Go from Ordinary to Extraordinary

"Sometimes God doesn't give us the whole route at the beginning of the trip." Author Unknown

There was a time in my life where God used an ordinary lady to accomplish something extraordinary!
It was back in 1992 or around then and I was living in Jacksonville, FL.  I was working with a temporary service and was given the job of a phone operator in a small temporary service industry.  I was trained to cover the front desk while  the permanent administrator was on vacation.  The young woman was showing me how the phone system worked along with her responsibilites,and I was doing pretty well. Then, she said one thing  that changed  the course of my life.  "Whatever you do, DO NOT hang up on the owner or she will fire you." 
Well sure enough, yep you guessed it, I hung up on her and got fired.

I was distraught. I was a single mom with two kids to feed, and at that time, it was a good paying temporary job. Well, when I woke up the next day, I went and "prayed." I 'told' God what I needed, what happened (as though he didn't know) and then made a decision to allow him to guide me.
I dressed for the day as though I was going to work, took the kids to school and was ready to show up for duty. 
I heard this inner voice say, "go to the nursing home."  I found the nursing home close to where I lived and walked in.  I was greeted by the Office Administrator. I told her how crazy this is going to sound, but I am here to meet someone and I don't know who. She said the residence were coming in for excercise and game time, and I was welcome to stay. There was a woman who was bedridden placed to the left of me.  She began talking to me by asking the question "what is the lesson is for today?"  I didn't have one for her.
I told her she was here to play games and exercise. She said she loved playing games, but she wanted a lesson.

Her name was Ruby. Ruby invited me to her room, and we had a great time getting to know each other. She told me how she had gotten her nails and hair groomed and was getting ready to meet Jesus.  I told her a little about me. After an hour of us talking, I was asked to leave.

The next day, I was dressed and ready for duty. I spent my morning in prayer with Jesus eager to know what  I was going to do for that day. I was given instructions by God to prepare a lesson. I was told to go to Wal-Mart and get a plant, an empty planter, seeds, and soil.  I asked God how I was going to buy these things since I didn't have any money.  He quickly reminded me I had jeans in the trunk of my car to return.  So off I went to exchnage the clothes and bought the items.

Next, I went back to Ruby.  As I walked into her room, she asked me "Did you just see Jesus walk past my room, I hope he's coming for me."  I told her "all I know is we have a lesson today." Ruby's brown eyes lit up when I told her that. 'Oh Good," she exclaimed. I proceeded by telling her the story of the Parable of the Mustard Seed in Matthew 13. I told her by God's word that he was well pleased with her. We discussed how the seed sown in good soil will be nourished by the water that is poured out on it, Jesus' water. God led me to tell her that the seeds she had sown of sharing her faith and her Jesus were changing the lives of many, and he was well pleased. This is the visual of the planter, the seeds and the soil.  The plant, which was a yellow daisy, was the visual of how someone's life had grown as a result of her planting the seed.  She was so excited and so humbled by it. She claimed she saw Jesus at the door of her room. I didn't know what to say, I felt the prescence of Jesus, and I knew I had to leave.  I left the daisy, and took everything else. I never returned to the nursing home.

Years had passed and I met the administrator one day here in Palatka. We struck up a conversation, and I asked her if she remembered me. She told me,yes, and was about to tell me more, when we were quickly interrupted. I  never found out if Ruby went home that last day I was with her, but I know she is with with the Lord Jesus now.

If you think that Jesus cannot use you to accomplish extraordinary things, you are wrong. He wants to use you by showing you how he can use an ordinary person like you.

I encourage you to get dressed and show up for duty.  Today, ask God what you can do you for him and then be sensitive to what you hear. If it agrees with scripture, Christian theory, and meets the needs of others, you are listening to the right voice.

Lord, I ask you to use this story to accomplish your extraordinary work using someone ordinary. I pray their faith will grow and they will continue to sow some seeds. I pray your relationship with them will grow like a yellow daisy and one day they will hear you say "well done, good and faithful servant."

