An experience I'll Never Forget

I recently had an experience that I don't believe I will ever forget. Today, I heard the Lord say to take half of a meal that I didn't finish to a homeless man who was sitting on a bench near the courthouse. My friend took the meal because I am still without a car and found the man exactly where the Lord said he would be. (As if God would lie, right?)
As the day proceeded, I had the opportunity to find out why this man was homeless. The main reason he stated was because he fights depression. Isn't it ironic, depression is a tool of Satan's.
It is sad  to see a man well educated and full of possibilities lack the strength to face another day.
I also had the opportunity to see a man who has been in the shoes of this homeless man have great compassion, understanding, and love for a man of this circumstance. It was great to see someone have a heart to help him out and want more for him. It can lighten ones heart, bring sadness and joy all at the same time. It was something to see this friend take this man and purchase his medicine, buy him things, feed him, love him. It was something to see my friend reach into his already empty pocket and pull out what he did have to help someone else. Not himself but someone else. He took what little he did have and we watched it multiply. We have and serve such an awesome most High God.
Last I noticed when we took this man to a public place, there was a woman who looked at our new friend with disgust. The first thought I had was to quickly say something to this woman, but instead I chose to pray for her. Sometimes praying for someone else doesn't seem to be enough. We think that we should do or say more, but God tells us His wrath is worse; His punishment is worse than what we can ever do.
It breaks my heart when people think they are so much better than another. I have to wonder what kind of lifestyle are they in to make them think they are better. I wonder what in their life is so perfect that they think they may never find themselves homeless or penniless.
It really makes me mad the more I think about it, but I believe what Jesus said "love your enemies and pray for them."
The best part of this day was our new friend received what he needed because the Lord prompted my obedience and I followed through. The victory in  this belongs to the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
What have you done today to make the difference in someone else's life tomorrow?
 When was the last time you had the pleasure of ministering in to someone? Not preach to someone but reach out and help someone. Reach out and know you made someone who needed love, mercy and grace and you showed it to them not told them about it. You didn't tell them how wrong they were, but you showed them how much you loved them. When was the last time you reached down to someone and gave them all you had to pull them up?  When was the last time you ministered to someone. I can tell you this, through my friend I had the privilege of witnessing and sharing and being a part of just that. If you have not done this in a while or maybe never have; I want to tell you then you have missed the blessing of God. we can find it written in Hebrews 13:2 Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels. (NKJV) When was the last time you entertained an angel?   

Tool Box

What is in a tool box? I think to answer that question we must first look at the tools inside to determine the answer. Okay stay with me. If there is a screw driver, a hammer, and a wrench then the answer to the type of tool box would be one a handyman's tool box.
What about a life tool box? Some of us need tools for our tool box just to get through the day. Some people have a journal to write in, others have a diet to eat right, and others have devotions or inspirational readings to think on good things. Next, there might be a few pictures in their tool box to remind them of who they use to be and not who they are now.
Some of us have gone to church, support groups, have mentors, or therapist to help us gain tools. These tools look like inventory list, writings of their many blessings, or even some attitude adjustments that they have made.
Recently I had my tool box filled with some marriage tools. I went to a marriage conference even though I am single. The reason I wanted to go was to find out what my role as a wife looks like to God. What I can do to be a better life partner to someone one day and it was great. These are tools I can use in a marriage and in other outside relationships. I look at marriage as a oneness, a joint effort. I understand now when I see a ring that has no beginning and no end.  It is God who created and he has no beginning and no end either. This is a tool for my tool box of life.
God alone has given us tools for our life tool box, it's the Bible.
Believers Instructions Before Leaving Earth. 
Psalm 119:4 Thou hast commanded us to keep thy precepts diligently.(KJ)

I think the life lessons we go through are also tools for our life tool box. We all make mistakes and when we learn from them; the lesson appears. Isn't that a tool?  We know that when we write in a journal our daily actions we can see how we react to other peoples actions. If we responded in anger, we can see how that may have lead to an action of violence or hurt. When the next time the situation arises we may see it coming and react in a more subtle and gentle way that wouldn't cause violence or hurt. BUT we have to be willing to change out those tools. We have to be willing to learn new ways to communicate. Have you heard the saying hurt people ~ hurt people? The reason we hurt other people is because we don't know how to handle our own hurt. We may not even take the time to examine our hurt and we don't recognize when we hurt others. The tool here is to take  the time to look at what is hurting you, deal with the hurt with help and learn ways to release that hurt. Then when a time arises, you won't hurt nor hurt other people in your path. Remember the more you invest into something or someone, the more you are going to receive an investment from it. It might not come as you want it to, but it will show up right on time.  Invest some time into yourself, put new tools into your toolbox of life, change the things you want to change, equip yourself with goodness, gentleness, love, kindness, and learn long suffering.
Your life will be better and can get better when you choose to change out your tool box.
Any tool unused just gets rusty.

Go in Peace and Love,
~ Marjorie