One

I was visiting a church a few weeks back and the sermon was on the topic of “one.”  It was perfect really because it was something that I had been wrestling with for a while.  There are so many bad things that happen every day, every second, in this world.

I like to read news articles online and I often will share them with Sam.  He grimaces at some of the stories and says, “Why are you reading this stuff?”  So for a while I abstain, but then an article will jump out at me and just from the headline will break my heart.  Sometimes it will take me days before I can forget some horrific thing I read that for me was just a window into someone else’s dark reality…they have to live with it for the rest of their life.

One particular day I was feeling very overwhelmed because of the sheer amount of bad things that I knew were happening right at that very moment in time.  I felt the only way I could carry on was to simply not think about it.  Then came Sunday and I heard that sermon; the sermon of “one.”

With all the bad that is taking place, we have people around us that we can positively impact, we just have to start with “one”.

It might be something as simple as a compliment.  It may be picking a person and praying for them every day for a month or buying a random person’s groceries at Walmart.

As you begin to open yourself up to what you see around you, and ask God that he will present you with the opportunity to bless someone and delight him, it will happen.  In these moments you can change the life of ONE.  You can change their day, you can change their week, you can change their “luck.”

We don’t know about the single mother who is saying a prayer that God will send a miracle so that she can feed her kids, or the teenager who just needs someone to notice them and a kind word will make all the difference.  Be sensitive and tender hearted, caring for those around you and God will open up these opportunities for you to bless others.

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.  He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. 1^st John 4: 7-8

Give to everyone who asks of you.  And from him who takes away your goods do not ask them back.  And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise.  But if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you?  For even sinners love those who love them.  And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you.  For even sinners do the same.  And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive back, what credit is that to you?  For even sinners lend to sinners to receive as much back.  But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High.  For He is kind to the unthankful and evil. Luke 6: 30-35

Heavenly Father, thank you so much for all that you have blessed us with. We have more than we need.  Please give us opportunities to pour out blessings into other’s lives that way they may know your goodness.  Let us be a reflection of light in this dark world.  Forgive us for being so selfish and self-centered.  Change our hearts so that we love as you have called us to love.

Amen!!

Xoxo

Ronda

PS: I was reading a blog that I wrote (H is for Hope) right after the tornado and I used the same scripture from Luke from above as I found it in my yard strewn with debris...God is good.