Tag: sin

If you see something, say something {12.6.18}

On By Leslie AnnIn Christian1 Comment

see something say somethingWe have heard this statement many times in recent years. It has been used in the context that if you see something irregular, suspicious, etc. you should say something. Good advice. If it is nothing, no problem. If it is something, you may have saved someone from harm or from causing harm to others. In the wee hours of the morning today, I woke up and this was one of the thoughts swimming around in my head. However, it had a different twist. I was thinking about it in a more positive light.

Yesterday, we went out to eat for lunch and I noticed a lady who had on a very pretty, red top with sparkles around the neckline. She had silver/white hair and it looked so nice on her. I noticed but didn’t think much about it. Then as we were leaving, I walked past her table. (Well, I almost walked past.) She was talking with who I assume was her husband. Anyway, I took a step backward, interrupted her and told her how nice she looked and that I really liked her top. The smile on her face was all I needed to know that it was ok to interrupt/disrupt her conversation. I wonder how many times I do just walk on past without giving the compliment or encouragement that I should. I know that God doesn’t tempt us. Our enemy does that! The Holy Spirit does give us nudges to do good though. How many times do we ignore those nudges because we think we might interrupt, be embarrassed, delayed on our journey, etc.?

 I was reminded of a time a week or so ago when I complimented and encouraged one of our grandsons. We had been together for several days and I had noticed that when we were out in public, he always held the door for people instead of letting it go behind him. (Sometimes this is unusual for a teenager I might add.) Anyway, I told him that I had noticed and that I really appreciated his kindness and thoughtfulness toward others by simply holding a door. Again, his smile was all the reward and motivation I needed to watch for other behaviors to encourage. say something nice

 We don’t know what other people are going through in their daily lives. Usually though, we can find something with which to praise or encourage. Even if it is simply a big smile or word of thanks. God talks about this in James 4:17 “Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins.”  Let’s watch for people we can encourage as we see or hear them doing or saying something good.

 If you see something, say something!

Sneezy – Snow White and the 7 Dwarfs {10.21.16}

On By Leslie AnnIn Christian

I don’t know about you but when I sneeze, I sneeze. No hiding it. It’s loud. And, it usually takes me a while to work up to a sneeze. My husband used to tell me, “quit trying not to sneeze”. I wasn’t. Most of the time it just takes it’s time coming out. People sometimes think I’m having an attack of some kind when all I’m doing is simply working up to a sneeze – a loud one! Embarrassing but I’m used to it. One of my sisters sneezes really dainty like. Not me. I sneeze like you’d think a truck driver would sneeze. Oh well. Nothing I can do about that. A lot of different things make us sneeze. Sometimes it’s allergies, sometimes colds, sometimes dust or an itchy nose.

In the movie, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Sneezy was always either sneezing, looking like he had just sneezed or was about to sneeze. Poor guy.sneezy-in-mine He looked miserable. Maybe it was dust making him sneeze. They probably had dust in their mine and we saw that they had an abundance of dust in their cottage. Yikes! I thought I let dust go too long. They had spiders in cobwebs that may have been there for generations. They had apparently lived that way for so long they didn’t even notice or realize how bad it was. The dishes were piled high and dirt and dust were everywhere. Then Snow White came. Along with help from her animal friends, they got that place spotless. They worked and worked but did you notice that it didn’t seem like work to them? They were happy in their work and working together they had that house ship shape before the dwarfs got home from the mine.

Along with physical cleaning, our bodies must be swept clean spiritually as well. We are not only told to renew our minds with God’s Word, look what it says in 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 “Do you know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.”

It’s not honoring if we don’t take care of our bodies (physically or spiritually). Just going about our days, we can fool ourselves into thinking we are “clean” but we do have a way of knowing. All we have to do is seek God in prayer and allow Him to show us the “dirty things” that need swept away. Psalm 139:23-24 “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”

After we have allowed God to “sweep us clean” we have to make sure to fill that void that was once occupied by other things with Godly things. Psalm 51:10 “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.” Just like with physical dirt or an evil spirit or practice, if we don’t replace it with something, it will just keep coming back. Matthew 12:43-45 “When an evil spirit comes out of a man, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. Then it says, ‘I will return to the house I left. ‘When it arrives, it finds the house unoccupied, swept clean and put in order. Then it goes and takes with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that man is worse than the first. That is how it will be with this wicked generation.”

Another aid in knowing when we’ve allowed “dirt/sin” to reside within us is to have a trusted friend who will hold us accountable and also encourage us to goodness.sneezing Do you have someone in your life like that? If not, I encourage you to ask God to send someone. It’s an immeasurable blessing (thank you PJS)!

Lessons I learned from Sneezy:  The next time I sneeze (and subsequent times), I hope to think about this message God gave me and search within (with God’s help) for any dirt that needs swept clean. How about you?

No Invitation Needed {7.18.16}

On By Leslie AnnIn Christian

Yesterday, my husband decided to paint the safety lines in our church parking lot. He asked if I wanted to come along and help. Now, I know my limitations so I made sure he understood that painting straight lines was probably not one of my skills or talents.  I can color inside the lines but drawing a straight line even with a ruler can sometimes be tricky. But, since I was willing, I got the assistant’s job. safety lines down hill I have to admit I had not even consciously noticed that the lines had nearly all faded away. That’s something that my husband does well. He sees a need and if possible, takes care of it. If he sees someone who needs help and he can help, he does. We don’t have to wait to be asked. NO INVITATION NEEDED. Sometimes we think that another will do it. Sometimes we think we don’t have the time or skills. But, most of the time, all God wants is a willing heart. I think about this scripture:

James 4:17 – “Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins.”

Well, the day was not without some humor. We got down the hill and were almost out of paint so we decided to tackle the crosswalk on the other drive. We almost finished it when a downpour seemed to come out of nowhere. safety lines running We hurried to the truck and left our paint tray (pretty much empty) and rollers where they were. At the top of the hill were our paper towels, some other tools, etc. [So much for the paper towels. They turned to mush.] Anyway, we got in the truck which was facing opposite the painted walkway. When we turned around and looked back at our painted lines, we saw yellow paint running down the hill in water.  So much for our crosswalk lines. We just laughed at ourselves. We needed more paint anyway so I guess we’ll get that done the next time. Thankfully, the other lines we painted were dry before the rain came pouring down. The lines may not be straight, but you can see them. safety lines up hill

There is a lesson in this for me. I need to be more aware of the people and situations around me. I wonder how many opportunities God has put before me that I missed.  It may be a hot meal for someone who can’t cook. It just might be a hug to someone who is lonely or hurting. We all have something to offer if we just take the time to recognize the need and step out in faith.  I’m going to try to keep my eyes open. How about you?