Ten good reasons to be kind these days

Put a cute baby face on your post and you'll read anything right?

Here's your ten good reasons to be kind these days...

1.  Ephesians 4:32 (ESV) ~ "Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you."

2.  Luke 6:35 (ESV) ~ "But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil."

3.  Proverbs 11:17 (ESV) ~ "A man who is kind benefits himself, but a cruel man hurts himself."

4.  Colossians 3:12 (ESV) ~ "Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience..."

5.  Proverbs 31:26 (ESV) ~ "She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue."

6.  1 Corinthians 13:4-7 (ESV) ~"Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant 5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6 it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. 7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things."

7.  Galatians 6:10 (ESV) "So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith."

8.  Colossians 3:14 (ESV) "And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony."

9.  1 John 3:17 (ESV) "But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him,how does God's love abide in him?"

10.  Galatians 5:22 (ESV) "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness..."

And if you need more than these reasons...here's what I have found out about being kind:

A kind word while your waiting, or not

....when you are buying a lot

....when you hear singing that's not so hot....

Goes, gives, grows...multiplies joy.

Let me explain further.

A kind word makes a difference.   And what this world needs is more kind words towards each other.
A kind word gifts joy. Try it sometime...you will be amazed at the response.

Seriously, if you don't do anything else during these Advent days give the gift of kindness, especially in your words.

"Lift your head a little higher,

Spread the love like fire,

Hope will fall like rain,

When you speak life with the words you say." 

~ tobyMac, Speak Life

You will be surprised what a hurting world will do when it is met with kindness.

Hurt people hurt people. Jesus is the pure example of intruding on our the hurting world in the face of rejection and hatred. It didn't stop Him, so it shouldn't stop us.

"Look into the eyes of the brokenhearted;
Watch them come alive as soon as you speak hope," ~ tobyMac, Speak Life

Be kind.

Try it ....it works!

Now practice...say something nice...(if you want to say something kind about this post, isn't that a great place to start?)

This is the time

On Day 4 of this month of preparing for Christmas, I am up at 5 a.m.   You're thinking...."What in the world?"  Today's post is all about making time for Christ these days of this season of Christmas.

To make room for Jesus in your home and hearts, we have to make room for Him in our focus, our plans, our holiday, our days, our weeks, our hours, our thoughts, our minds and yes, our hearts.

That's what a preparing does.  This time of preparation isn't about ticking this off your to-do list of things to read, or checking another day of Advent devotionals off your calendar.   This time is about inviting God to be a part of why we are celebrating Christmas in the first place.

Advent days bring about ways we focus on the coming of the greatest Gift to mankind.  The focus forces us to think about time.  The preparation forces us to wrestle with our clocks, timers, and alarms.

Our use of time is such a big thing to manage.

Time is the elusive commodity that is so easily sacrificed during this time of year.  I believe we take advantage of the fact that there be more time tomorrow to write a post, or send a thoughtful note or to invite someone to church, for some of you, to make amends with someone you need to forgive.

Invitations to spend time with someone, take time.  Invitations force us to prepare and make preparations us for an important event.

Will you invite Jesus into your adventurous days?  Would your to-do list be different if you considered that today could be your last?

The prophet Isaiah prepared the people of Israel with an Advent invitation.

Isaiah 11: 1-2, 10  "A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit.  The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him - the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of power, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord - and he will delight in the fear of the Lord....In that day the Root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples; the nations will rally to him, and his place of rest will be glorious."

Isaiah's invitation welcomes a time with Rest, with lasting, eternal time.

A Forever Divine Invitation was coming as a Banner "for the peoples; the nations..."  His invitation was a foretaste of Christ's coming, an epic birth announcement in the days ahead.

Time to get everything done these days is so hard to manage.  Or is it?

Preparation takes time.  And these days of Advent make us think about preparing.  Preparing helps us focus on the event, the guests, the people who you want to spend more time with.  The focus on the party or that coffee date together is appointed time.  To get the most out of these invitational days we have to sacrifice some time.

Advent is a season of preparation for the Divine.

How many of you have said this within the last week..."I need more time!?!"

Let's think back just 6 days ago.  Who of you were preparing for a big day of giving thanks?  We made time to eat and give a momentary nod of thanks for the meal before us to the God who invented time.  We thanked Him for the blessings on and around our table.  With grateful hearts we gathered and asked Him to bless our lives.  We invited Him to be a part of our days of counting the blessings around us.

