Serving Up Jesus in Little Ways

"Miss no single opportunity of making some small sacrifice, here by a smiling look, there by a kindly word; always doing the smallest right and doing it all for love.” -- Thérèse de Lisieux

In my post, yesterday, I introduced St Therese of Lisieux who served God in such beautiful, “little ways”. I was amused when I saw this second photo of a St. Therese magnet that's displayed on a refrigerator. It's reminding that family of St. Therese's "little ways" which includes being a baby sitter. I love that. It speaks to my heart, especially in the season I’m in when I no longer give my life 24/7 to a husband and children and not working a 9 to 5 job. In this “3rd act of my play”, I find myself doing many “little things” in many “little ways” to serve God. It’s a sweet way to live one day at a time and serving in the process. One of my “little ways” is this post and blog each day -- just doing my part to spread some good news. Jesus showed us, through His actions, that serving others is important. When we truly understand what Jesus has done for us, we desperately want others to know Him and to find the same joy and hope we have. Telling people is not enough. We must show them. St. Francis of Assisi said, "Preach the Gospel at all times, and sometimes, use words." In James 2:18, James wrote “Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do.”

Our days are made up of opportunities to be “on call” to be Christ’s hands and feet. Jesus was the role model for serving up “little ways”. He took a “little boy’s” little lunch and fed an enormous crowd. He healed the blind man with a little of His spit and mixed it with dirt and made a "little" mud plaster for his eyes. He told the “little children” to come to Him. He directed the disciples to get a "little" coin out of a fish's mouth to pay their taxes. Quite frankly, LITTLE is MUCH when God is in it.

And that is where we step up to notice the opportunities we have for living in the "little ways mentality" of SERVING UP JESUS daily! No small deeds should ever be taken for granted: taking out the trash, cleaning up the dinner dishes, baby sitting, giving an encouraging word to a cashier, sending a little note of encouragement to a friend or family member, volunteering at church, cleaning out our closets and attics and taking the unneeded items to a charity or homeless shelter. Just taking a "little" time to LISTEN, without distractions, to those in our life. So many "little ways" that will pay off in such BIG dividends!

As I type this post today, I’m thinking about someone that needs a phone call of encouragement. I’m thinking about those excess clothes that need to taken to a charity. I'm thinking about my neighbor who will be caring for her sister after surgery and I need to cook up some compassion and take them some meals.

More than the BIG, BIGGER, BIGGEST accomplishments, I desire to be known as a "little ways” friend, servant, and family member. I desire to be conscious of being Christ’s hands and feet. After all, if I don’t go, who will?

Merry Christmas!

Day 312 of Photo Inspirations -- MERRY CHRISTMAS
Just look at this sweet sunbeam!  Yesterday, I walked into Reasor's Grocery Store in Jenks, the cafe side. The cashier at that side of the store, Beverly, was beaming from ear-to-ear and greeted me, "Good Morning!  It's a great day for sweaters, isn't it (I had on a sweater)?"  I have never been into that store that Beverly wasn't cheery with that delightful smile.

With my shopping done, I headed to Beverly's register. I told her "What a blessing it is to see you....always so full of joy.  You are the PERFECT one to be here at the entrance."  She promptly said, "Oh, I'm sure not perfect, but I sure try to be the best I can be!"  I replied, "There's no one perfect but Jesus.....right?"  She agreed.  Then, I whispered....."Merry Christmas", and she quickly replied, "Merry Christmas to you.  Mr. Reasor says it's okay for us to say 'Merry Christmas'.  In fact, he let's me put my NOEL sign up here at my register."  I told her that makes me want to buy my groceries there even more now.  I headed out the door and it hit me, "I know what my photo inspiration will be for tomorrow!"  I asked Beverly if I could take her photo for my blog today. Now.....you know what a sunbeam looks like.

I could go on about being a bright light to our world and if ever our world needed more Beverlys in it, it does today!   St. Francis said, "Preach the Gospel at all times, and sometimes use words." Beverly is preaching the good news every day with her happy heart and encouraging smile.

My Starbucks Coffee Cup photo here was inspired by the recent "red cup without snowflakes or representation of Christmas on it" issue.  Someone got uptight about it.  Seriously?  I think that guy hangs out at Starbucks too much and too much time on his hands.  But, his uptightness (Is that a word?) has sure given Starbucks a boatload of free marketing. They've gotta love it.  But, I'm sure not going to get on that band wagon.  The cup is bright red like bright red Christmas lights and ornaments. Oh, and here's really good news for that uptight guy.  They still sell their "Christmas" Blend Coffee.  

