“I Believe in what He said..I will Trust Him till I die, He has never failed me yet!” These are words from one of my fav uplifting gospel songs by Dorothy Norwood. Truer words could not be spoken. In the book of Galatians Paul, a converted believer in the Messiah Yeshua, tells Why He now Believes. He thought he knew God and His Word…he was a devote Jew yet not a believer of the Messiah – the Messiah Yahweh said would come to save them by Grace which is the fulfillment of the Word of God. Clearly man could not fulfill the Law set down by God and thru His Love He made a way for His Children thru His Grace. Thru God’s Love He sent His Son to bring clarity to The Way to live on Earth as it is in Heaven. A son willing to die in standing Firm in the Promises and Way of His Father, a son willing to sacrifice himself that we might Know God, Our Father. That we might Know His attributes and all the LOVE He has for us. To share God’s promises for our lives….proving all things Can work to the Good in ALL those who Believe and Trust in Him. He didn’t say who believe and trust in a Religion. He said who Trust, Believe, and Obey the Words of the Father.

In the beginning God didn’t apply the label of Jew nor did Jesus apply the title of Christian to God’s walk of Life. Man did that. The Word/ The Way as Jesus said is for ALL nations and All God’s children. It isn’t that God is excluding anyone from His Love or being a part of the Kingdom of God however, just as in your home God can’t allow mankind to run rampant creating darkness, division, and destruction. Those are Not characteristics of LOVE which is how His house operates. It is really just that simple. Love bears the Good fruit of forgiveness, mercy, Grace, long suffering, sharing with thy neighbor, service and the list goes on and on.. Hate, complaining, back biting, grumbling, jealousy, and so on bear bad fruit, destruction, and division and a house divided cannot stand.

I hear often it is not so simple to live in the life of Love or how do I know His Word is true?  There are times I agree on the not so simple..however in those times is when I have stepped out of the Kingdom of God and into the Kingdom of Man and the consequences and emotions only make me feel depressed and disappointed in myself. And it certainly isn’t bearing testimony of God’s Love or uplifting anyone including me. Each Day I rise cultivating my inner garden and pulling out those weeds…each day I seek the Word and plant Good Seed in the garden praying that seed grows and grows within me that I can and Will become One in the fullness of the Love of God.  I Know it is Possible because I BELIEVE in the Word(s). I BELIEVE because I have had so many experiences in many different “religious beliefs” where God/Love revealed itself proving ” Love works when you work it” no matter the title we give it. It is but by the Grace of God I am even hear to share these Words with you. I took the walk down into the valley of the shadow of Death and was Lifted up Reborn to continue on and LIVE, to Testify and say I am a Witness to the Truth of the Word, of God’s Love and Yes, Yes I BELIEVE His Promises and ALL He said He will Do within me.

Have a Blessed Day. Shalom.

Being thankful isn’t just for the Thanksgiving holiday. Scripture tells us to be “thankful in everything, in all circumstances” (1 Thessalonians 5:18 -19). ” In everything give thanks for this is the will of Yahweh in Messidan Yahshua concerning you 19 Quench not the Spirit.”

As I came into this holiday thinking of my list of things I am thankful for…I felt the Spirit tap me saying, ‘ aren’t these things you are thankful for everyday?” My answer, ” YES! Oh Yes”  This got me thinking & seeking God’s Word on the subject.  It hit me of how so many (including me) get caught up in the “things of the world”, pains and woes of Life in the past, and how much we file away our blessings only pulling them out for designated days of the year. This is for sure to our detriment not acknowledging Life and all it has for us in this moment. Even the tough times as they mold and make us stronger building our Trust, Faith, Love, Mercy, Compassion, and Endurance to continue on in this world. Did you know when you rise & set Each Day giving thanks and all your cares to God, Your day and You have a different energy. Things actually have a more positive flow, Love and “Thankfulness” take root and bear new fruits. This is best said in Colossian 3: 15-17 “And let the peace of Elohim rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be ye thankful. Let the word of Messiah dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of Yahshua, giving thanks to Yahweh, the Father, through him. ” In all faiths these words are written in some fashion. In all Faiths Love with all it’s attributes are the answer to defeat Hurts & Darkness. So this Thanksgiving I say… “let’s come together, being conscious of this moment, remembering to choose good things, giving thanks daily, and loving one another.” In this we can’t go wrong.  It is in these things we can bring “change” in our lives individually and collectively. This is Your personal choice, no one change take God’s plan for your life and all it has to Give unless you allow them to. Now, I leave you with these seeds of prayer on thankfulness “from all walks” of LIFE….May we cling to these True and Healing words.