And then...the Christmas season began and all of a sudden in the next 24 hours, we (me included) spent some of our grateful minutes in long lines giving thanks to God for saving us some pennies on a gift.  On the very day we thanked God big we invited the busy blur of gift shopping to begin.

I'm not proud of the way I spent my time that day.

So in these days of Advent, let's focus our blurring minutes to the manger shall we?

Even though we acknowledge that God is the giver of all time, let's set aside some time to worship Him today, and tomorrow, and the rest of our days.  Worship prepares us for a Coming.  It prepares our hearts to receive our Savior.  The posture of prayer, gratitude and worship prepares us for our eternal Rest, which has been described as "glorious".

Having more focused time on the Christmas miracle during these busy, blurry days would be a glorious gift.

My prayer:  God, we lay our minutes, our days before you.  Prepare our hearts and spirits to receive what you have for us today.  There are days that we invite so many silly things in.  Worry, stress, sin, and many messes.  God we know you are the giver of all the minutes and each of has an appointed time to meet you face to face.  What a glorious day that will be.  Until that instant, God teach us to number our days.  Focus our hearts on your Presence, so that today we can posture our day to receive your love, peace and joy.  Teach us to manage the gift of time well. Don't give us more hours but more of You in these days of preparation for your coming.  Give us more meaning to our preparations.  In our blurry moments, may we see Your hand on our days.

How will you make more room for rest these days of Advent?  For me, today I'm up at 5 am.    

Monkeys, Haikus & Joy towards home

Avery gives me great joy

Avery wrote a Target Haiku.  For some reason when he and his mommy go to Target he thinks of me, his Grammy.  I don't know where he got that but I am loving that he does.

The miles between us create a distance that our hearts bridge.  It's hard for this little one to be away from his Grammy, just like it is for me.  

He gets such joy from the simple things like saying Haikus in the Target parking lot as he wants me to be near.

Take a look at this face...who wouldn't want to be near this?

Avery's Target Haiku

"Grammy misses me

It makes her so very sad

I love miss her too"

Avery is destined for greatness in the writing world or maybe just destined to enjoy life. 

While at his house recently, I ripped a page out of his little boy joy journal and took it to heart.  

You know friends, we only have today.  We are not guaranteed tomorrow.  We have hope of Heaven and that gives us our dreams of our eternal destination for sure.   But.... 

But what about today?  

Life of all kinds is looking up at you with some big blue eyes asking, "Will you dance with me?"  And more recently...when asked the question, I am stopping the whatever and pausing to soak in life.

It's not about how many emails I sent or didn't get.  It's not about the likes on Facebook for this blog, it's not about who retweets me because I just said the funniest 140 character quip about beets and bears.

It's about God and experiencing the life that He has given you.  Do you see that He personally serves us joy in so many ways for us?  That's the kind of Father we have that cares enough to not only create us, save us, secure a place in Heaven for us, but cares enough to provide joy around us and for us.

We are more than a number or a IP address.  We are those big-eyed wonders that sit at His knee and ask Him to dance with us.  He longs to give us joy.

I like knowing that I don't have to take a number or write an email to get a reply from God.  He tells me he loves me and cares every day, from the words He has already written.  

So knowing that I am loved gives me joy and I love to give joy and love to this little Target lovin' little man who misses me when I am not near.  May I encourage you today that your joy comes from Jesus and having a thankful perspective helps with the every day mundane, the piles of laundry, the dishes, the dirt, the messes, the spills and chills, the garbage that you find each and every day.  

As you stop and reflect about the life that God has given you today, just pause and thank him for the right things you see right now.  

Don't let what's wrong with you keep you from thanking and praising what's right with God.

See His blessings that hang out in life and want to be swung around the back yard like a monkey.

Need some ideas to get you started in your joy journey?  Take a mission trip to Africa.  Be a friend to someone who is alone.  Be kind to the person that just bit your head off at the gas station.  Let someone go first in traffic.  Be generous with the joy you have received, so much so that it is contagious.

Now that would be a movement to be joyful about.  Be grateful to someone for their kindness.  Compliment the next person you see, even if they irritate you.  

Most days you have to give it before you see God in it. 

It's about the lives God has blessed you with.   Life.  Joy moments like the monkey swings, and daddy's dances don't come often enough.   Experience the joy that God has planned for you today.

Have joy in the journey towards home.  