Back to the conversation that Beverly and I had -- I won't let anyone keep me from declaring in my greetings and my spirit and my outward joy...."Merry Christmas".  I agree with columnist Rachel Held Evans when she said,  "The whole story of Advent is the story of how God CAN'T be kept out. God IS present.  God IS with us. God shows up — not with a parade but with the whimper of a baby, not among the powerful, but among the marginalized, not to the demanding, but to the humble."

Yes, it's more important than ever that Christians stand courageously and boldly for Jesus.  But it's also crucial that we do so with a positive, joyful spirit.....like Beverly's.  We know how the story ends.  We know that the Bible is true, and heaven is real. We know that the One, Jesus Christ, who came as a baby will come again as a King. And we know that one day, we will be celebrating Christmas eternally with Him!  

Merry Christmas to all.....and to all....a really GOOD Saturday!

You Are Now Entering Your Mission Field

Day 244 of Photo Inspirations -- You Are Now Entering Your Mission Field
I was ALMOST booked to go on a missions trip to Korea and China in November with an amazing organization called Voice of China & Asia that is doing such an incredible work through their Bible ministry to the poorest of rural believers. Bibles are being legally printed in China but there is no Bible distribution system for over half of China’s population (600+ million) who live in rural areas. Here upwards of 14,000 new believers per day are professing Jesus Christ as Savior. But, they don’t have access to Bibles. Voice of China and Asia is filling this need by providing hundreds of thousands of Bibles for them.  That's what I'll be a part of, hopefully, in April, next year.

But not going with the team in November, doesn't mean that I, daily, don't have a mission to fulfill. In fact, when I leave my home and when I walk through my door, I'm entering my mission field. Missions:  an important assignment carried out for going out into the world and spreading faith and good news. Jesus said in Mark 16:15 "Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone." And I love St. Francis' words "Preach the Gospel at all times, and sometimes use words".

What is our mission field?  I believe it is to everyone that we encounter on a daily basis.  The clerk at the store, little children, the homebound, the family next door, the yard man, our own families & friends, our neighbors -- just anyone we have the opportunity to BE A BLESSING to and share the LIGHT of Christ with.

Perhaps, we need to develop a Mission Statement for our lives that keeps us focused on our calling to missions.  In Genesis 12, where God makes His covenant with Abram. God tells Abram that He will make him into a great nation and that He will bless him. And then, what God says to him in the last part of verse 2 just may be our Mission Statement, too.  "You will be a blessing."

That's it -- whatever we do, wherever we go, whoever we encounter -- our mission is "TO BE A BLESSING".  Isn't that a great way to live?  On purpose, outside of us 4, and no more -- TO BE A BLESSING here in Tulsa, Oklahoma, there in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, or there in your school or office building or community club or PTA or YMCA -- BE A BLESSING, and in doing that.....we will be IN OUR MISSION FIELD!!!

What I'm Learning From My Garden

Day 130 of Photo Inspirations -- What I'm Learning From My Garden
Yesterday, right at dawn, I already had my day planned for planting the begonias and caladiums I bought the day before -- my annual early May ritual.  With my yard tools, wheelbarrow, planting soil, plant food, flowers and mulch, I began my handiwork. How beautiful it is, even with the hard work (my hand is bandaged from the blister I gave myself from digging the holes with my shovel), to see my finished product (and notice in the photo -- the little rabbit that was admiring my work)!  LOL!

I have two inside plants:  one (a Peace Lily) which I received for my husband's funeral 4-1/2 years ago, and the other plant was a gift I received for speaking at a Christmas event (Ivy with

Red Poinsettias -- they're still alive -- see photo).  Those plants are the only living/breathing things that represent responsibility to me.  When I was away for 3 weeks,  I took them over to a neighbor to baby-sit them for me.

Then there's my yellow and peach rose bushes that require consistent "dead-heading" (pinching off the already "spent" flowers) -- so that they'll continue to reproduce more flowers.

Planting New Flowers -- represent new birth -- new life -- and watching it grow.  Isn't that what we do when we plant into people's lives the Good News of God's love for them?   Often it's continuous "hard work", but when they "get it" and receive that new life, we get to be a part of nurturing them and watching them grow and flourish.

Responsibility -- as long as we are still here on this side of heaven, we have the responsibility of living a life of example.  St. Francis said, "Preach the Gospel at all times.....and sometimes use words."  Yes, our lives, like these flowers, are on display, and the fragrance we exude speaks volumes of WHO we are and WHOSE we are.  If that fragrance is sweet.....it will draw others to WHOSE we are.

Dead-Heading or Pruning -- that doesn't sound inviting, does it?   Yet the more God tweaks us, prunes us or "dead-heads" us (removes those things that could stunt  our growth) -- though painful or uncomfortable, the more we'll be beautiful flowers in His garden. Our Master Gardener know just what's best for us and what causes us to fulfill His perfect plan in our lives.   So......how does YOUR garden grow?