“Let us be grateful to people who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom.” ~Marcel Proust

Phillipians 4:6 “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” Psalm 100:4 “Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name!”

Quran 31:12 “…Any who is grateful does so to the profit of his own soul…”Gratitude has recently become a focus in psychological research. There is a positive psychological effect in feeling thankful that results in appreciating life as it is. We must learn to be aware of and to appreciate the good things in this world to prevent taking them for granted. Being aware of the fact that it is Allah only who has helped us in our life will make us appreciate His blessings more. There is a link between practicing gratitude and feeling happy. Allah tells us in the Quran that we shall be rewarded for showing gratitude:  O you who believe!  Eat of the good things that We have provided for you, and be grateful to God, if it is Him that you worship. Islam.  Qur’an 2.172

From Hindu teachings I found this perfect for today:
A sense of gratitude and indebtedness to others is an important
wellspring of a generous and virtuous life.  All people can recognize that
they are indebted to their parents, who gave them birth and raised them at
considerable sacrifice.  But our indebtedness extends much further than
that. Fundamentally, we are indebted to God our Creator and the powers of
nature that nourish and sustain our life.  Then, since the food we eat
travels from the soil to our dining table by passing through many
hands–that cultivate, harvest, clean, package, transport, sell, and
prepare it–we should recognize that we rely on the labors of many people
in order to survive.  A sense of gratitude to others is thus acknowledging
our interdependent existence; it is an antidote to the illusion of egoism.
Such gratitude is recalled and expressed in the prayer of grace or thanks
offered before meals. Another dimension of gratitude is directed towards those who are
responsible for our education and enlightenment in the way of truth and
salvation.  Gratitude towards one’s teachers, and especially towards the
sages and founders of religions who offered their lives to find the truth,
is a proper attitude of faith.  Most of all, we should be grateful to God,
who quietly has been guiding and nurturing each person toward salvation,
and without whose grace the world would be plunged into utter darkness.

“Let us rise up and be thankful, for if we didn’t learn a lot today, at least we learned a little, and if we didn’t learn a little, at least we didn’t get sick, and if we got sick, at least we didn’t die; so, let us all be thankful.” ~Buddha in darkness.“You have no cause for anything but gratitude and joy.” 
~The Buddha

“It is not good for all our wishes to be filled; through sickness we recognize the value of health; through evil, the value of good; through hunger, the value of food; through exertion, the value of rest.”~Greek Proverb

“When eating bamboo sprouts, remember the man who planted them.”~Chinese Proverb

“There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.” ~Albert Einstein

Mr. Ward says it well:  “For each new morning with its light, For rest and shelter of the night, For health and food, for love and friends, Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it.” “God gave you a gift of 86,400 seconds today. Have you used one to say ‘thank you?’” ~William Arthur Ward

And I end this post with these wise words: “Gratitude is riches. Complaint is poverty.” ~Doris Day

What am I thankful for: ALL of YOU, the Freedom to Choose, and ALL God has for Me.  Shalom!

Life is All About Choices: the seeds of a soulful servant and of a scandalous scoundrel are within each and everyone of us. Are you awake and conscious of which you are watering?

It all began at the beginning, choosing to listen to the Father’s words of wisdom or Not. Let’s look at the words…Soulful Servant. Who would that be? The dictionary definitions: Soulful: full of or expressing feeling or emotion  Servant: a person in the service of another.  So,  soulful servant would be : a person expressing their feelings/emotions thru service to another. Agree?

Just as I do, I am sure you all know a few Scandalous Scoundrels. Who are they exactly?   Scandalous: disgraceful; shameful or shocking; improper: scandalous behavior in public.  Scoundral: a person who is cruel or dishonest; a mean, evil, or unprincipled person.

And what does the Father’s Words of wisdom say when it comes to cultivating the seeds of a soulful servant or that of the Scoundrel?   1 Corinthians 10:24 “Let no one seek his own good, but that of his neighbor.”  Proverbs 3:5-6  “Trust in the LORD with all your heart & do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight.”  Mark 10:43-45 ” But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”  And my Fav says it all Galatians 5:13:  ” For you were called to freedom, brothers & sisters. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.