 

Someone Has a Case of the Mondays

Ever felt like you went through a Monday twice?  Not sure what Monday did to rear it's ugly head, but that day sure gets a bad rap for being the worst day of the week.  Truth is usually Mondays are full of trouble and distress, mostly as a result of the weekend activities that have left us tired, drained, spent.

Trouble and distress are woven into the very fabric of our lives on Mondays and other days too.  The Bible tells me have joy in those Mondays.  I know I should but there are circumstances that block my view of the promised attainable joy.  I like to blame it on Mondays.

Someone once said that God won't give you more than you can handle on a Monday or any other day.  I don't swallow that lie.  I believe He does.  I believe that God allows it on Mondays. God gives us more than we can handle on a Monday or any other day because He wants us to need Him and turn to Him for everything.  If we could handle our problem-filled Mondays then why would we need a Savior?  He also loves to surround us with His presence to fill our trouble-filled days.  

The secret to joy-filled Mondays and more is to live above our circumstances.  That doesn't have to happen just one day a week.  Don't we need that everyday?  The Holy Spirit empowers us to live above the trouble and distress that Mondays bring so that we can experience God's peace in the middle of our Mondays.  Now this secret doesn't remove Monday's complex conundrums, but it sure helps.  And it will help your problem filled Tuesdays too.  

Our world is chocked Monday full of un-awesome days.  That's because we live in a world full sin.  We make mistakes, I know....I make plenty of them.  And when we concentrate on our lack of awesome filled Monday's we fail to see God tapping us on the shoulder asking..."Do you need Me yet?"  But His hands gently move from our shoulders to our chin.  He gracefully lifts our face to  lock eyes with His...and once you get that view....those trouble filled Mondays don't matter.  The troubles still for a moment and help us refocus on what truly does matter.  

It's not what you have lost.

It's not what you have gained.

It's not your loaded up email, twitter and facebook accounts.

It's not your friends.

It's your Savior.

It's his Spirit.  It's Him.

Yes, God I need you on this trouble-filled Wednesday, Friday, Sunday and certainly on Mondays and all days.  Hold on to me.  You know that I have trouble.  Trouble that I can't handle.  Give me Your good cheer, give me your joy as we face this trouble-filled day together.  

John 16:33  These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace.  In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.

I Want to Remember This Forever

Dear God, it's me...again, your servant Mary.

Well, where should I start.  I want to write a 1000 sentences all at once.  And yet, I can't seem to get all of the words out.  You know the Something unbelievable that happened today. I just don't think I can really describe it.  Certainly, each time, my eyes get misty and my heart flutters. 

I so want to remember this moment forever.  

I never would have thought ...that my "someday"...my dreams of becoming a mom...are going to finally happen. I guess I didn't think it would come like...now. After all, I am only engaged to my love Joseph. But God the way you sent your stunning messenger, well wow....it was all just a such a "Surprise Me God" moment.

I want to remember Gabriel's bright shining gleam forever.

It's almost unbelievable really this whole matter.  When I told Elizabeth, there was something in her eyes and voice that confirmed that this wasn't just a baby. This was something she needed to hear too.  This baby will be great, a King, a Prince.  And God, with those thoughts, I am overwhelmed.  I am speechless yet overflowing with joy that I have never felt before.

I am giving birth to a King. Oh my....

I want to remember this heart feeling forever, this moment of awe, of joy, of anticipation of greatness.  When Hope comes, I want to be ready. There is so much to do. Oh.my.goodness. Breathe..Mary...Breathe...

I almost think I should be having a meltdown right now, I mean seriously the angel Gabriel said You were with me and "nothing is impossible", but exactly how is this "overshadowing" thing work? It sounds like such a miracle!  I just don't get it. If it hadn't been such a "burning bush moment", well I would have thought I was imagining the whole thing.

Oh God, remember your servant.....I am only thirteen.

I will have to admit, when the angel said I was highly favored! it was like You were melting my heart. Is that okay that I say that? And I have really heard You speak to my heart in Your tender voice, I heard from you just this morning.  And that sunrise ...sooooo beautiful!! 

I want to remember this forever....

When the words of 'favored' spilled out..God, You brought to mind the promise in Jeremiah 32:39 "I will give them singleness of heart and action, so that they will always fear me..." Singleness in my heart, my devotion and dedication, singleness in action would mean that all those times that I obeyed You, You noticed.  I really didn't know that you were watching me so close God, but I like it. 

I want to remember those words....highly favored by the Holy One. 

