Heeding The Call

Wow! How could this happen in our country? So many of us are asking ourselves this question.

I don't blame the government for not being able to control the COLVIN-19 Virus

The world was in trouble long before it arrived. People have forgotten how to pray, given up on prayer and in some cases, never prayed.

I wasn’t raised in a Christian family. Parishioners from a Baptist church showed up at our house one day. They offered to have a bus bring my brothers and me to church and return us home after the service ended. That was all my parents needed to hear. It gave them a break from six noisy children on a Sunday.

Thank God for that church. At eleven years old I accepted Christ as my personal savior.

I didn’t walk in the ways that were pleasing to God until many years later, but the foundation was set.

As I got older I made a lot of poor choices. Some of them very painful. Although looking back, everything I went through gave me a better understanding of what I wanted and what God wanted from me.

Our world has been unfaithful to God through our acts of disobedience for a long time. What made us think we could go on living the way we have and there would not be consequences.

Alcoholism, drugs, pornography, greed, infidelity, on and on. Did you know infidelity applies to Christ as well as spouses and partners? We are cheating God when we stray from His will for us.

When I saw the self-centeredness of our young adults on the beach in Florida during spring break, I shuttered. Even COLVIN-19, as serious as it is, has not detoured them from how they think. I wonder what will happen when our older generation passes away. There are so few millennials that care to practice Christianity. Who will teach the next generation? I’ve tried to talk to my adult children and their friends. They don’t want to hear it. They are of the new age mindset and are blinded to traditional Christian values like so many of this generation.

Only an act of God can change this world. Perhaps this is it. I’m so sorry we have to lose so many precious loved ones in the process. I’m so grateful to the angels on the front lines of this Pandemic who have given so much of themselves to help others. Some have had to live in total isolation from their families.

How can anyone be prepared psychologically for anything like this? 

We can’t. 
What we can do, even if it's for the first time is to turn our eyes to God and pray.

Find a place where you can be alone. Speak out loud to God as if he was right next to you, because he is, in spirit.

Ask Him to forgive you for everything you have ever done that was disobedient in His eyes

(this is sin-it’s recognizing and admitting that we have not lived the life, God, our creator intended for us.)

See yourself free from the deception of the evil one and ask Jesus to come into your heart and dwell there. Believe in Him and He will fill you with His Holy Spirit. That was the prayer I said when I was young. 

Many years later, tired of being in emotional pain, I lit a candle one night. I got on my knees and poured my heart out again. This time I wanted to change. I wanted the pain to go away and I wanted to live.

I started praying every day. It didn’t matter what my circumstances were, I just knew I had to stay on the path of obedience to God. I knew the difference between right and wrong. It was as if I was seeing clearly for the first time. Everything became a choice. I began watching Christian programs. I didn’t go to church, but I needed to hear how to change.

Christian programming offers a diverse selection of speakers. For me it was personal. I needed messages I could identify with. I asked God to put the personalities before me that I could learn from. Their message helped guide me and kept me on track while I continued to pray. They quoted scriptures from the Bible. Eventually, I started reading it as if it were any other book. Although it’s advised to start reading the New Testament, John, Romains. I found the old testament to be very interesting as well. With a sincere desire...I prayed for understanding before I began reading.

 In the NKJV Bible James 1:5 says

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given Him.

In my daily prayers, I ask God for wisdom and understanding. Wisdom is the gift of good judgment, knowledge, common sense, and experience. It’s inner self-awareness of good choices.

Though these are uncertain times and fearful as they may be our hope is in the Lord.

Just as the virus is contagious, so is the remedy. Heed the call our creator is shouting at us and ask someone you know to join you.

If you don’t have a bible you can download the Bible app for free at bible.com

Every day that God allows us to wake-up is another opportunity to grow in the way

He wants us to live.

Stay Home, Be Safe and God Bless to all

Inspiring Souls

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Covered in Love

Do you ever find yourself completely frustrated by people behind the desk of an insurance company, doctor's office, or the other end of the phone?  

Having recently moved, I found myself having to re-address situations quite frequently, even though I took great care in notifying all the entities needed to ensure a smooth move.

One particular incident with a doctor's office made me realize that perhaps God was giving me practice in communication. 

Apparently, someone from my insurance company did not put the correct information into my file, causing me to be uninsured. My long-awaited and much-needed doctor's appointment was going to be canceled if I didn't straighten it out quickly.

Fortunately, a lovely woman with much experience in dealing with these circumstances brought me into her office. With a warm smile and a calm voice, she asked me to have a seat while she spoke to the insurance company trying to get to the root of the problem. 

After nearly an hour of going back and forth on hold, we managed to get it resolved with a code that would allow me to have the visit paid for.