And His Words regarding the Scoundrel?  Isaiah 32:7 “Scoundrels use wicked methods, they make up evil schemes to destroy the poor with lies, even when the plea of the needy is just   Isaiah 5: 23  ” Who justify the wicked for a bribe, And take away the rights of the ones who are in the right!”  Isaiah 26:10 “ Though the wicked is shown favor, He does not learn righteousness; He deals unjustly in the land of uprightness, And does not perceive the majesty of the LORD.”

Now I ask you, what seeds are you cultivating? Watering? Who are you associating with? What type of man/woman do you want people to see when they interact with you and your friends? We are in a time in life that our Choices are critical. Our choices are creating the world as we know it. Let’s Not continue to repeat history and be sheep led to the slaughter. Choose good things, not things that destroy…I know sometimes it feels like you can’t see a good choice but, choose the best possible. Don’t make choices based on others views…Seek the truth with all your heart and Listen to the Spirit within… Right NOW is Your Life and the choices you make do affect the Life of those you Love.

Politics/ Political parties aside, the truth IS:  LOVE does trump Hate.

Peace.

Everyday is a new day. Yesterday gone & tomorrow not guaranteed. So, this day, this moment “Choose Good Things”. What does that mean exactly? As the human race has revealed the interpretation of “good ” can vary. Like those that want to “go back” in time to the good ole days. 1st off, you can’t go back..never works to repeat history, history itself has proven that..just read the Bible & keep researching forward..division has done no good thing. Be honest, you know really those times were Not better than today.  Difference was the media wasn’t plastering all the “bad” things all in our face. Nope, instead A lot was covered up and/or people just buried their head in the sand and ignored all the “bad” stuff.  Segregation, abuse, rape in families & out, riots, beatings and dragging people to be hung, slavery, leaving the poor to suffer, attitudes of “I got mine, “they” are not my problem. Inequality in education, jobs, & even healthcare…nope, I don’t see those as the good ole days or a better America..Only the “few” who believe they are “better” than their fellow man, those who believe women & those less than should just take it and keep their mouths shut..be happy with the crumbs you are given, it will be worse if you don’t shut  up. Really, you believe it was better?  Those good ole days were history repeating itself with  wars, hate, greed, selfishness, All God tells us to “Not” do. Nope, I have no desire to go back to haters who shot at my husband and I just because we were a black man & white woman who loved one another. No desire for my inter-racial children to be treated like house _______. No desire to be raped & abused and it be shoved under the rug and nowhere to go for help..just forget it and for god’s sake don’t let the neighbors know…gotta keep up appearances ya know. No, desire to hear about young boys molested in the church and nothing done because it is the church. Poor little children afraid to open their mouths, even the parents shushing them..can’t bring shame on the priests. Today is better, those raped & abused feel the freedom to come out and tell. My list could go on about those good ole days…that were not so good. my view is: Hell no I won’t go..Back.

Praise God, since the 70’s, especially in the last 20 years, we have begun to change, there has been some growth & the love of God is evident among many. We the people are using our Voices, speaking out more, learning & using the rights we have..rights meant for All the people. We are more Integrated, thank God, which has allowed more doors to open to minorities & women. Their are better laws that  protect & serve the middle & lower income people too. ( mind you those are still a work in progress…that being the point, that we continue to Progress.)  All this and so much more has changed and Will continue to change thanks to those willing to stand up & fight for “we the People”. People like Martin Luther King Jr, Bill & Hilary Clinton, Barak Obama, Oprah, Jane Fonda, the current Pope, and a LONG list of others who believe in “loving thy neighbor & we the people are created Equal as One”. Those who Know it takes a village working “together” to have a GREAT country..Leaders who See the greatness & potential of who we Can Continue to Be, “IF” we continue to GO Forward looking at the Big picture. People who know, If we operate in Love not division & greed that is “the way” we Will be Great. Choosing Good Things should be making choices for the betterment of mankind, to uplift & edify one another daily, get to know our neighbors, not pass judgment when you haven’t even shared a word and know nothing about someone.

