Fraud Alert!!

I’m the kind of girl who has so many random thoughts or sees a great quote or finds a great Bible verse to later blog on or hears something I feel is worth repeating so I jot these things down on pieces of paper, in the backs of my many notebooks, or on writing pads that are nearby.  Every once in a while I try to go over them and see what they mean to me now, in a different light and on a different day.

Case in point:  as I came in my Pretty Purple Room this morning, there was a mess.  Here’s a pic to show you some of my small collection:

 

As you can see, there is much material to sort through.  However, as I came across the one prominently displayed, I was reminded of our church meeting last night, when Brother Brandon spoke to us on being careful that who we present to others in the world matches up with who we are in private.  I don’t know if you can see it on the note (or be able to read my horrible handwriting) but my note said “Fraud Alert.  Identity Theft.  How I wish I was constantly the woman behind the computer screen and didn’t revert back to the old me when my fingers are no longer typing.”  :(

Brandon’s words are echoing through my head this morning as I review this written thought from Lord knows when.  It’s easy to be so full of bubbly encouragement and truths and light when I am writing these words to you all but...but when I step out from behind this screen, are the folks who know me and read my blogs wondering who this chick thinks she is?  Do they question if my actions match up with my professions of faith when they encounter me in various circumstances?  Mostly though, I wonder if God--Who knows me inside and out--is pleased with the image I project in my daily walk.  Oh, I hope so, but I fear I fall short far too often.  

So, for those of you reading this, call me out when you see me erring.  Let me know--privately please--what I am doing wrong, right, and what could use some help.  Scripture tells us in Proverbs 27:17 that “Iron sharpens iron.”  Don’t let me be a vessel of rust that corrupts and corrodes.  As I continue to endeavour to share the love of Christ through this blog, my desire is to be a blessing.  I don’t want to just be a hearer of the Word; I want to be a doer.

Let’s pray!

Dear Lord, whew!  This was a tough one.  So many times I can feel like I am in Your perfect will and then bam!  Something happens to show my humanity and set me back a few paces.

Lord?  As I struggle with my wandering mind, I ask You to be that Guide for my pathway that was promised.  I ask that You continue working in me, perfecting me, and readying me for Your kingdom.  I long for Your words of “Well done, My faithful child.”  Prick me when I falter, I ask, in the name of Jesus.  Amen.

Somebody Touched Me!

She did it again.  This woman.  This marvelous woman that the Lord Jesus Christ saw fit to put in my world.  

It was a couple of weeks ago at Card Ministry.  My back was hurting and for some unknown reason (because I really don’t like folks to touch me much--it makes me feel all funny inside), as I stood beside her, I asked her to rub it. Without hesitation, she did.  And it wasn’t just one of those quickie-okay-I’ll-rub-your-back-for-one-minute-rubs.  No sir.  This lady proceeded to gently but firmly place her warm hand where I had shown her it hurt, and continued to make circles on my aching body until I let her know that that was good.

I didn’t think much about it until a week or so ago, when Steve and I were doing our Fruit of the Spirit study.  The word “kindness” came up and I immediately remembered this act that had been performed on me.  If you’re thinking to yourself at this point “What is the big deal, Stef?  Plenty of people have rubbed my back before and you don’t see me writing to tell the world.” then I would like you to take a moment and consider this verse from Matthew 8:3:

Jesus stretched out His hand and touched him, saying, "I am willing; be cleansed." And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.

While not a leper, many folks don’t touch me.  I guess it’s the aura I put out and most of the time it’s fine.  I mean sure, I get those friendly hugs as one circulates through the congregation at church from a few sweet women and occasionally from an older man.  The ones from the kiddos sure are sweet!  

I still didn’t think of it as such a big deal until on one of those Sundays, another lady approached me to shake my hand but...I could tell she was just doing it to be nice.  What she wanted to really do was get a hold of the woman beside of me and embrace her lovingly.  Her words of “My day just isn’t complete without a hug from you!” made my heart feel a pang as I thought “This woman doesn’t give me hugs!”  For some reason, it really bothered me.  Thus, the night Steve and I studied kindness, the back rub came back to mind.

What is it about the human touch?  That feeling of warmth that spreads through your whole body when another human being shares a part of self to connect with you?  Those random pats on the backs and shoulders?  The hearty handshakes when you can tell someone is really glad to see you? The oh-so-sweet gentle kisses on a cheek or the top of your head that seem to come from one who instinctively seems to know just how badly you needed that?

Jesus knew all about them.  That’s why He so freely gives them, gives of Himself.  He knows many of us feel unworthy, unlovable, unaccepted.  Many of the miracles He performed on others resulted first in Christ Jesus touching that one who was infirmed, making a connection, and showing His compassion.  Leper, blinded men, the deaf--all of these wounded felt the healing touch of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.  The ones most people had already rejected were healed by the Great Physician.  

