What would you do?

Tonight as I was going about an errand I walked by something I really couldn't ignore. As I was walking into a store an older middle aged man sitting on a bench stopped me by calling after me. "Young lady!" My upbringing told me to keep walking and ignore him. After all, he was a man, not the friendliest of types. Not the most trustworthy looking– and here I am by myself. I turned my head his direction to acknowledge him but I lied when I said he stopped me. I really just kept walking towards the door. He asked, "Do you have a cell phone with one minute on it that I could use?" My reply? "No, I don't. I'm sorry." As I continued on into the store here were my thoughts:
1. Whew, I got out of that one.
2. Did I just lie?
3. No, it wasn't a lie. He said, "that [he] could use" and he couldn't use it!
4. What would Christ have done? What does he say about it?
I remembered the verses I read just yesterday, 
Deuteronomy 16:17Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the LORD your God which He has given you.

Proverbs 3:27 Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to do it.

5. What would my mom have done or told me to do?


This really bothered me. Was what I did wrong? Maybe I should have asked him why he needed to call someone? What if it was for a ride? Then what? Do I offer a ride? Or my phone? I love being generous but at what cost? He could have been a perfectly safe, respectable man, but what if he wasn't? If something happened because I stopped to talk to him, people would talk about how unwise I was to stop in the first place. "She asked for it." "Why was she thinking?" But now that I've ignored him, what will people think? "Look at that "Christ follower" who just passed that man by, barely giving him a glance, much less any help." "Is that a Christian who just lied outright in public? Same as all the other hypocrites." And what about the man? What does he think of my response? I obviously didn't show Christ to him through my actions. I was polite in my answer but I didn't do anything that any old person wouldn't do. 


What would you do? What is right? What is the wise response? Should I be looking out for my safety or just trust that God has that under control? I know I shouldn't just be stupid and assume God will stop a speeding car from hitting me or a knife from harming me. But, I do know I should trust him with my wellbeing. Worse then all my immediate thoughts was the thought that he might have been trying to steal my phone. And then what would I have done? I can't be without a phone, right?! It's amazing how selfish my heart can be when at the same time had he asked me to buy him a phone, I probably would have been eager to help him. What are we supposed to do in these "moral dilemmas?" Sure, you can pray and wait for answers to certain things but what do I do as I pass by someone like this? In an instant? 


I would want someone to give me the benefit of the doubt but all my natural instincts went against doing so. Here's what the Bible said about giving:



Proverbs 29:7
7 The righteous care about justice for the poor, but the wicked have no such concern.

Matthew 6:19-21
19"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.



Luke 6:35
35But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.



Luke 6:38
38Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."



Acts 20:35
35In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.' "



Romans 12:13
13Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

2 Corinthians 9:6-7
6Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 7Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.



1 Timothy 6:18
18Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share.


Deuteronomy 15:10
Give generously to him and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to.


Proverbs 21:26
…the righteous gives and does not hold back.


Proverbs 28:27 
He who gives to the poor will never want, but he who shuts his eyes will have many curses.


Luke 6:30
Give to everyone who asks of you, and whoever takes away what is yours, do not demand it back.



1 John 3: 17-18
17If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? 18Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. 


Luke 6:38
Give, and it will be given to you. They will pour into your lap a good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return.


James 2:15-16
If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and be filled,” and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that?


Isn't that EXACTLY what I did?? I think these verses have given me the answer, for me at least. But what would you do? 

Meaningful Inspiration

Google "definition of inspiration" and this is what you'll get:

in·spi·ra·tion/ˌinspəˈrāSHən/Noun

1. The process of being mentally stimulated to do or feel something, esp. to do something creative: "flashes of inspiration".

2. The quality of having been so stimulated, esp. when evident in something: "a moment ofinspiration in an otherwise dull display".




 Lately I haven't been writing, drawing, painting, or photographing, mostly for lack of inspiration. In my mind, an artist is to inspiration as a shark is to water. Both are useless without those key "ingredients." But...both can be pretty powerful if they DO have those key ingredients. God works in mysterious ways!


