Never Let Kindness Leave You~

Proverbs 3: 3-4 Never let kindness leave you! Write it deep within your heart. Then you will find favor with both God and people, and you will earn a good reputation."

Christmas blessings to all,

Yesterday Jorge and I went to the local mall to exchange a couple of items.  I couldn't believe how crowded the parking lot was, and as soon as we got inside it was wall to wall shoulders with all the other post-Christmas shoppers.  I was like, "I can't believe all these people; they should be at home watching football, playing Cranium with family, eating leftover brie and apricot dip, sipping peppermint tea, and texting distant relatives."  I was actually mad at them. Then I realized that I better preach to myself!

Once my horribly two-faced commentary was over, I made the line to return an item.  The cashier was so over-the-top friendly and courteous that both Jorge and I were stunned.  So much so that Jorge did something he has never done before: He asked for the store manager and promptly provided a glowing review of the cashier and demanded she be promoted.

Her excellent customer service made such an impression on me that it nearly brought me to tears.  I know you think I might be overreacting but consider this: She plugged in a lamp to make sure it was working before I bought it, she personally escorted us to a section of the store so we could find exactly what we needed, and then, rather than roll her eyes or pick up her phone to check messages  -  something that has happened to me more than once  -  she said, "Merry Christmas," carefully wrapped my fragile glass lamp, and made me feel like a V.I.P. The power of kindness is amazing because I immediately felt it, and the feeling stayed with me the rest of the night and is still with me as I write this.  

I have decided to be kinder in 2017. Won't you join me?  We will find God's favor when we are kind, which means we receive life, loving kindness, divine care, grace, mercy, and acceptance in return. Amen!

PRAYER: Dear Lord, As 2016 comes to a close, we thank You for taking care of us this year.  As we look to 2017 we want to open up our lives to receive even more of Your favor. Remind us to be kind.  Help us to always have a lovely response no matter what. Nudge us to do the right thing even if we are in a hurry.  With You helping us, we will keep kindness near us all the time, which will result in our happiness. It's a win-win for us. Thank You!  In Jesus' name, AMEN. 

Pray it Off~

Tuesday greetings,

A few months ago my husband played a mean joke on my daughter-in-law, Lis.  She was weighing herself on the scale, and Jorge moved in stealthily behind her and also stepped on the scale.  It increased her weight by 20 lbs, and sheer panic set in for a few horrifying moments.  We all got a good laugh out of it, but man o man, I would have killed him.  Truth is I have never met a single person who would welcome extra weight.

Some of us carry it physically, but way too many of us carry it in our hearts.

Proverbs 12:25 “Worry weighs down the heart…”

Anxiety, heaviness, grief, sorrow, call it what you will, but all the aforementioned are part of life, and they weigh us down, bring us low, depress us, and trouble our hearts.

What can we do? The second part of Proverbs 12:25 says, “…but a kind word cheers a person up.”

Other versions of the Bible say “a good word”, an “encouraging word”, or an “appropriate word” brings joy.

The anecdote for heaviness of heart is found in the quality of the words we receive, and it’s instant.  Most importantly, we should be reading the Holy Bible every day because it is the kindest, most encouraging Word on the face of the earth.  I know that when I have those times that I feel the pressures of life, reading scripture provides a powerful lift.  Praying with a buddy also infuses my soul with hope.   And of course, over the course of my life, there have been so many life-giving words shared with me that I treasure to this day.

There is no need to carry around that extra weight today; let's pray it off right now!

PRAYER: Dear Lord, Thank You for knowing that worry weighs us down.  You never ignore us or pretend our feelings aren’t real.  But we also thank You for providing a way to lift our spirits. Remind us to fill ourselves with Your Word everyday so we can soar above the problems of life.  Also, remind us that the words we speak can affect the quality of someone else’s life.  In Jesus’ name, AMEN. 

There is Healing in Words~

TGIF Greetings J

Proverbs 12:18 “Rash language cuts and maims, but there is healing in the words of the wise.”

