Listening... And Obeying... Even in the Middle of a 5 mile run!

This morning I went for a 5 mile run... I am running a half marathon this weekend, and was focused on running my 5 miles and getting back home to begin my day as wife, mom, and teacher. 

Well, I think I was about a mile and 1/2 into my run when I passed a young lady out for a brisk walk. I waved and said, "Good Morning!"  Not long after passing her I decided I was hot and wanted to shed my jacket, so I stopped to take it off and tie it around my waist.  While doing this I saw her coming down the hill  and I felt the Spirit whisper to me, "Ask her if she knows that Jesus loves her".   I kind of shrugged it off, but the Spirit did not stop, He was still whispering in my heart, "Ask her." 

I tried to talk myself out of... I was in the middle of my run... I would have to turn around and backtrack, what if she thought I was crazy??  So, I started running, away from her... but then, I heard His voice again and I turned around, I forced myself to obey... (Why is it so hard sometimes??)

So I approached her and asked her if I could ask her a question, she said yes...

"Do you know that Jesus loves you?"

She looked at me, but could not speak... her eyes were welling up with big tears that just poured out of her eyes and down her cheeks.  It was as if I saw something break in her expression, like the love of Christ was breaking off a hard exterior that she did not let many get past.

I put my arm around her and said, "The Lord wanted me to stop and tell you that He loves you very much." 

She continued to cry...

I asked her if I could pray for her...

She said, "Yes, please pray for me to have strength.  I am going through so many hard things right now." 

So, right there, in the middle of the street, in a slight drizzle of rain, with clouds overhead and the wind blowing around us, I prayed for her...

I know that Christ encouraged her with a reminder of His love today.  And Christ encouraged me by the fact that He can use me right where I am, if I have a listening ear and a willing heart.  He can use me, and He can use you, even in the middle of a 5 mile run, on a cold, windy morning, in a slight drizzle of rain...

Are you the one He wants to use??  Or are you the one who needs the reminder that He loves you so very much??


 

Thankful Thursday!

Do you have a thankful heart today? 

Here is my thankful list for the week! 

• The convicting power of God's Word, the privilege of prayer, and the cleansing power of forgiveness...
• The teaching power of God's Word... we have had a few "teachable moments" here at our house this week, as we do every week, (wondering when these "teachable moments" are going to take!!).  Thankful that I have God's Word to guide me as I try to teach and train these little hearts entrusted to us.
• Time... The Lord has guided me to be very careful about the activities that I place on my plate, showing me that He wants me to have time to sit with my kids to teach and train them.  I fear many of their little "heart issues" would not be addressed properly had I not listened to His prompting regarding time commitments... there are times when we spent a large portion of our time searching the scripture together to see what God's Word says about certain things... like interrupting, disrespect, arguing, ungratefulness, you get the idea.  It really does not matter what I say about all those things, what matters is what God says about them.
• A sweet, unexpected, encouraging text from my husband in the early morning hours while having my quiet time (he was having his upstairs!)  And I only saw the text when I did because I was checking the time!
• Some unexpected time to myself for 3 nights in a row to spend a little extra time reading!
• A helpful husband who is eager to help others...
• My children helping more often in the kitchen without having to be asked!!
• Friends who pray for me...
• The strength and ability to run!!  Getting ready to run the Mercedes Half in just a week and a few days!!
• Blessings found in hand-me-downs and the joy they bring my kids!!  3 storage containers of Legos, my boys have been in Lego Heaven!!

I hope you take time to reflect on what you are thankful for... and encourage your family to do the same!  It just may do away with some grumpy attitudes, it works at our house!

Listening...

"...Be quick to listen, slow to speak..." James 1:19

Are you a listener?  Do people find it easy to talk to you?  Do they often pour out the contents of their hearts and fill you in on everything going on in their life?

Do you find joy in listening to others, in being there for them when they need a listening ear?

Listening can be a ministry...

Maybe that stay-at-home, homeschooling mom needs someone older than 9 to talk to occasionally.  Maybe the widow who spends much of her time alone just needs someone to listen to her every now and then.  Maybe the working mom who works away from home all day, and then has to juggle kids, after school activities, homework, and a husband just needs someone she can be real with.

Eventually, everyone needs a listening "ministry".  We all have a desire and a need to be heard...

Lately  I have been thinking about the listeners, those who always seem to be listening to someone else, but never really have the opportunity to share what is on their heart... What about the listeners in our lives?  Do we ever stop and take time to give THEM a listening ear?

I have recently noticed, in several different venues, with varying numbers of people, that the "listeners" sometimes do not get listened to... They get to do plenty of listening, they get to express care and concern, and then... nothing.  They are not asked about their life, their family, or how things are going.  They frequently do not get the opportunity to be listened to... I am pretty sure that there are times when they need someone to listen to them...

Now, I do not believe this is in any way intentional.  I think our world is so busy, with everyone running from this event to that meeting and back to this event and then off to another meeting, that we often do not slow down enough to listen to those who listen to us. We rattle off all that is going through our hearts and minds, and without even realizing we have done all the talking and no  listening,  we run off to the next thing.

I just wonder... do the listeners in our lives leave gatherings and get togethers feeling empty,
lonely, and as if no one is interested in their life or cares about them.  Do they leave times of fellowship, which are meant to renew and refresh, feeling depleted and sucked dry.

Let's take time to listen to those who listen to us... They just may be going through some hard stuff and need a listening ear!

But also remember, if you are a "listener", and you can not find anyone to listen to you when you most need a listening ear, our Heavenly Father in Heaven is always listening:

"You, Lord, hear the desire of the afflicted; 

you encourage them, and you listen to their cry."  

Psalm 10:17