Corona Devo 3049
A few weeks ago, it was getting dark, and it was way below freezing outside...and our car wouldn't start. My husband evaluated things, and it wasn't the battery. But then--what was it?
Three separate (amazing!) neighbors proceeded to come out of their warm homes to help us evaluate why the car wouldn't start.
Neighbors came to help. In the freezing cold. In the dark.
They stood there with my husband and talked and evaluated and investigated, and they figured out why the car wouldn't start.
It was the starter on the car, but it was the pure and kind and devoted hearts of our neighbors that allowed that issue to be diagnosed.
In the dark and in the (below) freezing cold.
And we were so grateful.
Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. (10) Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. I Peter 4:9-10
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It's been over seven years, but I will never forget the beautiful (random) act of kindness that one of my friends bestowed on our family. My mom had just passed away and I was in a tunnel of emotions, and so when people (thoughtfully) asked what they could do to help, I never had an educated answer.
Many people loved us in many beautiful ways during that difficult season, but when one of my friends stopped over to drop off a huge amount of (non-alcoholic) beverages of every kind, I could have never guessed what an insightful and necessary gift that would be to our family and guests over the weeks surrounding and following the funeral.
People would stop over to support us or to provide a meal...and we would share a glass of tea together, because I had received tea from my friend.
We hosted Thanksgiving dinner the day after the funeral, and almost thirty people had cups full of soda, diet soda, rootbeer, punch, lemonade, iced tea, and bottled water...all because I had received drinks from my friend.
In the sometimes-paralysis that sorrow and grief can bring--our family could grab a drink of whatever anyone wanted, because we had received such a variety of drinks as a gift from my friend in our time of need.
Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” ~Luke 6:38
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I met up with my sister last week, and what a delight. We flew in from out-of-town, and she drove a few hours to meet us. I couldn't wait to see her, and I had thought about our little reunion a lot. But I hadn't planned for it at all.
She sure had.
She thought of everything, and she prepped and packed accordingly.
We were in Florida, where they have the best orange juice, and so she had purchased premium orange juice and strawberry-orange juice (my husband's favorite) from an , and she had packed them with ice in a cooler and she even remembered disposable cups for us to drink it daily in the hotel room.
She remembered sunblock (which is a must for us!) and beach chairs and blankets to sit on too--all of which we used! She baked cookies to snack on in the afternoons, and her daughter (my niece) made every member of our family a bracelet or necklace as a gift.
They brought bottles of water and iced tea and they shared everything with us in humility and with a genuine sense of wanting to serve us in love with every item.
She was so good to think of all those things and to love us in so many thought-out and premeditated ways.
O Lord, do good to those who are good, whose hearts are in tune with you. ~Psalm 125:4
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We have all been the recipients of God's love...through God's people.
How can we see someone and see their need today...and meet it.
What "good" can we do today?
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. (10) Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. ~Galatians 6:9-10
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Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. (10) Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. I Peter 4:9-10
Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” ~Luke 6:38
Is there a way or ways that we can prep or plan in order to serve someone soon? Can we put some thought into an upcoming engagement, so as to serve God by serving others while there? Let's determine to love someone in thought-out and premeditated ways today.
O Lord, do good to those who are good, whose hearts are in tune with you. ~Psalm 125:4
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What "good" can we do today?
But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased. ~Hebrews 13:16
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