Stereotyped?

I have been thinking about the homeless man in NYC who got killed while helping a lady who was getting mugged.  People walked past him for more than an hour while he laid there either already dead or dying.  No one offered to help! This has disturbed me so badly.  I was watching a psychologist talk about it on TV and she said they have a name for this.  Basically people don’t see the situation as alarming and so they don’t stop to help.  She stated that possibly people could tell he was homeless, they have become immune to seeing the homeless, and so they just thought he was lying there.  No attention needed.

May I never become immune to seeing or feeling for the homeless.  Now, please don’t misunderstand me.  I know that people in NYC see a lot more homeless than we do.  I know many homeless people “hit” on these people daily, wanting money, etc.  I understand.  I saw and experienced this first hand in Beijing, China.  However, I truly hope that I don’t become calloused when it comes to feeling for others.

So, as I said, I have been thinking about this.  This poor man helped a woman get away from a mugger and was killed in cold blood.  No one helped.  Why? Because he was stereotyped as a “just another homeless man”.  He was expected to be lying on the street.  No one saw anything wrong in that.  However, if it had been a man lying there in a business suit, people would’ve done something.

Have you ever been stereotyped by people?  I have.  And it stinks! It took me years to get over things people had said about me when I was younger. Years! Do you stereotype others? If you do, please stop! It hurts more than you know.  The only thing that matters is what God says about you.  And He says that He loves you.  So much that He sent His son to die in your place.

I pray that this homeless man knew Jesus as his personal savior.  I pray that he will be remembered, not for being just a number; a homeless number on the street.  No, I pray he will be remembered for his bravery, for the honor that he showed when he helped the lady in trouble.  I pray that people will now look around them and care about what they are seeing.  Whether in a suit or in used, dirty clothes, all are people and deserve respect and love.  It’s what we are called to do.

Alarm System Needed?

On my daughters 15th birthday she was awoke by the doorbell ringing.  It was summer break so her and my son were home alone, I was a few miles up the road at work.  She looked our her window, didn’t know the guy, so she didn’t answer the door (smart girl).  A few minutes later she got up and walked into our kitchen….right into the guy who had rang the doorbell! He had come in through our back door and was in my house…with my 2 children! She stayed calm, asked him what he was doing and demanded he leave.  He did.  We know who it did it, but he was never formally charged.  He made away with my son’s PSP game which was sitting on our kitchen counter…but that was easily replaced.

I often had people ask me what I would say to him if I had the chance.  I would say to him------ “thank you for not hurting my children”.  He could have very easily “taken care of” the witness and fled my home.  Thank God that my husband and I regularly pray Psalms 91 over our home and believe that God will do everything He says in this Psalm.  Here is how it reads:

Psalm 91

¹ He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
       will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.

² I will say of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress,
       my God, in whom I trust."

³ Surely he will save you from the fowler's snare
       and from the deadly pestilence.

⁴ He will cover you with his feathers,
       and under his wings you will find refuge;
       his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.

⁵ You will not fear the terror of night,
       nor the arrow that flies by day,

⁶ nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,
       nor the plague that destroys at midday.

⁷ A thousand may fall at your side,
       ten thousand at your right hand,
       but it will not come near you.

⁸ You will only observe with your eyes
       and see the punishment of the wicked.

⁹ If you make the Most High your dwelling—
       even the LORD, who is my refuge-

¹⁰ then no harm will befall you,
       no disaster will come near your tent.

¹¹ For he will command his angels concerning you
       to guard you in all your ways;

¹² they will lift you up in their hands,
       so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.

¹³ You will tread upon the lion and the cobra;
       you will trample the great lion and the serpent.

¹⁴ "Because he loves me," says the LORD, "I will rescue him;
       I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.

¹⁵ He will call upon me, and I will answer him;
       I will be with him in trouble,
       I will deliver him and honor him.

¹⁶ With long life will I satisfy him
       and show him my salvation."

I truly believe that God puts His protection around our homes.  I know that He alone protected my children that day.  I KNOW THAT. I thank Him for that.  That day could’ve been a tragedy. I don’t have anything against security systems…I have had one….but nothing beats the protection of the Almighty.  Pray Psalms 91 over your home, replacing the word “you” with “I”.  For example…..verse 10 states “then no harm will befall you…” Pray OUT LOUD…..”then no harm will befall me…” Make it personal, claim that Word for yourself, your family, and your home and  feel the peace that it brings.

