During our country's difficult economic times, so many Americans are struggling, suffering, needing and hoping. Many appear to have placed their hope in Jesus Christ. Others may feel a lost sense of hopelessness, despair, desolation to failure in our country's setback financially and moralistically. Large ideals can come tumbling down quickly, frightening the strongest believers when their world seems to have stopped turning and begun to evolve in an unfamiliar spin zone.
Existing may seem to be futile as the adversary would have anyone believe... "GIVE UP" "STEAL" "LIE" "CHEAT" "LOOK OUT FOR NUMBER 1!"
Jesus commands us to "You shall love your neighbor as yourself" [Matthew 23:39] In other words "Give to others who are hungry, need clothing, visit the sick, the incarcerated..."
In this day and time, how can anyone know if you're helping those who are trying to help themselves? The Scriptures tells us "God helps those who help themselves."
With so much need in our country literally on every corner, how can anyone be sure if giving cash to those holding out plastic cups or bare hands... How does anyone know it's not a scam?
My answer came when I prayed with discernment of such times. The consequences of the person "in need" or the people "in greed" is ultimately between the Father and His child whether they are a lamb or a scam. Every human being is a child of God. He certainly knows their heart and their intentions... genuine grace or wanton waste.
A few days ago, I experienced an opportunity to give to couple who looked a lot like me if I were standing in their shoes. They had on clean clothes, well groomed and were extremely humble. Most people asking for money that I've previously helped appear to have been exposed to more extreme times with rough exterior and shabby clothing. I'm not judging, just sayin... hard times are like a virus... they can hit anyone, anywhere at anytime!
As this couple stood side by side graciously receiving donations as their grateful expression was just shy of a smile. They were standing on a corner of a Wal-mart parking exit... and I began to think "That could be me!"
How blessed I am! How blessed they were that day as many others stopped to help, to give from their hearts. What the young couple didn't realize, was the blessing they gave in return something far beyond cents... but a sense in knowing God presented an opportunity to show love to my neighbor.
To my dismay, several cars passed by without looking towards the needy pair, not even a dollar to spare. Maybe they didn't have it to give. Maybe they did. Without hesitation, Mother and I gave a donation freely. Then we turned to the right, turning the corner to exit onto a fast paced highway.
I couldn't help but compare how many of us leave a spiritual parking until it's our turning point to move past the spiritual gate keeper's post. Will you or won't you help another today... show "love thy neighbor" when they are in need, give money for their power bill, food, existence? I don't see every opportunity that comes my way, but I'm grateful to God for blatant reminders!
Have you ever been the one humbled enough for the public to see the "Jesus" in you standing on a corner?
Have you ever been someone turning the corner and passed a chance to show "Love thy neighbor?"
Times are hard. Start a new direct path for a direct response, directly from your heart. Look into the eyes of the ones you are led to give hope and change... the change in your pockets. Share Jesus with them.
On that day, the young man said "Thank you! I was saved last week. God is showing me how we will make it." He stated from his directly, "Jesus Christ is in my heart!" He expressed his sincere gratitude humbly and profoundly. Yet, I didn't need assurance he was a Christian. He gave me the sense in knowing he was sincere.
Jesus said "You shall love your neighbor (ANYONE-Christian or Non-Believer) as yourself." Yahweh didn't stutter. Jehovah didn't mention the Scripture with "You MIGHT love... No. It was the second commandment given by Jesus Christ, the Comforter of all burdens, in the New Testament!
If you had been standing on that corner, looking at yourself... what would you have given yourself?
In turning life's corner, are you passing up chances or passing on blessings?
It's your turn.
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Saturday, October 9, 2010
Ditto Dana!
At the time, I was in the midst of helping a family completely refurbish a house they wanted to sell. Since I had the experience from remodeling my grandparents' home place, I had developed a passion for an exciting interior renovation projects. So I coordinated all the details of this huge assignment overseeing the work. Once the house was ready to place on the market, I called my cousin Mike. He sent over two agents that were a tandem team. Dana and Leslie arrived.