That hour we spent together gave us a chance to get to know each other a bit. We complemented each other, talked about faith and shared our frustration together. Her calm manner helped to de-escalate the situation.

Before leaving I thanked her and gave her a big hug. By the time I left the doctor's office, I felt like a different person than when I arrived. 

How often do you share genuine emotion with strangers you meet in the coarse of your day? I've come to understand that when I take the time to truly connect with people emotionally, dropping my translucent wall of protection, I feel good about them and myself when I leave. 

Do you think looking someone in the eyes while sincerely listening and caring about what they have to say would make a difference in how they feel when they leave us?

As I ponder my recent acquaintances it brings me to the thought of love. How can we truly express love to others in our daily encounters? 

1) Find something about them to sincerely compliment.

2) Look them in the eyes when you are conversing,

acknowledging them with a nod of understanding and agreement.

3) Use the voice you would use if you were speaking to Jesus when you talk.

4) Do a random act of kindness daily and don't tell anyone you did it

5) Listen when God speaks to your heart regarding others.

When I'm tuned in to the Lord I find myself in tune with others on a much deeper level. 
Quite often someone will enter my thoughts and I intuitively know I am supposed to reach out to that person. 
It may be with a letter or a card relating to something they're going through. It may be a phone call just to let them know I'm thinking of them.
There's the homeless person we see on our way to work every day. 
Buy them a doughnut and a cup of coffee some time. 
Look for opportunities to be emotionally available for others. You never know when someone needs an ear to listen.

The times we live in today make us want to stay in our inner circles and hide behind texting and social media. 
The problem is we lose sight of the importance to connect on a truly emotional level with people in the real world. 

I feel good when I leave someone who I truly connected with. Do you?
I'm coming to the realization that the more I seek the opportunities to genuinely connect with people, the happier I am. 
Do you think perhaps this is the kind of love for one another God intended for us to have?

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 

1 Corinthians 13:4-5 

Do everything in love. 1 Corinthians 16:14

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Blessings,
Inspiring Souls

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Hurricane Recovery

The Wind Blew and I Heard God

 A Personal Reflection of the Aftermath and Recovery of a Hurricane 

As I approached the property, I tried to absorb what my eyes fixated on. The roof of the carport laid crumbled on top of the two cars in the driveway, and they were parked in opposite directions than when we left. The force of the water had moved the parked car in front to the rear. The car that was originally in the rear was now facing me.  

My eyes caught a glimpse of the davits, that once held our proud fishing boat. It was a mass of twisted debris. The power of the water carried the washer and dryer that used to sit under the carport, into the double wide canal that bordered the back of our oceanfront mobile home. 

My mind drifted to happier days watching tranquil sunrises, fishing and swimming in the beautiful aqua blue waters, only to be dismissed by the reality of the destruction that now surrounded me. I found myself engulfed by a deep sadness and couldn’t fight the tears, as I took it all in.  

I could hear the familiar sound of the palms, softly swaying in the warm ocean breeze, as I trudged through the destruction, trying to find something I could salvage. I found drawers without dressers, broken dishes and furniture. Our clothing colored the landscape. The air was heavy with humidity and filled with the nauseating smell of rotting sea grass, mold and damp wood. 

The water had risen so high in the kitchen, there was a line halfway up the wall. Much to my astonishment, there were some areas of the home that appeared to be untouched. A shelf hanging on the wall in the room where my three-year-old daughter slept, still had her little shoes perfectly lined up as though nothing had ever happened. Yet, the adjacent wall was completely pulled down, from the weight of the attached carport. 

My jewelry box was gone, all my jewelry lost, with the exception of my wedding ring, watch and diamond studs I was wearing, the day we evacuated. 

As I walked through each room, I could clearly see, we would never be able to live here again. Hurricane George had just blown through our lives, leaving them unrecognizable and forever changed. 

Completely drained, I decided to take another walk around the property before retiring to the hotel we reserved. As I walked towards the canal I could see something catching the sun’s rays. I moved towards the swim ladder and bent down to get a closer look. 

To my amazement, intertwined with seaweed, wrapped against the swim ladder’s arm, was a gold chain necklace my husband had given me. It was rusted from the salt, but I knew it would come clean. I picked it up, held it to my chest and sobbed. Not too far from that spot, I found my AA medallion, It represented my sobriety and I believe, was God’s way of telling me to  

“Remember what’s most important”

Of all the things I could have found that day, nothing meant more to me than these. I knew I was going to get through this and my faith would sustain me.

