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From a very young age I suffered much at the hands of my parents, yet I clung to the good and endeavored to dismiss the rest, because I sensed they were incapable of being good parents. And, finally, 15 years ago I was able to forgive them both.
Among the few good things of my childhood, something my mother said has served me well:
People will hurt you, but God never will. And everything in His Word is true.
Holding that in my heart, daily I’ve asked myself several questions: How can anything I read, any lesson I learn, or whatever I experience be used to help me survive? Make me a better person? Show me the big picture so I understand how I fit in?
Those questions have helped me zero in on what’s important and dismiss the superficial. They’ve also made me more hungry for what really matters – understanding God and lining myself up with Him – and that’s why I spend so much time in the pages of Holy Scripture.
This past weekend I was privileged to attend a two-day WOMEN OF FAITH conference that more clearly showed me the love of the Lord and gave me a better insight into myself (Wow! and Ouch! all at the same time). Along with over 15,000 other women, I laughed until my sides hurt and, in good part because of the fantastic, heart-stirring music, nearly wept myself dry. I listened to some very practical advice “Never trust a leader without a limp” and thought, Well, the way my knees are reacting to all these stairs, maybe now I’m a leader. I heard, “Do what you can do, and trust God to do the rest.” And I came to understand that true trust is understanding where to go when we feel like falling apart. That kind of trust allows us to ask God what He wants and then follows through with what He says because, even if what’s happening doesn’t make sense, we can still believe He has our best interests at heart.
As I headed home Sunday morning, I stopped at a fast food place for breakfast (less time in a restaurant meant I’d see my husband that much sooner). Completely full now, mentally, physically, and spiritually, I turned left, headed toward the eastbound highway and then north from there. At the first red light, I saw a lovely young woman sitting on the island, holding a cardboard sign with the word HOMELESS scrawled on it. As I waited for the light to turn green I said,
Lord, I wish I could do something.
Then He said..
You can.
So I opened my wallet, drew out all the bills I had (only $9), and engaged her in conversation.
Excuse me, can I give you this? It’s all I have…although I’d like to do more….
With a bright smile, she replied,
Hey, with this I can get some breakfast.
Too which I said…
I guess, then, the next thing I should do is pray for you, right? – that you get a place to live and a job?
She said that would be great, that she now had almost enough for an apartment and after she was in the apartment for two months she was going into the service. As she stood to go eat, I asked and received her name, she smiled at me once more, and we parted ways.
After my prayer, with tears coursing down my cheeks as I thought of her plight and many others in awful circumstances, I crested the hill and left her behind. At one point I found myself concerned. Had I fallen for a scam? You know, those people who have plenty, or who can work but would rather earn money through handouts than through an honest day’s wage. But even as the thought crossed my mind, the Lord told me not to consider it but to realize that my funds and prayer filled the need tangibly and spiritually. I had done what I could do, and now must trust Him to take care of the rest.
So, how did what I learned at the conference make me a better person? It gave me an opportunity to be a reflection of His love and it opened my eyes to look for other ways to serve.
all of Heaven’s best,
Margret Boyd
Scribe of Heaven
(Matthew 13:51,52)
I learned something like this in my bible study this weekend. We talked about how love isn’t selfish and how we must deny ourselves everyday. And we also talked about how we serve God by simply spreading love.
What you did was a perfect example of serving the Lord.
THIS IS WHAT I DID THIS WEEK. I REMEMBERED WHAT GOD HAS DONE FOR ME IN THE PAST. THE THINGS I HAVE GONE THROUGH SOME VERY PAINFUL SOME EASY SOME HARD BUT MOST WHEN I LET HIM BE GOD IN MY LIFE AND REST IN HIM IT IS SO MUCH EASIER. AND A LOT LESS PAINFULL, WITH HIS JOY AND PEACE, WHAT HAPPENS WILL BE BETTER ON ME IF I PUT ALL THE WORRY, STRESS AND PAIN ON HIM. THE WEIGHT AND PAIN THAT CAME OFF MY SHOULDERS WAS SO REFRESHING. I HAVE BEEN THROUGH HARD TIMES BEFORE BUT GOD!!!!HAS ALWAYS COME THROUGH FOR HIS KID. I AM SOOO THANKFUL HE IS ALWAYS FAITHFUL. WHERE IS HE? ALWAYS WITH ME, WAITING ON ME TO TALK TO HIM.HE USES PEOPLE TO SMILE, SAY SOMETHING ENCOURAGING, TO HELP SOME HOW. SOME TIMES THAT IS ALL YOU NEED.
Be Blessed and Victorious in all things in Jesus name
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DAWN