Dana and I immediately bonded with kindred spirits since we both have outgoing personalities. At the time, she was making plans to be married in two weeks. The other highlight in her life was D.J., her 13 year old son from a previous marriage. Dana was bubbly, genuine, and quick witted, delightful, energetic, smart, and extremely personable. She was the ideal real estate agent, with the unique gift to relate to any one, any where at any time.
Shortly after we met, Dana and I shared our mutual passionate about God as we were seeking more about Him. She had recently become a Christian while I was renewing my walk with Christ. Our closeness transpired greater as we shared personal difficulties and triumphs seeking a closer relationship with the Father.
In the meantime, the housing market was flat. Nothing much was selling. But out of the blue, prayers were answered and the house sold in eight weeks! In that short time frame, we had become good friends, talking almost daily on the phone as she coordinated house tours.
We became closer friends as we remained in contact, following each other's paths through emails and texting. She was one of my heart friends... a truth seeking sister in Christ... someone I could share whatever was on my mind and in my heart knowing she accepted me with unconditional love, no matter the issue.
God had provided the rare gift of a true friend. Knowing we could relate to one another yet from very different backgrounds didn't seem to matter as Christians. The only precursor for being in a Christian friendship is that you both love Jesus Christ as He is in your heart with each breath.
Our friendship evolved into prayer partners. We shared the most intimate details of our lives. We were supportive of one another as we both had different vices to deal with and break away from with no reservations in becoming more Christ-like. She's the one who taught me the phrase...."There's a devil at every level." There wasn't anything we could not or did not share with each other, yet I never laid eyes on her again since the spring in 2006.
On July 23, 2009, it was Dana's son's 17th birthday. It was also the day she learned she had cancer throughout in her reproductive system and two lymphnodes.
Although we had been in sporadic communication with one another. The only distance we shared were earthly miles. January 5, 2010 was the last communication from me to Dana since my focus shifted solely on Mother's health issues. I had posted it on Caring Bridge. However, I was never notified of any updates all the while thinking she was improving as we prayed for God to heal her ailing body.
When Dana was placed heavily on my heart Friday morning, October 1, 2010, the sensing grew stronger as the day prolonged. By Saturday late afternoon, I had a deepened desire to get in touch with her. The sensing had increased incredibly strong!
I emailed her, but it wasn't the right path it seemed. Not knowing if her cell number had been saved from the data information transferred from my "puppy chewed" Blackberry to my new replacement, I quickly grabbed my cell. Sure enough, there was Dana's number. Instead of calling, I decided to text. "Hey, I have you heavy on my heart," I quickly typed.
Right after sending that text, I sat at my desk in silence awaiting her reply. I remember glancing at a crystal cross placed on a small shelf above my workspace. From where I was siting, it was aligned right in front of a framed print with the name "Jesus" simply and eloquently inscripted. As I continued to sit there, a stillness feel upon me. There was a sweet quietness in my midst. I knew at that moment Dana had passed on to be with Jesus. I could see a vision of her standing adorned in a whiter than white robe, radiantly glowing as a brilliant aura framed her face with a huge smile. I could see Dana's perfectly white teeth, as she looked healthy and heavenly. Dana had one tiny dark filling on a front tooth she had mentioned about getting fixed on of these days. Now it was fixed permanently. The odd part of remembering the vision is that one tiny spot on her front tooth had not crossed my thoughts in years. She looked perfect, happiness completely succumbed within her soul as her spirit filled encounter with our Father was ever more present.
When my cell rang, it was Dana's cell number! I thought, "Oh I was really mistaken! Whoa!" But the voice was not Dana's. It was her sister, Meredith. She said, "I'm so sorry to inform you that Dana passed away last night. (Friday, October 1, 2010 at 7:40 est). I had to ask her to repeat what she said because I knew it to be true but my spiritual knowing seemed to be way ahead of my brain or my heart accepting.
Several hours passed before I was able to adapt from a mixture of emotions. I cried as if I had lost a close family member, a strong prayer warrior on this earth. In my spirit somehow, I was assured by the Father that Dana was with Him. There was no doubt... but the magnificent reality of how I was contacted or "nudged" left an indelible mark on my spiritual growth chart.
