Connectedness

I've been meaning to take myself to dinner all week and last night I finally did.  I had stayed a little late at work looking at vacations - a vacation this year is one one my goals - and thought it would be a good night for treating myself.

I ran a couple errands and then decided to go to Carrabba's.  I walked in and it was packed, but the long high top in the bar area was wide open, so I made myself at home at an end seat with my books.  It's something I've done before - go out with myself and a book.  I happen to bring #Struggles by Craig Groeschel with me along with the participant guide for a study I'm doing now.  

As I'm getting myself organized, I look up and see a Director from Mary Kay being led to a booth behind me.  What a coincidence I think.  I turn to say, "Hello" and pick up the guide.  I say to her, "Look at the study I'm doing now."  Crash the Chatterbox by Steven Furtick.  She smiled wide.  I had happen to participate in a group led by her through Mary Kay the first time I studied this book.  Crazy, right?!  

We chatted for a bit and then decided to settled in with the book.  I felt the guide had served it's purpose, so I picked up #Struggles and started reading.

After I ordered, these two older ladies sat in the seats near me at the high top table.  Then a man joined them.  He had a large silver cross pendant on, so I complimented him on it.  He smiled, touched it, looked up and said that it was his profession.   

The evening continues and my small plate arrives.  More rearranging so I could continue reading my book.  I had left my reading glasses at the office, needless to say I had to hold my book out a ways.  The older gentleman jokingly asked if he could hold the book for me.  We laughed and, I'm not sure why, but I commented on the book being not too main stream.  It was then he asked where I went to church.  Just so happens he pastor's at Southshore hospital...which happens to be across from my church's main campus in Trenton. I mentioned that I attend Allen Park campus and he wasn't aware we had another campus...it's three campuses actually. :)

Back to reading.  I am loving the book and highlighting away.  I thought I heard one of the ladies say ChristNet.  My head pops up.  I look over and ask, "Did you say ChristNet"?  She replies, "Yes."  Me, "Oh wow, I volunteer...our church just housed ChristNet for a week!"  The other lady chimes, our church house them as well.  She continues to tell me how five churches on Grosse Ile work together to house them for a week at her church.  Too cool!  A little more chatting and then I told them I was sorry I hijacked their conversation, they laughed and went back to talking...and I went back to reading.  What's the odds of that happening?  

More reading and highlighting while I'm enjoying the main course and the Mary Kay Director taps me on the shoulder and says, "Good seeing you".  I turn and tell her that I was so thankful for Mary Kay and that it changed my life forever.  I also tell her that I will never forget Mary Kay and always include it in my testimony.  She looks down and tells me that I'm always invited to join her anytime, wishes me a Happy New Year and leaves.

Back to the book...  

I finish dinner, close the book and pull out a stack of PASS IT ON message cards.  They are little cards with scripture on them.  I look through them and pick out one for the man and one for my server.  I write "Blessings, Sue" on the back of each.  Hand one to the man and put the other in the little black check/payment folder.  They all say, "Bye, Sue!", I say bye and they respond with, "We'll have to do this again sometime".  I smile and say "Yes, we should..." and leave the restaurant.

I drive home belting out "I have decided to follow Jesus" along with the radio.  Smiling all the way because I love that this song just happen to be be playing.

I get home and text my friend.  I ask her about my idea for our next study at church.  She loves it.  We're set.  Yes!  Love it!

I finally sit down to relax...and hear my phone alert.  It was my girlfriend who happens to own her own Travel Agency - Time to Travel.  I had left a message for her earlier in the day. We talked for over an hour and ended with what I was looking for in a vacation.  We both promised to make it a priority to talk more often and the call ended.

While talking with her, I texted a few other girlfriends we both know and scheduled lunch with them.  We had been trying to pick a date.  Luckily, texting them that I was talking with her stirred some interest and we were able to decide.

After a while relaxing, I get inspired to write an email to all the Mary Kay ladies who impacted my life and helped put me on the path to transforming it into what it is today.  

Connections...you never know where life will take you or who you will meet along the way...everything truly is connected.