What are people gonna think? I am not married, and when this baby starts to grow I will be....noticed.  I know.... I will ask Joseph, he will believe me...oh God..he will believe me won't he? Wait till I tell Joseph the baby's name...he will love it...

Jesus, the Son of the Most High.

I want to remember his face forever when I tell him that name.

And when Joseph hears that this baby will reign over the house of Jacob forever; and that His kingdom will never end?  I am not even sure what all that means, but I am excited to share with my beloved. Oh my heart wants to sing this song forever. 

What love is this that comes in the form of a tiny baby, when Hope comes down, in the flesh and favors this humble servant.  Again, my heart overflows with worship now.

Oh, God steady my heart. It's so full.

I want to remember this forever. 

I want to remember that my Forever started here. 

I want to remember this Hope moment, when "Salvation is writing a song"

I am giving life to Hope.

Wow....

What To Wear

I wonder if it shows?  I hope it's obvious.  

Brittnay was my friendly Wal-Mart associate. She was pleasant enough, but i sensed that morning she dressed in worry.  I overheard her talking about her brother who had been fighting fires recently.  I saw worry on her face, I saw the need for Jesus on her heart.  So I handed her an invitation that I had received in church that morning and said "if you are looking for a church home, might I recommend mine."  

I was wearing Christ that day.

"Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.  Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.  And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.  Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace.  And be thankful."  Colossians 3:12-15

We should don Christ-like garments everyday. There will be someone you meet that is searching for answers, there will be someone who has a need for Jesus.  And I don't want to just dress the part, I want to live it.  I want everything I say and do to point to Him.  

Ever wonder if we wore Christ-like kindness, gentleness, patience, and self-control how different our world would be?  How would you act differently?  

If we wore peace, we might desire God's quiet and not be distracted with this world.  

If we wore grace, we would forgive others quicker for their faults.  

If we put on goodness we would desire others to be more successful than ourselves. 

If we wore love, we would crave Jesus more than ever before.  
If we wore faithfulness, we would trust God completely in everything.

Wearing love, grace and peace are far more difficult than zipping up jeans or buttoning a shirt.  It's spending time with and allowing the Spirit to bring His fruit to your closet.   It's putting on your big-heart pants and clothing ourselves in these grown-up, mature Christ like characteristics that mirror His heart, share His mind and reflect God's change in our lives.  

It's dressing for success.  It's what I want to wear daily.  How about you?

Five Minute Friday [Wisdom]

Einstein was a genius!

Solomon asked for one thing...wisdom.  
God gave him wisdom more than riches.  

Solomon was sought out by the wise for his wisdom.  
He wrote inspired wisdom in Proverbs.

Wisdom is at the heart of God.

David was wise to seek God's heart.  Wisdom lives there.  
It starts with the fear of the Lord.  See Proverbs 111:10

Wisdom is hidden inside His.

Paul prayed for wisdom and understanding.  Not only for himself but for others. Because he knew where it was kept and experienced it's worth.  
By doing so, he lived a life worthy of the gospel.  
Paul lived a life that pleased God.  
In praying for wisdom, he produced, grew in knowledge and gained strength,faith, trust, endurance, patience, peace, and joy.

Wisdom is knowledge and understanding.  
Seeking wisdom is the wise thing to do.  
Wisdom is relevant, keeps God close and it keeps us close to God.  
It is something to discover, uncover, and recover.  
It calms and restores fractured faith.  

Where is wisdom?  Start in Proverbs...it's wise reading.

Music Monday [Forever Reign]

With this worship song, I land at the heart of Jesus every time.

You are good, You are good

And there's nothing good in me

You are love, You are love

On display for all to see

You are light, You are light

When the darkness closes in

You are hope, You are hope

You've covered all my sin

You are peace, You are peace

When my fear is crippling

You are truth, You are truth

Even in my wandering

You are joy, You are joy

You're the reason that I sing

You are life, You are life

In You death has lost it's sting

(Chorus)

I'm running to Your arms

I'm running to Your arms

The riches of Your love

Will always be enough

And nothing compares

To Your embrace

Light of the world

Forever reign

You are more, You are more

Than my words will ever say

You are Lord, You are Lord

All creation will proclaim

You are here, You are here

In Your presence I'm made whole

You are God, You are God

Of all else I'm letting go

 It speaks my heart's cry.
Yes, God you are more than
my words ....will ever say....speechless.
Wow...