It's difficult to express how deeply this affected me through sadness and gladness combined simutaneously. I immediately began grieving upon hearing the news and found myself tearing at odd moments the following day as an incredible sense of peace seemed to be a constant reminder "Dana is home."
Was it Dana's heart desire that her heart friends be touched by the Lord to know? After all she was at her parents' home in Florida versus her Atlanta, Georgia, home where she resided with her family. How else would I have known if not by God allowing the spiritual nudging in my heart? It was an awesome experience within the hours she was leaving this earth, I was reminded of her deeply.
It had been months, yet our spiritual connection endured because our friendship was based on Jesus Christ. Admittedly, I did beat myself up for not having been in touch since January. But I was soon reminded God had placed a mission on placed on my heart to help Mother. Then I realized one important aspect of this spiritual lesson was that time didn't matter. Dana and I connected and stayed in each other's hearts. We were spiritual sisters. Quite often the way God does when we drift away from Him. Yet we are still connected.
I was humbled by the Father's touch in my life in a multitude of ways, especially how He allowed me to know about Dana's crossing to the other side. I didn't have to wonder where Dana was any longer or what state of health she was in. She was healed from our prayers, in heaven.
It's important to follow the "nudges" we receive from God as He works through us.
Please pray for those souls who don't have a clue how Majestic the Father's power is within each of us when we submit ourselves to Him... not halfway but completely. It's not our way part of the time then His way some of the time. It's HIS way ALL of the time. I struggle with this every day but every day it does get easier!
"The fear of the Lord leads to life; Then one rests content, untouched by trouble." Proverbs 19:23 [NIV]
When difficulties come, and they will... remember to turn to Him for all things. That is what Dana did. That is what I try to do. My Mother is a living example of how powerful and miraculous our God is when we chose to place Him first in our lives.
"Ditto Dana"
She was bashful when it came to expressing "I love you" in our conversations. On rare occasions, I would type it in my emails. Once I just blurted it out on the cell after a great prayer time! She replied "Ditto." I didn't have to hear "I love you, too." I knew she did. Just as I know the Father loves me. Just as I know the Father loves you. Ditto, Dana, Ditto!
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Friday, February 19, 2010
A Lady, a Mother, a Victim, a Victor!
My Mother... Patricia Davis Harton
Being a caregiver is a full time job and something I had never really experienced before. But I would not trade the time I have spent with my mother in caring for her...for anything! She has been such a trooper through her knee revision surgery and rehab, after having her knee replacement removed.
For three years, mother suffered many sporadic health issues which did little to offer any common thread to link what was causing her to be so sick. As I witnessed her health beginning to decline, I prayed to the Father asking for the culprit to be exposed. Mother has always been healthy! It was just not the same without her wit and humor as she really didn't feel well for many months.
In His time, the culprit or problem was not only exposed but removed! The metal in my mother's knee replacement (Cobalt-Chrome-Nickel) was causing metal toxicity creating poison to spread throughout her bloodstream in her once very healthy body.
Before the connection was made, she became dependent for help in caring for herself. She has always been a very independent lady, never complaining about much at all. This new journey in her life and my life, would give us time together to pray, read the Word of God and share quality time.
We soon discovered there are very few people aware of what metal can do to a healthy body whether it is a joint replacement or dental implants. Extensive allergy testing defined what she could tolerate and what was detrimental to her life. This entire experience opened our eyes. Not only was my mother healed but I was healed in many ways, also. God certainly knows our needs better than we do.
After being so career focused during my 20 years in marketing and public relations, I had very little time to do anything. I was literally married to my work.
I don't regret coming home. Being a caregiver has been the hardest and most rewarding job I have ever done in all the work I have been fortunate to be a part of in many reputable organizations and leadership positions.
Life is so short. The ones you love need to know that you do love them by actions, words or both. So, take it from someone who already knew how blessed I was to have a great mother, and felt as if I almost lost her from this world... don't let another day go by without sharing how much someone means to you. You may never get another chance.
Soon, I plan to return to my writing space adding new insight Scripture based. Until then, remember no one is promised tomorrow. Make the most of this day!
Until we chat again!
Chris
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