A few weeks ago, I had a meeting at the hospital where my Uncle works.  I contacted him to let him know that I’d be in the building and we made arrangements to get together.  When the time came, he met me at my location, and then we walked over to where he was having lunch with co-workers.  On the way, he said hello to several people, introducing me…”Hey, this is my niece!”  He walked with confidence and assurance as he led the way.  We sat with his co-workers of whom he had prepared lunch for and shared laughs about not eating sweet potato pies with strings (It’s a Southern thing if you don’t understand lol).

When it was time to go, we walked as far as our joint paths would carry us.  He gave me money to pay for parking (I had turned down his offer to buy lunch) and embraced.  He told me he loved me and I did the same.  Right there in a very busy, four cornered hallway we lingered in our hug with each other transferring that verbally expressed love through our minds, bodies, souls and spirits.  After that we departed, walking in different directions.  My heart was full, beaming.  I was smiling from ear-to-ear and it remained until I made it to my car.  I settled in to jot this entry down not thinking about the weight of reports, presentations and other assignments that were due, but resting in the moment. 


People, whether we determine family to be biological or not, we must take the time to connect.  In all, our visit that day was about 20 minutes in total but I received a deposit in my heart that creates lasting memories.  Those that carry us through – those that carries….me through.  With today’s technology, there is NO reason why we can’t reach out.  No excuses either.  There can be the relative that never calls you – but you find yourself being the only one reaching out – SO WHAT! This starts with me seriously.  It really does!  So I, we need to GET OVER IT!  Be the REACHER (Another made-up word!) and see that we are the ones who really benefit.  Since I gave a new term, let me define it for you. 


A Reacher is someone who is in a difficult relational situation with another person and is the one to “Reach Out” in some form of communication to connect in a positive way and rebuild that relationship.  It’s kind of like what they say about being the “Bigger or Better person” in a situation.  Think about reaching to grab something that is inhibited by a barrier.  The object is a millimeter or finger tip away and one has to over extend their reach with everything they’ve got to touch or grab it….that’s the context here.  Straining and stretching. Just as how the Woman with the Issue of Blood reached out for Jesus (See Matt 9:20-22, Mark 5:25-34 or Luke 8:43-48). In the emotional or intellectual realm, it is often hard because the other person may not even be cognizant of your reach but that doesn’t matter.  They will know.  It may be a 30 second phone call consisting of, “Hello….how are you?  How have you been? Just calling to say hi or I love you…ok take care.”  Who knows what the Lord will do through that one thing.  It takes strength, courage and assurance that no matter what we are looking in the mirror of God by following through. Not to mention all other forms of communication – text messaging and social media are a few.


                   Psalms 23:6a tells us that: Goodness and mercy follows us all the days of our lives.


God’s love extends beyond the times when we fail to speak to him through prayer, appreciate him through praise or acknowledge him for exactly who he is through our worship.  This is why we need to mirror him with reaching out to our family.  Good, bad or indifferent, God has forgiven us, so we can do the same and keep the connectedness with those that we love.  Tomorrow is not promised and it is better to act today than have actions of sorrow tomorrow because of our neglect.  However we identify these people who mean so much to us is less important than the connectedness we have for encouragement, support, sharing, laughs and memories. 

Jesus reaches for us in all tenses – past present future.  It’s more like he reached:

• When he was born of human flesh
• When he walked in obedience and love
• When he endured the beating and crucifixion with OUR sin on him
• When he was buried and endured death
• When he rose on the 3rd day
• While reigns in Heaven and is our intermediary
• Until he returns to reign in the earth.

I am able to experience this love when I connect with ALL of my family members – bio/spiritual/physical at work, at church and quite frankly everywhere I go. 

So as I stated, there is no excuse.  Especially during this holiday season when people are reminded how much they don’t have and how alone they really are.  If God puts it in your heart to reach out, do the supernatural thing. Forget about your emotions and DO IT! He won’t let you down!

I challenge you to be the Reacher today…..

Prayer:  Father God I thank you for adopting us into your family through Jesus Christ to call us your own – your sons and daughters.  Thank you for pursuing us every day.  Help us to acknowledge, address and deal with the pain others have put us through so that we can heal and be the light that you created us to be – even in the darkness that surrounds that particular relationship.  We want to be the REACHER that mirrors your love.  There is no God like Jehovah.  In the Name of Jesus Christ we pray – amen.