Within days FEMA, the Red Cross and a multitude of insurance adjusters descended upon the keys. It took time but eventually, the water dried up in areas that flooded. The bulldozers came in to remove the mountains of debris discarded by the roadside. The buzz of chainsaws could be heard everywhere as residents began the daunting task of cleaning up. There were moments I felt overwhelmed during those first few weeks, I didn’t think I had the strength to get through it. 

I never asked God why this was happening to me. I just prayed for strength and trusted He had a reason beyond my understanding. I believed He was a loving God. He gave me signs to let me know He was with me during those difficult days. I’m so grateful I was able to recognize them. Finding my AA medallion and that gold chain made me look up and thank Him in the midst of the rubble.

He put people in my path to help me, the Red Cross, FEMA, and neighboring businesses. 

A church group showed up at my store one day just as I was about to give into the idea that I didn’t belong in the Keys and it was a mistake to have left New England. 

They prayed with me and encouraged me to stay and continue opening my store. I’ll never forget the words someone said,“If it was a good idea to open this store before the hurricane, then it’s still a good idea.” They were right. 

The newspaper was only printed twice a week, prolonging search options for a rental property. With so many damaged home’s, it was difficult to find available housing, to begin with. It was going on weeks and we were still living in a hotel.

The opening of my store was further delayed due to postponed merchandise shipments. 

I needed to do something. I was beginning to feel frustrated and helpless. 

I decided to have a sign made that would help people find housing in between the days the newspaper came out. 

I had my sign maker build a large white board that could be written on and easily erased. It hung on a wall in my store that was visible through the glass door. In the event I was not there I wanted people to still see it.

The information written on the board could easily be changed by wiping off the marker and rewriting. 

People who had a home repaired and available to rent could come into the store and put their information on the board.  People that needed a place to live could come in and check the board daily to see if something new was added that fit their needs. 
I updated it daily as homes were rented and others became available. 

I called the newspaper and radio stations to ask them to assist in getting the word out to needy people. I met with a Red Cross supervisor to inquire how I could become a volunteer and brought them on board in referring people to my store to find and advertise housing. 

I also contacted the Salvation Army and had a large container put in my store for new donations to be made. 

Within days my store had people coming in and out all day long, even though I wasn’t actually selling anything. 

I contacted the Board of Realtors and requested they ask their vacation homeowners to open their homes temporarily to people in need at a reduced rental rate. They had already considered it.

After all, these were the people who took care of them when they were on vacation in the keys. 
They were the waitstaff in restaurants, cashiers in grocery stores, landscapers and year round residents working in professions that made their vacations enjoyable. This was an opportunity for those homeowners to give back.

The list of available houses grew over the months as rental properties were repaired. Vacations homes were added to the rental market and life was getting back to a new normal.

I found a home to rent that was perfect for my daughters and myself. It was on a bay with a dock and in a great area of Key Colony. My shipments started coming in and my business was an amazing success. I realized out of my own need I had helped hundreds of people and in turn helped myself. 

The hurricane took my home but changed me as a human being. I found strength in myself I never knew I had. I became a more compassionate person and learned the importance of people over material things.

My faith grew as I watched God give me back everything I lost, plus more. I met strangers that put their arms around me in my sorrow and have become dear friends to this day.

I've learned circumstances are temporary. Even when I cannot see the light at the end of the tunnel. I'm sure that someone has gone through it before me and came out the other side, often times better for it. 

I’m here to encourage you to keep walking. Put one foot in front of the other, don’t despair, don’t ask why, just keep walking, one step at a time, one day at a time. 

Thank God for what you have no matter how much or, how little it is, even if it’s only the sunrise. 

   

God does have a plan for everyone. We may not know what that plan is while we're in the struggle, but in His time, He will reveal it to us. Sometimes it's to get our attention and bring us closer to Him. 

Remain faithful and trust Him. He will provide for all our needs according to His will for us.  

For years I've heard my friends say "You're a Survivor." I like to think I've done more than just survive. I've grown spiritually with every challenging situation God has allowed in my life.

I'm not perfect when it comes to relying on Him, but I never stop trying. He gives me plenty of opportunities to practice and I grow closer to him with each one. 

Anytime I've gone through hurricanes, loss, and destruction in my life, these words always come to mind... 

"I can do all things through God who strengthens me." Phillipeans 3:13

Recover Rebuild & Rejoice

I wish you peace through the storms and pray God's mercy & blessing over us all! 
Inspiring Souls

In The Midst Of Dissension

Here I am again, feeling crushed. It’s almost like I can’t breathe sometimes. He just sucks the life out of me until there’s nothing left. I feel so alone, but I know I’m not. 

"God acknowledges me and my pain." 

   Do you ever feel like this?