So, back to my friend.  Did she have any clue what her rubbing of my back meant to me?  Probably not.  I’m sure many folks ask things of her that she freely gives without thinking twice about them.  That’s her nature:  to give of herself.  That’s Christ’s nature, exhibited in this dear soul and in so many of you.  So, the next time opportunity presents itself, reach out and touch someone.  Oh surely, though, do it in a helpful way and not a kick in the rear as many need (in our humble estimations) or a punch in the face as many are wont to do in today’s society.  You probably won’t realize how effective and powerful that simple kind gesture is but I daresay you will impact a life more than for the few seconds your touch lingers on them.

Let’s pray!

Dear Father, how I thank You for touch.  The sense of another soul reaching out without fear to share love is one of Your most wonderful gifts!  

Thank You for the example Your Son Jesus modeled for me.  May I use my fingers, my hands, and my light kisses on cheeks to bless others and remind them that You care about them even more than I do.  In the precious name of Jesus I pray this:  amen.

Hit me again, Ike

“Where would Tina Turner be right now if she'd rolled over and said, ‘Hit me again, Ike,

and put some stank on it!’? Rollin' on the river, that's where she'd be.”

Where does your inspiration come from?  Old movies?  Songs?  Books?  People?  The Bible?  I would have to say mine come from all of the above.

Take this morning for example.  Steve and I were having our breakfast and I was relating to him about this person on Facebook.  The posts this person--let's call him "Ike" for now--puts up often have the tendency to irk me.  Ike often posts things that are rarely positive; some would even say they are whiny and derogatory to his employer.  The more I told Steve about his comments, the more upset Steve himself got over the silliness and outrageousness of it. Upset isn't quite the right word; irate would be better.  No, that's too strong. Maybe just plain old fed up would best suffice.

Anyway, he says to me, "Can't you just unfollow this person?  They wouldn't know if you did, right:  Facebook doesn't notify them that they are not being followed?"

I said I could but when certain of my friends comment on Ike's page, it shows up in my feed.  His oh-so-wise response that he didn't know would be the spark to set my wandering fingers ablaze this morning with this blog?  "Can't you just un-feed it?"

Whoa!

The tangents my mind took off on as I instantly thought of how many things in my life would not be so pesky and irksome if they just weren't fed!  For instance, you know how Facebook likes to send you those "On This Day" reminders of what happened this time last year, two years ago, and so on?  Things like on this day my mother died in 2012 (as though I needed to be reminded of that).  

Oh the flames that are ignited when I allow myself to dwell on all the angst, hurt, pain, and betrayal that that incident brought up.  Oh sure, there were also some great things that happened on September 3 throughout my lifetime and those things are fondly remembered but honestly, each day in this feed, it seems as though there is something there to try to steal my hard-fought for joy.  And if it's not "On This Day," then there is someone who posts a meme, a quote, a prayer request for whatever family functions and dysfunctions are going on to remind me of my own affairs.

So, what am I saying?  Am I proposing giving up Facebook so that there's not always something there to remind me of past trials?  Hmn.  It surely would eliminate a lot of my random thoughts and keep me less involved (and thereby less likely to be made aware of things that really--in all honesty--don't concern me).  It would free up many moments in my day to better use to pursue happier and more productive thoughts.  In truth, it would probably be one of the smartest things I could do: to unfeed my mind and life of inconsequential things and events.

But...

But, maybe I'm more like the meme I posted above.  Maybe I'm a closet masochist?  Maybe--like was proposed by Fletcher in the "Liar Liar" movie--maybe I enjoy being hit again and again with hurt--and while you're at it, put some stank on it?  I mean, truthfully, if it bothered me enough, wouldn't I quit exposing myself to it?  Wouldn't I unfeed this hungry shark that is never satisfied, never fulfilled, never gets enough of the misery that feeds its appetite?

Sigh.

But there's more to the quote I used this morning from Jim Carrey's dialogue here.  He follows it with "Wake up, Sisters!  There's no such thing as a weaker sex."

Read these words that Jesus told Paul in 2 Corinthians 12:

But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.  That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Hmn.  I can surely relate to the weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and difficulties Paul was writing about.  Can't you, friends?  So, while it'd probably be one of the smarter things to do--to give up Facebook, I mean--I don't believe I will.  Even though it has the tendency to reveal things to me that were previously unknown, it also only has as much power as I allow it to.  So, yeah Steve, I will "unfeed" some folks' pages.  I will unfollow more that I know are often ones who just bring me down with their own miserableness.  I won't purposely seek out their posts to see what's new with them.  After all, if it was any of my business, I'd probably already be privy to it, don't you think?  I think so too!

Let's pray!

Dear Lord...

Heavy sigh.

Father?  Thank You for once again showing me a better way.  Who knew a simple word like "unfeed" would open my eyes to something so easy to do, something that should be obvious to begin with, and something that definitely needs to be tended to in my life?  I'm a slow learner and it takes me a while, Lord, to realize what others have known for longer.  Thanks for being tolerant with me and helping me to make the necessary changes that will make me...better?  More like You?  

Yeah.  That is the ultimate goal, right?  You promised to perfect me and even though it may be taking more time than You originally planned, the race is still being run.  Fulfill Your will in me, I pray, in the name of Jesus.  Amen.