01/28/2010 - Open your eyes to SEE.

"He who gives to the poor will not lack, but he who hides his eyes will have many curses." -Proverbs 28:27

Have you ever seen those people on the side of the road holding the little cardboard sign that says, "will work for food"? Have you ever thought, "Lazy people. Why don't they go get a job and quit begging all the time?!?" I'll admit, I've thought the same thing on occasion, but the Holy Spirit corrects me. I don't know the heart of those people. I don't know what their true condition is. It's not my place to judge what they're doing and if I think it's right or not. God is the only one that knows their true intentions. Pastor Pat says it all the time, and I think it's an awesome concept: I would rather error on the side of mercy than withhold help from anyone. If I get burned, I get burned. Who cares? It's not me their scamming. I'm just being obedient to give what God has blessed me with at all times. God knows my heart, as well as He knows that person's heart and I'll still be blessed because I chose to give.

If I choose to judge, or intentionally overlook those who need help, I'm setting myself up to not be blessed when I'm in need. It's the law of sewing and reaping in its purest form. Now this isn't to say that you have to give to everyone to your own detriment, or even when you don't have the money, God knows if you don't have it to give. But it's when you pass over people that need help and keep it all for yourself to spend on yourself that He's not so keen on. We have been so blessed, and there are those among us who are suffering, hurting, and depressed. We must stop just looking around and start SEEING.

"Let the world see You through us, let the hurt find hope and the lost find home."

***Jess

01/26/2010 - Fighting rottweilers

"He who passes by and meddles in a quarrel not his own is like one who takes a dog by the ears." Proverbs 26:17

There is nothing more tasty and appealing than getting the latest gossip of who's mad at who, or taking up the offense of your best friend. Gossip is just so juicy isn't it? And of course, your friend needs someone to take up their cause, right?

Wrong.

Think about that analogy the Proverb describes for a minute. Picture in your mind a snarling, mean, slobbering, ugly rottweiler growling, baring his teeth, and snapping at your face and the only thing you can hold onto to hold him back from ripping you to shreds are his ears. No thank you. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to realize your hands are going to get tired long before that dog does and when they slip, you're toast. When you put yourself in the big, fat middle of a fight that doesn't belong to you, you're just waiting for the big dog to bite you.

Of course it's tempting to want to help your friend, and of course it's tempting to let your ears wander and listen in on someone else's conversation. We've all done it. But if you will humor me for a second, and think back to the last time you got in the middle of an argument or a fight, it wasn't long before you had so much drama going on in your world that you could scream, or someone said something to you or about you that still hurts to think about even now. God's best is not for you to be stressed or hurting. When you're so consumed with someone else's drama or issues, you cease to be effective for the Kingdom and you cease to see those around you who need His love in their lives. Our job as a Christian is simple: love God, and love people. If you're constantly having to be angry at every other person at school, because you're taking up all your friend's offenses, how are you ever going to be seen as a caring, loving, Godly person?

Decide this day that you're going to focus on God and what He is working on in you and stop the constant parade of offenses that have you forever fighting that rottweiler. Choose to love and reach out to those around you and see them the way God sees them: as lost, alone, and in need of the One True Love of the Father that you have been given freely.

***Jess