pray to our Father.”  (Matthew 6:6)  He cares, he hears, he answers. 

I encourage you to open your heart to God with your petitions.  Of course, regardless of our circumstance we need to remain thankful and humble.  With a right and godly attitude, our supplications will be heard by a Father who loves us more than we can imagine, who will answer our call.  It’s what fathers do and there is none more loving, forgiving and accepting than God the Father.  I hope you will "go behind your door" and call on him today.

#pray  #prayer  #petitionsToGod #prayersForChildren  #prayersForSpouse  #prayersInDifficulty  #behindMyDoor   #life'sDifficulties   #PrayerChangesThings

Photo Credit: free pictures of bedroom doors