Today is National Compliment Day!  And the whole point of it is to be positive and encouraging by saying something nice.  And please, no vague flattering allowed.  Be specific, be honest, and pick a good moment to unleash your positivity on the world!

It has been suggested to start your compliment with these words, “What I like about you…”

Allow me to go first, “What I like about you all is that you are all wise and will therefore bring healing through your words to whomever you meet but especially to your own family.”  Happy Dance Time!

I am applying this to myself, people!  Just recently I was speaking with a buddy about how the older we get the more critical we tend to become, and truthfully, sometimes I have to squelch the urge to control everything.  The other day Rayray had us over for dinner and right away I felt the familiar urge to “explain” how putting plastic wrap on the onions might be a good idea to keep the aroma from infecting everything else in the fridge.  But glory to Jesus, I squelched myself just in time.  I suddenly had a flashback to my childhood and how I hated hanging out with a certain geriatric because the praise was always in short supply.  It got to a point that I kind of avoided visiting because I did not want to hear the complaining, criticism, and negativity.  Don’t you know it would devastate me if anyone ever said they didn’t want to hang with me because I’m a grump? 

Besides, I am certain none of us ever wants to responsible for cutting or maiming anyone.  Ouch!

Therefore, go forth and use your words wisely today and every day.

PRAYER: Dear Lord, It is amazing that we can bring healing by the words we say.  Make us sensitive to those around us who are in need of an encouraging, kind word, and then give us the courage to say it.  We desire to be instruments of healing in this hurting world.  In Jesus’ name, AMEN~   

You've Touched My Heart~

Good morning :)

 

Yesterday a few of you wrote back to express how you wished you would have known that a man who protects a woman's reputation is a good thing!

 

Even though it sounds like common sense, the truth is that sometimes our girls do not know what exactly to look for in a man, and sometimes our boys have all the best intentions but they were never properly taught or modeled the right behavior.

 

That's where we come in.

 

For those of us who have kids, we can teach them, and for those of us who are looking to date and marry, we can be on the lookout for these beautiful qualities.

 

I myself was very blessed after reading the story of Mary and Joseph because I realized that God chose an excellent man to be Christ's earthly father. We all want the same thing for our children and for ourselves.

 

But there is one book in the Bible that has always been the source of most of the relationship advice I have given my kids--the book of Ruth.

 

Ruth 2:8-13

She said, “Oh sir, such grace, such kindness—I don’t deserve it. You’ve touched my heart, treated me like one of your own. And I don’t even belong here!”

 

The backstory is that Ruth is a widowed foreigner traveling with her mother-in-law back to Israel. She and her mother-in-law are practically destitute. And then she meets a man named Boaz.

 

Principal number one: The words a young man speaks must be filled with grace and his actions must be kind. He must touch a girl's heart--NOT ANYTHING ELSE! Other versons of the Bible say that you have comforted me, reassured me, put me at ease, and encouraged me.

 

It is the epitome of romance.

 

If the young man you are dating is not filling your heart with grace and kindness, RUN FAR FAR AWAY!!! If he is trying to connect somewhere else besides your heart--you know what to do.

 

I once counseled a precious young lady who couldn't quite figure out what was bothering her about her boyfriend. It turns out that he had a subtle way of undermining her self-esteem by making comments like, "You are so beautiful, but you would look prettier with bangs." "I love you just the way you are, but that blouse makes you look a little pudgy." He once went so far as to suggest a nose job. Lord, have mercy! He would always give a compliment before a criticism. It was so damaging to her, and continuing to be with him would have been a mistake. Eventually she was able to see that he wasn't kind or gracious,and he certainly didn't touch her heart. There was nothing comforting, reassuring, or encouraging about his words. He did not put her at ease--he put her ill at ease. Bottom line: He hurt her heart, and she broke it off.

 

PRAYER:

Dear Lord, Thank You for including me like Joseph and Boaz in the Bible. It provides an excellent model of what men act like and what women should look for. Help us and our kids be strong in this area because who we choose to be in a relationship with is the most important decision we will ever make. Thank You that our number one relationship is with Christ and the He guides us. In Jesus' name, AMEN~