Kindness Challenge

Yesterday I posed the challenge to be kind this week.

Everyday, do something to show kindness deliberately and unexpectedly.

It's day two. How is everyone doing? Is anyone joining me?

We are such blessed people, why not use that to motivate us be a blessing to someone else.

I challenge us all to be intentional with our kindness, go out of our ways to make someone's day.

Colossians 3:12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.

I want to be called compassionate, kind, humble, gentle and patient. But if I never use and grow these characteristics, they will never be apart of who I am.

So be kind. Show love. Stop your selfishness. Go out of your way. Make someone smile. Share Jesus.

Get out of your comfort zone. Have an incredible week.

Love, M

A challenge.

When was the last time you made someone smile? When was the last time you told someone how much you love them? When was the last time you laughed with someone, like really laughed? When was the last time you made someone's day? When was the last time you gave of yourself, your time, your money, your stuff to bless someone else?

I want to encourage you to do something every day this week to bless someone. An intentional. unexpected kindness.

Every day.

It's not that hard. I promise.

Pay for the man's coffee behind you. Send a card to a sick friend. Compliment a lady's dress at a store. Sidewalk chalk encouraging notes. Buy a meal for a homeless man. Give money to a missionary. Celebrate someone's success. Keep your word. Watch a friend's kiddos for free so she can run errands. Stop and help someone with their groceries. Be patient waiting in line. Actively listen when in a conversation. Tip your waitress a bit more. When you tell someone you will pray for them, do it right then. Pass out flowers. Remind people they are loved. Do the dishes without asking. Pick up trash at the park.

The possibilities are endless.

Easy peasy, lemon squeezey. Right?

How are we supposed to share the love and joy and peace of Jesus if we ourselves do not portray love, joy, and peace?

If we want to be Jesus to a real world, we need to be love, have joy, and share peace. Not a fake version of them, but authentic realities of them.

Pray and ask God what you can do this week to bless someone and love them. And then do it. Ask for opportunities, and for people. He will supply them.

Something big. Something small. Something without any recognition. Something easy. Something hard.

Just do it.

What picture of Jesus do we paint if we are always stressed, cranky, and without care for others?

Jesus commanded us to love, and not just the ones who are like us and who like us.

So, I challenge you all, and myself included to love this week. Love in unconventional and uncomfortable ways. Love without shame. Love regardless of how hard it is. Be a blessing to someone. Point them to Jesus by your actions.

Share ideas on how you can show kindness in the comments section.

Game on. Let's do this.

So excited for this week. Love, M.

His love is true.

Things that are truly true remain true, regardless of circumstances.

One plus one will always equal two. Even if I don't believe it.

The same is true of our Jesus.

His love is larger and more consuming than I ever thought possible. It rushes in to the deep, dark crevices to heal and restore. It never gives up. It binds up the broken hearted. It gives hope to the hopeless. It gives life and truth to the lost. It changes lives. It never runs out. It is intimate and personal. It is for every person ever born, in every place, in every time. It brings light to a darken corner. It melts stone hearts. It never fails. It calls the weary to rest. It is a father's unconditional, all consuming love. It is a free gift. We have it. It is ours.

So often, we forget it. We deny it. We ignore it. We run from it. We hide from it. We don't live it out. We act like this amazing love isn't for us. It isn't really real. It is only good in theory. We don't believe it.

But it remains true. Even when we don't believe it, His love for us is overwhelming.

So, embrace it. Jump into the ocean of love. Accept it. Run to it. Cling to it. Celebrate it. Bask in it. Run to it. Live it. It is yours, you already have it.

Focus on His love. Focus on Him. Focus on what He thinks of you.

If financial woes plague your mind, focus on the fact that He is provider.

If health worries are bothering you, remember He is healer.

If you are tired and want to give up, rest in Him, He renews and restores.

If life doesn't make sense, know that He is all knowing.

If you weep, believe that He is the Comforter.

If you just want to run away and hide, trust that He is your refuge.

If you just want to give up, let Him fight for you.

If you want to share Him, but don't know how, never forget that He will fill your mouth with His words.

Focus on Him. He is always consistent. He never changes. His love for us never wavers.

When life is so uncertain, He is our rock. Our emotions and feelings cloud our judgement of what is true, but always remember, He is always true.

Happy Friday. M.

Wherever.

If you follow my stories or know my heart, you know I long to be back in Bolivia. My heart is to be back there serving full time, and to be on huge adventure with God. Most days, I don't want to be here.

But more than anything, I want to be content with wherever He has me. Because He has me here. For a reason. For a season. On purpose.

Philippians 4:11-Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content:


Hebrews 13:5-Let your conduct be without covetousness; be contentwith such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”


So, lately I have been praying, "God, wherever You have me, use me." 

 It has been interesting to see how He is using me.

The other day, I was on a website, and someone randomly messaged me, and asked if I was a Christian. I said yes, and he asked me if I could explain to him how to become one. So over the internet, I was able to share Jesus to someone I have never met. God brought to memory verses and truths from His word, and I was able to share how Jesus, and not any religion or tradition is the way to heaven and to God. The whole time, God reminded me that I prayed to be used wherever I was.

I have a good friend in Japan. He has been teaching English there for almost a year. I know he is homesick. So I used my Kitchen Aid (Remember this?) (how cool is it to bless someone with something you have just been blessed with?) and made him coconut chocolate chunk cookies. I mailed him all sorts of fun stuff. I don't know if he knows, but I pray for him daily. I just want to be a blessing to him, even on the other side of the world.

Wherever I am.

Since I have moved into my new place, I have had many opportunities to share Jesus. I have had more people over for real conversations in my two months here than I ever did in my two years in my old place. I have been able to sit on the couch with a cup of coffee, and share stories of His faithfulness. People who know Jesus, people who have never been inside a church, and all sorts in between have been over. Real conversations about a real God keep happening.

Wherever I am. 

The grocery store check out. The bank. Getting a hair cut. Dinner with an old friend. Family. To all generations. In Spanish. Picking up pizza. Walking downtown.

It doesn't make sense. The God of the universe is using me, a simple girl, with a normal life, wherever I am, to show people Jesus. It is mind boggling. But I am blessed.

I am so excited to see who is next. Who can I bless next? Who needs a cookie, a hug, a smile, a cup of coffee, a listening ear, Jesus, or a friend.

I challenge you this week.  Pray this with me. "God wherever you have me, use me." I promise, He will use you if you are willing. There are broken people everywhere. Let's be the hands and feet of Jesus, and show love, in real ways.

Love, M