Blog Archives

A Gentle Touch

4/23/2015

My grandson had sustained the unfortunate mishap
of two skinned knees and a scuffed up forehead.
The agony of his injury was felt by all of us
as he cried for his dad’s strong arms and
his mommy’s care of the wounds.

The evidence of his injury is seen in his little limp…careful maneuvering to sit…
and then is relieved by the sweet medicine of extra kisses and hugs at night-night time.
Then several baths later the four bandages started to loosen.
With consideration he placed his hand tenderly on his knee and with his fingers gingerly tapped up and down
"bedder?...Is it bedder now?"
Then he carefully pulled at the edges of the band aid to peer underneath at it's progress…
"ouchies all gone!" came his declaration.

God is like that you know…gentle.

When we get out of sorts…bumped and bruised…all scuffed-up…

His strong arms holds us up as he cares for our wounds...
He gently places His hand on us and taps His fingers up and down…
"All better!"

He shows us how to be gentle with the wounded.

Luke 10:33-35,
“A Samaritan traveling the road came on him.
When he saw the man’s condition, his heart went out to him.
He gave him first aid, disinfecting and bandaging his wounds.
Then he lifted him onto his donkey, led him to an inn, and made him comfortable.
In the morning he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper, saying,
‘Take good care of him. If it costs any more, put it on my bill--
I’ll pay you on my way back.’ “
(MSG)

Next time someone takes a tumble…won’t you restore him or her…gently?

Prayer:
Dear Lord...I want to be like you…gentle in nature…tender to those who need to see you in me.
Lord…I confess that I am not always tender of heart…But I do know that you are always available to help me to be more caring and available for those who need your love.
Thank you Father for your strong arms that care for the wounded.
Amen!

Caprice <><

PS...God who so many want to trust...sometimes over look His greatest kindness to us...the gift of His Gentle Son Jesus. Why not ask God to reveal Him to you today?

1 Comment

A Kindness that Warms the Soul

4/17/2015

0 Comments

I watched as my husband sat with our grandson, who is at the
"say & do...everything you do" phase.

He wants to please his grandpapa...
"Say please"..."Peess" is returned with a
bright smile.
Did you tell Grandma thank you for lunch?..."Tank you Grama"

But sometimes his 2 year old self gets in his way...
He raises a defiant "MINE!", as he pulls at his beloved toy.
"Stop-it!" he says with rumbled brow as he tires of a game..."Stop-it, please" reminds Grandpa. "Stop-it Peesss", comes his reply.
Our grandson is being taught to respond politely.

Proverbs 3:1-2
"My son, always remember what I have taught you;
keep my instructions dear to your heart.
If you do, they will be your guide to
a long, healthy,prosperous life."
(VOICE)

On another note...I love the hussle and bussle of an International airport and being the passenger that is ready to embark on a long awaited adventure.
You know how it feels...
you are at the airport...you have checked your list numberous times...
yup...you have everything...
done everything...and remembered everything.
Everything you needed to do is done...

Then the only thing that you couldn't control has happened...
with a mighty rearranging of everything compromised weather has developed...
So BIG...it has closed down airports...
delayed flights...and angered a huge line of
"to-be" passengers
of which you are at the very end of that line.
Last year on our way to visit our son and his family I had the privilege of watching an incredible airport employee do her job and do it well!
She had the knack of "calm in the midst of a storm".
She stayed focused and got us all through the situation with ease and a sense that
our plans were important!
Her thoughtfulness was well received.
On our return flight we spotted her out in front of the terminal assisting a person in a wheelchair who needed to catch her bus. She was trained to alleviate the distress of customers when the "BIG storms of discontent"
came thundering down the runway.

Proverbs3:3
"Stay focused; do not lose sight of mercy and truth;
engrave them on a pendant, and hang it around your neck;
meditate on them so they are written upon your heart."

You know if I am to tell you the truth...
sometimes I hear those voices echoing around in my own head.
"I don't want to share...me first...good to the last drop...oops sorry none for you!"

There is a word that I found in Greek that fits the airport employee's actions;
chrēstos,
an adjective meaning "good, mild, and fit for use."

This woman was a good fit for her job, and I should say she serves her employer well.
You too have been...outfitted with a very special attribute as a believer......Kindness.

Remember...it is one of the fruits that can we can use to "remedy neglect".
The neglect that people face everyday...
the feelings of being...

Overlooked
Forgotten
The invisibles

In this life you can be trained to show acts of kindness or
you can be taught to respond with a kind answer but here is an important nugget of truth.
What brings the training all together is...
heart matters!
The remedy comes from our helper who is busy training us up...the Holy Spirit.

1 Corinthians 13:4
"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud."
(NIV)

Kindness has to be sincere, to be felt...anchored in love...
Then kindness will overflow from your heart in gracious abundance.

I am reminded of the story of Paul on the Island of Malta,

Acts 28:1-2,
"Once we were safe on shore,
we learned that we were on the island of Malta.
The people of the island were very kind to us.
It was cold
and rainy,
so they built a fire on the shore
to welcome us."

Won't you welcome someone in out of the cold of this world
with the kindness that is wrapped around your
heart...attitude and gestures?

Dear Lord, Help me to show kindness to everyone I meet today. May they see the kindness of your love in everything I do!

Caprice <><

0 Comments

In Their Place

4/9/2015

0 Comments

Hot tears ran down her cheeks as the
sting of the biting comments of a friend registered in her heart.