                       #ReachOutandTouchSomeone     #LetYourLifeShine        #KingdomPerspectives

I was leaving a meeting in a Downtown Office Building the other day and when I came around the corner, I almost bumped into two gentleman that were coming out of the elevator.  I figured they were completing some type of repairs because the first one was carrying a medium sized ladder and the second walking behind him.  A bit startled, we stopped short in our steps, moved out of each others' way and kept going about our business.  As I entered the elevator, I noticed a strong smell of alcohol and medicine or mouthwash. 

It was VERY strong.  Anyone who knows me well, knows that I have a very keen sense of smell.  I was taken aback at first, but I got over it.  Made me wonder tho.....
Was this smell of alcohol coming out of someone's pores from the night before?  
Was it coming from either of the gentleman that had just exited the elevator at all? Or,
Did someone take a sip of something today and try to cover it up with mouthwash?
I also thought about the potential safety of the gentleman - remember one of them had a ladder. 

As I drove back to my office, I really hoped that they would be okay while doing whatever task they were completing.  The person obviously believed that whatever they used would mask the alcohol smell - but it didn't take a Rocket Scientist or even a Sharp Smeller (totally made up word!) OR anyone with a nose to notice - that's if we're paying attention.

It's like this with God.  We go about our way - doing what we do - masking those things that don't bring Him glory.  This = SIN and if it stinks to us, it stinks to Him.  Then we often go along with our day with that unpleasing smell...lifestyle, decisions that become actions, thoughts etc., and often go on before him as if nothing happened. God is Omnipresent, which means everywhere at the same time.

 Jeremiah 23:24 says:
 
                      Can anyone hide himself in secret places that I cannot see him? saith the Lord.  
                                           Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith the Lord.  

There is nothing that we can do that He doesn't already know about so rinsing with spiritual mouth wash does nothing but make US feel better about covering up our sin (and give us a funny smell!)

One definition of perceive is to become aware of, know, or identify by means of the senses. Going back to the scenario, let's presume that a person consumed alcohol at some point previous to entering the elevator, rinsed with mouthwash and went about their day.  In their mind, as long as they covered up the smell all was well and the new smell of mouthwash covered the initial smell of alcohol of which smell could potentially get them fired!  The thought process was to remove the smell or evidence of the alcohol that was consumed, but in all actuality it was only a cover-up!

Another definition of perceive is to recognize, discern, envision or understand.  To the person in the building that is ready to deal with the drinking issue and all of us dealing with this same or other issues in our lives that STINK, it is our responsibility to have this perspective.  It's a Kingdom Perspective (Wink;) Much of our sin is covered up whether we profess Jesus Christ or not.  It's in our nature to be aware of good and evil.  God created us that way.  Abiding by this definition means that we recognize and acknowledge that we are covering something up that is not right - not good and although being comfortable in the sin that we are or were in is familiar, there is another way!

When I think about the most beautiful fall scenery - the colorful sunsets - fields of wheat, corn and flowers...the mountains topped with snow caps where beautiful valleys dwell at the bottom - humongous bodies of water, rivers and streams, the literal creator of all these things inhabits all of this at one time and is here to help us!  While no one is perfect but Jesus Christ, having knowledge of this is not a pass to sin.  We must continually give our flesh as a living sacrifice.  While we yet live, we kill those things that make us try to hide behind spiritual mouthwash.

He is our helper, our maker and desires that we live in harmony with him now and in eternity.  As it says in Psalms 121:2 - My help cometh from the Lord which made heaven and earth.  That same God who is in all places at all times, who created the heaven and earth is here to help is in our strengths and weaknesses.  

This is a word of encouragement for all who know that they can and need to do better.  We can do it - through Christ who gives us strength! (Phil 4:13 one of my favorites!)

Be encouraged
Be strong
Be confident that you can do it - NO MOUTHWASH NECESSARY....it really doesn't work anyway!

If no one has told you they love you today............I LOVE YOU with the love of Jesus Christ!

Prayer:  Lord be the lamp unto our feet and the light unto our path in this life.  In the Name of Jesus Christ I pray forgiveness of all things we have done to sin against you, all things that do not give you a sweet fragrance from our lives.  To the person that needs to be restored in their relationship with you, we call every heart unto repentance right now and all disobedience devoured with instant obedience.  For those that want to walk in relationship with you I pray that they pursue you like never before.  Lead them to a place where they can learn more about you, grow and be free from all bondage.  I pray that we all can make this day the first of the rest of our lives regardless of our position - we want to do better, know more of you and about you.  Let get over our situations, histories and pain so that we can reach back and help our brothers and sisters who deal with those issues.  We want to be the living examples of your love redemption and light today.  Thank you for your ultimate sacrifice for us - we will not take it in vain.  In Jesus' Name we pray - Amen.

                                             #LetYourLifeShine                    #HisWordHisPerspective