Are you a City on a Hill?

Matthew 5:14-15 You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead, they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.

Have you heard the phrase “Choose Kindness”? It is a simple phrase meant to remind you that when you are presented with an opportunity to make a snide remark, gossip, criticize or be cruel, you should choose kindness instead. This simple act of choosing kindness can change the course of someone’s day, week or even life. Yes, it holds that much power.

In Matthew 5, Jesus sits down on a hillside and begins speaking to his disciples. At that time Jesus was the talk of the town and many people were following him. They all sat down and started to listen. He proceeded to give a message that they would later call “The Sermon on the Mount”.  Jesus said, “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bow. Instead, they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.”

When you choose to show kindness to someone, you are a city on a hill that cannot be hidden. You are a lamp that gives light to everyone in your circle. Don’t shut your light off from the rest of the world. Don’t be quiet when you should speak up. Don’t just go along with the crowd. Don’t ignore the needs of others. Instead, choose kindness. This simple act of obedience will open opportunities for you to connect with others and it will give you a chance to explain the light that shines through you. Jesus!

Lord, give me the courage to show kindness to others. Help me to be the city on the hill and the light on a lampstand that you can use to bring others to you. Amen.

His Grace, My Weakness

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Isaiah 55:11 “so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it will not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.”

Have you ever been afraid? Of course, you have. Everyone has been afraid of something. But did you get past your fear or did you allow it to cripple you, stop you in your tracks, steal your rest and destroy your peace? Fear can do that to you. It did it to me this year. I was afraid for my son. Afraid for his mental health, afraid for his future, afraid for his life, afraid for his happiness. My son was a senior in high school and suffering from depression. I had no idea how to help him. I was scared that one little thing would push him over the edge, and he would shut down for good. So, what did I do? I dropped to my knees, and I prayed. I asked God to give me the wisdom to help him since I was completely clueless. I asked God to intervene. I asked God to hold him in His arms and comfort my son like no other earthly father could. Then I got up and called the doctor, call a licensed counselor, called his school, talked to my friends, asked for prayers from my family, and anything else I could think of. I was NOT going to lose my son. The enemy could not have him. So, I fought for my son with every strength of my being.

During this time, I stopped writing my devotionals. I stopped getting in the word every day. I was all consumed with helping my son. I stepped away from my calling. Then when my son started showing improvement and started to smile again, I thought about writing again but I was scared. I was scared that I wouldn’t have anything to write about. I was scared that I was tapped out because I had not been in the word like I use to be. But everywhere I turned I kept receiving confirmation from God that He wanted me to start writing again. I would read a book and there would be phrases about using your voice, I would listen to a message on Sunday and there would be phrases about using your voice, I would go to a Women’s conference, and it would be about, yep you guessed it, using your voice. But I was scared that I wouldn’t know what to write. Then God reminded me that it really isn’t ME that is writing it. It is God that is giving me the inspiration, the ideas, and the words to say. So today I sat down with my Bible and my notepad and started writing. I thought I was going to write about something completely different than my son and my fears, the mistakes I made by stepping away from the word, and the confirmation I received to start writing again, but this is what ended up on the page. So, I guess there is someone out there that needs to hear this today.

2 Corinthians 12:9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.

I will allow God to share my weaknesses, my fears, and my shortcomings with whomever reads this so that His word that goes out from my mouth will not return to Him empty.

Lord, today I put my trust in you. I rebuke the enemy and submit myself to God. Amen

Encouraging Words for Your Soul

1 Thessalonians 5:11 Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.

Yesterday as I was walking through Kroger to get a few things for my sister in laws birthday, a gentleman stopped me to share a few words of encouragement with me. I was shocked. All I could think at first was, how did he know I needed to hear those words? How did he know I needed those exact words of encouragement to keep going another day? How did he know that I was feeling tired and out of sorts and needed. . .God. That is how he knew. God knew. God sent me a sweet word of encouragement through a total stranger.

Has that ever happened to you? Have you received a word from a total stranger that encouraged you and turned your day around? Or have you been led to speak words of encouragement to someone you did not know? It is such an amazing gift, no matter what side you are on, the giver or the receiver. Proverbs 16:24 says, “Kind words are like honey – Sweet to the soul and healthy for the body.” An encouraging word offered at the right moment can be the difference between a good day and a bad day, between finishing the race and collapsing, or even between life and death.

1 Thessalonians 5:11 says, “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” It can not get any clearer than that. We are called to encourage one another. We are called to build each other up. We are the hands and feet of Jesus here on Earth and when you feel that nudge to speak words of encouragement to someone…anyone…do it. The words will be sweet to their soul and your soul.

Lord, thank you for encouraging words. Help me to be sensitive to others needs and give me the courage to speak encouraging words to those whom you place my path. Amen.

Good Gifts

Matthew 7:11 “So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him.”

My son is struggling with English this semester. English has always been a challenge for him but this semester they are reading Shakespeare’s Macbeth and a book called Brave New World.  Neither story is an “easy read”. So, in order to help my son get through this class and graduate on time, I have decided to read Brave New World myself, learn what he is being taught in class, then reteach it to him in a language he will understand. Timing and circumstances make this the best solution for us right now. Now some of you are probably saying, “UGH! Not me. I don’t think I could do that.” But when you love your child and want the best for them, you may sometimes sacrifice your wants and needs in order to help them.

This got me thinking. If I, a sinful human, am willing to do this for my son, how much more does God want to do good things for me. In Matthew 7:9-11, during his sermon on the Mount, Jesus instructs us to be persistent in our pursuit of God by continuing to ask, seek and knock on the door. God loves us so much that he gave his only son to die for us, so of course he will give you good gifts when you seek to understand his will for you, just like I want to give this good gift to my son.

Please note, Jesus said ‘good gifts’, not ‘everything your heart desires’. If a child asked their parent for a poisonous snake, of course they would not give it to the child because the parent knows that a poisonous snake is not a good gift. In the same way, God does not give you everything you ask for because even though you want it, it may not be a good gift for you.

So, how can you know what a good gift is? As you learn more about Jesus by hearing and reading the Word, your heart, mind and soul will be transformed by the Holy Spirit. Then you can be confident that your prayers are in line with God’s good and perfect will for you.

Dear God, thank you for loving me so much that you sent Jesus to die for me and the Holy Spirit to guide me. Please help me to seek you so that I may know your will for my life. Amen.