Giving Until it Hurts ... so Good

I was totally and completely humbles three times ... and that was just today!

At One Mission Society, we talk a lot about Going (serving), Giving, and Praying. I want to share three things that happened today that left me speechless, inspired, happy, and totally humbled.

Praying
First, in the coming days, many OMS mission leaders serving around the world will descend upon our OMS HQ. Today, one early "arriver" stopped in my office to say hello. Then, he blew me away by asking about something personal I asked him to pray for a year ago. That he remembered meant a lot, but knowing him, he's probably also been praying faithfully for me this past year. Wow. I am humbled and want to be a better prayer warrior.

Giving
Second, I'm in the midst of raising more support for my ministry with OMS. I've been raising funds for ministry for the past 25 years, so I should never be surprised by God's provision and people's generosity, but once again, God did it. I received two more faith promises (similar to pledges) for my support. Overall, in past 2 months, I have received as many positive responses as I have in the past several years, so I am wonderfully encouraged that God is providing ... and I am doing what God wants me to.

Serving
And finally, and this is a huge one, I was speechless (hard to do) and inspired by the selfless, generous act of a coworker today. I won't name his name as he'd be embarrassed, but I hope he knows how much he inspired me today.

This man is a new OMS missionary and within just months of being here has had to jump into a HUGE project like no other. He has handled the stress, complaints, and long hours like a saint. But what he did today simply blew me away.

I was so happy to see him late in the day today as I needed his help and had searched for him for hours. When I asked where he'd been all day, he said he'd helped someone in need. This someone was another fellow coworker who had requested help a couple times and apparently no one had responded to her need. I justified not responding because "I" am super busy. "I" have an important job. Surely there were others who could step up to help who were less busy than I.

Yet, this man, probably busier than ANYONE in our building, dropped his own work to drive this coworker to the north side of the city.

I am humbled ... and motivated to step up. To be the hands and feet of Jesus. To stop and look around at the needs around me.

Lord, help us to know when to say no...and when to say yes. Not to use our own excuses, but to respond as you would.

A Few of My Favorite...and not so Favorite Things

Things I Love:
reading
reading in bed on a rainy day
smell of bread cooking in oven
a newly mowed yard
a newly vacuumed carpet
a clean house
snuggles with kids
my family
Jesus' mercy
peanut butter
sleeping in
watching my kids play sports
watching NFL football
hearing my kids pray
seeing beautiful architecture
writing when it flows well

a good love story
worship in the car--windows down, radio up
back rubs from hubby
red licorice
checking things off my to-do list
getting good medical results
scrapbooking
Mom's sugar cookies
angel food cake
going to the fair with family
a really good steak
napping in a hammock on a breezy day
the smell of babies
camping
mowing on a riding lawn mower
clean teeth

Things I Don't Love So Much:
men in speedos
turtlenecks
socks
sweaters
humidity
pollen
sand
weeds
water/taking showers
allergies
taking long trips
hives and eczema
shots in the mouth
heights
walking up hills
snakes
poison ivy
seafood
money woes
feeling bloated
in
justice
horror movies

Are You a Leader or Follower?

As I drove into the McDonald's parking lot this morning, I almost gave up and drove on when I saw the line backed up to the road. What was going on? It wasn't even rush hour.

My curiosity (and my desire for a Diet Coke before I give it up again for a month) got the better of me. So, I creeped along in the line...edging my way up to the drive-thru window ever so slowly.

Then, I noticed why there was a back up. Customers were only using one of the two lanes. I wondered why. Once I got close enough, I thought I'd see a sign saying "out of order" or something along those lines. No sign.

Yet, all the cars continued to follow the lead car into the one lane. Hummm?

So, when I got close enough, I inched my way into the line no one had been using with fear and trepidation. My heart was actually racing. I felt like a rebel. Then I thought, stop being stupid, Susan! All that could happen is they could say it's out of order or be silent and not be able to take my order at all. A risk my adventurous self was willing to take.

Yet, this is what I heard, "Welcome to McDonald's. May I take your order? I gave it ... and guess what? All the other cars behind me followed and the jammed parking lot became unjammed.

When I got to the window to pay, I asked the cashier what had happened. He responded, "I have no idea. People are dumb and just follow other people blindly."

As I drove away, I thought about it and agreed he was right ... people follow blindly out of fear or ignorance, but sometimes, they follow out of loyalty or love.

Are you a leader or follower? And if you're a follower...WHO do you follow?

As for me and my house, we will follow (serve) the Lord.

Perspective

Perspective is not everything... but it's important!

How we look at things and how we see them helps us form our attitudes and opinions.

Case in point. It's 36 degrees F outside. To most people, that's cold ...just above freezing, in fact. Yet, with the sun shining and my coat zipped up, I actually felt warm this afternoon while driving home. I unzipped, cracked my window and turned off my heater. I was actually shocked when I looked and saw that it was still only 36 degrees. Yet, compared to the sub-zero temps we've been experiencing much of this winter ... along with the brightly shining sun, it seemed warm. 

And I wasn't alone in this thought ... I passed a young man carrying his coat while walking along the side of the road ... in 36 degree weather, with snow and ice everywhere.

This photo says it all. I think we all need to occasionally tilt our head more often, especially when our perspective is off kilter. Perhaps our attitude needs adjusting. Maybe we've become a bit too complacent. Or maybe we're just a bit too spoiled. I know I'm guilty.

I've heard a lot of whining in my corner of the world about the weather--too much snow, too cold, too gray and yucky...

I personally tend to constantly whine about being "poor." Ha! I don't even know what poor is! But my head is tilted in the wrong direction sometimes, and I can only see the debt, bills, and lack of. Is this the legacy ... and mantra I am leaving for my children?

Where is your perspective skewed?

Let's tilt our heads, open our eyes, and SEE the blessings instead of the curses. Humm, the view is gorgeous!