Contributing To World Peace

CONTRIBUTING TO WORLD PEACE

By:  Julie Souza Bradley Lilly

Not too long ago I had an interesting chat with the Lord.  I had gone to the grocery store to pick up my parent's groceries.  As I came out of the door, I could see that the woman parked next to me was struggling to put her walker into her car.  I decided to help her, but before I could get to her, another woman trotted over, and asked her if she could give her a hand.

The second woman cheerfully folded up the walker, and said she used to help her mom with things like that, and had loved doing it.  Right about then, I was putting my groceries into my trunk, and I said to the second woman, "That was so thoughtful of you!  What a sweetheart you are!"

She thanked me and smiled.  I could see on her face that my words meant something to her.  As she walked away, I heard her whisper to herself, "I'm a sweetheart."  I finished loading the car and got in to drive away, and the Lord asked me, "How much did saying those words cost you?"  I replied, "Nothing."  Then He said, "When she goes home, is she more or less likely to have a fight with her husband?"  I said, "Less."  Then He said, "Your words contributed to world peace."

“The tongue has the power of life and death,“ – Proverbs 18:21 NIV

Father, all around us are people who are struggling.  Many are gripped by fear, while others are grieving the loss of peace, their income or a loved one.  In this season of anxiety and fear, may Your Spirit within us rise up to give us wise counsel.  Give us hearts that are tender to the invisible struggles of our neighbors.  Help us to respond in love, always.  Teach us to bless and not curse (Romans 12:24)—to have the same compassion for those who are like us, as those who are not.  Lord, bless our words to create peace in a time of great trouble.  And in everything we say and do, may we always point them to Jesus.  In Jesus’ Name ❤️

https://www.facebook.com/Prayers-of-a-Ragamuffin-Warrior-171515087035441/

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Unshakeable Hope

Image
  UNSHAKEABLE HOPE By: Julie Souza Bradley Lilly “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.” - Psalms ‭139:23  ‬NIV As the times we are in are heating up, our eyes search for HOPE and comfort.  We look longingly over our shoulder at the “Good Old Days”—simpler times, old relationships and habits—people and things that, in the past, brought momentary relief.  But, more often than not, we find that the fleeting well of comfort found there has since dried up. ‬ We have not been abandoned to fend for ourselves, however. God, Himself, will be our refuge!‬ When everything else is shaking, we have been given a glorious hope.  God is immovable, and when we put our trust in Him, so are we!  ‬ “Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion, which cannot be shaken but endures forever. As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds his people both now and forevermore.” – Psalm 125:1-2 NIV Beloved, let’s not until the worl...
Read more

Kissing Boo-Boos

Image
  KISSING BOO-BOOS By:  Julie Souza Bradley Lilly Oh, the miracle of a kiss on a boo-boo!  I remember being little and getting a cut on my finger.  I’d raise that chubby finger and go running to my mom.  She always knew what to do.  She would gently clean it, put on a bandaid and give it a kiss.  We weren’t done until my hurt had been kissed.  There was magic in that application of compassion and love.  It made the pain go away. We have all seen that toddler with a boo-boo.  They run to their mom or dad to clean it, put on a bandaid and give it a kiss.  If the wound isn’t treated, the tiny nick can continue to hurt and bleed. Each time it is touched or bumped they are reminded of the pain.  And an untreated wound can become infected and grow. There are people all around us with unkissed boo-boos today.  They are hurt, afraid or sad.  They go through life fearful of being hurt again, and looking for someone they can t...
Read more

The Secret of The Birds

Image
 THE SECRET OF THE BIRDS By:  Julie Souza Bradley Lilly “Praise the Lord from the earth, Sea monsters and all deep sea creatures; Beasts and all cattle; Creeping things and winged birds.” - Psalm 148:7, 10.   Morning has broken and the choir of birds outside my window is singing their hearts out.  Birds may not be considered to be intelligent, yet their response to God in hardship could teach us a few things.  We humans grumble to God about so much, but the birds praise their creator in severe heat and bitter cold.  They may have nests and the shade of trees, but they don’t have the many comforts we enjoy, yet they praise Him.  They know a secret:  God is enthroned upon our praises.  When our hearts are full of worship, He takes His rightful place and brings with Him joy and peace. Let’s take a lesson from the birds.  Their trust in their maker to provide for their needs, even in the face of harsh seasons, calls out to our faith.  It ...
Read more