A good friend sent this to me...we are not sure who authored it, but I thought I'd pass it along:
When I meditated on the word Guidance, I kept seeing "dance" at the end of the word. I remember reading that doing God's will is a lot like dancing. When two people try to lead, nothing feels right. The movement doesn't flow with the music, and everything is quite uncomfortable and jerky.
When one person realizes that, and lets the other lead, both bodies begin to flow with the music. One gives gentle cues, perhaps with a nudge to the back or by pressing Lightly in one direction or another. It's as if two become one body, moving beautifully. The dance takes surrender, willingness, and attentiveness from one person and gentle guidance and skill from the other.
My eyes drew back to the word Guidance. When I saw "G: I thought of God, followed by "u" and "i". "God, "u" and "i" dance." God, you, and I dance. As I lowered my head, I became willing to trust that I would get guidance about my life. Once again, I became willing to let God lead.
My prayer for you today is that God's blessings and mercies be upon you on this day and everyday. May you abide in God as God abides in you. Dance together with God, trusting God to lead and to guide you through each season of your life.
Amen! \0/
Welcome to "A Heart of Worship!" This is where I post things that have impacted my life spiritually. When we embrace the concept of worship as a lifestyle, we have an opportunity to see God reveal Himself in ways we'd never dreamed possible! Although this site was initially designed for my sweet "Sisters," my dear "Brothers in Christ," I encourage you all to feel free to respond to any of my posts or to start a new thought too. God's Word applies to all of us! Blessings!
Wednesday, August 24, 2005
Sunday, August 07, 2005
WWJD and WDLD? Part III
"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose". Romans 8:28 (KJ)
Conclusion:
Obviously just it was supposed to happen, my friend and I literally bumped into each other at work. The way our conversation unfolded, there was a natural segue way into the conclusion of the Walmart ordeal. She was wondering how I handled the "free book" deal, but she kind of felt like I had gone back to Walmart, but she wanted to hear it from me. I relayed what happened there, and she listened intently.
I made it clear that I did what I felt was the right thing to do, and in no way was she obligated to "pony up." I explained that if she remembered, initially I wanted to gift her with the book anyway, but that notion was not sitting too well with her at the time. This time she smiled, hugged me, and accepted the gift gracefully. End of story. Funny how life happens, isn't it?
Be Blessed!
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Conclusion:
Obviously just it was supposed to happen, my friend and I literally bumped into each other at work. The way our conversation unfolded, there was a natural segue way into the conclusion of the Walmart ordeal. She was wondering how I handled the "free book" deal, but she kind of felt like I had gone back to Walmart, but she wanted to hear it from me. I relayed what happened there, and she listened intently.
I made it clear that I did what I felt was the right thing to do, and in no way was she obligated to "pony up." I explained that if she remembered, initially I wanted to gift her with the book anyway, but that notion was not sitting too well with her at the time. This time she smiled, hugged me, and accepted the gift gracefully. End of story. Funny how life happens, isn't it?
Be Blessed!
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Tuesday, August 02, 2005
WWJD and WDLD? Part II
"What would Jesus do?" and "What did 'L' do?"
By now, I'm sure, you've read Part I, and if you have not, click here to read it and the comments, before proceeding.
Okay, for the conclusion to this story:
"What Did L Do?"
Okay, for the conclusion to this story:
"What Did L Do?"
I went back to Walmart, and asked for a manager. A young man soon walked over to me. He looked so young in fact, that I glanced at his name tag to make sure that he was a manager before I launched into my story. He was. I explained to the young man that a week prior, I had made several purchases, including a book. Later on that day, I discovered that the book purchase was not included on my receipt along with everything else I had bought, and I wanted to actually pay for the book.
Picture the cocked-head-to-the-side look that a dog gives you when he is puzzled...That is the look this young man gave me. Then he says, "Wait a minute....You mean you bought a book, then you got home and saw it was not on your receipt and NOW you want to come BACK to PAY for it?" I said "Yes."
Eyeing me warily, he asks, "Okay, can you find another copy of the book on the shelf?" I assured him that I could. He says, "Just go to any register, tell the cashier that you want to pay for it, but leave it there to the side of the conveyor belt." I said, "Okay." Then he adds, "My name is Damien. Tell them to call me if they have a problem." Then as if to give me an 'out' he looks at me intensely and asks, "This is what you want to do, right?" I said, "Yes. I just want to do the right thing." (As soon as I said that, another one of my other blogs based on similar theme popped into mind!)
Damien had been standing there looking at me, real weird-like.... it was hard to tell if he was thinking "You dummy! or if he was thinking, "Alright, Sister!" But that does not matter either way really, now does it? I said thank you and walked off in search of another copy of the book "The Purpose Driven Life." I found it, grabbed up a few other things (Why can't I go into Walmart and come out with just ONE thing?!), and headed for the cashier with the shortest line.