In my desperate search for artistic inspiration, I neglected to search for "God inspiration." (using divine inspiration just sounds like I'm expecting ideas to mystically rain from the sky which is definitely NOT the case!) I want to be inspired, "stimulated to DO something" for God. While this kind of inspiration does not (usually) literally rain from the sky, it surely does pour down if you open up His Word. Ever picked up a captivating book and not been able to put it down for as long as it takes to finish it? I've found in the past couple days that if you turn off all the distractions and open up the Word-- it's the best kind of those books! People argue whether or not the Bible is truly "...God breathed..." (2 Timothy 3:16) But just as the Bible promises:    


⁴⁰ “I tell you,” he replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.” (Luke 19:40) 


I believe that regardless of what you believe regarding the origins of the Bible, God will use whatever he can to speak to you, as long as you're willing to listen. But I DO believe that scripture comes from God and it is very much a "living" text that God uses in a mighty way to reveal His plans to us IF we are willing. But wait... that's the hard part. Being WILLING. Let's look at that definition...

will·ing/ˈwiliNG/Adjective

1. Ready, eager, or prepared to do something.

2. Given or done readily: "willing obedience"

Ouch. Ready? EAGER? Prepared to DO? Yikes. If I'm honest with myself, most of the time I'd rather operate on my own time schedule. Yes, I can be ready and eager, but I'd rather it be once I'm done with what I have planned. But He never promised that sacrificing was not a part of the incredible journey He has planned for us! (And believe me, HIS plan is way better than mine EVERY time--every time I get a big head, I fall right on it and and am reminded again to simply TRUST Him.) Here's what He says: 

Matthew 16:24 ²⁴ Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. ²⁵ For whoever wants to save their life^[a] will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. ²⁶ What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?

Luke 9:23-24

New International Version (NIV)

 ²³ Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. ²⁴ For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it.

Now..."take UP [my] cross DAILY?"

That's a personal slap in the face. "Take up": a choice to acknowledge, take on, and maybe even embrace. "their (my) cross": our Savior's cross represented the surrendering of Himself for others, suffering, His choice to offer Himself "as a living sacrifice." "daily": every day, not a day without, incessantly. Can I really do this? Yes. But I'm only human! But I have Christ. How can I make His power mine? Be filled with the Spirit. Filled. With no room left for anything else! 

Romans 12:1 ¹ Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.

Ephesians 5:18  ¹⁸ Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit,

But God made us because He LOVES us. He wants to bless us. He wants to reward, protect, guide, and treasure us. Yes, He wants me to be WILLING to SACRIFICE my own life. But it's because He truly knows what is BEST for me. As Paul wrote to the church in Philippi,

Philippians 1:21

New International Version (NIV)

²¹ For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.

1 Corinthians 10:13

New International Version (NIV)

¹³ No temptation^[a] has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted^[b] beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted,^[c] he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.

For us to lose our life for His glory would only be GAIN! I am in His perfect hands and should feel only the upmost honor and reverence for being chosen by Him to carry out His perfect work. The fact that He allows me to be His hands and feet is nothing short of a blessing. He has not only forgiven my countless offenses and endless "cheating," He has taken me back with open arms time and time again. How lucky I am to have a heavenly Father that is ever patient with me, never stops teaching me, and uses my imperfect self even though it would be easier for Him to carry out His will by His own hands. Just as is true in life as a whole, it should not be "what can He do for me, but what can I do for Him?" What can I give to a God like Him except for my everything? How selfish I can be. I don't want this to be a one-day realization that quickly fades out of my mind. I want this to be a part of my every day life. Only then will I experience and recognize what God wants to accomplish in my life. 

Jeremiah 29:11

New International Version (NIV)

¹¹ For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.






My goal this week: to truly find inspiration to DO something for God's kingdom. To take my thoughts, prayers, hopes and dreams to the next level---> ACTION. I want to be a powerful and "dangerous" person having been inspired by God daily, ^{12  ...}joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.

Romans 12:12

New International Version (NIV)

He is always faithful. If you don't believe the Bible, take it from me. He has never once failed me.

Psalm 33:4 

4 For the word of the LORD is right and true; he is faithful in all he does.

Psalm 36:5

5 Your love, O LORD, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies.

Psalm 86:15

15 But you, O Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.

Psalm 89:1

1 I will sing of the LORD's great love forever; with my mouth I will make your faithfulness known through all generations.

Psalm 89:8

8 O LORD God Almighty, who is like you? You are mighty, O LORD, and your faithfulness surrounds you.

Psalm 115:1

1 Not to us, O LORD, not to us but to your name be the glory, because of your love and faithfulness.

Lamentations 3:22-23

22 Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. 23 They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

Romans 3:3-4

3 What if some did not have faith? Will their lack of faith nullify God's faithfulness? 4 Not at all!

1 Corinthians 1:9

9 God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful.

I want to challenge you to turn off the distractions until you discover how captivating the love that God has for us is and how He wants to speak to us through His word and use us, mere imperfect beings, for good!