#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.