Giving All You Have to Give…

When we were in China in 2008 we took turns within our group doing a daily devotion.  When it came to my turn I spoke on the following scripture:

“When a woman who had lived a sinful life in that town learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, she brought an alabaster jar of perfume, and as she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them.

When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is—that she is a sinner.”

Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to tell you.”

“Tell me, teacher,” he said.

“Two men owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii,^d and the other fifty. Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he canceled the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?”

Simon replied, “I suppose the one who had the bigger debt canceled.”

“You have judged correctly,” Jesus said.

Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. you did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little.”

Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”

The other guests began to say among themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?”

Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

Why did I choose this? I am so glad you asked :) Every day when we went to the village to continue building the church, we would be welcomed by our welcoming committee (the women of the village) and then they would disappear for quite a while.  Eventually we would see them coming back, with bags full of fresh vegetables.  They would then all gather into a home and fix enough lunch for all of them, plus 12 of us on a 2 burner stove—the kind like we would take camping! Every day they did this for us.  Day in, day out. They would watch us eat, then they would eat the leftovers (if there were any).

As I began to think about them doing this for us, I couldn’t help but thinking of the above scripture.  You see, they were giving us the best that they could.  They had hardly nothing, but everything they did have, they were giving to us with a grateful heart.  They wanted to please us, they wanted to thank us. 

Just like the woman in the story above; she was giving the best that she had to Jesus.  You see, they had that part of servant hood down.  So many of us here do not.  We are always in too big of a hurry and too busy thinking of ourselves.  We don’t take the time to think of others and what would make them feel good.  Nor, do we always offer our best to Jesus. We make every excuse in the book as to why we can’t do something.  We don’t have time, we aren’t smart enough, we are talented enough…the list goes on and on, when really all He wants is the best YOU have to offer.  He already knows you inside and out.  He already put everything within you that you need to do the purpose He created you for. Offer your best…I promise He is worth it.  He deserves it.  And you will never be as fulfilled as you are while doing God’s work.

Missed Opportunities

A couple of months ago in church, God told me to pray for someone.  He even told me what to pray for---specifically.  I thought “ok, as soon as this (whatever this was) is over I will do it”  I really don’t have a problem praying for people anymore.  I used to.  I used to be scared.  I used to think “what are they gonna think about me? They’re gonna think I am like a Jesus fanatic” Well, after a couple of times of praying for people and them breaking down into pure tears before God, I was ok with it.  I still get nervous, but I am pretty obedient now.  Ok, anyway, back to my story.  Well, after whatever was going on ended, church was out.  She walked right by me.  I could’ve stopped her and asked her if I could pray for her…..but I didn’t.  I let her walk out.  That was the last time she came to church (and she was a regular).  No she didn’t die.   She left her husband.  She left her family. She is now living in the world and of the world and her family is torn into pieces.

 

So now.  I wonder what would have happened if I would have prayed for her?  Do I think that it is me who changes things? NO WAY!  It is totally God! What would God have said to her if I had prayed for her? Would she had been receptive? I don’t know the answers to these questions.  I do know that I can’t let it consume me.  I do know that I have to let it go and not dwell on it.  I do know that I have to be assured that God is still in control, no matter what I do. I do know that I will not miss an opportunity again if I can help it. 

Let It Go!

I speak with so many people who have a problem with forgiveness.  I am talking about the forgiveness we give others---I already blogged on that.  No, I am talking about receiving the forgiveness that is available through Christ to YOU.  Let me begin by saying that it doesn’t matter what you have done….nothing can separate you from the love of Christ.  The Bible tells us this:

“Romans 8:38-39 (New International Version)

³⁸For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, ³⁹neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

 

Let me say this again…there is NOTHING you can do if you are saved by accepting Christ as your savior to separate you from Christ.  He loves you.  He adores you.  He wants the best for you.  That is why He did what He did on the cross.  When you do not accept your forgiveness, it is saying that what He did was not enough for you.  It is saying that all He went through on the cross… all the pain and humiliation, the death was not enough to cover what you have done.  You are saying that something else must be done to cover your sins.  That’s kind of a “slap in the face” isn’t it?  Accept your forgiveness.  Leave your sins in the past, which is where He leaves them.  If you carry that around you will not move into the plan that God has for you.  Be freed!  The Bible says “who the Son sets free is free indeed.”  You are free from that condemnation.  If you have a relationship with Christ, you have been set free.  Put down those chains, leave your mistakes behind, and walk into what God has for you!  You will be amazed!

I have attached the video to my new favorite song.  I urge you to listen to it and READ the words.  This will explain to you exactly what I am trying to say.  You DO NOT have to carry the weight of who you were…..