As I scan across the internet or glance at a phrase I see somewhere, I hear God’s comforting words. He reminds me, that it’s through the pain that His greatest works are achieved. He loves me unconditionally. 

Suddenly, once again, I see him clearly.  It's the enemy. He wants to destroy everything that’s good. Families are at the top of the list. 

I struggle with remaining calm, during the enemy’s flaming attacks. My natural instinct is to react. Before I know it, I’m in the midst of the hell I allowed him to create. Then I recognize it, for what it is …

Satan's dissension...

It’s everywhere, our streets, our government and in our families. 

As a Christian, I can walk away from a fight, re-adjust myself and turn my spiritual view on the situation, even though it’s painful. 

But what about those people who don’t have a spiritual view? 

We interact with them daily. It’s difficult to tolerate them while waiting for God to refine them. 

Even more difficult, is knowing he uses them to refine me.

These are the times we must be aware of dissension and recognize it when we're in the midst of it. Not only the politicians are constantly fighting, but it's also all of us, and the enemy’s behind it. 

      Prayer is the strongest weapon we have.

There’s never been a time I can think of, the world needed prayer more than now. Sometimes I don’t even have words to pray. All I can do is fall on my knees and cry. 

God knows our hearts and our situations. He wants us to keep praying and never lose hope.

He will not fail us!

When dissension rises up and affects our relationships, we need to stop and examine where it’s really coming from. 

“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places” Ephesians 6:11

God created us to love each other, raise each other up and it pains Him to see us suffer because of our choices. He’s given us the freedom to choose our words, our thought's, and our actions. 

Just as a parent loves their child, He loves us and will continue to refine us. He will bring us to our knees by allowing difficulties in our lives because he loves us. 

He wants us to grow closer to Him, seek His guidance, and rely on Him rather than ourselves. 
If we seek His help only during difficulties, then we are self- reliant the rest of the time. That's the place in which the enemy loves.
Satan waits, quietly lurking, ready to pounce the moment we allow self-reliance to run the show. 

Man can not serve God and Satan at the same time. Who will we be most mindful of?

Feeding into dissension will bring us to our knees eventually, but know this:

1. God is in the mix, even if we don't see Him 

2. He will use destructive events to work "all things together for His good."

3. Our losses will be temporary.

Let’s put on the “Armor of the God” Ephesians 6:14 

and keep our eyes focused on 
“Him who strengthens us” Philippians 4:13

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 Blessings,

Inspiring Souls

Is that you God?

Have you ever had two events happen at the same time by accident, but yet are connected? Have you ever said to yourself “I must have been in the right place at the right time”?  Some people call these events a coincidence. I’ve come to recognize them as little God moments and I see them often in my life. If we take the time to connect the dots, sometimes we can see God’s gentle hands at work. My family knows, all to well that I try to see God’s hand in all situations. They don’t always agree with my way of thinking, but once in a while I see a glimmer of hope. 

While on vacation in Florida, my husband and I decided to spend the day at one of the lovely pools our resort had to offer. We picked up our towels at the front desk and proceeded to a quiet  area in the back of the resort. We thoughtfully picked our location, second row to the pool, close to the swaying palms for shade and next to a table with an umbrella.

The table appeared to be deserted except for a  bottle of 30 SPF sunscreen. As we nestled into our little piece of paradise, we suddenly realized, we didn’t have sunscreen. Wanting to respect the property of another, we sat, contemplating the bottle on the table. What if it was forgotten? Surely they’d come back for it. Should we use it and take our chance’s? 

An hour went by with no sign of the owners. My husband dropped his T shirt over the back of one of the chairs, partially claiming the table. A few minutes later he was applying the sunscreen and handed the bottle to me. He looked at me and asked “Do you think God put that there”? I deliberately said “yes”

We ordered lunch and sat at the table accompanying the bottle of SPF 30 into the late afternoon. No-one ever came back to claim the sunscreen or the table. As we were gathering our things to leave I asked my husband “What do you want to do with the sunscreen”?

I was so proud to hear him respond “I think we should leave it there”.

Later that afternoon, as I was going out to run an errand, he reminded me not to forget to buy sunscreen. He was pleased when I returned with the same exact bottle, only this one had a 20% off tag on it.

I can’t help but smile when I think how wonderful it was to see him recognize God in a bottle of sunscreen, then blessed with a discount for doing the right thing. We all have little God moments in our lives. The real blessing is when we recognize them.

Or maybe it might be a way for us to start recognizing God in general.  
Do you have an event with a God moment you'd like to share? We would love to hear from you 

 

Thank you for stopping by. Please leave a comment, follow us on Facebook, Twitter or sign up to receive more great post directly to your email and check out our website www.inspiringsouls.com.

Blessings,

Inspiring Souls