It Just Takes a Little Time to do Big Things

Standing in the doorway of an added built just off from Grandma's tiny kitchen, I stood and bowed my head to pray.  This doorway was my favorite spot as a teen because Grandma's radio was always tuned to WAYR out of Orange Park, Florida.  The Christian music filled my mind and caused me to smile.  Looking through the window of that same bedroom, I counted the beds lined up on the screened in side porch.  There was comfort in knowing that Grandma Baxley had such a giving heart for the hopeless, the homeless and the hurting.  She seemed to sense a person's hurt, especially mine.

What draws people to women like my Grandma Baxley? I’ve known a few in my life time, but most of them are dying off. Why? Could it be worth the time to look and see what God says about His women who walk so close with Him, that when people are around whether a Christian or not, they feel loved.

I’m afraid I fall short of such a woman. How are you doing? Is it important to you for people to be drawn to Christ through you? Do I want to take the time that is needed to reach out to people, especially hurting people? Time……we all have the same time, don’t we? What fills our time? As I read my morning devotions just recently I jotted down some challenging thoughts for me and would like to share them with YOU.

1.   Jas 4:6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.

God resisteth us when we are proud and stubborn (just slap me in the face right now) but……He gives us grace as we humble ourselves before Him. Only through a humble spirit can we even begin to feel for others.  To be humble according to Webster’s 1828 dictionary is to be “Lowly; modest; meek; submissive; opposed to proud, haughty, arrogant or assuming. In an evangelical sense, having a low opinion of one's self and a deep sense of unworthiness in the sight of God.”

2.     Php 2:3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Plain and simple, folks, we are to position the needs of others above our very own and see ourselves as unworthy of God’s grace and His love.

3.     Php 2:4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. For a woman to do this is not difficult unless again, selfishness takes residence. Just this past week I witnessed a group of young people as they worked with some adults to completely remodel a home for a needy family. They worked day and night to get it accomplished to surprise this couple. Look around you and see others’ needs. Grandma was constantly seeing the needs of others and very quietly tried to meet them in a subtle way. It just doesn’t take much to begin the journey of helping people.

4.     Php 2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:  To have God’s mind is to know the scriptures, memorizing them, saying them out loud, walking and talking them without fear. Grandma sang the scriptures. We heard her. We observed her moving about in the home, in the garden, at the sewing machine and in the community and church.

One of the first teachers at Ocala Christian Academy was Adele Henderson. She was the epitome of a woman used of God. She reminded me of Grandma Baxley. The teachers and some students called her “Granny.” There wasn’t a person alive that didn’t love this woman. What will you and I be remembered as?

5.   Ro 12:3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. There it is faith, to be able to do as God reveals. Faith takes doubt away or at least moves it to the side, but we have to practice it in order for it to “LIVE” in us.  You and I are nothing, but those God sends to cross our path are EVERYTHING!

6.   2Ti 2:24 And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient. Grandma was a quiet servant moving about in the family with gentleness, always instructing in such a manner that we all learned. Women are becoming too aggressive, abrasive, loud and stubborn….just the opposite of a God fearing woman. If we are going to be LOUD, let’s be loud with the message, “JESUS LOVES YOU AND WANTS TO SAVE YOU.”

7.   2Ti 2:25 In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; You and I are going to contend with people who think they are right in their belief but if we are learned in the scriptures, we have all we need in the power of God’s Spirit. We are to be calm, but bold, guiding them to Truth. We should not lose patience with them.

8.   2Ti 2:26 And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will. Oh friend, what a terrible thing to see our loved ones and others trapped by the snare of the devil! People become so captured by the evil one they cannot see clearly and may become argumentative towards us as women, but we are to remain calm, embracing Christ and His strength or else we may not be able to help the person.

Each of these verses can be used in a separate devotional with women. Ask God to direct YOU, and through the study of each verse, you can be equipped to be used of God to help other women who struggle!

Until next time, Lord willing.

Sharon