Just Moms

Welcome! We are still working on a few things so bear with us as we move the furniture around and hang up some decorations.

What is the strangest word you have heard recently?

Post a comment with what you think should come next!

Nothings better than…….

You may have already seen this before but worth listening to again!

Part 1

Questions:

What are some of the pros and cons of Spring?
What changes occur in the Springtime?

Springtime is filled with “life”. The new plants that grow around us. New babies born this time of year. And we celebrate the resurrected life of our Lord. But I want to focus on how we LIVE because of the LIFE that Christ has given to us. It’s time for us to SPRING into action!

S – Search ourselves.

P – Prepare ourselves.

R – Rededicate ourselves.

I – Involve ourselves.

N – Nourish ourselves.

G – Give of ourselves.

SEARCH OURSELVES – Popular phrase. But what does it mean? What are we supposed to be searching for? How are we supposed to do it?

PREPARE OURSELVES – Whenever we have communion, we are told to examine and prepare ourselves before we partake. What does this “preparation” involve? Is it only to be done before communion?

REDEDIDATE OURSELVES – After we search ourselves and then prepare ourselves, rededication must take place. Dedication involves determination. It involves knowing what we have (or haven’t) done. And it means we are going to give it yet another try. What things can we do to help keep us dedicated and determined?

INVOLVE OURSELVES – Knowing what we must do is one thing. Putting what we know into practice is another. What are some ways that you can use what God teaches you?

NOURISH OURSELVES – Just like a plant, we need nourishment. Not only physically (food and water), but spiritually. What gives God’s people nourishment? How can you tell if someone is malnourished? How can you tell if they are being well-nourished?

GIVE OF OURSELVES – Our personal relationship with Christ is essential, but we can’t leave it at that. We must have relationships with others. And we must be willing and ready to give ourselves. How are we to give of ourselves? In what ways are you currently giving of yourself?

1 cup Uncle Ben’s converted long grain rice
1/4 cup butter
1 coil Fideo
2 1/2 c. hot water

2 1/2 tsp chicken bouillon granules

Break up Fideo and brown in skillet with a little butter. Melt 1/4 cup butter in microwave in bean pot. Add rice and stir to coat in melted butter. Heat water to near boiling in microwave in a separate bowl. Add browned Fideo, hot water, and chicken broth to rice in bean pot. Cover with lid and bake at 350 for an hour. Rice will be PERFECT very time! Recipe can be doubled.

TIP: Break up the whole package of Fideo and brown on a cookie sheet (dry) in a 400 degree oven. Stir occasionally until lightly brown.

RULES:
poster 1 asks a question [ e.g. The person below me likes cats]
poster 2 answers that question [ e.g. 'yes I love cats' or 'no I loath them' ]
then poster 2 asks another question [ e.g. the Person Below Me has brown eyes]

Luke 10:30-37

30Jesus replied and said, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among robbers, and they stripped him and beat him, and went away leaving him half dead.

31″And by chance a priest was going down on that road, and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.

32″Likewise a Levite also, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side.

33″But a Samaritan, who was on a journey, came upon him; and when he saw him, he felt compassion,

34and came to him and bandaged up his wounds, pouring oil and wine on them; and he put him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn and took care of him.

35″On the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper and said, ‘Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I return I will repay you.’

36″Which of these three do you think proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell into the robbers’ hands?”

37And he said, “The one who showed mercy toward him.” Then Jesus said to him, “Go and do the same.”

Now that we’ve all read this passage (for some it may have been the ump-teenth time reading it, and for some it may have been the first time reading it), but let me ask you a question…

Are you the priest? The Levite? Or the Samaritan?

All of us probably WANT to say the Samaritan. That is because we can read Christ’s response at the end of this passage. And we want to be the one that Christ wants us to be. But are we?

I am one of those that have read this passage for the “umpteenth” time. However, reading it this past week was a bit different. I noticed a small, 4-letter word that made a huge difference for me. Do you know that that word is?

w-h-e-n. When.

Look at verse 33. It says “when he saw him, he felt compassion”.

Two things happened at the same time here. He saw him and felt compassion. He didn’t see him and then think about being compassionate. He didn’t see him and ignore his need. He didn’t see him and then debate whether he had the time to help. WHEN HE SAW HIM HE FELT COMPASSION.

What would you do in this situation?

You’re in a rush and have to make a quick stop to Walmart. You see a woman in a motorized wheelchair strugglling to grab something on a higher shelf. What are you going to do?

Now granted, this woman isn’t exactly in the “condition” that the man in this passage was in. She hasn’t been mugged and beaten up. But she IS in need, regardless of the extent of the need.

Do you pretend not to notice and walk on by?
Do you see her and walk in another direction?
Do you walk past her, say hello, and continue walking?
Do you tell an employee that she needs help as you walk by?
Do you stop and watch her for a while, debating whether you should help or not? (not realizing you could have helped already and been on your way in the same amount of time you’ve been debating it!)
Do you say “forget the time, I’m going to help!” and actually follow through?

Once you see the need you will be held accountable for how you respond. We can’t always help the way that we want to or the way that they need help. But God knows the help that they need. Maybe what they need is you to pray about their need. Maybe they need you to lift them up in prayer and ask that someone will be able to help the way that they need it.

We must respond to others needs! Whether it’s doing it ourselves, getting someone else to do it, or praying for God to provide for their need.

How are you responding?

Find the “Sparkle” in someone else’s eyes:

Sincerity – don’t try to over-analyze everything that someone does for you… thinking they have an “agenda” or an “ulterior motive”. Accept it as sincerity and cherish it.

Patience – face it, at times we aren’t the easiest people to get along with! And not everyone will understand you all the time. Value the patience that others have with you and then offer it in return!

Abilities – we all have God-given gifts and abilities. But we must recognize it in others. We cannot make them do something that they aren’t able to do. Instead we must encourage them to use their abilities and motivate them to love and good works.

Responsibilities – Not all of us are in the same “boat”. We should realize what others’ God-given responsibilities are and respect them. We should not over-task others so they cannot fulfill the responsibilities that God has given to them. We should be gracious and respectful of others schedules and duties.

Kindness – when someone is kind to you, THANK THEM. It’s not always easy for people to show kindness, so when they do, make sure to respond in kindness. All it takes is a simple smile, hug, or thank you! (or all 3!)

Love – people love in different ways. So get to know what someone else’s “love language” is and respond accordingly. When they do something out of love for us, it may not be exactly what ‘we’ think is an act of love. But as you get to know the person, you will begin to recognize what they are doing out of love and appreciate it. Likewise, you will begin to know how to show love the way that they need you to.

Encouragement – encouragement comes in all forms. A card. An email. A hug. A visit. Let us be open to the ways that others try to encourage us, and not put down the things that we think are too “simple”. After all, it may not have been a simple thing for the other person to do!

So, I encourage us all to find the Sincerity, Patience, Abilities, Responsibilities, Kindness, Love and Encouragement in others and then show it just the same!