be a samaritan*

As the story goes, a traveller is robbed and left half dead beaten up on the side of the road. First, a priest comes by and then a Levite. They both avoid helping the poor soul. Yet, a Samaritan stops and takes care of him. This is unheard of culturally. It is preposterous. How could Jesus expect the hated rival to help as Jews and samaritans despised one another with a vengeance.

Jesus told this parable in response to the question: “Who is my neighbour?” And the obvious answer is the man who gave of his time, money, and showed mercy. Wouldn’t you want to be known as a Good Samaritan?

This concept can be seen all over the world in all art forms including sculptures, paintings, films, and photographs. Many businesses as hospitals and charitable organizations are named after the Good Samaritan.

How about you? Again I ask are you looked upon as a Good Samaritan?

A Good Samaritan is willing to help a stranger. I would even go beyond that by saying a Good Samaritan is willing to stick up for justice and oppose racial discrimination, ethnic cleansing, any form of slavery or prejudice.

Yes, we are to be our neighbours’ keepers. It may just take one of us to keep the peace and stand up for what is right. Be willing to be a difference maker.

Be a Good Samaritan so you can…

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to a sin-sick world needing Christians to be merciful.

*According to the Dictionary of Classical, Biblical, & Literary Allusions the term “good Samaritan” is used as a common metaphor: “The word now applies to any charitable person, especially one who, like the man in the parable, rescues or helps out a needy stranger.”

Be a Good Samaritan and help out or rescue those who need it that God has put directly in your path. That way you will..

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If you are unfamiliar with the gospel account of the parable of the Good Samaritan told by Jesus, stop now and take a read in Luke 10.25-37.

who is my neighbour?

Jesus’ famous words: “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.” Revelation‬ ‭3:20‬ ‭

That constitutes a neighbour, right? Someone who enters in and dines together.

Are you having your neighbours over for dinner?

Do you even know your neighbours by name or do you just wave from the car or across the street?

We live in a rush rush society and in a lot of neighbourhoods people don’t even know who lives near by. It makes me sad that I don’t know if a neighbour is struggling from cancer or struggling from the loss of a loved one. I don’t often even know if a neighbour is sick or lonely.

How can we be better at knowing our neighbours?

Take some time to get to know those you live close to.

Are they expecting a grand baby or their first child?

Are they struggling letting go as they become empty nesters or sending a child off to school for the first time?

Our neighbours need to see us caring.

That is how we can…

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a good neighbour ministers

2 Tim 4.1-5 talks about how we are to minister.

“I can’t impress this on you too strongly. God is looking over your shoulder. Christ Himself is the Judge, with the final say on everyone, living and dead. He is about to break into the open with his rule, so proclaim the Message with intensity; keep on your watch. Challenge, warn, and urge your people. Don’t ever quit. Just keep it simple.

You’re going to find that there will be times when people will have no stomach for solid teaching, but will fill up on spiritual junk food—catchy opinions that tickle their fancy. They’ll turn their backs on truth and chase mirages. But you – keep your eye on what you’re doing; accept the hard times along with the good; keep the Message alive; do a thorough job as God’s servant.” II Timothy 4:1-5 MSG

We all have different roles in ministry yet together we fulfill the bigger purpose which is helping our neighbours feel loved, giving them tools to keep seeking higher ground, and to help them (and us all) to continually seek our greater purpose as we strive to live our earthly days in service to our King.

Keep the message simple but do challenge, warn, and urge all those in your circle of influence to follow the Lord and to accept His gospel message as truth.

As God’s servants we are to keep the message alive and diligently point others to Christ. If not, how can they learn to…

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Be a good neighbour and minister to their needs so you can show them what it means to be a Christian!

how to be a good neighbour…

Be a Godly citizen.

“God, who gets invited to dinner at your place? How do we get on your guest list? Walk straight, act right, tell the truth. Don’t hurt your friend, don’t blame your neighbour; despise the despicable. Keep your word even when it costs you, make an honest living, never take a bribe. You’ll never get blacklisted if you live like this.”

Psalm 15:1-5 MSG

Walk straight!

Act right!

Tell the truth!

When we walk, act, and talk right, the world sees authenticity and a Godly citizen.

Don’t forget, the key is if you desire to share the truth; you need to keep your word so others will not have an excuse not to believe in the saving grace of Jesus Christ because of your lies.

We need to live lives so our neighbours, friends, relatives, co-workers, all we have contact with would never have the excuse of calling us a hypocrite and thus harden their hearts to the things of the Lord because of our poor examples.