People “a house divided cannot stand”…we cannot have a leader that believes we are not great, who wants to go backward not forward, who is hot headed, over emotional, & clearly has shown he is all about Me & those who support Me . He is Not for the Majority of the people, those of whose backs this country was built on. A majority of who are minorities of all races, creeds, & religious backgrounds..Hello..that is who America is founded on & what does make us GREAT! We do not want to be a country divided, constantly at war, controlled by a dictator. That is what our military go off to war and fight against..what we are trying to avoid!  It was our forefathers vision to Unite, our Father God’s plan to Be ONE, loving one another as His Son gave His Life to teach us..that Love, His Word was for ALL mankind. Jesus vision is still for us to Love our neighbors as ourselves. I have to ask those who are supporting this bully, Do you hate your fellowman, yourselves & want to commit a slow suicide? To go back, to make a choice of following a leader insighting racism, determined to Divide this country will do exactly that. You perceive things are bad now, his way will take us down, down, down.

You may be saying, Hilary is not perfect…that is true, No not one of us are perfect. But, her heart is for the people, her plans are to the Benefit of All mankind..always has been. Check it out, if you will take the time to do your research “yourself”, you will see all she Has done over the years; fighting for “we the people” for our children (who are the future). Then research all she desires “to do”-  you would be blind not to see…she is for Us, all of us, to her death..with Her we Can continue to grow, make changes to the good, walk together lifting one another & this country UP!  We can have a future with the Freedom to live a life of  “Together We Stand”  Not one of divided we fall.

Clearly, I’m with Her and I pray you join me in that vote.

Religion often tells you, “it is a sin to love your stuff.” Well, in my opinion that is a negative outlook of life. Not to mention, saying that are you not fulfilling all God’s “thou shalt not”.  Doesn’t God tells us not to pass judgment…that is a very judgmental statement. The book states God abundantly blesses his children. And that we should be Grateful. So, if you got your stuff legally, that means: God blessed you to have a job so you & yours can live comfortable. We should be praising and happy for one another as we grow. We should be shouting praises of appreciation and sharing with our neighbors. When is the last time you got together with your neighbors?  Do you even know the neighbors in your immediate community? Does anyone need a hand?  If you read your bible, actually Any faiths book, you will see, when mankind meets up with the family of God and asks, “Can we take a walk? I need to talk to you. If that man/woman listened to Words they had to say, Next thing ya know, they were abundantly blessed. Crops were healthy feeding the masses, nice homes for the whole family, sharing in the community, and SOOOO much more. It’s in the Book…read it for yourself.

All that said, I love my stuff…in the most appreciative form of Love there is. Many days of the week, I will be sitting reading, cleaning, cooking, watching TV and it hits me as I look up and around just how MUCH I’ve been Blessed ! My heart fills with Praises of Joy, Amazement, Respect, Love, and so much more. Right behind that flows rivers of Loving memories over the last 40 years and so many amazing Blessings that have crossed “my Life’s path”. Then Excitement comes strollin’ into my garden, She walks me back to the present all the while picking me a bouquet of “my hearts desires” As she leaves she hands it to me saying, ” yes, there is more to come, just remember, all things in moderation.”             Yep on this road I take, the past is not a place of doom and gloom but, Instead it uplifts  and restores me. Only when we dwell in the darkness of the past, in the weeds prickling and choking us out, is the past a place to avoid. Being someone who’s gone from “drugs and homeless” to “Clean and on the right side of comfortable” God has shown me, His plan was for ” us ALL “ is to continue to transform, grow, and blossom into the radiant beauties we were designed to BE…from the beginning thru all seasons till eternity.

This Love I have for ALL and EVERYTHING God has bestowed on me…will never stop. This Love of God and of My Stuff is From God. It is a Love I will shout from the mountaintops.  ” “THANK YOU LORD for keeping your Promises to providing all my needs, Thank You Lord, for blessing the whole family everyday! THANK YOU Lord for showering me, my family, & so many of my friends/neighbors,with so many of Our wants, THANK YOU LORD for reminding me how this all works… you Love me, provide and bless me… I, created in your image follow Your lead  and “love my neighbor as myself”

Clean as a whistle…a place for everything and everything has it place….cleanliness is next to Godliness….and so on and so on.  What made the sayings bloom in the garden?  I Know! Once you are walking in The Way…blessings just keep comin’ Your Way and next thing ya know, you have to keep everything neat, tidy, clean as a whistle and so on so you don’t end up being a horder!  Most of us, Praise God have an abundant harvest. Many for sure have enough to share. When you have to get a storage unit or have crates under the bed, build shelves, and so on and so on…it is time to share the harvest. When was the last time you cleared out and “let go” of some stuff sitting around in your storage areas?

