Acts of Kindness passed forward Ice Jam 2014

Photo by: John Spink - AJC.com

Read: Matthew 25:35-39

Ice Jam 2014

Earlier this week The Deep South made world news when the winter vortex put many southern states in a deep freeze. Atlanta and surrounding states were gridlock upwards of thirty hours. People stranded unable to do anything other than sit, worry and complain.

Ice Jam 2014 literally shut down cities and highways from Birmingham to Atlanta. Tens of thousands of stranded motorist braved the storm in their cars and trucks while others abandoned vehicles and trekked miles to home, hotels or public facilities. A state of Emergency issued.   

Random acts of kindness

Obviously there was much blame to passed around but there where many acts of kindness from friends, neighbors and total strangers that overshadowed the city and state officials debacle.

With every bad situation, there is always an unseen benefit. The Ice Jam Chaos brought out the best in everyone. There were strangers who bought 200 sausage biscuits from McDonalds, customers at a short-staffed Waffle House washed dishes, cleaned tables and took out the trash. Others made sandwiches, coffee, offered rides and even opened their homes to complete strangers.  Good Samaritans found ways to pass it forward with random acts of kindness. 

Doing good for others 

It is during catastrophic times that goodness rises. People are resilient and caring. Can this compassion and care be present daily?

Jesus wanted followers to set the precedence by helping others. Matthew 25:35-39 clearly states “For when I was thirsty you gave me drink, I was a stranger you invited me in.” It feels good to do good for others. When done with love it is done for the Lord.

This week was tumultuous for many.  There were ladies stranded having to sleep in their cars overnight.  It was the kindness of stores such as Kroger, Publix, Home Depot and CVS who opened their doors feeding the hungry and caring for others making believers out of many. For some these kind gestures restored their faith of humanity. They felt the world was sad and did not care for others.

Today is a new day! Ice Jam 2014 made way for change. This week, people had a humanitarian heart, exemplifying random acts of kindness while others passed forward goodness to others. They implemented what Jesus asked us all to do. 

The learned lesson for Atlanta Mayor Kaseem Reed, Georgia Governor Nathen Deal, GEMA's Charles English, and GDOT officials do not be so cheap.  Sometimes you have to spend money for the safety and well being of the community.  Next time heed the warning by sanding and salting the roads before the next Snow Jam occurs. 

Prayer

Holy Father, all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. This week people encountered chaos and misery. Lord genuine love and compassion was present.  Wherever there is love you are present.  Lord I pray that random acts of kindness witnessed will become contagious. Thank you for covering and keeping us covered. Amen.

Good Morning! - close your eyes

Good morning! 

Close your eyes. 

What U see that's what U own.

Now open your eyes what U see God owns! 

Count your blessing 4 what he has done!

Good Morning! - Dreams to reality

Good Morning!

Do your dreams seem FAR away?
Are they Dead?

Resurrect them!

Seek God and his wisdom it is the key to restoring your dreams!

On my honor: I will be courteous, kind, and generous

Read: Acts 28:7-16

Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous. I Peter 3:8

A courteous, kind, and generous Christian

Are you a good driver? Or are you an erratic driver? The fast and furious driving of many can cause you to lose your religion.

Are you a pew hoarder? The person hogging the end seat and refuses to slide down or get up making it hard for others to sit.

Do you double park? You take two parking spaces because you don’t want anyone to touch your car.

The question is “are you a courteous, kind, and generous Christian?”

Acts of kindness

Acts chapter 28 is filled with many life lessons but one teaching that touched me most was the islander’s kindness. As you read this week’s lessons you quickly learn that a shipwreck landed Paul and other prisoners on the island of Malta. One has to assume Malta knew these men were prisoners since there were Centurion guards tagging along. There were no preconceived notions. Malta was welcoming, courteous, and kind to complete strangers. Even the chief official of Malta invited Paul to stay in his home. Their compassion for the castaways was not temporary, it lasted for three months! Upon leaving Malta, the castaways received a ship to continue their journey.

Being Christ like

One of my goals for 2014 is to take on a Malta Spirit and be Christ like. That means reading God’s word and making every effort to apply the word. So the life lesson is to do as Peter said be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous.

So how does Paul’s encounter with Malta have to do with Driving, pews and double parking? Kindness and Generosity begets Kindness and Generosity. When we activate these good tendencies we receive them in return. I think that is called Karma?

Opposed to flipping out the driver who cut you off and my catty remarks to the pew hoarder or living a nasty not on the double parkers learn to start each day praying and reading the word. It will better equip you to DRIVE like a Christian, be KIND like a Christian and PARK like a Christian daily.


