We Gave Each Other Something That Day

Many years ago on a bus, I sat down beside a 40-ish, clean-cut, well-spoken man who offered me his neatly folded newspaper. 

I brightly replied, “Thank you. I need this today!” I am a woman of color and he was white. This is only significant in that I am always grateful for cross-cultural friendliness where ever I find it because there is so much hatred and prejudice still being practiced and promoted.

After I accepted the paper with a smile, he replied, “I picked it up at TCC.”

“Do you want some change for it,” I offered.

“No,” he replied. “They set them out for free.” After a pause, he humorously said, “I can always use a little change. No just kidding.”

I laughed and said, “We can all use a little change, sometimes. You take classes at TCC,” I inquired, assuming that he was enrolled in some MBA-type program or something.

“No, I stay at the Union Mission,” he quietly replied.

“Oh,” I said, thinking how sad but restful his spirit seemed.

“I work two part-time jobs,” I confessed. “They are both minimum wage and it’s difficult to get on my feet.”

“It’s hard for everyone isn’t it?” he empathized.

I began to dig in my purse for change, because not only have I had a desire to help others from my teenaged years but also because I’ve been in various types of financial and employment struggles. I have empathy for others who are struggling.

He said quickly and quietly, “Oh, you don’t have to do that,” as he waved his hand from side to side.

“But will you accept it anyway,” I quietly pleaded.

“Yes,” he said with purpose.

I grabbed as much change as my hand could hold.

The bus was slowing for my stop and I grasped as much change as my fingers could touch. It felt like a lot of quarters and I was glad. 

As I warmly placed them in his open hand, I felt his spirit soar as he looked down at his palm. He seemed so happy about that handful of change and I felt the angels singing.

When he said “God bless you,” I really felt the blessings of God being bestowed upon me. I just felt it, and spoke the same blessing to him.

I really needed the newspaper that morning.

 As I got up, I said, “See you around.”

“Certainly,” he said, or something like that.

As I walked to the McDonald’s to get my cup of coffee, I was happy to have the paper to read. I reflected on how much I seemed to have in the eyes of that man. I actually had not just one job but two compared to his none. They were both retail and didn’t even make up 35 hours a week but how blessed I must have seemed to him.

Suddenly, I thought I probably don't have enough for the cup of coffee I was so looking forward to. I had given him a lot of my change and was not thinking about my coffee. When I got inside, I found that I still had enough change for the coffee and then some. I had not even considered the amount that I was giving him when I dug into my purse. I just wanted him to have it. In doing so, I was provided for.

Amazingly, I still had enough change to buy my coffee.

My situation must really have seemed almost like paradise to him. To be finished with the job search process. To be done with standing in line with five-hundred and fifty other people for a handful of positions. To have the interviews behind me. To actually have some funds coming in. To have already received a paycheck. He had a bed for an extended but limited period of time in a residential shelter. There are so many others who don't even have that.

Just think about all of the others who don't have a bed in a shelter. Think about those who want a better life but can't get into the right position at the right time to make it work. Think about the mentally-challenged who would not hurt anyone but who are wandering the streets without anyone to assist them because not enough people are helping. Think about all of those who fall through the cracks, because not enough people are helping. Think about the elderly on the streets.

Think about those who are hungry and want something to eat but no one gives them a dollar because they decide that the person just wants a drink of wine. Think about those who were cheated and mistreated and are now living homeless as a result of it. Think about the veterans who are homeless and the mothers with children who don't have anywhere to sleep at night. Think about the children who are absolutely alone on the streets everywhere in the world...

Remember those who are struggling and who are less fortunate than you. The numbers are exploding and most of them don't want to be homeless and jobless. Reach out today. Help someone. If you can help one person one time in your life, you have done a lot.

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For Email and Feed Subscribers: Video of Phil Collins performing Just Another Day included with this post. To see it please click the Draw Nigh To Hope link in your message to visit the blog.

Poetry: I Met God In The Morning by Ralph Spalding Cushman

I met God in the morning when the day was at its best.

And his presence came like sunrise like a glory in my breast.

All day long his presence lingered all day long he stayed with me,

And we sailed with perfect calmness o'er a very troubled sea.

