Just Look Around

  Hi everybody! Hope you are all having a great day today.I am writing you today, to tell you about some things that have been going on, that I feel are important.
  Over the past few months, as I continue my daily Bible study, the Lord has made me personally aware, of things, in my community, that need to be changed. They are things that, right now, really have no effect on my life, and that I could easily say, are not my problem.
  I am someone who, tends to look at the details, of any given situation. So, I feel that the Lord has given me that ability, in order to make a difference in the lives of other people. We aren't just here to take up space; we are here to make a difference in this world, and in the lives of other people.
  Instead of isolating ourselves, with the division of ethnicity, religion, or political party, we need to drop, the walls that we have put up, and do something for someone else.
  What we do, will be different, for each individual person, based on the talent, or talents, that the Lord has blessed us with.
  For me, after a lot of praying, I realized that, I was thinking about  children, who come from single-parent homes; whose parents got sick, or lost their jobs, or their homes. Going to school, as a child, without those things, is hard enough. So, I began to realize different ways that I felt like I could make a difference.
  If you pray about anything, and you learn to look for Gods answer; He will never let you down. It could be anything from a news story, to a magazine article, to a billboard. Sometimes obvious, sometimes not so obvious. But always there.
  So, my mission, is to help kids, in school. I don't think that any child should have to go to school without the basic school supplies. These children are, at some point, going to be in charge of my future interests. I want them to be educated!
  It is not for me to judge their parents, or their living situation. My focus is on what they need, while they are in school.
  I have become a very thrifty shopper, and I won't pay full price, for anything. I don't look at my financial situation and think about what I can't do, or shouldn't do. I look at what I can do, with what I am blessed with, and have faith, that God will provide me with what I need, to do more.
  I found out what the immediate needs were in one of the local elementary schools, and started there. Now every time I go into a store that still has cheap supplies; I buy more.
  The one thing that the schools need, more than anything else, is pencils. Have any of you looked at the price of pencils lately? They are so cheap! But to these kids and the teachers, they are like gold.
  Instead of blaming someone for taking money from the schools, or not giving them enough; Do something!! Close your mouth and open your wallet, and buy a box of pencils! Or ask God what He wants you to do. It maybe something for children, or it may not. But we have to do something, lest we do nothing.
  We are supposed to trust God with all that we have. Not everything but our money. Even if you tithe, you can and should do more. And trust me when I say, if you don't, He will let you know.
  It costs nothing to smile at someone; to open a door; to pick up something for someone. If you miss  those opportunities, you are missing out on things that really make a difference, in your life, and the lives of others.
  Go out today, with an open heart and an open mind, and look for people to help. They are everywhere! We are not going to be led to do things that are easy, or comfortable. But they are things that we need to be doing, in faith. Faith that, at that specific moment, with that specific person, in that specific situation, we are supposed to help. And at the end of the day, as you reflect over what you have done, the joy and satisfaction will be so overwhelming, that you will look for more ways to make a difference.
  Then, your God given journey begins.

We are all responsible!

Hi everybody! I hope you are all having a good Memorial Day, and remembering all of the good men and women; Republicans and Democrats; blacks and whites; Catholics, and Mennonites, that have previously, or are currently serving our country.
You may wonder why I worded that the way that I did. Well, don't worry, because I am going to tell you.
This is to all of you, who think that you have a right to tell others how to live their lives, and judge or criticize them, because they don't agree with you. The brave soldiers have always fought for our freedom, not your opinion.
I personally identify with none of the categories, that so many of us like to put people in. I am an American, who chooses to believe the word of God, and attend a Baptist Church. My favorite color is purple; my favorite flower is lilac, and my favorite musical artists are, Rascal Flatts and Josh Wilson. I don't identify myself by those labels, and I will never, allow myself to become so narrow-minded in my thinking, that I focus my beliefs on one group of people. I love all people.
The situations that we are all facing these days are things that we, as a country, have brought on ourselves. We all need to take accountability for our part, and stop blaming public officials, past and present, for what we have done. We chose to put Democrats and Republicans, into office, and to not pay more attention to what they were doing.
Now we are blaming President Obama, for trying to fix damage that started decades ago. He has, is,and will make mistakes, as long as he is in office. For those of you who may not know this; the only perfect person, died on the cross.
Instead of arguing and judging each other, for our flaws;we should be working TOGETHER, to solve the problems in our country.
I'm sure that you all remember the earthquakes in Haiti. Well, I have to tell you; when I saw the response to that disaster , I was really angry. I just couldn't understand, how there was almost instant money raising efforts to help them, when we lost so many of our own, during Hurricane Katrina.
I think it was on the 3rd day, that  the Lord showed me, the most amazing thing! It was of the Haitian people, having a peaceful march, praising God. It was at that exact moment, that I knew, what God was trying to communicate to all of us.
Instead of having these anti whatever marches, or protests; maybe we need to stop acting ignorant, and instead, work together. We need to accept the fact, that we will never have the government run solely by whatever political party we affiliate ourselves with. Someone is always going to be dissatisfied about something.
We are making choices that are further dividing us, and wondering why our circumstances aren't changing! We have to stop and do a self-assessment on ourselves, before the damage is permanent. Take some time to read the Bible and listen to God. He is and always has been trying to speak to us. Unfortunately, for us, the pursuit of worldly things, has kept Him from reaching us.
It's going to take a long time to fix the damage, that we have caused, to our country. So, why not start today. Stop thinking about yourself and go out and help someone who isn't like you. God blessed you with what you have, so you could help others; not so you could have more than others.
Go outside of your comfort zone, and experience life the way you were meant to. Listen to people you don't agree with, you may actually learn something important about yourself.
Maybe we should be saying, I am an American; what can I do to help my fellow Americans, instead of, I am a Republican or Democrat; how can I insult the other political party today. Both of which, have brought this country to the recession, that we are in. None more so than the other.
What are you going to do today, to make a difference, for someone else? If you do nothing; say nothing.
Just think of how many people we can help, if we ask the Lord, to show us one person, everyday. Get the focus off of yourself, and onto others; it's a great feeling. And, be accountable for yourself, instead of blaming others.
Please make sure you listen to the Josh Wilson song, if you haven't already.What an inspirational song!And I am leaving you with a quote from Andy Stanley. "Direction, not intention, determines destination."

Josh Wilson - Savior, Please