Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Do you see me?

The day before Christmas Eve. The air has turned cold and the wind whips about me as if tiny razors attack my flesh. Traffic races past and piles up, stacked car upon car, as shoppers bustle about in a hurry to frantically get those last minute gifts for the cherished of their life. It is loud as cars honk angrily at each other, frustrated that there's a limited amount of time to get everything done before they have to rush home to greet out of town guests and friends and ensure dinner is on the table. The sound of the bell from the Salvation Army volunteer rings in my ears as people ignore, pretending they are on their cellphone or distracted by children, so they don't feel any guilt of not searching around for even a few pieces of spare change. The smell of fresh baked bread pours out from an open door of a nearby restaurant as happy patrons exit. Water begins to beat down from the sky and crash upon my face. I would reach for an umbrella but I don't even own a coat. I reach down to remove my shoe, so that I can massage the nubs where my legs once were; they are sore from standing. I hold out my hand, swallowing any ounce of pride I had left, but people just look away. They judge me. They assume I am an addict, an invalid, a man who gave up on life and therefore unworthy of compassion. They don't know my story, they don't even ask. I begin to dance; to put on a show. Society has taught me that it's not enough to just be in need, but if I can entertain them, make them laugh, maybe then they'll search their wallets, passing up the tens and fives for the crumpled up old ones. It matters not to me as I would graciously take anything. It is so cold out and I haven't eaten in days. Am I hideous? Am I that unlovable? Don't they see me? Does anybody see me?

I am homeless. I am a veteran. I am hungry, cold, handicapped and in need. Most importantly, I am God's child. Do you see me?

'For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me. "Then the righteous will answer Him, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry, and feed You, or thirsty, and give You something to drink? 'And when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?' "The King will answer and say to them, 'Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me." Matthew 25:35-40

Saturday, December 26, 2009

Bowed Down

The Lord raises up those who are bowed down. Psalm 146:8

When you are kneeled before the Father, you are in a position of honor and more importantly humility. There is something incredibly significant about the position of being bowed before God. It is an act of love and an admission of need. You silently lower yourself to a position in order to say "God I need you" and to praise and thank Him. When you are at your lowest point, He then is at His highest. When you are kneeled down, face to the ground, there is nowhere to go but up. Being bowed mirrors a similar significance of baptism, being buried with Christ and rising. The significance is in the rising. Jesus was buried, and then he arose. God never places us in a position where we cannot rise above. When we kneel we eventually stand and it is there we can rise to walk in newness of life.

Friday, December 18, 2009

Time

The other day I was in a long in depth conversation with one of my good friends about the issue of perfect timing, and it really got me thinking. Why are we so obsessed with the right time, the wrong time and any other time that just doesn't seem to fit into our plan? Is control so important, or perhaps the fear and anxiety of not having it, so consuming that we cease to truly live based on the same fear we initially tried to control. By that I mean, many people only feel as if they are living when they are doing it on their own terms. When often times it is exactly that, life, we are missing out on by trying to do it on our own terms. There are so many incredible gifts that God has to offer us and I would bet that 9 times out of 10, not one of them came in the timing any of us had planned or thought best.

I've wiped the tears of many a wounded woman at the end of a failed relationship. I've encouraged women who long to feel what it's like to gaze at the reflection in the mirror as they try on their wedding gown for that blessed day. I have listened to the broken hearts of barren women who long to hold a child of their own and to hear a little voice call them mommy. I have grasped the hands of the dying.. Life is such an incredibly brief and momentary thing. It is precious. It is a gift. And you only get one chance to live it. When God grants you blessings, whether they be relationships, children, a new job, a new home or even a different journey in life, don't waste time worrying about whether it's "the right time" even if it just doesn't seem to fit into the plans you currently have. Maybe you aren't ready? But maybe, just maybe, you are. Wouldn't it be better to say you tried in that case, then it would be to look back sorrowfully and wish you had. Consider those who wait at the door of the blessing you just entered and would give anything to be in your shoes.

Many will question whether it's in God's will or not, as you rightly should, but if you know Him, if you know His character and His Word, you will know if it is His will because there is a peace that comes, a peace that surpasses all understanding (Philippians 4:7).

Monday, December 14, 2009

The Beginning..

What was only supposed to be a short sabbatical from writing has turned into a little over a year. It's funny how fast a day becomes a week, which turns into a month, and before you know it you're looking back and wondering where it all went. Those two years of writing devotionals were one of the sweetest times of my life. I flipped through them the other day and truly marveled at the drastic difference there was between the girl who wrote the first one in 2006 and the girl who wrote the last one in 2008; I grew so much. All I can say is, always have child-like faith. God will use you in the strangest and most incredible ways when you are simply available and willing. It's interesting, me writing. Not only was I one who hated English class as a kid, never could finish a book (much less a sentence), but I also couldn't punctuate properly or tell you what an adverb,adjective etc. was if you paid me a million dollars! I probably still can't! Yet, there I was writing every day for what had turned into an intimidatingly large audience and writing about God no less? It is one of the strangest things I have experienced. But, I missed it. So, I'm back and attempting to push past the writer's block and get myself back into the habit again. Look out..here they, as well as other writings/thoughts/comical and moving life moments etc., come!




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