In the same way, even though we are many individuals, Christ makes us one body and individuals who are connected to each other.

Romans 12: 5 (GOD'S WORD® Translation) 

Silencing Yesterday

There are some days when I just feel like there is no going forward...that all I can do is look back.

You know...those days and moments when you look through old photos and remember things gone by, remember the good times you had...

Those times when the past lures you into believing that what ever it was was absolute perfection or really close to it.  

I'm guessing we've all had those thoughts at one point or another.  

Those times when you think your life will never be that good, never be the same, ever, ever again.  

Those times when the chatter in your head tells you that nothing will ever be as good as the time when...

But then you are snapped back to reality. 

Reality.  Yes, the here and now.  Today.  This moment. 

Not the past.  Not some time before.  

Today.  Right now.

It's so easy to look back and remember the good.  But there is a reason that the past is the past and there is a reason that there are people who are no longer in our lives.

I keep telling myself that there must be something really good coming along.  That there is something waiting for me around the next corner.

What other reason would the enemy keep tempting me to go backwards?  The only reason I can think of is that there is something pretty freakin' awesome around the next bend.

It's faith.  It's perseverance.  It's knowing without knowing.  Knowing and trusting.  Trusting without proof.

I just know that God would not lead me to where I'm at only to take me back into the life I had before.  But do I really know?  There are times when I don't know and actually start doubting.  Oh, how I hate to even admit that I start doubting.

But then I sort of slap myself in the face.  (not literally though)  I slap myself and tell myself that I must only trust.  That I must pray.  That I must turn to our one true God.  I must pray and I must ask God to show me the way.  I must ask Him to show me the way out of the blah I am in.  

I know that God has defeated the enemy with Jesus' broken body and blood.  And this is the knowledge which gives me the courage and strength to tell the enemy that he is not welcome here.  I tell the enemy that he can get the heck out of here and never come back...because I have the one true God on my side.  And with God on my side...I cannot be defeated!!!

Looking back does no good.  It does nothing good. 

Looking back stirs the chatterbox.  It stirs him and awakens him.  

I truly know in my heart that I have the greatest weapon which will render the advances of the chatterbox useless...God's word.  

It's through the power of the Holy Spirit and God's word that I will silence and defeat the chatterbox. 

Perspective Through Serving

So I'm sitting here listening to the sound of the clothes of a homeless man tumbling around in my dryer while the clothes of another homeless man spin in my washer....have just finished folding the clothes of a homeless mother and her seven year old son.

Talk about a profoundly humbling week...  

My church houses the homeless one week a year for ChristNet.  Our 30ish guests are provided meals, showers, beds, laundry service and friendship.

We have groups volunteer to help provide three meals per day - breakfast, bagged lunch and dinner.  We have volunteers doing laundry.  We have volunteers who stay overnight as chaperons. We have volunteers who provide prayer and friendship. ...and so much more.

I have the privilege of volunteering to help check in the guests Monday-Friday, as well as, do laundry several nights this week.

This week has definitely put things in perspective.  

We all have bad days.  We all think that our lives our tough.  But really, how "bad" do we have it?

Do we have... 
...a place to live?  
...a pillow and bed to sleep in?  
...a place to shower or bath as needed?
...a car to drive?  
...clean underwear and socks to wear everyday?
...a job to go to?
...a warm meal whenever?
...a little extra to splurge on things not truly "needed"?
...a phone, internet, cable, etc...to always be connected?

Is it really the end of the world...
...if we hit a traffic jam?  
...if the line at the store is slower than a turtle taking a nap?  
...if the brainiac at work has another brain fart?
...if it it snows more than an inch?
...You get the drift.

Life for the vast majority of us is pretty darn good.

Our perspective is influenced by our experiences.  

Our experiences shape our future. 

Humbly serving others is not only a privilege but also an honor.  Our feelings of love and compassion for others drive us to serve those in need.  

My future has been forever changed by this experience.

I am so very thankful for all I have been given and so very, very blessed to be able to serve with some really awesome, selfless people.

Ah, there goes the dryer.  Last load completed...gotta go fold clothes so they are fresh and clean and not wrinkled.