~ Start With Me ~

 Sometimes we can start our days with the best of intentions . A to-do list of working out , cleaning house, paying bills, doing the dishes and varied other things . Most days I have on my to-do list a random act of kindness . It isn't always written down and it isn't always random, but it is in my mind to keep my eyes and heart open for opportunities to show kindness and love to people . I remember being a very young child and seeing people explode on a cashier, waitress or random person and it would hurt my heart . Even at a young age God allowed me the understanding that we are all hurting people . I am very grateful for that now as an adult . The phrase , "Hurt people, hurt people" is forever in my mind . Now, don't mistake my words as a proclamation that I am always on task . I can be self centered, in a rush and sometimes just flat out absent minded when completing my daily to-do's , including this one .

I have written about Jack's Birthday and how we took some yummy dog treats to a few of our four legged friends to celebrate and more importantly to show love . I think I have shared a few other  ideas along with the thought that these small things are practical ways to "be faithful in the small things" . It is so important to me personally to not become focused on the BIG moments, actions and words , but to remain focused on the day-to-day "small" things of faithfulness and the growth it can bring . God is at work ALL the time . It isn't just the big stuff that draws His attention or moves His heart so I feel like we should do the same .

Luke 16:10- New Living Translation (NLT)

¹⁰ “If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities.

 

Last Friday became a day of marathon errand running . I had an appointment for Jack to be groomed and I wanted to have the oil changed in my car along with getting a few other things accomplished while I wait . I am big on multi-tasking and making the most of my time when I can . I dropped of  a very nervous Jack , went walking with my mom who lives not too far from the groomers , ran to a store that I don't have in my town to get some things I needed and had coupons for (anyone who coupons understands that inner list of "I'll wait to get that in case I go to ______ and can use a better coupon(s)). On this day I had three coupons that where store specific, so it was totally worth putting on the to-do list while I was in that part of town . Anyway, after lunch with mom I still had several errands to run before picking up Jack. The errands became more time consuming than I had planned, but I am grateful to have gotten them done .

In the midst of these errands taking up more time, I found myself having several opportunities to be kind . When waiting for my car I was texting on my phone, of course . Isn't that how most of us spend those "empty moments" when we are waiting on something or just trying to pass time ? If not texting on facebook or pinterest or checking e-mail . While I texted away a young lady sat down on the bench beside me . She too was on her phone passing the time . I hadn't seen her when I came in the store or while I was walking around the store trying to pass time , but I would find out that she had seen me .  Where we sat waiting for our cars there are several candy machines and I decided I needed a double bubble treat for all the productivity of my day . Before I went to put my quarter in the machine I felt the urge to offer a piece to this other young lady . As I asked her if she would like a piece of gum she looked up from her phone somewhat surprised . I'm not sure if she was surprised I was speaking to her or because I was offering her gum from the machine . Either way, she thought about it a second and said ,"thanks, that would be great" . She reached for her piece and I then purchased one for myself . We chatted back and forth about our love of double bubble , our distaste for waiting on our cars , being grateful that the oil change was on sale that day and just other chatter . While we chatted she mentioned that she had pulled up to the car garage just after me . Now this may sound just plum silly , but when she said that I became so grateful I had taken a moment to offer her a piece of gum . I became overwhelmed by the thought that you just never know who is looking or what they are seeing . We didn't talk about anything "deep" or even of a spiritual nature, but I swear it seemed she felt relieved in some way as we spoke . Now, I'm not saying that piece of gum or brief conversation did anything beyond helping her pass the time, but for me it was a huge conviction of all the other times I rush past people or burry myself in all the distractions my cell phone has to offer .

 

While I spend a lot of my time alone I do have Jack Davis, my family and some amazing friends . Finding someone to talk to is not a task in my world . Especially with all that technology has to offer us with texting, face time, Skype , and every things else . But the conviction I left with after that brief encounter was that with all technology has to offer and with all the people we come across on any given day not everyone has someone to "just talk to" or to be nice to them . Not everyone has someone to text , Skype or even to ride down the road and visit for a minute or two . I may never see this young lady again . This conversation very well may have meant nothing to her, but on the other hand maybe it did . I have no idea what hand her day had dealt her up to that point and I have no idea what she faced in the rest of her day . But I do know that as we left she spoke to me in the tone of a friend  saying, "talk to you later" and I responded with the same, got in my car and drove off . As I pulled into traffic I got tickled realizing our good-bye greeting . Why hadn't I said , "it was nice chatting" or something of that nature ?! You never know when you'll come across someone you thought you'd never see again . Maybe our paths will cross maybe they won't , but I pray that what she saw in me wasn't just a chatty cathy, but the love of Jesus . 1 John 4:19 (NIV) ^{19 "} We love because he first loved us.".

 

 

Not every good deed will go well . Today I learned that particular and surprising lesson , but even as I wrote this the Lord presented me with a opportunity to love on and help out someone . We can't control how people will receive what we offer them in doing a "good deed" we can only control what we present to them . God will give us the opportunity every single day to love His people . We just have to have our eyes and hearts open to it . I have shared several of Meredith's songs in my blogs and I just down loaded her newest CD "Worth it All" several days ago . I am being ministered and challenged by it in so many ways . This song is apart of my hearts cry tonight . "My life is an empty cup Fill it up, fill it up! I wanna hear every rescued heart cry You're enough, You're enough! Break what needs breaking 'Til You're all we see. And start with me, start with me, Yeah start with me, start with me". Tonight I ask the Lord to " Start with me" . I want to challenge you to do the same . It is an indescribable blessing to know you have brightened some ones day and sometimes all it takes is a piece of gum .
 

"Start With Me" - Meredith Andrews

You are air the desperate longs
Water falling on the sand
Silence to an angry storm
Sight to a blind man
You're still the God, a miracle
So if You're gonna move again
The would You move in me?
Move in me

You're the beat to a broken heart
Bread for a hungry crowd
And warm word from Your voice rings out
And the dead throw the grave clothes down
Cause You're still the God of the empty tomb
The one who came alive again
So come alive in me
Come alive in me
Come alive in me
Come alive in me

My life is an empty cup
Fill it up, fill it up!
I wanna hear every rescued heart cry
You're enough, You're enough!
Break what needs breaking
'Til You're all we see
And start with me, start with me

Whose arms hold the fatherless?
Whose voice do they hear?
Who sits with the prisoner
And stands for the one who fear?
You're still the God of what is just
And You're still the God who loves
So would You love through me
Love through me yeah
Come and love through me
Would You love through me, yeah

My life is an empty cup
Fill it up, fill it up!
I wanna hear every rescued heart cry
You're enough, You're enough!
Break what needs breaking
'Til You're all we see
And start with me, start with me, yeah

Your kingdom come
Your will be done
Lord let it be
Let it start with me, start with me

Yes, Your kingdom come
And Your will be done
Oh Lord let it be
Let it start with me, start with me

Yeah, start with me, start with me

My life is an empty cup
Fill it up, fill it up!
I wanna hear every rescued heart cry
You're enough, You're enough!
Break what needs breaking
'Til You're all we see
And start with me, start with me,
Yeah start with me, start with me
Yeah