WOW!!!!

So, I was going into Publix yesterday evening.  Now, anyone who really knows me knows that there are 2 places I absolutely HATE to go-------Publix and Wal-Mart!  Hate it!  Would rather take a beatin!  Well, as I was mumbling to myself, God instantly brought to my remembrance the people  in China that I met while on our missions trip.  They would have loved to be able to go to Publix.  I was so convicted!  I just whispered “God, forgive me.” Forgive me for being so selfish.  I am so blessed to be able to go to Publix and buy the food my family needs.  I am so blessed to have a job that supplies the money I need to pay for that food.  My friends in China had nothing!  When I say nothing, I mean nothing!  They are so poor and impoverished. Yet, they were thankful for everything they had and they were so happy!!!!  We are a selfish people.  I challenge you to begin to think of the good.  When I mop (which I hate) I am thankful I have floors and not dirt.  When I wash clothes, I am thankful I have them and a washer and don’t have to do it by hand.  You get the point….let’s start counting our blessings!

Compromise? No Way!!!!!

I often ask our youth if they live 2 different lives. Do they live 1 life at school and another at church? Are they willing to compromise their beliefs and hide their faith to fit in with a certain group? Well, now I ask adults the same thing. Why? Because we do it too. I had a job once where I worked with a lot of people and a lot of them were my age. I wanted to fit in so badly. So, I began to compromise who I was and what I believed. What happened? Well, I opened that door and the enemy slipped in. I won't go on from there, but it was not a pretty scene. I ended up leaving that job and when I started my next job I made a promise to myself and to God that I would NOT EVER compromise what I believe in or who I am. And, I have not! If my friends can't accept who I am then they are not my friend. God says that He would rather us be cold or hot than lukewarm. If we are lukewarm, He will spit us out of His mouth! Now, just picture that! I do not want to stand before my maker and try to explain that fitting into a certain group was more important to me than Him. I will NEVER put people and what they think above my savior again. I am who I am and believe what I believe. If you don't like it, then you don't have to be around me. Let me assure you, if they are your TRUE friends, they will be there for you. So, let me ask you......do you compromise??

Point of Brokenness

We all reach a point where we realize we need a savior. I like to call this our point of brokenness. Mine was when I had brain surgery in 2001. Actually April 19th, 2010 will be 9 years since the surgery. Now, that is not to say I had not been through some really hard times prior to that. Let's see........ being molested as a child, a biological father who had nothing to do with me while growing up, pregnant at 17 (and her biological father split the scene)..shall I go on? But none of those things were enough to break me. I was self sufficient...I am an extremely strong person emotionally and didn't need anyone-including God! BUT, oh, God knows how to reach us! I remember on April 18, 2001 while taking my dogs to the boarders, I closed my eyes in the car and prayed this prayer in my mind "God...I don't know you and have no right to ask you for anything....but if you are real and you bring me through this and let me raise my children, I will give you my life and serve you for the rest of my days. I will give you everything I am." That was it! I didn't feel any different...I didn't see doves or hear hallelujahs, but I knew I needed a savior. I knew if I died in that O.R. and my mamow was right about her Jesus that I better make it right with Him. That was my point of brokenness. What's yours? We all have one.....sometimes more than one. You see, the Bible tells us that God loves a broken spirit and a contrite heart. What does that mean? Some meanings of contrite are to tear, break, or quench. Why would God love that? Because then we call on HIM...then we are not self sufficient. We realize we can't do it through ourselves, we need someone to carry the burden for us. The point of brokenness can be a beautiful thing. Call on a savior who loves you and see what He can do....

Ps:34:18. The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart, And saves such as have a contrite spirit.
19. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, But the Lord delivers him out of them all.

He Makes All Things New

"You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing. You have taken away my clothes of mourning and clothed me with joy." Psalm 30:11

God can take all things and turn them for His glory and His honor.  If you read my blogs, then you know some of what I went through as a young child and a teenager (if you haven't now is a good time to GET READING!!! LOL).  Yet, God in his glory and His awesomeness has now taken those experiences and He USES them so that I can minister to others. He can do the same for all of us.  When we allow him to use those bad things, those things that we feel destroyed us, then we begin to feel not so bad about them...we begin to feel like "wow this is awesome...I know how she/he feels and I can help her/him" God is an awesome God.  Allow Him to strip away the things that you thought were bad and allow him to strategically put you in places and situations so that He can use them to reach others.  That's what we are here for.  THEN, you will see that He has taken your mourning and made it joy...