Other ships were blown and battered.

Other ships were sore distressed,

But the winds that seemed to drive them

Brought to me a peace and rest.

Then I thought of other mornings with a keen remorse of mind

When I too had loosed the moorings with the presence left behind.

Now I think I know the secret learned from many a troubled way.

You must meet him in the morning if you want him through the day.

by Ralph Spalding Cushman

Enjoy Each Blessing Fully Poem

ENJOY EACH BLESSING FULLY

 

It seems to me that rarely

Do they come along on time.

We want to get one blessing

So another can align.

 

It seems that life is often

Just a waiting game, you see.

We wait for this to happen,

Then we feel that we can be.

 

But rarely does it happen

That our blessings fall in line,

With what we want to happen

In our fairly finite minds.

 

For God is of the infinite,

The infinite is Him.

And though we may think otherwise,

His plans are not a whim.

 

His plans are not haphazardly

Patched up to make our lives.

The blessings, when they happen,

Are on time and God-devised.

 

Don't try to rearrange them,

Choosing pleasure in just some.

Enjoy each separate blessing

To the fullest, as they come.

(c)Draw Nigh To Hope

Scripture Book In The Works

I'm working on a fav scriptures book to publish at Amazon KDP. The title is I Am Prospering In Every Way: Scripture Declarations & Prayer Prompts. It's a book encouraging Christian growth and living by faith. I'm sharing the scriptures that I have memorized and quote every morning.

There are 32 scriptures and I've written up 9 of them so far. In each chapter I quote 1 scripture and write a paraphrase of it that makes it more practical to apply to our daily lives. I then add a simple prayer prompt.

For the cover design, I started with a photographs design using Affinity Photo. I then decided to create a vector design using Affinity Designer. I've shared both draft designs below. The spreads are showing the backs and fronts. I am sure I'll be going with the vector design (the 1st one). I like its crispness.

I'm trying to write up 1 scripture per day so that I can publish as soon as possible. This will be my first Christian book and I'm anxious to get it done. Are you doing any Christian publishing or design work? Christian crafting?

Christian Poetry: I Call His Name (Jesus)

 

I Call His Name (Jesus)

When I am sad or in pain I call His name.

When I am lost and cannot find my way

I call His name.

When I am thankful and filled with joy,

I call His name.

Nothing would ever be the same if I couldn't call His name.

The Red Bird

A red bird comes to visit me,

He moves from tree to tree.

He looks for food on the ground,

I like it when he comes around.

The Clouds

The clouds look soft as they float by,

They are very far up in the sky.

The sun comes out and chases them away,

Buy they will be back another day.

Georgetta (Georgette) Hanna Johnson, my mother, wrote simple, serene poetry and short stories.

She loved painting beautiful acrylic, folk art landscapes on construction paper. Her favorite color was purple and she enjoyed various types of crafting.

She loved watching T. D. Jakes and Jimmy Swaggart and reading her Bible everyday. She was raised in the Church of God under Bishop Lula Mae Swanson. In her later years, Georgette grew closer to God.

She went peacefully to be with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, in January, 2021

Christian Poetry Worshiping God

David C. Brown lives in the UK and is retired from the environment industry.

His main interests are Jesus Christ, Christianity and poetry. Some of his favorite books are the Bible, The Sufferings of Christ and the works by British poet George Herbert.

His poetry blog is Grace Notes.

You can find his books at Lulu.

Christian Poetry: Look Up

Look up, even though your heart is broken.

 

Look up, even though you are oh so discouraged.

 

Look up, even though it seems impossible.

 

Look up, even though you can't take it anymore.

 

Look up, even though nothing has ever worked out for you.

 

Look up, even though you don't think that God loves you.

 

Look up, because you are God's by your own choice.

 

Look up, believe and confess that these issues will work out for your good, because the word, ordained by your loving, Heavenly Father, said they would. 

 

Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.

 

 

Christian Poem By Helen Mallicoat

A friend shared this poem with me to help me through difficult times in my life. It is so beautiful and touching that I read it often. It soothes my soul and spirit. It's as if God is telling me, Don't look backwards. Don't look forwards. Live in today. Be at peace. I am always here, today.

