Dear Glo Girls,
I’m banned from my porch today, but I am totally okay with it because: #1 Bill wrote a great post this week that I really needed and you’re going to love, and #2 . . .
The patio for the wedding reception is being poured today! Whoo-hoo!!
If you saw last week’s Front Porch Friday Pre-Wedding Day Tour, you already know that we’re in the great, big, messy middle of TONS of projects around here because in just a few weeks, our youngest son, J.J., and his beautiful bride-to-be, Rachael, are getting hitched at our house. Man are we BUSY, and boy did I need Bill’s post this week (and I’m thinking lots of you busy girls probably do, too).
But before you read Bill’s post, I want to thank all of you who responded to my appeal for mother-of-the-bride/groom/wedding hostess advice last week. I read every single word that every single one of you wrote, and MY HEART WAS SO ENCOURAGED! Thank you for sharing your wisdom and your humor — both were sorely needed, and feel soooo blessed by your love and support. But thanks most of all for your prayers for J.J. and Rachael. I love you, glo girls!
Okay, as promised, here’s Bill’s post. He wrote it yesterday for the Sagemont Church blog (our wonderful church where he serves on staff). After I read it, I felt like he’d written it just for me, and I’m praying today that you will, too.
Taking Time by Bill Cole
I get so busy that I often forget to be available for the most spiritual yet simple encounters. There are times when I simply get to do something for someone or hear their story and pray with them. But in my busy schedule I easily justify that I’ve got bigger and better things to do. How can I help one when my schedule will help hundreds or maybe thousands? But the voice of God and the leanings of the Holy Spirit are for our growth as much as the advancement of the His Kingdom. Often He has times for me to stop and be a listening ear, a caring heart, or a pair of hands and feet to just help get the job done.
The story of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10 is an eye opener! A man is beaten and left naked to die on the side of the road. Along comes a priest and instead of helping he is too concerned with his law and the rules of his life. Next comes a Levite and he has bigger fish to fry so he keeps moving. Finally, a man with a heart of gold stops to help. He is an outcast and hated by the Jews. But he doesn’t care about that, he only cares about this man he sees in distress. His schedule is interrupted and he doesn’t ignore the opportunity before him. All of a sudden, his schedule is all about loving one poor soul in need.
I am too often that priest or Levite, with bigger things, fuller days, more excellent ministry to tend to.
But sometimes – most times – one person in need is all God has for us.
The past few weeks it feels like I’ve had more than my share of these kinds of interruptions. My days were originally set to conquer my lists of “Must Do’s”. But God offered me up some interruptions and I did say yes to many of them. And I have to say after each encounter I was more full of Him. I felt like God smiled on me a little bit.
One time was just a talk with a long time friend. It was good to be an ear and hear about their life most recently and the needs I can pray for. It was needed, it was good, and honestly it helped me more than it helped them.
God is amazing in His timing and in the way he weaves Himself in our lives. When we give in His name, we get so full. When we love more with His love, we understand and experience more of His love for us.
Turn-aside moments are the business of God. Sometimes the one poor soul is a burning bush. That’s where God is.
May is a busy, busy month. And you and I both know that there is only one way we can make it through May in a way that glorifies Him:
Matthew 22:37-39 (NLT)
37 Jesus replied, “‘You must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’
38 This is the first and greatest commandment.
39 A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’
Glo girl, please pray for me and I will certainly pray for you that we will both make God’s priorities ours even — and especially — in the busy, busy month of May.
Your sister,
