PICK YOUR HEAD UP AND SMILE!

 
Today I felt convicted!  Christians feel conviction not guilt. I chuckle as I say this, but there is a difference.  

Guilt is the voice that Satan uses to hold you down.  Guilt tells you that you have to pay over and over for something that you’ve done.  Guilt tells you that you’re no good and unworthy.  Guilt doesn’t let you move on.  

Conviction is the voice that God uses to show you when you need to change.  Conviction tells you that you’re doing the wrong thing and what the right thing is.  Conviction tells you that a situation or behavior needs to change and what to do to change it.  Conviction gives you the power to grow.

Now that we got that straight this is what convicted me.  

Matthew 10:7 “Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons.  Freely you have received, freely give.” 

Here’s the conversation that went on in my head:  

Freely you have received, freely give!!!!

“Girl… God has always provided for you; you have an adoring (and handsome) husband (whom you also adore), a loving family, you’ve always had a roof over my head, clothes to keep you warm, and food to eat.” 

 

Dude; I know even when times were tough, I was okay.  I am grateful.      

      

“When you really think about it Jesus gave everything, to give you everything.  He gave you salvation which in turn has given you an abundance of peace, comfort, joy and love.  Remember you, didn’t have that B.C. (before Christ).  And He gave all of this to you for free.  No contract, no money, no blood oath (well His blood was shed, but He doesn’t require it of me)!”

Dude; you’re so right.  If Jesus gave everything, to give me everything; how can I not give something?

So how can I give?  How can you give?  We can all give in different ways.

Some of us can give money, and we can give it generously.  For some of us money is tight but most of us can afford a few dollars to give to someone who needs it.  When pasta and sauce goes on sale, maybe throw some extra in the cart to take to the Food Pantry.  

Some haven’t got money, but we have time; whether it’s a couple of hours a month, or a week.  We can invest our time in an organization, or in an individual.  It’s also very important to make time for our friends and family!  (I’m going to make more time for my friends, love you guys!)

Oooh, but this next one is hard.  I live in South Florida, where year after year, we have been ranked the rudest drivers in the country, for over a decade.  When the Snow Birds come down everything is so crowded and there is a lot of impatience that goes on.  I’m not blaming the Snow Birds, I love the Snow Birds.  Even in the face of rudeness and impatience what we all can do is be kind, considerate and patient with one another.  

Matthew 10:16 “Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves.  Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves.” 

 

The Lord knows the people that we will encounter.  We should not allow ourselves to be taken advantage of, but shouldn’t be aggressive either.  If we are kind to another first, perhaps we can deter the rudeness.  For example; if someone cuts in line, we can be calm and either politely point out the line (cuz they may not have noticed it), or just let them go ahead if we’re not in a rush.  I’ve been guilty of rudely confronting line cutters, it has only led to hurt or angry feelings; but this week when it happened, I chose just to let the women go ahead, it was obvious that she was in a hurry. (Yay, look at me growing!)

Finally some really easy ways to give: instead of walking with our heads down, we can pick them up and smile at everyone that we see; and we can always, always, say please and thank-you (Billy always says thanks for dinner, that’s partly why I love to cook for him).  Just that acknowledgement can make a difference in the way someone treats us.

With that I say a sincere Thank-You for stopping by, and please come back to see me again!