I AM

I was regretting the past
And fearing the future.
Suddenly my Lord was speaking:

“My name is I Am.” He paused.
I waited. He continued,
When you live in the past
With its mistakes and regrets,
It is hard. I am not there,
My name is not I WAS”.

When you live in the future
With its problems and fears,
It is hard. I am not there.
My name is not I WILL BE.

When you live in this moment,
It is not hard. I am here.
My name is I AM.

May you be comforted by Helen's words that God is always present with you.

Helen Mallicoat was born to Dora and Walter White on Sept. 4, 1913 in a log cabin on a farm near Arenzville, Ill. She passed away at 91 years old on Tuesday, Dec. 14. Helen was an avid writer and many of her writings have been compiled into books. Hallmark published Listen for the Lord in 1980. The most widely read of all her writings is the poem I Am, which was published in 1982 on a poster by Argus Communications. Almost weekly she heard of it being meaningful to someone.

Poetry About Our Father From David C Brown

I am sharing 3 poems by David C Brown about Our Heavenly Father. The poetry of this long-term Christian writer has such a calming, restful quality. It's as though he's encouraging us to live quietly and peacefully in our relationship with God. I never fail to feel restored and quietened when I read his verse.

THE FATHER OF SPIRITS

If we will live, we must be subject to
The Father as the One who has the Name
Father of spirits; He will bear us through
His chastening. We gladly own His claim
Upon us since it from Him we came;
He rules our spirits in a way to suit
Our needs, and to secure from us His fruit.

(Hebrews 12: 9)

What a beautiful and insightful way to describe God's purging of the branches. The last line, "He rules our spirits in a way to suit Our needs, and to secure from us His fruit," gives me chills because of its depth of meaning.

This is because I think about how we suffer through God's purging and we judge it as being for his unknown purposes. David's light on this Godly process advocates that we can only realize the fulfillment of our own dreams, needs and personal prayers through it. Even the securing of his fruit from us (and what a great twist of words David wrote in that phrase) blesses us because we are the better for God's clipping and pruning process.

Here are 2 more poems that David has written about the glory and loving kindnesses of The Father.

THE FATHER OF LIGHTS

When first the light broke through the primal darkness
It gave this earth hope it would live anew,
Although exposing chaos in its starkness.
Then great and small lights graced the settings due
To them, while looking to the Light that's true;
Father of lights, since then each light that's burning
Comes from One with no shadow and no turning.

(James 1: 17) 

THE FATHER OF COMPASSIONS

Satan, the flesh, and sin, in their own fashions
Have clashed against me to disturb my soul;
But I turn to the Father of compassions,
The God of all encouragements, and roll
My burden on the One who will console;
In spite of ills my foes seek to impart
The Father of compassions binds my heart.

(2 Cor 1: 3)

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David works in the environment industry and lives in Scotland. His interests are Jesus Christ, Christianity, the Bible, poetry, the environment and sustainable development. Some of his favorite books are the Bible, The Sufferings of Christ and George Herbert.

His poetry blog is Grace Notes.

You can find his books at Lulu.

 

 

Poetry: Light In Madness

 

Oh dear Lord.

You are a comfort in a world gone mad.

How can I exist here and not

Be touched by such distressing stuff?

Though it grapples and clutches at me

To drag me down to depths of

Depression and despair of hope,

I climb back up.

I eat and drink your Word daily

In a world gone mad.

© SJHolland

Your word is a lamp unto me feet and a light unto my path. Psalm 119:105

Poetry: God And Son As One

 

How hard it must have been

For you to know, Lord,

That you are the Light of the World,

And to walk among hatred and blindness.

How hard it must have been

For you to live under

Being harassed and hated,

And to walk among

That determination to murder.

 

But you were determined

To enforce God's will.

Your Father, who gave you up

To a vicious world of dark haters,

Lived the horrific sacrifice through

And with you.

~ Sandi Holland ~

Choose Joy

I choose to laugh in the midst of trouble.

In the midst of sorrow, I choose joy.

All things will always work together to

strengthen me and bless my life.

My Heavenly Father has promised it.

I can trust in what He says.

He is the One True God!

 

© SJHolland

 

Romans 8:28