|
Knowing I was on assignment when I met the pizza delivery guy at the front desk, I was listening to the Lord as to what He would have me do. Loaded down with pizza, salad, paper plates, and the works, Josh smiled brightly as I made my way to him. "Have you ordered from us before, Ma'am?" he said. "This is my first time in Cincinnati! I'm from Knoxville, Tennessee", I said proudly. We chatted briefly as I put my autograph on the bottom of the receipt, all the while listening to the Lord. I added his tip with my total and turned to get extra napkins. Josh made his way to the snack area of the hotel and then headed to the front desk to pay for them. Immediately I knew! "Put them on my room tab" I voiced. "Really?" both Josh and Destiny (who was behind the counter) said at the same time. "Yes, please do!" Josh's smile broadened as he left while Destiny whispered to me, "that was a kind thing to do!"
Later when we needed help with the Internet in our room, I called the front desk. Destiny answered the phone and offered to come up to help. She patiently worked with our systems to get them to connect, navigated the TV channels, and made sure we had whatever we needed. I love paying forward acts of kindness! Many times, you may not see immediate results like in this case. But, we are kind just because it's the right thing to do! And what we sow into others' lives we will reap! It's a law!
Another thing that plays into effect is the "law of intention". What we "expect" is drawn to us. I expected not only an opportunity to show extra kindness beyond the tip, but I was looking for something which would speak into this young man's worth! It ended up also being an example to a young woman named Destiny as she released kindness on us later.
Earlier I saw it happen in a humorous way. We had stopped at a truck stop looking for an adapter for our phone. I knew truck stops usually had a section of all kinds of gadgets for vehicles and was sure we could find it there. We looked and looked but could not locate what we needed. Noticing the back of a couple probably in their twenties who were also looking at the maze of items I decided to ask them if they knew where it might be. "These young adults are usually real 'tech-y' I thought to myself. They will know what we need!" "You both look really smart", I said getting their attention. As they turned towards my compliment, it was apparent they did not look smart at all! It almost took me back! I didn't know if they were high at the moment or if they just had too many "trips" in the past as they slowly tried to communicate. I listened, drawing on love from the Lord He had for them. Amazingly they came up with the answer! My intention preceded me! As I treated them with kindness, God's love was manifested to them and they stood a little taller knowing someone believed in them.
Recently I posted on my Facebook page this picture with a challenge to love! It takes the pressure off us to figure out if others deserve it or not or if we agree with their lifestyle. Just love! God will sort it out! Love, not judgment draws them to Jesus, He can take care of the rest! Many times, He has led me to pray with the one for whom I'm caring for and introduce them to this loving Savior. But that's His call. He knows when they are ready! My job is to love and get them ready! Look what the scripture says:
Proverbs 10:12 Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers and overwhelms all transgressions [forgiving and overlooking another's faults].
Proverbs 17:9 He who covers and forgives an offense seeks love, But he who repeats or gossips about a matter separates intimate friends.
and....
1 Peter 4:8 Above all, have a fervent and unfailing love for one another because love covers a multitude of sins [it overlooks unkindness and unselfishly seeks the best for others].
We are all on assignment, an assignment to show love through kindness! Expect God to draw them to Himself! Expect favor to be returned to you as you pay it forward. Not because you deserve it but because of who God is! He is Love!
Be sure to read the Torah portions below that Jesus read during this time in history! There is always something that relates to us in our place in history now! That's so amazing to me!
Find out more about the month of Cheshvan on our website
. Please email us your area of passion and the skill you desire to be developed so that we can agree with you in prayer!
(
prayer@annasgate.org
)
This is your time to excel into your greater potential!
We would also like to invite you to send us a brief testimony
(written or filmed on your smart phone)
of how God has used Anna's Gate
to help you and to reach your realm of influence.
(Put "Testimony" on the subject line).
If filmed, please make it only 1 to 2 minutes.
We would love to hear from you!
Read what Jesus read on this week in History!
When you make a purchase using A
mazon Smile, a part of your purchase amount is given to support the work Anna's Gate does. We appreciate your using these businesses and in the process blessing Anna's Gate.
Click above image for details.
"I invite you to visit my personal Facebook page (CarolMarie Smith), where I post videos and insights open to the public that will help you continue to grow! We also film and post the Tuesday meetings on Facebook that compliment what I share in our weekly Cup of Empowerment."
|
