Let's Be More Like Annie!

Her hair was short, blonde and disheveled. Her face wore the marks of difficulties. Her cane bore the weight of a limp. Her entire life belongings stuffed into two baskets. A large, long, waterproof Edison jacket shielded the wind from her frail body. 

As I passed her I told her I liked her jacket (being an Edison fan and all😉). She turned to look at me, smiling as she said, "Thank you! A kind woman took it off her back on a rainy day and gave it to me."

"Wow! So you were Blessed," I replied. 

"Yes I was, but they will be Blessed also for their kindness!" she exclaimed with a knowing nod, her eyes squinting as her smile broadened. 

I asked if I could buy her lunch. 

"Oh no, someone just fed me and I'm full. But thank you!"

"So GOD is making sure your needs are met?" I asked.

"Yes HE is!" She assured me.

"Can I pray for you? I love to pray for people, what's your name?" I asked.

"Annie." 

"Well Annie, what do you specifically need prayer for?"

Her brows furrowed closer together in deep thought. 

"How about your leg? Can I pray for healing for that? I suggested.

"Oh yes! I was hit by a car and shattered my pelvis and hip. I also have arthritis in my knee and ankle on the same side," she said.

As we said our goodbye's I told her I'd continue to pray for her. 

"Have a good day Annie," I said, smiling and waving as I headed to my car.

"You too," she said waving back. 

As I reached my car she yelled, "Have a *Blessed* day!" Her eyes but small straight lines as her smile overtook her entire face as she emphasized *Blessed*.

And since my "Thankful Train" doesn't have a limit on how many things one can be thankful for...I'm thankful for Annie and her reminder of Blessings in the midst of struggle. She notices and is grateful for each and every daily kindness. 

Let's notice friends. Let's see things more through Annie's eyes. 

"And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart."~Galatians 6:9

BE BOLD!

I put off writing, staying busy in other things. I know the Lord wants me to write and yet, I hold back. I shrink back. I let the enemy fill my mind and days with busyness...emptiness; things not of the Lord. And yet He calls me. He gently encourages me...

"Speak My Words, Write My Words. I Am the Holy One. The Creator of this world and everything in it. Stand in awe. Proclaim my name to the world. Let Me always be on your mind, in your heart and on your tongue. A Beacon of Light to the lost and broken. I will give you increased strength for this journey I'm taking you on. My good and perfect will guiding your every step, your every word, your every action. Spend more quality time with Me. I have much to tell you. You are Mine and I am yours. 

Do not continue to shrink back in mindless activities. You will never get those precious minutes back again. Be edified in the renewing of your mind. Let My Words wash away doubt, worry and fear. Be bold. Stand. Go forth in My Name for I am your God and you are the children of my pasture, the sheep within my care. 

Therefore, be ye Holy in all thy endeavors, that it may go well for you. I have not called you to shrink back but to be bold in and through Jesus Christ. Allow Me to fill you up to overflowing, for out of My unending love, you will be restored. Focus on Me. Meditate on My words, morning, noon and night, that they will always be on your tongue and sweet to the taste. Be mindful of sound doctrine and do not be carried away by deceptive words. Test everything you read and hear against My written truth. For in this, "The truth will set you free." Do not waste time and do not shrink back. You are armed with the breastplate of righteousness in your Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Be Bold! Pray! Seek Me often, for in this you will find the glorious treasures that is found in nothing else. I Am yours and you are mine. BE BOLD!"

"Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy." 

1 Peter 1:13-16

"Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God," 

1 John 4:1-2

"And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” 
John 8:32

"Stand therefore, having your loins girded about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness,"

Ephesians 6:14

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” 

Joshua 1:9

Meet the Unforgettable Lorraine

"It's broke! What am I going to do now! He threw me out onto the street!' Her voice echoed loudly throughout the store. We stopped in our tracks to see what was happening. Every person in the surrounding aisles were also staring. I looked at my husband and said, "Go help her." "Look, the manager already is," he replied in relief.

The store manager had finally made his way toward her. "Can you fix it? That stupid man broke it!" She continued to yell. Her voice defied her appearance. She was frail, gray haired and leaning on her walker...reaching toward a strap that was flapping on the ground. The manager calmly bent down to put it into place only to flinch as she screamed in his ear, "That's not right…it doesn't go like that! What's the matter with you...are you stupid?" We continued to watch as he tried to help her, only to be met with anger and ridicule. 

Everyone went back to their shopping, satisfying their curiosity with the obvious conclusion that she was crazy. But I was transfixed, my heart was being pulled to do something to help her. We got in line to pay. The store manager quickly got on the phone as she yelled to him, "Make sure you get one that takes credit cards so they don't throw me out onto the street again!" She sat down, sharing a bench with an over-sized stuffed bear, leaning her head on it in exhaustion as she waited.

I asked my husband to go give her cash for the cab. He said, "I don't have any." I was trying to get him to meet her need when the Lord had clearly put her on my heart and was prompting me to act. The people in line were laughing at her and said to the manager,"We'll go throw her out of the store for you."

