What do I want to remember?

IMG_7423I want to remember that in my actions, I sow seeds. They can be seeds that lift a person up, encourage and give strength. Or they can be discouraging, defeating and used to tear down.

I may never see the fruit of those seeds, but that doesn’t mean that there won’t be a result or even a price that’s paid.

I think of those days and the men who lived here, planned and executed evil.  The seeds sown in their lives were ones that exploded in death.

What seeds could have changed that?

Maybe none  Maybe some?  Maybe seeds of love planted at just the right time.  Someone willing to show care, even to the unlovable.  Willing to open their circle to someone unknown.  When we are kind, charitable, caring do we hold back the evil?  Do we nip it in the bud, never giving it a chance to grow?

What seeds do I sow?  Do they produce fear, hate and frustration?  Or grace. love and peace.

IMG_5202I looked at the gospels, these four accounts of Jesus life, written by different men with different perspectives to give me some insight.   I went and took a look at Jesus’ last moments with his friends.  He is about to go to heaven, so I am thinking He is going to say something important. Maybe he’s saving the best information for last.  He tells them to go…. Tell everyone!  Let them know the “good news”.  Make disciples, baptize, and teach them the commands I have given you.  Those commands?  Love God and love others.  That’s it. That was in Matthew.  John and Luke didn’t have much to say, but Mark had some interesting additional information.

These miraculous signs will accompany those who believe:  They will cast out demons in my name, and they will speak in new languages.  They will be able to handle snakes with safety and if they drink anything poisonous, it won’t hurt them.  They will be able to place their hands on the sick, and they will be healed.  Mark 16:17-18.

This verse kinda jumped out at me.  I’ve seen religious groups that handle snakes, and always thought they were off base.  I couldn’t see how that could glorify God?  Then I thought of the snake in the grass…. The unknown that is there lying in wait that we don’t see.  Sometimes I think I am afraid to reach out and truly live a life of humble service to others.  To put someone else before myself.  (And when I say I…… I really mean us all).  We’re afraid of being taken advantage of or being hurt by that person who has not shown their true colors yet.  And I get it, none of us want to be hurt!  Opening our lives to people can bring in all sorts of pain.  It can also bring in the best kind of love.  The kind of love that you don’t understand.  The kind of love that only comes from God.  It also brings His protection.  That’s where the verse comes in.  God through His people promises heavenly miracles and healing, but that won’t happen if we are too scared or too self-absorbed to be that conduit of His love.

IMG_4751Not just love, but world changing love.  And not some future world, but this world.  Someone’s world….. our world.