No Man is an Island....or is He?

As we made our drive to church on Sunday, I asked my two young grandsons random questions. I asked Brennan, "If you were stuck on a deserted island, what three things or people would you want with you?" He quickly replied "My dad, Bryson (his younger brother) and a knife." I loved that he wanted others with him on his island.

I love my independence, and, particularly, this sweet season of life that I'm in – to go and come or go and stay. I may be alone, but I'm never lonely. Though I still miss my sweetheart beyond words, there are still perks to being a widow or being single. No one tells me what to do; I go to bed when I want to; I get up when I want to; I eat what I want to, and spend my time the way I want to – well, except when I’m managed by my grands – like the last couple of weeks. It's okay. I love that management.

English poet John Donne penned the words: "No man is an island", which paved the way for this beautiful song:
"No man is an island, no man stands alone.
Each man's joy is joy to me. Each man's grief is my own.
We need one another, so I will defend
Each man as my brother, each man as my friend."

Independence isn't what God called us to. We need each other. And, bottom line -- I don't want to be so independent that I withdraw from the assignment God called me to, and has for me to do. He didn't call us to live on islands by ourselves. We are here on this earth, at this time, and this place, to touch others, and affect others by our actions and our words. We should be intentional with our daily interactions. Every time we walk out our door to this world, we are carrying the LIGHT to brighten our world and other people's lives with God's love and peace.

We can leave an imprint on every person we meet -- even in a small way -- but, nothing is small in God's sight when we allow His light to shine in and through us. We just might be a difference maker for someone today! So, let's get out of that "island mentality", and get on the "crowded places mentality" -- where we get to rub shoulders with others, and perhaps our "light" will rub off on them and they will start "shining", too!

"Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God's grace in its various forms." 1 Peter 4:8-10

Clean Hands and a Pure Heart

Day 271 of Photo Inspirations -- Clean Hands and a Pure Heart
Ever find little finger prints on your glass doors or windows or walls?  Little chocolate or muddy hands had left their imprint.  The evidence was real.  We recognized those finger prints.

Those were the times when those little guys had no idea of what those little finger prints would do. It took some maturing and repetitive correcting for them to finally learn to use a napkin or washcloth to clean away the evidence.

Now, that we’re all grown up -- we know better.  Our clothes stay clean.  Our faces stay clean (well most of the time – thankfully good friends tell us if we have something on our face).

We tend to focus a lot on outward cleaning of our hands.  There are so many ways to clean them: antibacterial soap, body wash, bars of soap, foamy or gel soap.  But, this scripture refers to what’s going on in our hearts.

Psalm 24:3, 4 “Who may climb the mountain of the Lord and enter where he lives?  Who may stand before the Lord?   ONLY THOSE WITH CLEAN HANDS AND PURE HEARTS, who do not practice dishonesty and lying.”

There are so many ways to clean our hearts:  medications, self help books, therapy, counseling, mental affirmations.  Of course all those things help, but letting God’s super-power cleaning system do the work in us, then we’ll really know “clean hands and pure heart”.

Clean hands and pure hearts.  Those are the hands and hearts of those who know better than to allow the stains and dirtiness of the world – lying, dishonesty, cheating, envying, complaining, and deceiving – to “mess up” our relationship with God.  We do our best to keep our hands and hearts pure and clean, because the rewards for being “good kids” are so great.  We get to sit at the “adult” table where the benefits are so many.

My prayer is from Psalm 51:10 “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me!”  Clean hands on the outside and clean and pure hands and heart on the outside.

No Man is an Island

English poet John Donne penned the words: "No man is an island", which paved the way for this beautiful song:
"No man is an island,
No man stands alone.
Each man's joy is joy to me.
Each man's grief is my own.
We need one another, so I will defend
Each man as my brother,
Each man as my friend."

I love my independence, and, particularly, this sweet season of life that I'm in. Though I miss my sweetheart beyond words, there are still perks to being a widow, or being single. Noone tells me what to do; I go to bed when I want to; I get up when I want to; I eat what I want to, and spend my time the way I want to. And I don't have to share my clothes closet with anyone else. I say, "I may be alone, but I'm never lonely."

BUT, independence isn't what God called us to. We need each other. And, bottom line -- I don't want to be so independent that I withdraw from the assignment God called me to, and has for me to do. He didn't call us to live on islands by ourselves. We are here on this earth, at this time, and this place, to touch others, and affect others by our actions and our words. We should be INTENTIONAL with our daily interactions. Everytime we walk out our door to this world, we are carrying the LIGHT to brighten our world and other people's lives with God's love and peace. We can leave an imprint on every person we meet -- even in a small way -- but, nothing is small in God's sight when we allow His light to shine in and through us. We just might be a difference maker for someone today! So, let's get out of that "island mentality", and get on the "crowded places mentality" -- where we get to rub shoulders with others, and perhaps our LIGHT will rub off on them and they will start "shining", too!