A Letter from Jesus about Christmas...

*This was sent to me via email and I have often wondered what Jesus would say about Christmas. Have you ever wondered?  Please read this and leave me your comments.

It has come to my attention that many of you are upset that folks are taking My name out of the season. Maybe you've forgotten that I wasn't actually born during this time of the year and that it was some of your predecessors who decided to celebrate My birthday on what was actually a time of pagan festival. Although I do appreciate being remembered anytime.

How I personally feel about this celebration can probably be most easily understood by those of you who have been blessed with children of your own. I don't care what you call the day. If you want to celebrate My birth, just GET ALONG AND LOVE ONE ANOTHER.

Now, having said that let Me go on. If it bothers you that the town in which you live doesn't allow a scene depicting My birth, then just get rid of a couple of Santas and snowmen and put in a small Nativity scene on your own front lawn If all My followers did that there wouldn't be any need for such a scene on the town square because there would be many of them all around town. (Amen)

Stop worrying about the fact that people are calling the tree a holiday tree, instead of a Christmas tree. It was I who made all trees. You can remember Me anytime you see any tree. Decorate a grape vine if you wish: I actually spoke of that one in a teaching, explaining who I am in relation to you and what each of our tasks were. If you have forgotten that one, look up John 15: 1 - 8.

If you want to give Me a present in remembrance of My birth here is my wish list. Choose something from it:

1. Instead of writing protest letters objecting to the way My birthday is being celebrated, write letters of love and hope to soldiers away from home. They are terribly afraid and lonely this time of year. I know, they tell Me all the time.

2. Visit someone in a nursing home. You don't have to know them personally. They just need to know that someone cares about them.

3. Instead of writing the President complaining about the wording on the cards his staff sent out this year, why don't you write and tell him that you'll be praying for him and his family this year. Then follow up. It will be nice hearing from you again.

4. Instead of giving your children a lot of gifts you can't afford and they don't need, spend time with them. Tell them the story of My birth, and why I came to live with you down here. Hold them in your arms and remind them that I love them.

5 Pick someone that has hurt you in the past and forgive him or her.

6. Did you know that someone in your town will attempt to take their own life this season because they feel so alone and hopeless?  Since you don't know who that person is, try giving everyone you meet a warm smile; it could make the difference.

7. Instead of nit picking about what the retailer in your town calls the holiday, be patient with the people who work there. Give them a warm smile and a kind word. Even if they aren't allowed to wish you a "Merry Christmas" that doesn't keep you from wishing them one. Then stop shopping there on Sunday. If the store didn't make so much money on that day they'd close and let their employees spend the day at home with their families

8. If you really want to make a difference, support a missionary-- especially one who takes My love and Good News to those who have never heard My name.

9. Here's a good one. There are individuals and whole families in your town who not only will have no "Christmas" tree, but neither will they have any presents to give or receive. If you don't know them, buy some food and a few gifts and give them to the Salvation Army or some other charity which believes in Me and they will make the delivery for you.

10. Finally, if you want to make a statement about your belief in and loyalty to Me, then behave like a Christian. Don't do things in secret that you wouldn't do in My presence. Let people know by your actions that you are one of mine.

Don't forget; I am God and can take care of Myself. Just love Me and do what I have told you to do. I'll take care of all the rest. Check out the list above and get to work; time is short. I'll help you, but the ball is now in your court. And do have a most blessed Christmas with all those whom you love and remember :
I LOVE YOU,
JESUS

Celebrate Life

Have you heard the song "Mary did you know?" There are various artist who sing this song. I enjoy
Michael English's version the most.
We never know what our children are destined for, do we?  For yourself, you don't know what you are destined for, do you? We try special schoolings, work on our desires, and  then one day it hit us what we are created to do; create and celebrate.
I am so excited about this coming year. I have made goals for myself and am looking to work at them and make them unfold. I don't know how I am going to do this, but I will plan and I will succeed.
People don't plan to fail, they fail to plan.
I use to tell people "I can't cook." The TRUTH is that I had people telling me I couldn't cook and I stopped trying. The TRUTH was that I didn't cook the way they wanted me to cook for their taste.
Now, I enjoy cooking and eating my dishes.
What are your goals for yourself to accomplish this coming year? Not New Year resolutions, but goals.
What are you going to do FOR YOU and not for everyone else?
If you can't take care of yourself, get to know yourself, and enjoy yourself.  How can you enjoy and care for others around you?
I want to encourage you to Celebrate Life; Your life.

