+++ "Don't be yourself -- be someone a little nicer." ~ Mignon McLaughlin, The Second
Neurotic's Notebook, 1966
++ "The miracle is this: the more we share the more we have."
~ Leonard Nimoy
++ “Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don’t
matter and those who matter don’t mind.”- Dr. Seuss
++ Jesus Christ is the same yesterday
and today and forever. ~ Hebrews 13:8
++ The light shines in the darkness for the
upright; the righteous are merciful and full of compassion. ~ Psalm 112:4
++ God is
light and in Him there is no darkness at all. ~ 1 John 1:5
Psalm 112 is a marvelous passage of Scripture to read when things are going all wrong
in your life. The promises of God come through in His clarion call to continue in
faith and the hope of His glory. "Light shines in the darkness for the upright; the
righteous are merciful and full of compassion. For they are never shaken; the righteous
will be kept in everlasting remembrance. They will not be afraid of any evil rumors;
their heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord. Their heart is established and will
not shrink" (Psalm 112:4,6-8). When we seek Christ and His righteousness confessing
our sins seeking forgiveness, the light of God's grace shines on us, showing us His
heart as compassionate and loving. It is to the upright, those walking with our Lord
in His paths of righteousness, that the light of God comes. God blesses us in unexpected
ways when we walk with Him keeping our eyes, hearts, and minds on things that are
eternal. Too often we miss the blessings of God because they seem so ordinary. When
we bought our house in Allentown a stop at the end of the driveway was all it took
for Kathy to say, "We'll take it." We didn't even know the price and she said we'd
take it! You know why? Because of the wrap around porch. She saw the potential. I
saw an old house. In short order, or so it seemed, that porch was the center piece
surrounded by flower gardens, the surface of the porch adorned with an amazing array
of rockers, an old glider redeemed from a dumpster, and a porch swing. It was the
place we relaxed and reflected on our day giving thanks to God's goodness to us.
When I had to sell the house you know what the selling feature was? A tree my daughter
and wife planted. We called it a Contorted Wilbert. It was a gnarly little tree that
kept growing all the while never getting better looking. The couple that bought the
house saw the tree and said, "This is the place." Now I hear you muttering, "What
has this got to do with anything?" Here it is: we never know what we say or what
we do will affect another person's life. When we let the light of Christ shine through
us those observing us might see Christ's light in a whole different way than we presented
it. It's the way God works. When we open our heart to Him, His light of grace shines
though us. Our task is to reflect God's character living our life so others will
know the joy of the Lord. God wants His blessings to reign over us in all that we
do. I am so glad that I got to share that porch with Kathy -- and many friends. I
am glad that my wife and daughter planted that contorted tree and someone came who
will care for it lovingly. I like what the Apostle John wrote: "If we walk in the
light as He Himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another" (1 John
1:7). Then in Hebrews we read, "Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have,
for such sacrifices are pleasing to God" (Hebrews 13:16). Kathy and I taught our
children this principle and they continue this legacy. When we, my family, share,
we are remembering our wife and mother, giving thanks to God for His gift of love
to us. May we all surprise someone unexpectedly this week sharing the love of God.
Both you and the receiver will be blessed. And God will be smiling. Go and pass it
on.
Keep smiling.
Dr. Paul