Join me in a Fall Clean Up, a Clear Out of sharing the Harvest… before it all starts ” Falling” out all over the place. Once you’re done Pray for God to reveal someone in need. Don’t just go drop it in a Salvation Army box to be sold.  The holidays are coming, create a holiday. Make gifts bags, then get out there and give them out to someone in need. Drop into the parking lot of places that feed the homeless. If you live in the city, go to the Main Downtown Library and drive around…the right person will come your way.smile  Maybe you live in a flood area, or where the tornados hit..go seek out those that have lost it all. Churches should be able to tell you where to go. And don’t say, I don’t have time (you don’t have to do it all in a day) and you do have a place to store the gift bags, you should, you are clearing space as you make your bags!.  Yep, cleanliness is next to Godliness and this task Can if you so Choose, send you on a mission trip in your very own community.  Trust me, everywhere in America in 2016 there Is someone in need. As a Blessed child of God…as a Believer…as one Human(e) Being to another we are Called to Love and Share the Harvest with your Neighbors. smile  2 Peter 3:9 The Lord isn’t slow to keep his promise, as some think of slowness, but he is patient toward you, not wanting anyone to perish but all to change their hearts and lives.   Everywhere on Earth IF mankind would but, choose to Share the Harvest, it would change hearts and lives. Yours and your neighbors in your communities. None would be hungry, praying for water, for a bath, a toothbrush, some lotion for their cracked skin, just a Bag to put their few items in, not even would there be a lack of a place to lay their heads. It all begins in the conscious choices within our hearts & minds, then extends withing our homes out to  our communities – those right out our own back doors.  And I gotta tell ya, my home and Me are down right happy that I stopped watching TV, goofing off, and took the time to Clean up – clear out…now I’m praying for that right one. I can actually set someone up to move into a room with what I cleared out !! Clothes, Bedding, Toiletries, Shoes, dishes, and so on and so on. And again Praise God!! This isn’t my first fall clean out doing this. How about you?  How much Stuff do you have? Is it serving a ” Good ” purpose or stashed somewhere drying up and dying .. soon to be no use to a soul.

Ok times up, I gotta go clear out magazines and a few books!  Maybe some CD’s too – I think I even have a small CD player to go with them! ….see what I mean?

Shalom !

Knowledge tip of the day: The saying “cleanliness is next to godliness” does not appear in the Bible. It’s hard to say where the idea of a connection between cleanliness and godliness originated. The Israelites were certainly concerned about the concepts of “clean” and “unclean” because a major portion of the Mosaic Law outlines the principles of each. Among the unclean things that God’s people were to avoid are dead bodies and carcasses, eating certain animals, leprosy, and bodily discharges. Elaborate washing rituals were prescribed to render an unclean person clean again so that he could re-enter the community and the sanctuary of the Lord (Numbers 19). For the Jew, keeping the ceremonial laws and regulations was considered the way to approach God. Therefore, it is no wonder that the expression has its roots in Hebrew literature.

When your feeling like you have no one to talk to, Remember you have Jesus. And you always have “yourself”  No, it’s not crazy to talk to yourself. I personally like to talk to Me and JC of course. To voice things out loud and ponder them. How can I get to know me if I won’t look at Me? It is part of the transforming of the mind. Once I talk it thru then talk it through with my BFF, Jesus to get His take on things. Remember:          Who knows you better than Jesus and You!

We must do what is best for us to make sure we don’t let to many weeds grow in the garden of our hearts. Like it says in Romans 12:2 “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”  Yep, just stop Breath..deep breaths and “ponder whatever it is running thru your mind. It is all about “your” choices, good and bad that determine what comes forth in your garden(s). Don’t you want it to be “the Best of the Best” within and without. You are You..you can’t be someone else. If you deny who you are and try be someone else, it only creates a puppet – a phoney. That is not living. There are much better choices: 2 Corinthians 5: 17 ” Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, (walks in His image) they are a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”

In your pondering, your questions ask yourself: Galatians 1:10 “For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of God”  Have I forgotten this truth? Acts 17:28  “In him we live and move and have our being’; as even some of your own poets have said, “‘For we are indeed his offspring.”  Created in His image we are…it is the world that chips away at that spirit of Love, Compassion, Wonder, Amazement, Joy, and Peace. We don’t have to let it.

