Let's Be Kindness Junkies

A "junkie" is someone consumed by an addiction. What a difference it would make if we were all addicted to being kind -- just can't help ourselves. It's who we are and what we do. A few days ago I told the story of our helping a lady whose keys were locked in her car and her cell phone was dead. She was so relieved when we showed up to help her. But, what if we had parked in another location or what if we were so into ourselves in conversation that we didn’t even notice her?

I believe we are all God’s messengers on assignment when we leave our homes (or even in our homes when we sense a nudge to encourage a family member or call someone to encourage them). Most of the time, kindness always begins with our eyes — the way we observe the world and are sensitive to the needs of other people.

That's what I caught when reading about the Good Samaritan in Luke 10:33: “When HE SAW the man’s condition, his heart was filled with pity”. Notice that “he saw.” That's our starting point. If we want to learn to be a kinder person, our world view must change to being an observer of the needs around us. When we're in a hurry -- kindness opportunities evade us. If we're wanting to be a "kindness junkie", then we must slow down! Distractions are the death of kindness.

1 Corinthians 10:24 says “Look out for the good of others”. The first step to kindness is to ask God to give us a sensitive, spiritual radar to be on the lookout for people around us who are hurting emotionally, spiritually, and physically. To be on high alert for the opportunity to spread a little kindness with our words and our actions.

I'm determined to be a kindness junkie. I want to be aware of those who need kindness ministered to them. I want a bumper crop of kindness to harvest. It’s not always easy to see the needs of other people, especially when they’re on the other side of the road. But it’s the starting point of kindness. Maybe it’s time to slow down and even stop to smell the roses because the roses we smell, might be someone who needs Jesus in human flesh.

But the Greatest of These is Love

Day 303 of Photo Inspirations -- But the Greatest of These is Love
#TBT -- These are photo inspirations from the Belize trip and the missions that my husband and I supported, along with training the pastors there, for many years. Then a year ago, our team headed to Mexico to be a part of the beautiful ministries that are doing so much to restore and help the people there. Such sweet memories!  Missions has been in our DNA for a long time.

Of course, there are so many missions opportunities right here at home in the U.S. and if you can get involved with any of them, I promise you, you will go in with the good intentions to bless them, but in reality, you will be the recipient of so many blessings. Here's just a few of the reasons to reach out to those who are not as fortunate as we are:

1)   It opens our eyes to the blessings we have in our lives.
2)   It opens our eyes to the "little things" we take for granted.
3)   It opens our hearts to the needs of others -- so much so, that we just can't help it....we just HAVE to give.

4)   It causes a "culture" shock that awakens our hearts of compassion.
5)   It causes those hard, crusty, dissatisfied and grumpy attitudes that are so easily a part of our lives....to dwindle to softness and appreciation.
6)   It causes blinders being taken off to see the needs of others far greater than our own needs.

7)   It causes us to re-evaluate spending senseless dollars on gifts for friends and family members that you know will be tossed in a corner or a drawer or even trashed, within just a few minutes or hours of having received them.

8)   It causes the mindset of "Thanksgiving" as truly being thankful for every blessing that God has brought into our lives.
9)   It causes a hunger to help support the precious people and volunteers who do what they do.

10) It causes unmistakable and contagious joy.
11) It causes us to evaluate just WHY we are here on this earth at this time.

As we focus on God and His Great Commission, everything will be radically altered—including our thoughts about the world and those in need -- our prayer life, our eating habits (including what things we’re willing to “try”), our disciplines in health and fitness, our family’s stewardship of faith and finances. A missions mindset will impact -- for eternity — our focus on our future and their future.

Could it possibly be that God's been waiting on us to live with PURPOSE -- making a difference on a daily basis of the lives of others?

There is just nothing that can top -- GIVING. And God just can't help it -- He ALWAYS exceeds the GIVING BACK in so many ways. What we received in our hearts from the beautiful people and children of Belize and Mexico far exceeded anything that we could have given.