Let’s hear that same Psalm in a different version:

“Who may worship in your sanctuary, Lord? Who may enter your presence on your holy hill? Those who lead blameless lives and do what is right, speaking the truth from sincere hearts. Those who refuse to gossip or harm their neighbours or speak evil of their friends. Those who despise flagrant sinners, and honor the faithful followers of the Lord, and keep their promises even when it hurts. Those who lend money without charging interest, and who cannot be bribed to lie about the innocent. Such people will stand firm forever.”

Psalms 15:1-5 NLT

That’s perfectly describing a Godly citizen, right?

Let’s be people of integrity and do as that Psalm suggests: walk straight, act right, and tell the truth.

This will prove us to be good neighbours and then our neighbours truly will see us…

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Walk the straight and narrow path… Matthew 7.14 paraphrase

am i my neighbour’s keeper day 2

Do you have an elderly neighbour or know a shut in that is just waiting for a visit?

Be the light to brighten up their day.

May we be reminded we are to be diligent visiting the ones who perhaps need it most, but when we do, often it is us that walk away enriched.

It is a win win opportunity where both parties are blessed. It just takes a little extra time and commitment on our part to make it happen.

James tells us to take care of widows and orphans in their distress. How often do you think of them as your neighbour? Well, know that they are!

And if God has brought someone to your mind today, go and be your neighbour’s keeper.

Check in on the shut in, visit with the elderly, drop a bag of groceries off to the widow or single parent.

What other practical ideas of being the Lord’s hands and feet extended can you think of?

Comment below so we all can have more ideas on how to…

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“Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” James 1.27

Lord, thank you for saving my soul. Now help me share my faith so others can come into the fold. Amen

am i my neighbour’s keeper

Over the years we have had some crazy things happen to our neighbors. One drowned in the pool from a seizure while we were all home and had no idea help was needed. Another couple had a domestic violence dispute in front of the kids where both husband and wife were arrested. And it was so sad for me to learn our next door neighbour committed suicide and it was not discovered for weeks.

Each of these situations I grieved.

Each I wondered if there was something I could have done to help.

Each I wished I had shared more or done more to help them all know the Jesus I know and love.

We have a responsibility to share our faith. So in that sense, yes, we are to be our neighbours’ keepers or at least steer them towards the saving grace of Christ.

Have you heard this old saying? “Don’t put off for tomorrow what you can do today!”

I think this is so true not just in procrastinating tasks but in choosing not to share our faith.

You see that neighbor who drowned I know I was suppose to share the gospel the night before the tragedy happened. I had an urgency and know it was God prompting me, but I decided I would wait and make a point to talk the next day. The problem is that day never came. So the saying “don’t put off for tomorrow what you can do today” surely applies to sharing our faith too especially when we are promoted to do so.

I am glad we serve the God of second chances (and third and fourth and one hundred and two!)

But we must constantly consider this: What is the Lord prompting me even now to do? Don’t delay, do it today!

Please share your story in the comments below so we can learn more ways to…

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as we strive to be our neighbor’s keeper.

“…love your neighbour as yourself.” Matthew 22.39

“For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.”

Romans 15:4 NIV

Let’s give that hope away to our neighbours and not delay for we may not have tomorrow to do it.

What will you say to your neighbors today?

Don’t put off for tomorrow what you can do today!

Be bold and take that step to share your faith before time is no longer available. Let an urgency rise in you for we are not guaranteed tomorrow. Act today and be the keeper of your neighbor’s soul. Amen!

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bacio/baci

Italian for kiss, but I am thinking of the candy kind – sweet dark chocolate candy kisses wrapped in love notes in multiple languages.

My first trip to Italy was in March of the last century almost three decades ago. While I was there, it was time for la Festa della Donna which happens every year on March 8.

In some countries, it is a day of protests, others it isn’t even recognized, and still others like Italy; it is a day that celebrates womanhood. It is like Mother’s Day but for all women not just mothers.

For some countries, it is an official holiday, others it is a holiday just for women, and for some it is an unofficial holiday yet still celebrated.

That is the case in Italy. And there is not a street corner or home that is not adorned with the mimosa flowers symbolizing the coming of spring.

The festival of women was quite a pleasant surprise to me. Not only were the yellow flowers everywhere, kisses were doled out, and of course plenty of Baci candies to be had. All a first for me to experience. Since then I have learned which cultures kiss two cheeks or one, what flower colors go with what occasion, but I have never lost an appreciation for Perugina chocolates. I am not a big hazelnut fan, but I still can’t get enough of those Baci balls as my dad would call them.

These chocolates were first introduced to the world market at the world’s fair in 1939 in New York City although they had been produced since 1922. If you have never tried them, please do! You can even order them from Amazon! I just ordered some to give to the ladies in my life.