So, have a look at yourself, have a chat, than answer the knock of your Brother, Jesus and ya’ll have a fun time catching up and planting new seeds.

Hugs and Peace!

To be the Fluffy Baking Grandma?  In today’s world it seems Grandma, Nanna, whatever you are called is fading away. Oh and BTW, I am speaking to those over 60 in this post.

Seems she is forgetting it is OK that you are aging, OK that you don’t have figure of a 30-40 year old. OK, you can’t run hard and stay up late. It’s ok if you have put on a few pounds and have some Fluff on your body. It’s OK to be a Grandma. I am not saying sit around and not take care of your health. I am not saying don’t exercise. But, I am saying you are changing, your body is aging and changing and it is supposed to! I am saying we should not be self conscious about our bodies and we should not have to exercise crazy or have surgeries to look like our daughters. We should not be stressing out over wrinkles and things shifting. Instead maybe just go shopping and find outfits that compliment the changes. Not kill yourself trying to still fit into those skinny jeans or tight dress. I am saying there should Not be Body shaming on Grandma! And to finish off my post: I am saying please hang out with the grandkids in some of the Fun “ole school ways”: Color, play jacks, bake, play outside, take a trip to the Library, go camping at the beach or lake, go to church activities and so on. …if we don’t Who Will?  Don’t you remember how much fun you had doing some simple things like these? And these are just a few of the fun simple things kids still need to learn and appreciate. They are lots more engaging than sitting on a computer/phone, watching TV, or listening to head banging music.  Not to say there is a time for that too.. it’s at home when you are with your Mom and Dad. LOL  When we age we typically grow to like the quieter things of life. Share God’s Love, lovey hugs, some quality time…we don’t see them everyday.

So, stop stressing about how you look and just Go LIVE your Golden Years and enjoy each Moment you have in each and everyway!

Shalom!

Well summer arrived with a Bang! and it looks like it is going to be a scorcher all season. All around the US it is just plain HOT!

Many can “Praise God for air conditioning” however, there are many who are without. As you sit inside has that occurred to you? How many are without A/C trying to endure this heat? God’s word calls us to care for our neighbors with His Love breathed within us. As in Philippians 2:4 ” do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.”  Does this verse tap your thoughts to say, ” what can I do to help my neighbor in this heat? ” I am hopeful it does. smile  One great way to give some TLC to the inner garden of your community is: Water! In this heat the homeless or neighbor with no A/C  on a tight budget, could sure use some water. Buying one of those big packs of bottled water & handing it out would be a great way for you and your children or you and some friends to get out and show some Love. And no excuses of , ” but, it’s to hot out there to do that”.  I know you can endure for a “little time” to give Love to others who are out there suffering the heat 24/7.  Do you have a senior neighbor that could use some neighborly love of a Fan, water, or have to walk or catch the bus to get to the store or church. Could you give them a lift so they don’t have to catch the bus or walk in this heat. For that matter, do you have a neighbor period with no car that has to walk or catch the bus to the store. I remember as a single Mom having to walk and catch the bus in the heat and no one offering to lend a hand. No Fun. Mom is suffering, the kids are crying and suffering which makes Mom suffer more in all sorts of ways. Did you know there are neck coolers that can be put in the freezer then worn around the neck to stay cool…that would be a good gift for your neighbor. Check out the website http://www.mycoolingstore.com    You see, all around us there are “neighbors” who need a hand. Some are homeless and then there are those less obvious; one step off of homeless who are suffering in private. All of them praying for just a little something to stay cool. I call you today to be conscious of your neighbors. Heck, get to know some of your neighbors and those in you neighborhood. Then step out and lend a “cooling, refreshing hand in your neighbors gardens”  Keep bottles of water in your car and just hand them out when you see someone in need. Go to the senior centers and ask if they know anyone that needs a hand in this heat. Or give a ride to someone a ride to church on Sunday.  As it says in 1 John 3:17-18 – “But whoever has the world’s goods, and sees his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him? Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth.”

Be God’s Love and Word Lived out in the Church.  (not just preached at service)

Just think, the difference it would make if EVERYONE who is able in your community, shared a little bit of their time or just a bottle of water.

Stay cool and enjoy your summer. Peace!