Help Me Do This Right!

Today I prayed, "LORD, help me do this right. What do YOU want me to do today?" Then a short time later, my prayer was answered. My sister Stacy came to mind. I knew I needed to head out to Glendora to see her. I picked her up for a late lunch. While sitting on the patio talking, she shared a couple of stories with me. 

She had to get an MRI yesterday. While nervously waiting, she noticed an older lady on a gurney waiting to be wheeled in. My sister walked up to her to see if she was okay. Then she said, "You don't know me, but can I pray for you?" The lady looked at her and shook her head yes. They held hands & prayed together in the waiting room. The lady's eyes teared up as she graciously thanked her.

My sis told me she was really nervous to do it but couldn't shake the feeling that she needed to. 

After she left, she was starving and called in an order to a fast food restaurant. When she arrived there was an extra long line of people and her order wasn't ready. She started to get irritated. Then the employee, in his haste and stress, accidentally placed her food in the couple's bag in front of her. The couple left. He quickly realized what he did, frazzled and nervous he said, "I messed up!" He ran outside to chase after them. He hurried in and gave her the food. She mumbled a few words, irritated, but trying to hold back her frustration.

Once she got to her car, she had a strong feeling she should go back in & apologize for being so short with him. So she did! She said, "I'm sorry I wasn't very nice. You have a lot going on right now. I want you to know you're doing a great job." He got tears in his eyes and shook her hand thanking her. 

I'm sure it not only made a difference to him but also everyone else in line who witnessed her apology and may have been getting angry also. What a difference listening to The LORD'S promptings made!

I'm thankful for my sis and her wonderful reminders to be a Blessing wherever you are. 

"Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord"~Rom12:10-11

Jump on the "Thankful Train" what are you thankful for?

When Anger Strikes

story by: Lisa Petrarca

 

Yesterday I had an incident happen where I felt my “old” self rising up. The person that I thought I’d finally gotten under control over the years. To feel those old feelings get stirred up…anger, pride and a head full of vicious, hurtful words of attack, were surprising. My “old” ways and methods used to let people know “Don’t even THINK about messing with me or my family! You have no idea what you’re up against!” 

That was years ago...years of perfecting a tool of defense to keep others at a distance. But I’ve grown. I’ve changed. Since allowing Christ into my heart, I realized that I’m not alone. He is with me in all my struggles and battles. He began to soften and change my heart. As I started my day reading the Bible and praying, a noticeable change began to happen. It was slow, but obvious, the more I stayed in God’s word daily. I began to see people through Christ’s eyes and not my own. I actually began to pray each day to see others through HIS eyes. It’s amazing how faithful the Lord is to answer! Bitter, angry people who used to set me off, I started to have compassion for them as I saw their actions as that of a hurt, insecure, lost, broken child. WOW…it was a whole new concept! I actually felt bad for them. Instead of responding to their anger, I started responding with love and kindness. Love conquers all! It diffuses situations, people and the enemy.

Now, imagine my surprise to find myself falling back into my old ways. I was faced with a choice, I could respond with anger and harsh, stabbing words in return or I could pray and ask for God’s wisdom. I had a choice! I could take a moment and make the right decision rather than just react. I decided to ask for prayer from an online friend, who quickly asked me, “What would Jesus do?” At the moment, I wanted to take things into my own hands. I didn’t want to respond in a Christ-like way. I didn’t want to respond with love…I was mad! I had the perfect things all prepared to, “let them have it” right back and then some. But I chose to wait, pray, read some scriptures and listen to praise music. I needed help. I was battling my “old” self and that’s not easy! It’s easier to give in and justify my actions. I can always find reasons why I did, said or acted in a certain way. But God wants to change us, heal us, help us. He wants to give us wisdom, peace, comfort and love. So then we in turn can be an example and blessing to others. Learning to show Jesus through our actions; allowing His love to pour out onto others.

I’m happy to report to you that I was able to do what God wanted me to do. The conversation started out with a little bit of my old self trying to creep in, but as the conversation continued I remained calm and was able to diffuse the situation.  I responded in love, even coming up with an idea to help everyone involved get closer and work towards a common goal. The Lord faithfully stepped in because I took the time to ask for His help. He gave me the peace and wisdom to make things better instead of worse.

Today, if you find yourself in a battle, take a minute before you react. Go spend some time with the Lord alone. He will fill you up with wisdom, strength, and direction. You don’t have to react the way you used to. You have a choice…choose to change. God has BIG plans for you. Allow Him to help you grow!