So what’s the point of all that back story? It is always good to learn some fun facts about a day and on this international women’s day, be giving, kind, loving, and gentle. Why is it so often we need to be reminded of such things?

I think it is because we are naturally sinful and that often stems from selfishness. So I say today, take what you have learned above and go get some Baci candies or yellow flowers. Go find a lady in your life you can bless. We were made for community and we all could use a little encouragement from time to time. What better way to show someone you care than to surprise them on this day which will most likely be out of the blue for them and with no expectations of a return from you. I promise not only will it brighten the day for that special someone (or someones) in your life, but it will brighten yours as well.

Grab some sisters and celebrate friendship.

Text those coworkers and tell them you appreciate them.

Bring some chocolates or flowers to your mom or sister.

Just do something for the women in your life to show you care.

“‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” … Giving brings blessing back to us. Luke 6.38

That really is a practical way to…

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Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.Colossians 3.12

Pictures above are from the Perugina chocolates website. If you have never had chocolate from Perugia, don’t take my word on how great it is, go order some yourself and let me know what you think.

https://www.baciperugina.com/us/

“Be kind to one another…” Ephesians 4.32

“Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.” I Peter 4.8

“And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love.” I Corinthians 13.13

What will you do with the 299

It is the 66th day of the year. That means there are 299 more to go. What will you do with them?

Each day can be a clean slate. What will you and I do with it?

So often, resolutions are made January 1, goals set, and by the end of the week or month or year re-evaluated to see how far one has come. Maybe you planned to read through the Bible in a year or start a new fad diet, perhaps work out or implement a weight loss plan, or work on the procrastinated house projects that need to be done. Whatever the mission for the year, it is met with anticipation and hope.

I am no different than the rest with goal setting. However, I like most sometimes don’t even finish out week one in January without slipping behind and before I know it, the goals and priorities I set are no longer in my mind.

However, this day is different for me and can be for you as well. This year had been different as I was well prepared for this year’s mission. It is not too late for you to get ready either as no one ever said a year of goal chasing had to start January 1st! So do some soul searching and a little pre-planning to make the rest of this year great whenever you get around to putting your intentions into place.

Yesterday began the season of Lent. It is not too late to get focused.

For me, the idea that had been brewing a long while was daily blogging for the whole year through with one entry per day! I have been successfully at it for the last 66 plus days.

Can the ambition come to fruition? I say a big fat YES! And what have I done in advance to make it happen?

Well, glad you asked so let me tell you…

I have been writing for my whole life. It has been an outlet for times of trouble, an opportunity for me to get to know myself better, a reason to be motivated, and I would even go as far to say a God-given desire and talent that I have been gifted with to steward well. I must also admit I have not always guarded it or regarded it as such.

But God has been stirring and preparing my heart ‘for such a time as this‘ (Esther 4.14) and so I was fully ready to jump in January 1 and I am fully confident come December 31 I will have accomplished my project 365*.

A lot of times we don’t follow through because of fear of failure or not knowing how to start. I would say I am no different. In fact, I have been thinking about starting a blog and even began one years ago, but I never made it public and no longer remember how to access it. Bummer! It had some great travel advice and perhaps one day I will share some of the entries here, but that is for another day.

When the thought popped into my head to write a blog a day, I was exhilarated to set this self imposed goal but also knew God was guiding my thoughts and steps.

I was overjoyed, so ready to jump in, and get started.

If something I said today kick starts you to do something in your life, please leave a comment.

If you have made some new year resolutions and they are still going strong, leave a comment as well so this online community can encourage and support you.

We all need accountability and sometimes that is just the thing to keep us on track!

So go live out the next 299 days as the best year yet and please come back often as we partner together all for God’s glory and honor. Together working on goal setting and seeing it completed is more fun. Don’t you agree?

“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?” Isaiah 43.18-19a

“Do not remember the former things, Or ponder the things of the past. Listen carefully, I am about to do a new thing, Now it will spring forth; Will you not be aware of it? …” Isaiah 43:18-19a

“This is what God says, the God who builds a road right through the ocean, who carves a path through pounding waves, The God who summons horses and chariots and armies – they lie down and then can’t get up; they’re snuffed out like so many candles: ‘Forget about what’s happened; don’t keep going over old history. Be alert, be present. I’m about to do something brand-new. It’s bursting out! Don’t you see it? There it is! I’m making a road through the desert, rivers in the badlands. Wild animals will say ‘Thank you!’ – the coyotes and the buzzards – Because I provided water in the desert, rivers through the sun-baked earth, Drinking water for the people I chose, the people I made especially for myself, a people custom-made to praise me.‘” Isaiah 43:16-21 MSG

*shout out to Project 365. I have no right to this name nor am I using it as it’s intended purpose. Project 365 is actually a “movement” where you take a picture a day the whole year through to document your life. The purpose is to help develop your photography skills and capture memories. For me, it will be writing that will ‘capture’ the memory and improve my writing skills. The idea for this came from a friend who has done the 365 project several times over and I thought it was a good way to remind us all to keep the goals of the year going strong. Goal setting is key so keep striving to accomplish those ambitions and the world will see you…

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With a little planning, your next 299 will be fantastic. I just know it.

are you planning to fast?

