Do something nice. Go out of your way

Three weeks ago, Pastor Greg gave an amazing sermon on love. At the end of the sermon, he gave a challenge: go out of you way to do something nice. The act was suppose to be above and beyond anything you would normally do. I tried really hard the next week to do something nice that I had not already planned on doing. But, with my health leaving me bedridden for most days, the opportunity to do something nice for someone slipped away. I have kept this challenge on my mind. I felt compelled to complete the task.

As I was pondering this challenge, I realized why I was not succeeding. I try whenever I can to do something nice. Since this summer, I have been burdened with doing as many nice things as I can. I listened to an amazing sermon about sacrificial giving. Since my monetary source is very tiny, I thought giving money away was not very fulfilling. I thought what was one thing that I treasure more than anything. The answer is my energy. I have so little energy, anything I do out of my necessity to stay alive could be a sacrifice to God. I started this blog, try to send out one hand-written card a week, send out one email a week, etc. These are not big activities, but they allow me to use my precious little energy and share God's love. 

As I was reflecting on the nice things I have done, I figured out one thing I could do for someone. Last week at church, I found out a very kind woman's mother is ill with an infection. The woman has been driving back and forth between her home and her mom's medical facility (a five hour trip). I was going to just pray for the woman and her mom, but as I was thinking about her, I realized I can do something more. I can give her a card with a note inside letting her know I am praying for her. Perhaps this might cheer her up and let her know people at church are lifting her and her mom up in prayer. Praise be to God! I have been able to complete the challenge. I was able to write the card and give it to the woman at church yesterday! "And whatsoever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by Him" (Colossians 3:17).