To make a long story short, the cashier could not seem to grasp what I was trying to explain to her about the book purchase, so when I saw Damien walk by, I called out his name. He came over and gave the cashier explicit instructions as to what to do, (um, the exact same thing I had told her) and suddenly she understood. As I paid for my purchases with the debit card machine, she was flipping through and reading the book. She turned to look at me and asked, "So you actually came back to the store to pay for this? I said, "Yes." She nodded and smiled broadly, "Cool, that's all - right!"
She thanked me, I thanked her and left. Wow, I'm glad that's over with. Why should it be so difficult for people to accept that you want to do something that is honorable? Are most people generally that dishonest? I shudder to think. I remember reading a quote several of years ago, that has stayed with me. Something to the effect of "True character is who you are when you think no one is watching." Hmmm.....What struck me most, is that when we think no one else is watching, GOD is ALWAYS watching. Duh! Isn't what He thinks most important of all?
Picture the cocked-head-to-the-side look that a dog gives you when he is puzzled...That is the look this young man gave me. Then he says, "Wait a minute....You mean you bought a book, then you got home and saw it was not on your receipt and NOW you want to come BACK to PAY for it?" I said "Yes."
Eyeing me warily, he asks, "Okay, can you find another copy of the book on the shelf?" I assured him that I could. He says, "Just go to any register, tell the cashier that you want to pay for it, but leave it there to the side of the conveyor belt." I said, "Okay." Then he adds, "My name is Damien. Tell them to call me if they have a problem." Then as if to give me an 'out' he looks at me intensely and asks, "This is what you want to do, right?" I said, "Yes. I just want to do the right thing." (As soon as I said that, another one of my other blogs based on similar theme popped into mind!)
Damien had been standing there looking at me, real weird-like.... it was hard to tell if he was thinking "You dummy! or if he was thinking, "Alright, Sister!" But that does not matter either way really, now does it? I said thank you and walked off in search of another copy of the book "The Purpose Driven Life." I found it, grabbed up a few other things (Why can't I go into Walmart and come out with just ONE thing?!), and headed for the cashier with the shortest line.
To make a long story short, the cashier could not seem to grasp what I was trying to explain to her about the book purchase, so when I saw Damien walk by, I called out his name. He came over and gave the cashier explicit instructions as to what to do, (um, the exact same thing I had told her) and suddenly she understood. As I paid for my purchases with the debit card machine, she was flipping through and reading the book. She turned to look at me and asked, "So you actually came back to the store to pay for this? I said, "Yes." She nodded and smiled broadly, "Cool, that's all - right!"
She thanked me, I thanked her and left. Wow, I'm glad that's over with. Why should it be so difficult for people to accept that you want to do something that is honorable? Are most people generally that dishonest? I shudder to think. I remember reading a quote several of years ago, that has stayed with me. Something to the effect of "True character is who you are when you think no one is watching." Hmmm.....What struck me most, is that when we think no one else is watching, GOD is ALWAYS watching. Duh! Isn't what He thinks most important of all?
As for my friend on my job, I have not said anything to her about me returning to Walmart to pay, but I am thinking that maybe I should let her know that I did go back to pay for the book. (She knows the whole situation because she was standing right there when I discovered that the book was not on the receipt). But only to explain so that she knows that Christians DO take a stand and do what is right...not because I want her to pay for anything. As far as I am concerned, the book is a gift to her. I wanted to bless her with it initially, but she would not accept it as such.
If I ever feel that I am being led to say something to her, to reassure her of the right action that was taken, I will mention it to her then, and only then.
And WWJD? To me it seems that anytime He was faced with satan trying to tempt Him to do something, He quoted scripture him. He did not give in to any sin, nor selfishness, nor to carnal desires of the flesh, nor to egotisical feats to prove satan wrong or anything. He simply did what He knew was His assignment in fulfilling His mission here on earth.
I cannot recall reading about Jesus ever coming into direct contact with money (except for maybe when He was overthrowing the money changers tables in the temple), so He was not in a position to have more given to Him than He paid for. (But we are...think about what has been given to us through Him). Jesus is the epitome of truth and justice and love, so I think if He were in my position, He would not have wasted one minute in going back to Walmart to give them what was rightfully theirs. But I can't imagine Jesus being in my position...when did He need for anything? When did He have to go to the market for anything?
As for the friend, I do not believe He'd say anything to her unless she brought it up. And then He would only state that she not need to worry-- that He gave them what was rightfully theirs.
I want to thank you all for your feedback!! It has been very interesting and fun receiving your comments!
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