I cautiously made my way to where she sat and quietly asked, "Are you okay?" "NO I'M NOT OKAY!" she screamed. Then continued on loudly…"I'm 88 years old, and was recently released from the hospital. I'm being kept alive by fusions." She then began to scream at the top of her lungs again, "AND THAT IDIOT CAB DRIVER THREW ME OUT BECAUSE I DIDN'T HAVE CASH! HE BROKE MY WALKER TOO! Her eyes piercing with anger as she stared at me. Gulp. I wanted to pray with her but was afraid. I took a deep breathe and boldly said, "Can I pray for you?" She snapped, "Go ahead, but do it at home. God's forgotten about me, just like my kids and everyone else. My past three husbands all died. I'm alone!"

Just then my husband said, "Can we give you a ride?" Whew…I'm sure he took pity on not only her but me too. She seemed surprised and said yes. She began to angrily yell about the cab driver again. We loaded her into the car while she shouted at my husband the whole time. She gave us directions…screaming at him as we drove, "That's not the right way! There's too much traffic that way! What are you stupid or something?" She continued to repeat the cab story. It was obvious she had Dementia or Alzheimer's.  

He patiently drove and as we approached her home, he prayed for her in the car...out loud...despite her request to pray to ourselves. After we prayed, she changed.  Immediately. She softened. She apologized saying, "I'm sorry, I'm not normally like this. I'm tired and need my medicine." I helped her as she struggled to get out of the car. She wearily said, "God has forgotten about me." 
I stopped, looking directly at her and said, "He hasn't forgotten you Lorraine. He prompted us to step in and help you tonight."

My husband said, "Can we come visit you Lorraine?" Her eyes lit up, "Oh, yes please!" She gave us her number as we walked her to the entrance of the senior citizen apartment complex. We hugged her. As we walked away, she smiled and waved shouting, "Don't forget about me!" 

Hope.

Jesus' love breaking through. An offer to the hopeless, heartbroken, lonely and sick. A simple offer and yet it was huge to her.

Jesus wants to use you every day. He puts opportunities directly in your path and asks you to share the gift that He so freely gave to you. Hope. Faith. Love. Forgiveness. Grace. Mercy. Let your actions shine through the darkness. Spend time in His Word and in Prayer. Allow His love to shine through you. BE AVAILABLE. Share love with those who are hard to love. Jesus in you, the hope of glory. 

 "To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory." Colossians 1:27

“But if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them." Luke 6:32

Allowed To Serve

God's Little Devotional Journal for Women-By David C. Cook

When British Prime Minister William E. Gladstone was facing one of the greatest crises of his political life, he sat down at two o'clock one morning to write a speech he hoped would help him win a great political victory in Parliament the following day.

At that hour, the mother of a poor, dying cripple saw the light on in his home and knocked at the door. She asked him to come and bring a message of hope to her son.

Without hesitation, Gladstone left the half finished speech on his desk and spent the remainder of the night with the child, leading him to Christ before he died. As morning light was breaking, he went back to his study and faced his own day with a smile of confidence and peace. Later that morning he said to a friend, "I am the happiest man in the world today." When asked why, he replied that the previous night he had been allowed to serve a child in the name of the Master.

Later in the day, Gladstone made the greatest speech of his life in the House of Commons and carried his cause to a triumphant success. Were the two events related? Gladstone could never be convinced that they weren't.

The world is full of two kinds of people: the givers and the takers. The takers eat well-but the givers sleep well.

What opportunities has God laid at my doorstep to serve others?

Whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple.
Luke 14:33

Turn Off Your Cruise Control

I often dream of going to far off places. Visiting other countries, seeing different cultures, sites and people, breaking free of my normal life. Adventure and change has always held an appeal to me.

Taking small road trips in the meantime to satisfy my need to explore. Stopping at abandoned homes to take rustic pictures, imagining who lived there, what happened in their lives that made them leave. Trying to look at things in a different way, finding beauty and joy in the unexpected.


However, in my everyday life, I find change very difficult. I get stuck in my routines, going to work, pick up the kids, make dinner, clean up, and then getting everything ready for the next day and start all over again.

Why do we go on auto pilot? Saving up excitement and joy only for vacations. You need to turn off the cruise control. Open your eyes to what is going on around you. The adventure you are seeking can be the lonely neighbor who's lost a loved one and needs some company. A friend who asks for help. The elderly person struggling to unload their groceries, or cheering up a co-worker with a smile, and encouraging words.

It may not sound like the adventure you were hoping for, but there is absolutely nothing more satisfying than giving of yourself...living a Christ like life. He has shown us the true way to happiness...showing love to others by giving of yourself. Take a look around you this week and see if you can find an adventure waiting especially for you! Turn off your cruise control & auto pilot...step into the excitement all around you. Pray that God will open your eyes to your true purpose and remove the blinders! Only then will you find true peace, happiness and joy that may be missing from your life.

Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:4-7