With the Lord

Today I was able to celebrate a wonderful woman going to be with Jesus. Kathy Norris touched so many lives through her amazing testimony daily and through her work for Jesus here on earth. She would help teach in children's church with Jacob, vacation bible school and of course kids beach club where she led many children to the Lord. I remember sitting in the pew at church and she would come up behind me, put her hands on my shoulders bring her face to mine and whisper in my ear that she was praying for me. She may not have known what was going on in my life, but I knew she was indeed praying for me. She would always say, that Jacob sure is a sweet boy! The church was full today in remembrance of her, her testimony was evident that she loved God and she taught that to her family and everyone she met. I pray that when my life on earth is over, that I will have had an impact on others lives as Kathy did on mine.

Openhanded

Deuteronomy 5:1-11

Verse 7-8

If there is a poor man among your brothers in any of the towns of the land that the Lord your God is giving you, do not be hardhearted or tightfisted toward your poor brother. Rather be openhanded and freely lend him whatever he needs.

Reading my devotion this morning told by Mother Teresa she talked about how suffering could be several different things, not just what you think suffering entails. It could be material suffering, hunger suffering, being homeless, having disease but one of the greatest sufferings of this world is being lonely, feeling unloved and the feeling of not having anyone in our life. In these sufferings we tend to turn our heads, rush on by, worried about our own lives that we never stop to notice those that have fallen and don't have the strength to stand anymore, or to go on. As christians these are the ones we need to care about, to lift up!

Do we take the time to care for the downtrodden? Do we seek to find their suffering and help them? I know we can get caught up in our own daily lives, our own problems...for me it's being a single parent full time, working and struggling daily with my own problems that I tend not to see the needs of others, whatever they may need.

Do we give to those in need? or do we get caught up in our own lives, instead of trusting God to supply all of our needs when we obey His word? "Be faithful in small things, because it is in them that your strength lies"

"Be the living expression of God's kindness:

kindness in your face

kindness in your eyes

kindness in your smile

kindess in your warm greeting"~ Mother Teresa

Think about some ways we can follow the example of loving others by being openhanded to those less fortunate than you. That doesn't always necessarily mean giving money, but what about lending an ear to hear, a shoulder to cry on? God has called us to be like Him, and never once have I seen him turn away from anyone in need, in suffering.

Father God, I come to you seeking your will in my life, to fully seek what it is that you want for my life. In doing so, I know you want me to help others in need and not solely focus on my own needs. I pray you will help me see the need and help me meet the need where you have placed me at. It's in your sons precious name I pray, Amen.