Up for a Challenge? #dontforgetdecember

You will need to read the previous post before reading this one......I've thought a lot about last night and the moment I let slip by.  I've thought of how may times in a day I can do simple things to shine my light.  I've thought of those in the world who are hard to love on. You know who I'm talking about....those that you see as strange, odd, stinky, different, greasy...need I say more??  I'll say it, I like my box! I like my little world where I'm not faced with people who make me uncomfortable!  If there are two children standing in front of you and one is clean without a blemish, smells like apple blossoms and has on clean clothes that appear to have been starched,  and the other child has on clothes that may have been worn a few days without washing, and their hands and face look to have gone a few days without a good scrub and they smell of stale cigarettes.....which one will you be more apt to love on??  Be honest!  I'll be honest...the clean smelling one!  And I am totally honest and sad to say that is the one I would naturally be drawn to.  But the boy that needs some soap would make me uncomfortable just like blond dreadilocks.  The blond with dreadlocks, dreadilocks as I've come to caller her, was certainly outside of my box.  She, like the dirty boy, made me uncomfortable.  But not in a way that you may think.  It wasn't that I was scared of her...I felt for her.  I felt compassion for her.  Was she alone in the world, did she have a family, did she have an addiction ruling her life, did she feel loved??  The fact that I couldn't bring myself to take the time to stop and see if she was okay, or in need, THAT makes me uncomfortable.  Now, I don't always feel this about every person on the side of the road, or every person I see that I don't know who looks like they are in need.  That makes me feel even more uncomfortable that I didn't stop! Something was working on me.  I have always felt and strived to act on those "feelings"...the ones that are laid on your heart and you just can't shake.  Even my car was trying to force me to stop and I STILL didn't stop. 
This leads me to another feeling I can't shake...that I need to share this and challenge anyone who reads this to a Don't Forget December challenge.  Here's the challenge....do something everyday that is outside of your daily "duties"....something that is outside of your box....something that shines your light and shows His love.  When you do something, post a simple #dontforgetdecember on Facebook or Twitter.  Now, this IS NOT a "Hey, look at me and what I did" post...this is a "Hey, look what God is doing through me! He can do the same through you!" As Christians, we want to be humble and not share our works, and that is great as the Bible tells us that we shouldn't let our left hand know what the right is doing....but sometimes we need to be an encouragement and a guide to others with ideas of WHAT to do and ways to shine their light.  If you want to post an act with your hashtag, great.  If not, that's fine too.  It's not all about what we do in our box, our church, our homes, our everyday lives.  It's about seeing those moments in the grocery store parking lot and not letting them slip by.  So, are you up for this month long challenge to focus on your purpose of being more than who you are right now? If so, stock up on chocolate bars and be on the lookout for moments....you may just change a heart or a life.  Perhaps even your own. #dontforgetdecember

Don't Forget December

Here it is again...that month of the year that is consumed so easily with gift buying, parties, and festivities focused on the baby in the manger who came to save us all.  But don't forget....that baby grew up to teach and leave us with more than a way to Heaven...He left us with a purpose.  A purpose so great, and so challenging, yet we often lose sight of it in the chaos of life.  We get so caught up being who and what we chose, teachers, moms, dads, bankers, doctors, etc., that we forget what He chose us for....to be His hands and His feet....to love the unlovable.....to act on our faith in Him with actions of love towards others.  Be very clear, you can absolutely work for Him through your career and daily life but He is asking for more....more than me....more than you....more than the daily duties that you are already fulfilling.  As I was leaving the grocery store today, I saw a young woman with dreadlocks standing out at the end of the parking lot with no cars near her.  It was safe to assume she was either nomadic, homeless or waiting for a ride but either way, I sensed she was lost....perhaps literally and figuratively.  As I drove past her, I thought of my grandma Dot who was known to pick up hitchhikers...she always said you never know when a hitchhiker is an angel in need.  I think of her saying that every time I see someone on the side of the road....but I've never stopped to offer a ride.  There are CRAZY people in this world! They could do harm to me....all these thoughts are going through my head in a matter of seconds as I'm driving past this girl with the blond dreadlocks. Then all of a sudden, my car did this crazy thing, the traction control came on.  It causes my car to kind of slow and make a weird sound...but all I was focused on was this girl in my rearview mirror.  I slowed for a few seconds until my traction control went off and then continued on my way.  All the while thinking of this woman....wondering....is she lost, is she homeless, is she on drugs, does she have a family....but I didn't...I didn't stop even though my car wanted to.  As I sit here tonight, by a warm fire, with a loving, health family, I can't help but think my car having this strange issue at that moment when there was no reason for the traction control to come on and when remembering my grandmother, was God's way to reminding me to not forget my purpose!  Why didn't I stop the car, offer something and show His love?! Maybe all I had was the Hershey's chocolate bar with almonds that I was getting ready to inhale, but I bet He can do a lot and open a lot of doors with a Hershey's bar.  I failed tonight, as I do a lot, but thanks to His grace, there's tomorrow.   So this will be Don't Forget December for me....don't forget His purpose for you.  Oh, and you might stock up on Hershey bars and carry them with you.  I'm confident He can do great things with just a Hershey's bar. #dontforgetdecember

Matthew 25:37-40
 Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?
The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’
 
Matthew 28:19-20
Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
 
Matthew 5:14-16
You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. "Nor do men light a lamp, and put it under the peck-measure, but on the lampstand; and it gives light to all who are in the house. "Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.