You Can Change the World !

You Can Change the World

It doesn’t require wealth, talent, or a huge investment of time.  Right now, you  with your current limitations and abilities, have tremendous power to impact others and change the world.

Have you ever had a day in which everything you touched went wrong?  When you were at the end of your rope, and someone spoke a kind word, or helped you?  Do you remember how it warmed your heart and perked up your spirit?   Small, loving acts make a profound difference.   Everyone longs to feel noticed, appreciated, supported.

That’s why it means so much when someone surprises us with a simple act of caring.  It assures us that we matter.

Discouraged people are everywhere. They need us.  Don’t overlook opportunities to make a difference in someone’s life. A smile, a note, or a phone call won’t take much effort, but they can make someone’s day.   Not only will your kindness be appreciated by the recipient and rewarded by God, but it will enrich your own life as well.  Many say, “I’m just one person.  I can’t make a difference.”  If you’ve ever been on the receiving end of a hug just when it’s needed, you know one person’s concern is powerful.   Do you compare your contribution to a tiny drop of water in the huge ocean?  Mother Theresa’s view was that the ocean would be less without that one drop.  

There could be no mountains, if not for the tiny grains of sand from which the mountains are made.  Little things pack a big punch.  Encouragement takes only a moment to give but it delivers an important message of love and concern to the recipient, and it could last a lifetime.  Your empathy, interest, and encouragement can lessen someone’s load and make their life journey easier.  You can change their world and that makes the whole world better.

 

Confession is Good

Self-Care “Confession Is Good for the Soul – and the Body” When persons are hit by a devastating event, pastors and counselors encourage talking about the feelings. It is believed this is good for a positive recovery. Careful study of the Book of Psalms reveals that it helps people to talk out their angers, hurts, fears and rage. The Psalms are full of cries to God about feelings of depression, sadness, anger, loneliness and rejection. They are written evidence God expects and recommends giving voice to our anguish.

 For examples, look at Psalms 13, 22, 42, 88 and 109. The difference in The Psalms is that the outrage is aimed at God and then given to God and left with God. Then in most of The Psalms healing happens. Change occurs, and the next thing is that the devastated person is praising God. Research in the 20th century confirms the healing power of opening up about trauma. Those who do not disclose were found to have significantly more health problems than those who talk. Even writing about one’s trauma is beneficial to health. Patients who wrote for fifteen minutes on four consecutive days showed short term benefits and long term decreases in health problems.

Confession is good for the soul.  So is lament, crying out to God, and trusted friends.  Shedding our tears and speaking our anguish can relieve us of unhealthy burdens.,

Our Table Devotions

“Table Devotions”

One family tradition we tried to establish was reading the Bible at the evening meal.  This started with Jim(Dad)  reading and as the kids learned they each took a turn.  Each holding their own Bible.

After awhile five of us were taking a turn.  Linda opted out, claiming exhaustion, and Steve, still illiterate, creating his own Bible story. 

We had one New testament named something like “Today’s New Testament” which was modern English but also included a lot of drawings.  There was a drawing, cartoon-like, on almost every page.  That was Steve’s Bible.  Steve would look at the picture and make up a story.  They were thoughtful, creative and somewhat related to the picture, but usually a long way from what the real story was about.  Often they were so far out the rest of us were gagging on our laughter, trying to hold back, while very amused but trying to be reverent..  Steve was quite serious about what he was saying so we did not want to discourage him with laughter.

Those were good positive devotional times that may have done as much good as staying close to the literal word.

Thank Someone This Month

“THANK SOMEONE THIS MONTH”

 "Thanksgiving" cards are great. What an appropriate time to sit down and think of a number of people who have given us something, or contributed to our lives in some way major or minor, and then make a point of a straightforward, unashamed state­ment of appreciation.

The most, meaningful "thank you" would be those sent to friends and relatives who are so close they'd never expect such a card from us. Parents can say "thank you" to their children for "all you have done for us."  We can draw up lists of old experiences from our years at home that have stayed treasured in our memories - and thank dad or mom for them. Most likely there would be a lot of memorieas and events they'd never suspect meant a lot to us, even decades later.

We can think of our spouse--husband or wife and all those things we appre­ciate but are so accustomed to we expect from them. Write down specific items and say "thank you."

 Perhaps there is a neighbor whom you have always appreciated. Not a fantastic person in the spectacular-sense. Just a neighbor who has been what a neighbor "ought to be"- friendly, reliable, cooperative. He won't listen when you tell him straight out how much you're thankful for him. So send him a "thank you" card. Or maybe there's a colleague or a co-worker to whom we should say "thank you".

Stop a few minutes. Trace your steps through an average day, week, year, or your life, 'til now.  How surprising isn't it, how many stand out as people who have made life good, just by being part of our lives. Thank some of them this month, and express gratitude to God for the people in your life.