Monday, March 18, 2013

True Evidence of God's Holy Spirit

My first job right out of High School while attending College was working at WalMart.  I always remember this middle aged man that came in close to the closing hours as he worked the overnight stocking.  While he would be pulling the display pallets to the front, he ALWAYS greeted me and and anyone around with a bright smile (missing some teeth)a nod and a wave; so genuine, humble and unasuming.

His smile and greeting always made me smile and feel good inside.  I have noticed that along lifes path, whenever individuals especially those that I don't know personally greet me brightly and genuinly, I litterally brighten up and feel (not sure how to describe), alive?

As I get older more mature, I feel a conviction that I need to be more purposeful in smiling more and greeting those in my path as I go about my daily tasks with joy and enthusiasm.  From personal experience, I know the power of a smile and a greeting and how it moves me and even shapes my outlook for that day/night/evening.

I am working on this, and my purpose is to make others feel 'alive' (special, cared about/thought of), and to transmit the 'sunshine' of God's presence and warm someones heat and soul.

God desires that we display the evidence of his Spirit/ Character in our lives as his followers:

Galations 5: 22-23  But the fruit [Evidence] of the Spirit [Gods Character] is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.

I am a work in progress.  May the Lord help us who desire to please him and display love others.

Friday, March 15, 2013

God Favors Me......#4

I thank God for His continued mercy, grace, protection, deliverance and FAVORS that He displays in my life.  Hence the name of this Blog 'Highly Favored' 

It was around July last year, I was leaving work early to go to a business related appointment.  As I exited the building there was another young lady that I don't know personally but we normally greet each other and have minimal small talk about the weather in the elevators or just say hello while passing each other in the halls. 

So this particular day we exited the building and greeted each other and talked about how nice the weather was that day.  As we entered the parking lot, I said enjoy the rest of your day and headed towards my car.  I proceeded to turn the key and the car made a funny sound but did not start.  I tried it again and and a few more times and got the same and I'm thinking to myself....this could not be happening, why isn't the car starting? I have an important appointment in the next 30 minutes or so, I cant believe this is happening!

Before I could think another word, the same young lady came to my car and said, are you having problems with your car? Do you need help?  I was so surprised and overwhelmed at her graciousness.  I responded and described what was happening.  I told her that I was going to see if the security would be able to help me and she said that she would wait until I got back.  I came back disappointed as somehow I wasn't able to get someone to assist.

She suggested that she would pull her car around and we could try the jump start because i indicated that I keep jumper cables as a safety measure.   Because the hood of my car was parked inward instead of out and there were other cars to the right and left of mine, we had a problem as the cables would not be able to reach.  She suggested that I put the car in neutral and push the car out of the parking space (this is a SUV).  I happily and readily agreed and we did! the both of us small and relatively petite Ladies pushed this SUV out of the parking space.  I couldn't believe that while we were doing this about two men passed us and did not ask if we needed help.

Any way we got the vehicle out and she pulled her SUV up and when she popped her hood we could not find her battery.  She thought quickly and said let me contact one of my co-workers, he is very helpful and knows about this kind of thing.  She called her co-worker and he came out and we used his car, I got my battery started and was able to get to my appointment and finalize my business though I was understandably late.

I graciously thanked them both, but especially thanked this young lady that was definitely a good Samaritan to me that day.  To God be the Glory for always providing.


I am Highly Favored by God.

Thursday, March 7, 2013

Predictions and Preperations

So in the area that I live the Meteorologists predicted by relying on their trusted devices that there would be a severe winter storm coming our way (Yesterday). The models they used showed snowfall would be around 6-12 inches of snow. In some states some would say no big deal, but where I live 6-12 inches is a big deal. 

Every one rushed to the supermarkets the day before to stock up on necessary supplies; Including me (smile).  As It was my turn to get my items rung up, the Cashier said, "There isn't going to be any storm coming Y'all, it's just too warm today for there to be a storm like there predicting tomorrow."  What she was referring to is the sun was shining and it was mildly cold but not cold enough for a storm.

I didn't respond to her comment even though she was talking to me and the people behind me.  I just smiled and thought to myself, this is the same thing that happened during Noah's time, the people thought this thing called rain was impossible as they had never seen or experienced such a thing. They mocked and laughed at Noah as he and his family built the Ark in preparation for the predicted flood. 

After Noah completed the Ark and moved his family in, it didn't start raining immediately and the people on the outside laughed and mocked at them.  But guess what?!!!  it finally did start raining, hurricane, tsunami, you get the drift.

Anyway, the summation of my thoughts was, I'd rather be prepared than not.  Well, the big snow that was predicted for yesterday did NOT happen. I think all the Meteorologist in my local area was a bit embarrassed, as schools and colleges, business places closed down in preparation.  Even the Gas and Electric company brought in extra helpers from other States should in case there was wide spread power outages.

All in all there are several lessons to be learnt from this experience.

What would you take away from this as lessons learnt?