My Brother's Keeper

I had a dream I was in a restaurant with a mother that came in with three children, I was with a woman and there was a young waitress. The mother with her three children walked by and I noticed the children were wearing shorts with tank tops or mid-drift shirts. What caught my attention with this family was the bruising, cuts, and burns on these children's back, elbows, and in front and behind their knees.

As the family was preparing to walk out of the restaurant, I noticed the faces of these children. Each child had a very sad and sullen look about them. 

I called the waitress over to ask her if she said anything to the mother or called for help. The young waitress got an attitude with me, asking what business was it of hers or mine, for that matter, what was happening in that family's home.  The waitress then, turned to my guest and asked what was I doing with 'her kind' in a public place. I told the young waitress, I was trying to help her as I wanted to help the family that just left. Once more, the waitress gave the impression that she wasn't going to consider the family or what she saw for one more second. 

As I woke up from this dream, my heart was heavy with sadness. The scripture that came to me over and over in my mind and it was from Genesis chapter four.  Cain had just killed his brother Abel and the Lord was having a conversation with Cain about it.  The Lord said to Cain, 'where is Abel your brother?' he said, 'I do not know. Am I my brother's keeper?" 

The answer is yes; otherwise God may not have asked Cain this question. We are responsible to do the right thing and to love on each other.  The problem is that no one wants to get their hands messy because life is messy.  Most people don't want to even face their problems because life is messy. 

~Be encouraged, if no one did anything, then someone would do nothing, but then everyone should help someone in order to make life better; shouldn't we?

Joy and Peace for a Day

"Wait with me for a while. I have much to tell you.  You are walking along the path I have chosen for you.  It is both a privileged and a perilous way: experiencing My glorious Presence and heralding that reality to others.  Sometimes you feel presumptuous to be carrying out such an assignment.
Do not worry about what other people think of you.  The work I am doing in you is hidden at first.  But eventually blossoms will burst forth, and abundant fruit will be borne.  Stay on the path of Life with Me.  Trust Me wholeheartedly, letting My Spirit fill you with Joy and Peace."  (1 Kings 8:23; Galatians 5:22-23)

I read the above devotional and the only word that came to my mind was "wow."
I recently have stepped out and done what I would call "unbelievable or unimaginable" things that the Lord has lead me to do.  I have learned that I cannot do anything a part from Christ. When I do things in my own strength, it does not go well.  I have come to realize that people see things in the flesh and quickly believe in what they see; not relying on faith at all.
It is difficult to carry out assignments from God that are irrational to the world. I have learned that when I trust Him wholeheartedly, the devil will use friends and family to stir up trouble all because of God at work in my life, but God's Spirit fills me with joy and peace. The joy and peace I am given is by Him and not as this world wants to give it to me.

Are you having a hard time walking with God and carrying out he assignment He has for you?
Be of good courage and know He is doing a work in you that no one can see; not even you.  Trust in the Lord with all your being and be sensitive to what the Holy Spirit is leading you to do. You won't go wrong in the care of Jesus.

~Be encouraged