Wednesday, October 15, 2008

Acts of Random Kindness (ARK)

My prayer partner and I have been talking about how sometimes we just don't see those around us, those who are in need...whether it be a physical need, an emotional need, or a spiritual need. Sometimes I'm in my own little world...in my own little bubble...and oblivious to what's going on right in front of my nose. I'm actually writing this to myself, as so many of my blogs seem to be for nobody but ME!!! I feel so many times that God is pointing out what He wants out of me....and for some reason wants me to show you all my faults and shortcomings...but, if you can apply it to your life, then that's okay, too....and please know it makes me feel better knowing I'm not in this boat alone!!!!

On Saturday, I posted a little "sign" about how we should encourage each other. Here is an assignment...for all of us!!! Remember several years ago when doing a "random act of kindness" was so popular? A lot of TV shows jumped on the bandwagon and started doing entire episodes just about being kind to one another. What happened??? Why was it such a popular thing to do for a short period of time...why didn't it last??? That's what I want each of us to do. Ask God to let you start seeing people thru His eyes. Send us people to help...people to pray for...people to love...even if it means getting us out of our comfort zone. Do you ever hear about something bad happening to somebody and in the back of your mind you're somehow thinking that maybe they deserved to "get what's coming to them". Come on....sure you have??? Or, am I the only person who is brave enough...or crazy enough...to admit it. I sincerely try to not think that way any more....I truly want to see what's happening to others thru God's eyes....I want God to give me a real spirit of compassion and love for all people. I love the Brandon Heath song, "Give Me Your Eyes". Ask God to show you people who are hurting....who are in need....who are searching!!!

But my mouth would encourage you; comfort from my lips would bring you relief. Job 16:5 (NLT)


But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness.
Hebrews 3:13 (NIV)

If you can...help somebody without them knowing it:


....that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly. Matthew 6:4 (NKJV)

If you can't do it in secret...then let it remain a private matter between you and those you're helping. Don't go around bragging about what you've done for somebody:


“Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men—extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.’ And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” Luke 18:10-14 (NKJV)

In His Love...and with mine!!!

3 comments:

  1. it sure would be nice if we all could see through god's eyes. . . well, i take that back. i wouldn't want to. i think i would be down all the time.

    but, i do think we should be anonymous in our givings. if we're not, i think we are just being boastful and god won't bless us for it.

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  2. I love doing kind little acts behind the curtains. I think it is just a blessing to help someone in need that has no idea who you are what for....Last year for Christmas God really bless us, so I told Adam I knew God wanted us to bless someone. For thanksgiving we went out as a family and purchase grocies for a family and we delivery this together even got the boys involved. Then at Christmas I got gifts for a family of five, but I left them in their van and left a message from a friend. That I enjoyed so much that was better than the angel tree.

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  3. Clear Springs Baptist has a month of RACK (Random Act of Christian Kindness). At the McDonalds near Corryton, 7 vehicles paid for each others lunch! The first one paid for their own and the next car behind, the next one paid for the one behind them, and so on and on it went for 7 cars. Clear Springs printed up 500 business cards with RACK on them. Very good idea.
    Love,
    Mis

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Kind words are like honey—
sweet to the soul and healthy for the body.
Proverbs 16:24