Can One Simple Email Change Your Life?

I scanned back and forth down the page. A lump formed; eyes no longer able to contain the moisture. The overflow releasing, sliding...the drops, clear pearls resting on my keyboard.

The young boy was soon to be left alone in this world. A mother, slowly letting go of her fight; her body...slight and weak, cancer overtaking.

The words called for prayer, help and God's will to stir and move the heart of someone to take him in.

Blurred, wet eyes fixated on the dot...the period signaling the end of the email.

I climbed the stairs; incredible urgency to reach the safety of my room. I needed release...the tears to freely flow. The words moved me, heart and soul...beyond my plans, my worries, my selfishness. I prayed for the boy. I prayed for his mother. I prayed for the right family to open their home. God's will.

I shared it with my husband. We prayed and prayed and prayed. God's will. We took steps of faith, moving and waiting. Gods will. After several phone calls, visits and constant prayer, the doors slowly began to open. One by one. With each door, fear of change, less us time momentarily filled our minds...but we stayed the course, always praying, God's will.

That Monday morning email changed my heart. God's plan is bigger and better than my plans. We await the final process; a young boy, alone, now to become a part of our family. God's will.

When God puts things in motion and asks you to move, touching your heart and spirit to the very core of your being, take the steps. Walk it out. He will open the right doors and shut the wrong ones. We worship a God who parts the sea, shuts the mouths of lions, makes walls crumble, brings the dead to life and sets captives free.

What has God been putting on your heart? Take a step of faith and trust Him...God's will.


"Who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. Women received their dead raised to life again..." Hebrews 11:33-35

"God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us." Hebrews 11:40

 "Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: For our God is a consuming fire.


READ HEBREWS 11:1-40 (To Increase Your Faith)

Are You Causing Ripples?

 I've always found the ripple effect of water fascinating. It starts with a small disruption, causing motion to take shape throughout the entire body of water, often small, barely detectable movement. If you're not pay attention, you might miss it. However, if you pause for a moment by a pond or lake...you see it, leaves dropping, the wind blowing, a fish swimming, a duck paddling...motioning the water to move.

 We too can cause a ripple effect in the lives of others. One prayer at a time. One kind act of unselfish love...going out of your way to comfort or help someone. A simple smile at a stranger, a hug, a kind gesture, something as small as allowing someone behind you in the grocery store to go in front of you. 

It causes a ripple. 

It shows Christ's unconditional love in a small way. Just enough to stir movement. To brighten the life of another. We may not see it, but acts of unselfish kindness, reveal the love of Christ that is in us. Allowing Him to move in their life through a simple ripple.

 

 Today, pause, look for opportunities to cause a ripple in someone's life.

May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else,  just as ours does for you. May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones.

1 Thessalonians 3:12-13 

Therefore encourage one another and build each other up,  just as in fact you are doing.

1 Thessalonians 5:11

And we urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone. Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else. Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.

1 Thessalonians 5:14-18

We always thank God for all of you, mentioning you in our prayers. We continually remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you, because our gospel came to you not simply with words, but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction.

1 Thessalonians: 1:2-5