Prayer


Father God in Heaven,

Thank you for being a caring and loving God. Thank you for the spirit of compassion and love. Lord I know sometimes I have fallen short and have not been the most courteous person. Forgive me for being careless. Lord I ask that your caring and loving spirit be reignited in me! May I share it with others all the days of my life! This I pray in Jesus name. Amen

Hidden Treasures

READ: Colossians 2:1-7

 In whom are hid all treasures of wisdom and knowledge.  Colossians 2:3


The Bible's hidden treasures

The bible is a gold mine filled with spiritual treasures. For years many Christians only get small nuggets because they only skim the surface. They continue to live a life of spiritual poverty and ignorance. Their hearts starve for more but they never dig deeper to discover that God has plenty precious gems of wisdom and instruction in the bible.

The richest man

There was a man and his family who lived a modest life; wife children, home, and land. In their mind’s eye they were not getting the desires of their heart. Life’s circumstances hindered their ability to prosper. One day one of God’s prophets visited the family and told them “their hands were blessed, their land was blessed and they were rich with God’s blessings.” All this family had to do was just dig to find more riches than they could store! This family heard the word but only received it as a metaphor. For years they lived yet never receiving God’s treasures.

The day came when both the husband and wife were called to glory leaving all earthly possessions to the children. After laying the parents to rest the son walked his parent’s land and decided to meditate at the creek which ran behind the home. As he stood reminiscing a shiny object caught his eye. Pulling it from the water he discovered the shiny object was a gold nugget. The deeper the son dug more gold was found. There was not enough room in his storehouse to hold it all. The treasure God’s prophet spoke of was in the backyard of the man all along. All he had to do was search and dig.

God has equipped you

I’m sure you all smiled and probably said “that was a wonderful story but that is impossible.” Well my dear friends it is no different than millions of Christians who claim to believe God and the bible. They read the WORD, study the WORD, but never act upon the WORD, just as you read the story and believed it was partially true.

God equipped all his children with the tools to succeed and not fail. God’s word is transparent. There are no tricks or booby traps to trip us up; that is the work of the devil. If we walk in faith, believe God’s word as truth there is no way we can fail. Begin by studying God’s word; build a relationship with God by praying.

Call God out by reminding him of what he said though his holy word. God’s word cannot come back void. These steps will help you discover the hidden treasures you have missed!



Prayer

Most gracious Father,

Forgive me for doubting your word. Help me to grow in faith, trust in you and not my own understanding. Lead me and guide me. Help me to be in your will so I can discover the hidden treasures you have for me that I have missed. This is the day that you has made and I am rejoicing because I am glad to be in it. I have another opportunity to trust you, to walk in faith and get it right! Amen.

A Stranger’s testimony:Life experiences are testaments of God’s Favor

Read Mark 5:1-20

 Go home to your own people and tell them how much the Lord has done for you…  Mark 5:19

 

A stranger at the grocery store told me he was held up at gunpoint.  He proceeded by saying "My experiences are such that they would make this day a joyful one!"

A few days ago he almost lost his life. His wallet, containing a few hundred dollars, his driver's license, and his debit card were stolen. Strangely, his pricey gold watch, valued jewelry, and recently purchased truck were left untouched.

With tears in his eyes and visible anguish, he uttered, "I came so close to losing my life."

 There's a way in which God captures our focus. When we finally undergo "the experience", it has the potential to bring about a profound, transformative effect on our life. This Stranger's awakening occurred after a brush with near death.

During our scripture lesson, a man possessed by many demons expressed his desire for freedom. The most convincing aspect of Jesus' restoration was when he refused to let the man with many legions participate in the crusade. Instead, Jesus instructed him to share his testimony and spread the word about all the wonderful things that the Lord had done for him.

 When we face difficult situations and adversities in life, it may not occur to us that these moments of despair could serve as opportunities to share and inspire others. The stranger's blessing was that he could survive another day and share with me, a person he had never met before, the story of how God blessed and rescued him.

 Take a moment to reflect on your past experiences and share a testimony with either a friend or a stranger. Inform them of the blessings that God has bestowed upon you.

 

Your setbacks experienced in the past serve as inspirational messages to both acquaintances and strangers. The takeaway is to give honor to his name during difficult and favorable periods. Even though you may have faced some obstacles, remember that God is on your side!  Allow God to use your experiences as a testament to inspire others.

Prayer

Father God,

Thank you for your testimonies. Thank you for your life lessons.  Help me to praise your name during the pain, and suffering, and when it appears you are not there. For I know Lord in the storm you are still nearby.  Help me to be a witness to others. My life experiences can be a stepping stone to helping others out of their pit of misery. Thank you for your Grace, Mercy, and continuous blessings.  Amen.