Today is Ash Wednesday and marks the beginning of Lent which is a time as we approach the Easter season to reflect, repent, and rejoice that our Savior came and paid the price for our sin.

Yes, Lent is to be a time of reflection, repentance, and prayer but this should be done daily regardless of what time of year it is but life often gets in the way. Don’t let it!

Are you planning to fast something this season? Maybe sugar or meat or grains? Perhaps you would be more willing to commit to no news/tv/media or other Internet surfing until you have put in time with God. I further suggest the same amount you would with other things should be the same amount of time in the Word or in prayer. Focus on introspection, self examination, and repentance.

Many choose to celebrate a fast throughout the season of Lent, but the focus is not on depriving themselves of something as much as it is on devoting themselves to God and His purposes in the world.

Lent is an excellent tool to help focus our attention on God with the way we organize our time. One year I read a 46 day lent devotion on the Bible app. There are many to choose from. Why not pick one out and tell us which one you choose in the comments below.

Perhaps you will want to set a timer for three minute, five minute, or larger intervals to have pointed prayer for individuals.

If you want me to pray for you, send me a private message or comment below.

In my opinion, it is always a good day to pause, be still, and listen to what the Lord has to say to our souls.

Use this season of Lent to draw you closer to the Lord and in turn you will be better at being the church.

be.the.church

how often do you die to self?*

I believe sometimes there are people in our lives purely for us to learn how to die to self. “Curbing self will, dying to self at every opportunity, is essential to spiritual healing and growth.”*

We must practice discipline and train ourselves to die to self. It is not natural and can take time like a runner training for a marathon or an apprentice learning a trade.

we all need to train ourselves, but our second child really needed some help learning to die to self. I think he would have been a gamer all day and night never doing homework or aspiring to further his education If he was not taught the art of self control. (Note: I am not advocating that gaming in itself is bad but rather the lack of discipline when playing can be detrimental.)

This now grown and flown adult still games but sets up parameters for himself so he doesn’t loose valuable time when other things need to get done first. The old proverb “do first things first” applies for him and should for all of us when dealing with training ourselves.

What a great idea to get work done first then ‘earn’ the play time. If you play too long, you can get obsessed and all other responsibilities forgotten or pushed off.

That goes for other things too. Writing for me can keep me away from basic responsibilities so I do my best to engage in disciplining myself. Some days I am better at this then others as I would be happy never doing anything but staying home to write.

Another area that can result in similar issues is sleep habits. If you sleep too much, then you want more or have the tendency to become lazy. If you don’t get enough sleep you can become irritable or a workaholic.

How about over eating? I say step away from a buffet before feeling overstuffed.

What area or areas do you struggle in when it comes to self control? Please tell us in the comments below so we can all be reminded of more areas that might need some self regulation.

By continually surrendering small areas of your life, the act of dying to self will become easier and less disruptive and actually welcomed. That is why we should ask ourselves: how often am I dying to self?

Tomorrow begins a season of lent. This is a great time to put into practice self discipline. Pick some area you need to work on and do so over the weeks ahead. Perhaps giving up gaming or some other time sucker you engage in will give you time to reconnect more consistently with others and our Lord.

You might even find a whole new you! In doing so, you will…

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“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” II Corinthians 5.17

Today is Shove Tuesday better known as Fat Tuesday or Pancake Tuesday.

Typically, it is a day of gorging on all the yeast items in the house since traditions fasting starts the next day. It is the last hurrah before lent begins and where Madi Gras got its roots.

It is funny that most ‘party’ days began as pagan festivals that early Christians tried to incorporate with the faith to make it easier for people to convert. I believe God gave us freewill so we could not only accept His free gift of salvation but we could learn to deny ourselves as well.

Take some time to contemplate what it is you could deny yourself to make this season of Lent more enriched. It does not have to be food related and often other areas in our lives need more attention. Tell us in the comments what you plan to do so you can have a little more accountability. I commit to reading The Word before anything else and I commit to diligently writing blog entries instead of wasting time scrolling social media accounts. Here’s to denying ourselves so we can be a better witness and draw closer to our Lord. Amen

In the meantime,…

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*inspired by chpt three from the booklet Praying the Jesus Prayer by Frederica Mathewes-Green