The least of these...

I had a friend in college who knew every name of every 'worker' there. Every kitchen aide, every dorm housekeeper. She knew them by name, and their stories. She knew their kids names. 

I saw them as the dorm housekeeper. 

She was an evangelical, born again, charismatic believer... and I had just met the Lord.  She was warm, effusive, alive. She was such an example to me. 

To the least of these.... 

She taught me that every person is loved by God and that everyone has a story. 

I went to pick up my "Blessing Box" at our local food pantry tonight. Upon seeing me, the man there said, "Where you been??!!"  

It touched me as I realized that he remembered me (personally) and had noticed my absence. I thought of my college friend, and thought that he remembered me, but I didn't even know his name. She would have not only known his name, but what was going on in his life, and made him feel so special by her words. Without knowing it, she is an inspiration to me even after all these years. 

To the least of these... Lord help me remember that You love every last one of us and that each one is cherished by You... Lord let me be an instrument of Your peace.... 

I love You, Lord.. 

Faithful

 A friend met up with someone that I have known for 35 years, but haven't seen in 25. She saw him this weekend. I sent her a text and said, "I don't know if you are going to see him again, but... I used to listen to Bob Mumford and Derek Prince tapes (in the 80's!) - I don't remember which one, but one said something I never will forget.

 'If (he) ever saw someone whom he hadn't seen in a long time,  he would just want to know one thing. Was that person still following the Lord?' 

The most important thing...

So I said to my friend, "If you see him again, tell him - "Yes, yes I am. I love Him with all my heart, strength, mind and spirit. He is the Light of my life and the Rock of my soul." 

I bless the Lord with all my soul. He is the reason I live, and the breath that flows through me. Bless the Lord, oh my soul, and all that is within me bless His holy Name. Psalm 103:1

 

Meat or milk?

1 Cor 3:2   I gave you milk to drink, not solid food, for you were not able to consume it. Indeed, you are still not ready.

Hebrews 5:12 For although by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone teach you the elementary principles of the actual words of God, and you have some to need milk and not solid food. 

I had a conversation recently with a friend and this verse came up. I said, "I think we are in a generation that wants appetizers and dessert."  

I pondered my statement in the hours that ensued ... do we want the finger foods, the easily handled & eaten?? The "light" versions... and then the sweet stuff? The benefits, the blessings?  What about the meat? The part that is heavier, harder to digest, must be chewed... Do we seek that? 

Paul said to the church in Corinth that they weren't ready for the "good stuff"; the meat! Wouldn't you rather have the meat than the finger foods and the sweet desserts? Are we ready for that? The writer to the Hebrews said that although the people *should* have been ready for solid food, that they weren't ready for it, and needed milk! Ugh - my mind and my spirit war!  My spirit says yes bring the meat and yet is that my mind? Paul had a similar conflict. His spirit and his mind (and his will) sparred constantly (Romans 7:15-23). This passage addresses the sin nature that warred within him and the spirit nature that desired to please God. 

I want the "meat" and not the "milk"! Lord, create in me a clean heart and renew a right spirit within me! I desire the "meat" of Your word and Your Spirit. Challenge me and do not let me be satisfied with "milk'. I allow and give leeway for Your Holy Spirit to do His work in my life so that I can receive the "meat" and be spiritually mature to "chew" on it. 

I love you Lord and You are the Lord of my Life. Have Your way with me. I trust You and give you my all.