#117 A BROADER SCOPE
I MUST BE GETTING OLDER AND WISER.
I SEE THINGS FROM A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE
THAN I SAW YEARS AGO.
FOR EXAMPLE:
WHEN SOMEONE ADDRESSES A CROWD
AND ADDRESSES EVERYONE AS IF THEY ALL HAVE FAMILY
MORE THAN LIKELY, THAT IS NOT SO.
IN MOST CROWDS THERE IS USUALLY SOMEONE
WHO DOES NOT HAVE A FAMILY
TO SPEND CHRISTMAS WITH
OR THANKSGIVING, BIRTHDAYS, ETC.
HOW DO I KNOW?
BECAUSE I LOVED WITHOUT ANY FAMILY AT ALL NEARBY.
THE CLOSEST ONE WAS 1600 MILES AWAY.
YET I AM CERTIAN I WAS NOT THE ONLY ONE ALONE.
THE ALONENESS DID NOT GET TO ME
BECAUSE I HAVE JESUS; WE DINE TOGETHER.
HE IS THE GREATEST CONVERSATIONALIST
HE IS THERE ALL THE TIME.
HE NEVER MISSES A MEAL
THOUGH HE DOESN'T EAT MUCH. HE MAKES ME LAUGH.
HE MAKES ME FEEL LOVED.
HE KNOWS WHEN TO SPEAK
AND WHEN TO BE STILL.
I FEEL HIS LOVE
THOUGH I CAN'T SEE HIS FACE.
I KNOW HE IS WITH ME ALWAYS
BECAUSE I DO NOT WALK AWAY FROM HIM.
I CHOOSE TO STAY CLOSE.
I ENJOY OUR COMMUNION
SO WHY AM I WRITING ABOUT BEING ALONE,
BEING WITHOUT FAMILY?
TO ENLIGHTENN SOME PEOPLE OF THIS FACT:
IN A CONGREGATION SOMEONE IS GRIEVING
OVER THE LOSS OF A LOVED ONE...
SOMEONE ELSE IS LONELY.
SOMEONE ELSE IS HURTING, NEEDS A FRIEND,
SOMEONE ELSE IS FULL OF JOY
THAT NEEDS TO BE SPREAD AROUND.
SOMEONE ELSE NEEDS AN INVITATION OUT.
SOMEONE NEEDS TO BE HOSPITABLE.
SOMEONE ELSE NEEDS A HUG.
SOMEONE ELSE NEEDS FINANCIAL HELP.
SOMEONE ELSE NEEDS A VEHICLE.
SOMEONE ELSE NEEDS SOME FURNITURE.
SOMEONE HAS A NEED OF SOME KIND.
SOMEONE ELSE NEEDS SOME COMPASSION.
SOMEONE ELSE NEEDS MERCY AND GRACE.
SOMEONE ELSE NEEDS TO SLOW DOWN,
TAKE TIME TO BE STILL...LISTEN TO GOD...
SOMEONE ELSE NEEDS TO TESTIFY...
SOMEONE ELSE NEEDS TO SING A SONG.
SOMEONE ELSE NEEDS TO SHARE A WORD.
SOMEONE ELSE NEEDS TO OPEN THEIR HEART
INVITE JESUS IN...
SOMEONE ELSE NEEDS THE BAPTISM IN THE HOLY SPIRIT
WITH THE EVIDENCE OF SPEAKING IN TONGUES.
SOMEONE ELSE NEEDS CLEAR DIRECTION
SOMEONE ELSE NEEDS WISDOM, KNOWLEDGE.
SOMEONE SOMEWHERE, WHETHER BESIDE YOU
IN FRONT OF YOU OR BEHIND YOU...HAS A NEED
HAVE YOU ASKED GOD WHO YOU COULD BLESS?
HAVE YOU ASKED GOD HOW YOU CAN HELP SOMEONE?
DO YOU COME TO CHURCH THINKING OF OTHERS
OR HOW YOU CAN BE OF ASSISTANCE TO THEM
OR DO YOU COME TO RECEIVE ONLY?
WHERE IS YOUR FOCUS?
IS IT ON OTHERS, OR ON SELF?
IS THE HOLY SPIRIT ABLE TO GUIDE YOU,
SPEAK TO YOU, NUDGE YOU
OR ARE YOU SENSITIVE TO HIS WAYS...
HE IS YOUR TEACHER, COMFORTER, GUIDE.
HE WANTS YOU TO HAVE PEACE AND IN CHRIST, ABIDE.
YOU CAN NOT DO IT ALL ALONE.
SO WHETHER YOU HAVE LOTS OF FAMILY OR NONE
BE AWARE SOMEONE, SOMEWHERE HAS A NEED...
YOU JUST MIGHT BE THE PERSON GOD WILL USE
TO HELP THEIR HEART NOT BLEED.
YOU MAY HAVE TO GO OUT OF YOUR WAY.
YOU MAY HAVE YOUR SCHEDULE INTERRUPTED.
YOU MAY HAVE TO CURB IMPULSIVE BUYING
SO YOU CAN OUTFIT ANOTHER...
WHO HAS A NEED.
YOU MAY HAVE TO SHARE YOUR PHONE
BLESS SOMEONE WITH A LONG DISTANCE CALL
YOU MAY HAVE A CHANCE TO SHARE BOOKS
OR RECIPES, OR POEMS, WHATEVER.
IF YOU ARE BUSY WITH A LARGE FAMILY
INVITING ONE PEROSN WOULD NOT INCONVENIENCE YOU
AND WOULD BE SUCH A BLESSING TO THAT PEROSN
WHO MIGHT OTHERWISE BE ALONE.
IT JUST TAKES A MINUTE TO BE THOUGHTFUL.
I'VE BEEN ON THE RECEIVING END A LOT.
I HAVE BEEN ON THE GIVING END TOO.
THAT IS WHY I CAN WRITE WHAT I DO.
I HAVE LIVED IT.
WHAT I SAY IS TRUE.
IT IS SO EASY TO BE SELFISH.
ASK GOD TO REVEAL IF YOU NEED TO ADJUST.
THE MORE YOU LET HIM CHANGE YOU
THE MORE EFFECTIVELY HE CAN USE YOU
AND THE BROADER THE MINISTRY.
TO HAVE TUNNEL VISION
BRINGS MUCH LIMITATION.
DOING THINGS GOD'S WAY
MEANS TAKING THE LIMIT OFF.
WITH GOD ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE.
PRAISE THE LORD.
WHEN HE...GIVES YOU A VISION
HE WILL WORK IT ALL OUT!
Written by Linda Lou Jones.
Glory to God.