“Thou rulest the raging of the sea: when the waves thereof arise, thou stillest them.” Psalm 89:9

“I will sing of the mercies of the Lord for ever: with my mouth will I make known thy faithfulness to all generations.” Psalm 89:1

“ For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the Lord that hath mercy on thee.” Isaiah 54:10

     

Do You Have True Beauty?

story by: Lisa Petrarca

There is a program on ABC called, "True Beauty". The concept is for each contestant to compete to become the most beautiful face of Las Vegas, win $100,000.00 & their picture will appear in People Magazine.

They are all considered beautiful people on the outside & they think that each challenge is about winning & getting them closer to the ultimate prize as "The Most Beautiful Person."

What they don't know however is that before each competition, they are being confronted with the real challenge. A needy person, a person getting bullied, a person getting made fun of, and an opportunity to cheat to win the challenge are all being put directly in front of them. They are then secretly filmed to see if they are beautiful on the inside as well. The person with the most INNER BEAUTY is the ultimate winner.

Before each person gets kicked off, they get to stand & watch the real tests. They get to watch clips of themselves behaving in a not so "beautiful" way. Many of them proclaim, "That's not who I really am," and come up with excuses for their bad behavior. They become embarrassed, ashamed or angrily walk out.

I wonder what kind of inner beauty we have? If a camera was following you everyday, would it capture your true heart? Would you be ashamed to let people watch what was recorded? Would it reflect the love of Christ living in you?

Each day you get 1440 minutes to show the world your true inner beauty. At the end of the day, you will never get those minutes back. Make the most of your gifts and use them to bless others.

Be mindful of all you say & do...the Lord is watching and knows your true inner beauty.

Ephesians 6:6-8

Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but like slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart. Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men, because you know that the Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does, whether slave or free.

A MUTT, A MARINE & A MIRACLE...A True Story

Major Brian Dennis of the United State Marine Corp. had a life changing experience while in Iraq. His troop was patrolling the Syrian border in October 2007 when they came across a group of stray dogs. This was very common in the desert where you would often find several packs of dogs and wolves roaming around.

They all got into their Humvee when a dog came running up. An Iraqi soldier had cut off the tops of the dogs ears to make him look tough. The Major bent down to pet him and said, “You got little nubs for ears.” They all began calling him Nubs.

Every couple of weeks they would return to the Border Fort and he would feed him food scraps and Frosted Strawberry Pop Tarts. Each night Nubs would patrol the area with the Major, as if he too was on duty. When they would leave Nubs would run beside the Humvee, which was traveling at 40 mph, keeping up with them until he became worn out and would disappear into the dust.

One day when they returned to the area to patrol, they found Nubs badly wounded on his side from being stabbed with a screwdriver. The wound was badly infected so they pulled out some antiseptic from their kits and some antibiotics and fed it to him with some peanut butter. That night Nubs was in so much pain that he didn’t eat or drink and slept standing up because he could not lay down.

The next day Nubs was doing better, but once they left the Major couldn’t stop thinking about him, wondering if he would survive. Two weeks later when they returned they found Nubs alive & well. The Major said that he feels that was the turning point in their relationship.

This time when the Humvees left, Nubs continued to follow. He lost sight of them but somehow continued the two-day journey. Nubs traveled 70 miles in freezing temperature, without food or water, surviving attacks from several wild dogs and wolves. He fought and ran and fought and ran, until he eventually reached the camp, torn and chewed up. When the Major walked outside his tent, Nubs jumped up on him licking his face with joy and excitement. No one could believe that he had followed them so many miles and was able to survive the trip through the desert and find them.

The Major had found a very special friend but knew he wasn’t able to keep him at the camp. He decided to e-mail family & friends to try and raise money to have him shipped to his home in San Diego. They heard the incredibly touching story and were so inspired that they were able to raise $5,000.00 to have Nubs flown to CA. One month later the Major finished his tour and was reunited with Nubs. They have an incredible bond that was established through an act of kindness. He has written a children’s book titled, "Nubs: The True Story of a Mutt, a Marine & a Miracle," published by Little, Brown for Young Readers.

This story is a reminder that a simple act of kindness can have an incredible effect on not only animals, but people too. When you see someone who looks beaten down, sad, lonely, discouraged or hungry. Take a moment to stop and offer a kind word, smile, words of encouragement or a meal.

That one simple gesture may just help someone rise above their current circumstance and change their life. If a dog can travel over 70 miles, endure pain and the freezing elements, imagine what a human being can do with a little help!

"If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one anothers feet. For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you. Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them."
John 13:14-17

"And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever - the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you."
John 14:16-18

"But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name. He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you."
John 14:26