Sound familiar?

Have you ever been stunned by someone
who you thought was a friend?

Stunned because you don’t quite know what to do next…
How do you respond to words meant to cut you to your core?

Through the years this has been a struggle for me…
I always find the words of response…

three days later!!

Although this is actually a good thing for me…
Because in my heart
I know that I am not to retaliate…

So I searched my heart and mind…as a believer…
What am I suppose to do?

Then God sent me to a training camp that I will never forget.
And I will always be grateful for…
the valuable lesson learned.

When it comes to the difficult people in my life…

I need to be careful…
NOT to put them in their place…

Instead…

I need to put myself in their place.

There usually is a reason for the biting edge...
Sometimes it is me…
My lack of caring…cranky attitude or quick and unfiltered words.

And other times…it is the other person.
The baggage that they have been carrying around for a lifetime
has weighted them down until
they latch out from the pain of it all…
with cutting words and sometimes actions.

Here are some guidelines from 1 Peter 3:9-11,
for helping us to become the
“peace-maker”.

1. Do not pay back evil with evil or insult with insult.

2. Repay an insult with a blessing,
a very genuine and sincere blessing.
This may take some time.
Removing yourself from the situation and pray,
Prayer will help you to come up with the right response!

3. Be careful what you say…  
Don’t tell lies or spread gossip.

4. Do what is right.

Always seek peace and pursue it...

Chase after it with all your might!

If we truly Love God and in turn love others and we need to be willing to…
“Put ourselves in their place”

And love them just where they are...with all there bumps and bruises…
The same way God loves us…

Bumps…Bruises…Biting Edges
and…
with all our baggage.

His love is unconditional and brings with it…peace.

Colossians 3:13-15
“Make allowance for each other's faults,
and forgive anyone who offends you.

Remember, the Lord forgave you,
so you must forgive others.

Above all, clothe yourselves with love,
which binds us all together in perfect harmony.

And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts.
For as members of one body you are called to live in peace.

And always be thankful.”
(NLT)

Heavenly Father,
Help me to see those you have put in my life
through your loving eyes.
Grant me the right words,
words laced with kindness and blessing.
I want to be your “peace-maker”.

Amen

Caprice <><

0 Comments

I'll Be Back...

4/2/2015

0 Comments

We had the joy of welcoming
a new grandson last week.

And that joy was increased by the pleasure
of picking up his sisters while mom was in labor.

As we drove them to the ranch we were informed that mommy was at the “os-pea-toll” by the youngest.

When we acknowledged this, by affirming,
“Yes, Mama is having your new baby brother”.

The oldest sister’s little eyes would get a far away look and an uncertain nod of the head.
You could almost see the thoughts floating around in her head…

”Just what is a new brother?"

The first day was great fun…
we played tag in the yard, read stories together,
set up a tent with their cousins…
all great adventures for a 3 and 2 year old.

But by the second night the strain of being separated from mommy
was getting to the brave heart of the 3 year old.
We had just finished the evening bath when she looked up at me
with tear-rimmed eyes and inquired,

“Mommy said she would come back and get me…right?”

I looked down at her and said a quick yes and tried to steer her thoughts into another direction.
But within the hour her face was contorted in fear and eyes where full and ready to overflow with tears.

“My mommy is coming back to get me…right?”

This time I got down on my knees…
eye ball to eye ball with her and said…

”Ah Sweetheart your mommy loves you”

Her eyes still pleaded with me for an answer she could
wrap her 3 year old mind around.
I continued...

”Has your mama ever lied to you?”
Her little head shook “no”.

“Does she tell you the truth?” I asked.

Her little voice quivered "yes" and her eyes met mine with a raising courage
and a nodding “yes” of her head.

"Then…Yes your mama will be here tomorrow just like she promised!" I replied with a great BIG smile
Her little arms flung around my neck
as the smile returned to light up her face and off she went.

The next day as we were waving good-bye
I heard her say to her mama…

“You did come back to get me!”

This reminded me of Jesus’ promise to come back for us.

John 14:3
“When everything is ready,
I will come and get you,
so that you will always be with me where I am.”
(NLT)

All God asks of us to do is..

Be patient with the endurance to believe his promise.
Like my dear little 3 year old who was honest in her wavering hope…
she was willing to wipe away the tears and allow forbearance to take hold in her heart.

Won’t you trust that the Jesus is coming back for you?

That the Son of God tells the truth?

John 14:1-6
“Do not let your hearts be troubled.
You believe in God; believe also in me.
My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so,
would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?
And if I go and prepare a place for you,
I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.
You know the way to the place where I am going.”

Thomas said to him,
“Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?”

Jesus answered,
“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
(NIV)

Prayer:
Thank you Lord for your promise to come back for me...
I am trusting you to grant me the forbearance to wait...
knowing that you hold all things in your hands...even when they get a little scary.
Amen.

Have a wonderful Easter!
Caprice <><

0 Comments

RSS Feed

Get it delivered!

Soul Sisters

Welcome to the
Soul Sisters Blog!
Souls Sisters is the women's ministry of Crossroads Christian Church.

"See what great love the Father has lavished on us,
that we should be called children of God!
And that is what we are!"
1 John 3:1 NIV

RSS Feed

A Gentle Touch

A Kindness that Warms the Soul

In Their Place

I'll Be Back...

Get it delivered!

Categories

Soul Sisters

Archives

Visit

Connect

Online Giving

Sermons

Upcoming Events

Contact Us