Let God Chisel Away....

In my last posting, I mentioned crying on a turn of a dime. In my journey, I have found that it is okay to cry. Imagine that? 
I don't about you, but I've been told to "cry and get over it", or" there's no reason to cry and you need to stop".
I am almost tired of living in a microwave world that says hurry up and get it done.
God has given us emotions for a reason. He's given them  to us to help us heal, show pain, and to feel our inner most being. He even told us Jesus wept. Jesus wept for his friend Lazarus and he wept in the garden.
After you cry, do you feel relieved, refreshed, or even renewed? I did.
My crying this week, has been God showing me that I have stuffed situations down, emotions down, and he is chipping away what I've been holding onto; disappointments and loss.
This past year has been extremely difficult for me, but God has seen me through all of it. I have so much to be thankful for, but I couldn't see some of the blessings until I got rid of some of my hurts.
I don't want pity for my tears, but praise for my tears. I've heard that some people can't cry. I think that is sad because they are unable to experience a gift from God.
I don't know if you are having a hard time celebrating the season and the year past of the blessings you've received. I do know that it is okay to cry and God just wants to chisel away your hurts to bring more joy into your life.
So give yourself permission to cry, let it go and watch your eyes open up and see things in a different perspective.
May your surrender to God's desire to change you from the inside out.

"Can you hear the words that are coming out of my mouth?"

Sometimes we just say something without really thinking about the consequences.
 Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit.
Proverbs 18:21
Do we speak to give wisdom, correction, or encouragement? Before we speak will our words help or hurt someone? It is important for us to know what words we are speaking. It is important to think before we speak.
Recently, I have found myself crying and not knowing why. I will be in the drive-thru of Taco Bell and start crying: not listening to the song on the radio or deep in my thoughts. I just begin crying. I begin to ask myself, am I depressed? Is the season getting to me? Why am I crying?
So, I decided to call Hospice of the Nature Coast. The woman came on the phone and I began to cry. I just started blubbering words through my tears. She was telling me I was grieving. The lady on the phone started explaining how normal I was (think of it me normal-haha!) and I was going to be okay.
I share this because tonight I sat at a church crying and thinking that when people see me cry, what will I say?  How will they react? If I tell them I am grieving, will they then hug my neck and I start to really weep?
I had to take a deep breath and tell myself to stop crying and I will allow myself to continue crying when I get home.
Recently, in our community we have a young family loose their husband and father. We don't know what to say, what words are comforting, what words can I use to say "I am here for you and I love you." What words can I say that will get my point across that I really do understand your loss? Sometimes we can't say anything. We don't want to hurt them more than they are already hurting. We just want to put our arm around them and love on them, but don't want to infringe on their space.
Next, someone is spreading their life all over the canvas of others. We don't think that our words could be hurting someone else, or even hurting ourselves. We just want someone to listen to our pain, so we tell everyone; everything. Are our words edifying ourselves and others or are they bringing us and them down?
How often to do we listen to the words coming out of our mouths? How close do we listen to other's words coming out of their mouth? How often do we even listen and care about what we say; we just want to be heard.
So, if you see me on the street crying, just know I am okay. When you are about to hold a conversation with someone, think about what you are saying to them. Please make sure it is peaceful, loving, and edifying them or yourself.
The heart of him who has understanding seeks knowledge, but the mouth of fools feeds on foolishness.
Proverbs 15:14