Sunday Scripture

I am going to try to post scriptures each Sunday.  This will help keep me delving into my Bible! 

This week's verse is my absolute favorite verse in the whole Bible. 

It is Proverbs 3:27. 

"Do not withhold good from those who deserve it, when it is in your power to act."

I first discovered this verse on an overseas adoption website where I was a prayer warrior for some time.  I was assigned a child to pray for each day.  It was a moving experience, and that verse was on the website's home page.  It just struck a cord with me because it says SO much in one verse about how we should live our lives.  I think about how many ways and times each week and each day when it is in my power to act.  Do I act?  Nope, not always.  Many times I do.  Many times I am just too busy, too tired, too whatever.  Many times we are just too comfortable where we are to step out in faith and act.  Maybe we worry about what others will think of us.  Will they think we've lost our minds?  Will they be angry?  My husband felt moved to give a very expensive coat to a homeless man a couple of winters ago.  He was worried all the way home I would be angry with him.  The opposite was true, I was never more proud of him.  We have more coats than we need, that is for sure.  We have more of a lot of things than we need.  I want our children to grow up with a servant's heart and a giving spirit.  The only way to show this is by example.  Wow.  I need to really think about that each and every day.  Are they seeing me help others or worry about getting the newest, latest, and greatest thing? 

Our family is considering sponsoring a child through Compassion International.  I am excited about this possibility because we can actually correspond with the child and have a way to SHOW the children what we are doing.  I am praying about it and hope to sign up soon.  It is only $38 per month, which I know if I'm honest with myself, we can easily spare.  You can even choose the child, which I think is probably the hardest part, because I want to choose them all. 

As the children grow and have a better understanding of things, I will continue to look for ways they can help serve others alongside us.  The twins and I are supposed to pick up trash next week for our local arts & crafts festival.  Our church does this to raise money for missions.  I decided to try taking them with me because they really love helping and I think they are ready for this type of task.  It will be simple and I know they will be so proud to help. 

We can even serve him by picking up trash!  Shouldn't we take care of the Earth he created?  I guess my point is that there are opportunities to serve and show God to others everywhere.  I hope to be more intentional about this each and every day.  I feel blessed to have my children who are seeing the Earth and opportunities through "fresh" eyes.  They see cars on the side of the road and wonder if someone needs help where I normally just whiz on by headed to the next thing.  They see an older person in Walmart who needs a pat on the hand or a friendly word, when maybe I would have walked on by thinking about what's next on my list.  They see trash someone threw down and ask to pick it up, when I'm so used to it I don't even see it anymore.  They are really showing ME how to serve each day, instead of me showing them.  Amazing how God works like that, isn't it?