Reminder to Do Something

"Give freely and spontaneously. Don’t have a stingy heart. The way you handle matters like this triggers God, your God’s, blessing in everything you do, all your work and ventures. There are always going to be poor and needy people among you. So I command you: Always be generous, open purse and hands, give to your neighbors in trouble, your poor and hurting neighbors."

Deuteronomy 15:10-11 The Message

Galveston. If you do a Google search, it's all about the hotels and vacation rentals and attractions and events. And yet, I didn't find anything about the event that takes place every week. Same time, same location. 21st Avenue and Winnie Street, 8am-9am, on Saturday mornings.

It's an outside event - on a back parking lot, actually. Several canopies set up, a few benches. There are those who pull in and unload their tables and boxes, then park on the street. Promptly at 8am, Rick starts addressing the motley group that assembles every week. He talks for about 20 minutes or so, appeals for a response, then they serve breakfast and invite the attendees to the tables laden with various wares. At first glance, it looks like it could be an outdoor flea market. There might even have been a few fleas...

If you give it more than the perfunctory glance, you will recognize those who are up against hard times, some are in dire straits. All are in need - including the ones behind the tables. When I went, I wanted to fix all of it. The truth is, I cannot, but I can do something, which of course, reminded me of Matthew West's great song, "Do Something" (see link below). Actually, we can ALL do something.

No, we can't fix it all. I don't believe that we can in our lifetime because Jesus said, "There are always going to be poor and needy people among you." But don't let that stop you, because then He said, "So I command you: ALWAYS be generous, open purse and hands, give to your neighbors in trouble, your poor and hurting neighbors." [emphasis mine]

Your budget may be really tight, I know mine is at times, but let me give you an idea. Where I live, just $10 will buy enough peanut butter, grape jelly and bread to make 40 sandwiches. Or it could buy 64 bottles of water and 12 packs of peanut butter or cheese crackers. $5 will buy water and multiple snacks at a dollar store. $1 - just one - will buy 6 individual packs of peanut butter or cheese crackers. If you could have seen the gratitude on their faces for just a pack of snack crackers...

"Give away your life; you’ll find life given back, but not merely given back—given back with bonus and blessing. Giving, not getting, is the way. Generosity begets generosity" (Luke 6:38 The Message).

Do Something
(Click on it for the link to the song.)

Prayer:

Father,
           Give us divine appointments to be generous with all that You have provided. Let goodwill, good seed and the Good News of Your Gospel be sown in the lives of those we touch. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Can You See It from There?

Jesus responded, Didn't I tell you that you would see God's glory if you believe?
John 11:40 NLT

One of the best things about renting a place to stay at the beach is the view. Case in point, how many times do we hear or read the words "Ocean Front Property" or "Ocean View" when looking to rent or buy a place near the water? When considering a place to stay, I want pictures. I want to know what kind of view I'm going to enjoy...but sometimes, things are not always as they appear.

Several years back, when a dear friend came to visit, I found a cottage in Galveston that was advertised for rent and the price was comparable to a hotel, but the real selling point was the view in the picture. It sold both of us. It was beautiful and I just knew it was going to be wonderful.

When we arrived, it was later than we'd thought it would be and it was already dark, so we groped for a light switch to the back entrance (the only entrance), climbed 14 steps to the door and had to make several trips up and down those 14 steps to carry luggage, etc. Not very convenient...and at night, no perfect view to motivate us. I had worked all week and my friend had been at a great, but grueling, conference for 3 days.

I thought to myself, "Hmmm, a hotel would have had an elevator...and coffee already made...and a place to eat with food someone else would prepare...what was I thinking?" But I gave myself a mental shake once we were up there to stay. We talked for just a little bit while making up the beds (which in a hotel would have already been done), and when we were finished, fell into bed exhausted.

In the palest light of morning, created more by the lack of night than the light of day, I finally got up. I was still tired - sleeping on a futon is definitely for college students and kids. I started the coffee, enjoying the aroma of Mountain Grown Coffee and walked out to the deck. It was then I forgot about groping for a light switch to illuminate the way to a door I knew was there somewhere in the dark. I forgot about the multiple trips up and down those 14 steps to carry the luggage and stuff I thought I needed for the trip. I forgot about elevators and already-made beds... 

Spread out before me was a view by the original Artist who created beautiful. I wanted to somehow capture the serenity, the essence of its peace, the beauty of The View from the deck of that cottage. I wanted to be able to paint it, and I can't even draw...

For the three mornings we were there, I soaked up every moment of that view.  However, I discovered that when I was on ground level, the view was obstructed. There were a couple palm trees and a partially-covered pier and sometimes a shrimp boat that obscured the clear outlook, but when I went up higher to the deck, I could see for miles.

What does that have to do with our Promise for Today? In our text, Martha's brother was dead. He'd been dead for four days. Jesus had said it would be okay, but Martha was looking at ground level.
"Helloooooo, he's dead - four days now! Do You have any idea how BAD he's gonna smell? I mean, come on, how can You do anything with something that dead?"

Jesus responded, "Didn't I tell you that you would see God's glory if you believe?" 

Often times, our view of life is just like Martha's. We only see the dark, the hard climb ahead of us, the struggle when we're tired, the obstacles we have to go around, the death of someone or something we love... Scripture repeatedly encourages us to come up higher, to look up. It is only by looking to Jesus, by coming away from the world and spending time with Him on higher ground that we are able to rise above the circumstances of life and see the view where He is... Can you see it from where you're standing?

Prayer:

Father,
          Forgive us for being shortsighted, for the times we only see what is directly in front of us. Thank You for being the Lifter of our heads, according to Your Word. Thank You for re-directing our view. We want to see You. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen.