Together Spreading Kindness

Baby’s Hug

lindathompson — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 21:05:31 +0000

A lovely lady in our church just sent this to me. It is so sweet and sends a powerful message. Hope you enjoy it.

We were the only family with children in the restaurant. I sat Erik in a high chair and noticed everyone was quietly sitting and talking. Suddenly, Erik squealed with glee and said, ‘Hi.’ He pounded his fat baby hands on the high chair tray. His eyes were crinkled in laughter and his mouth was bared in a toothless grin, as he wriggled and giggled with merriment.

I looked around and saw the source of his merriment. It was a man whose pants were baggy with a zipper at half-mast and his toes poked out of would-be shoes. His shirt was dirty and his hair was uncombed and unwashed. His whiskers were too short to be called a beard and his nose was so varicose it looked like a road map.

We were too far from him to smell, but I was sure he smelled.. His hands waved and flapped on loose wrists. ‘Hi there, baby; hi there, big boy.. I see ya, buster,’ the man said to Erik.

My husband and I exchanged looks,
‘What do we do?’

Erik continued to laugh and answer, ‘Hi.’

Everyone in the restaurant noticed and looked at us and then at the man. The old geezer was creating a nuisance with my beautiful baby. Our meal came and the man began shouting from across the room, ‘Do ya patty cake? Do you know peek-a-boo? Hey, look, he knows peek- a-boo.’

Nobody thought the old man was cute. He was obviously drunk.

My husband and I were embarrassed. We ate in silence; all except for Erik, who was running through his repertoire for the admiring skid-row bum, who in turn, reciprocated with his cute comments.

We finally got through the meal and headed for the door. My husband went to pay the check and told me to meet him in the parking lot. The old man sat poised between me and the door. ‘Lord, just let me out of here before he speaks to me or Erik,’ I prayed. As I drew closer to the man, I turned my back trying to sidestep him and avoid any air he might be breathing. As I did, Erik leaned over my arm, reaching with both arms in a baby’s ‘pick-me-up’ position. Before I could stop him, Erik had propelled himself from my arms to the man.
Suddenly a very old smelly man and a very young baby consummated their love and kinship.

Erik in an act of total trust, love, and submission laid his tiny head upon the man’s ragged shoulder.

The man’s eyes closed, and I saw tears hover beneath his lashes. His aged hands full of grime, pain, and hard labor, cradled my baby’s bottom and stroked his back.

No two beings have ever loved so deeply for so short a time.

I stood awestruck. The old man rocked and cradled Erik in his arms and his eyes opened and set squarely on mine.

He said in a firm commanding voice, “You take care of this baby”.

Somehow I managed, “I will”, from a throat that contained a stone.

He Pried Erik from his chest, Lovingly and Longingly, as though HE were in pain.

I received my baby, and the man said, ‘God bless you, ma’am, you’ve given me my Christmas Gift.’

I said nothing more than a muttered thanks. With Erik in my arms, I ran for the car.

My husband was wondering why I was crying and holding Erik so tightly,

and why I was saying, ”My God, my God, forgive me”.

I had just witnessed Christ’s love, shown through the innocence of a tiny child who saw no sin,

who made no judgment; a child who saw a soul, and a mother who saw a suit of clothes.

I was a Christian who was blind, holding a child who was not.

I felt it was God asking, “Are you willing to share your son for a moment”? when He shared His for all eternity.

How did God feel when he put his baby in our arms 2000 years ago?

The ragged old man, unwittingly, had reminded me,

‘To enter the Kingdom of God , we must become as little children.’

Does Familiarity Have to Breed Disrespect?

lindathompson — Sat, 26 Nov 2011 13:23:52 +0000

I often think about how familiarity breeds contempt or a better word may be disrespect. It is an easy trap to fall into. The fact is that as we grow more familiar with people and our situations we can choose to have more respect or less. Familiarity does not have to breed contempt.

Recently Robert Kayanja ministered at our services. He spoke about Noah’s sons. He pointed out how Ham disrespected his father when he went into Noah’s tent, saw his father drunk & naked, and told his brother about it. His brothers immediately walked backward into the tent with a blanket and covered their father. One of the things Robert pointed out wast that Noah was in his tent which would be like us being in our bedroom. There is nothing wrong with being in our bedroom naked. Another thing he mentioned was that Ham should not have gone into his father’s bedroom like a little child would. Adult children would knock or be invited in. Shem & Japheth chose to respect their father in spite of the fact that he was drunk and naked in his bedroom. They did not allow their familiarity to cause them to disrespect their father.

Another example is David. He chose to respect KIng Saul even though Saul was attempting to kill him. He respected the office Saul was in as king of Israel. He certainly had plenty of reasons to be disrespectful. He saw Saul at his worst, but he chose a higher road.

It is funny how easy it can be for us to be respectful to people we do not know well. It is easy because we have not seen the everyday side of these individuals. The more everyday life we see in others and situations, the more opportunity we have to be respectful or disrespectful.

In my life, I have the daily opportunity to respect my husband. He is a man who is respected and admired by many. Robb is a pastor, author and speaks to people all over the world. On the other hand, I get to experience the day to day with him. I know his ups and downs. When I choose to look at what I think of as the down side of Robb, I am disrespectful. I get in the flesh toward him and get negative, especially in my thinking. When I choose to see all of his good qualities and admire all he is and has accomplished, I have the utmost respect for him. It is a choice I make.

In everyday life the choice we must make is to be respectful. When we are genuinely respectful, it is an act of kindness.

My prayer is that I am more aware of this in my own life and hope you will be too.

Not Compromising

lindathompson — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 12:35:50 +0000

Not compromising is a kindness. You might be thinking – “What? You have got to be kidding me! How can that be a kindness?” It is looking out for the interest of others. When we choose to think about how what we do may affect someone else, it is an act of kindness.

As Christians, we must choose to be doers of God’s Word. When we get off of it people are watching and it will be used, not just against us, but against walking with God. Paul tells us to follow him as he followed Christ. Jesus showed us that it is possible for humans to please God by acting on his word.

When I compromise by having a bad attitude, it affects others. I know someone who chose not to become a Christian because their neighbors who were Christians (the man was a pastor) fought a lot. He and his wife did not fight. If being a Christian meant you would fight with your spouse, he did not want to have anything to do with it.

I know a man who used to go to clubs. He would see girls from the church he grew up in at the clubs. These girls professed to be born again Christians. They looked no different in their actions than he did, so he figured there was no point in becoming a Christian.

Another example: A family I know has a daycare business. They are in an area where the Muslim population is growing. One of their Muslim customers told them if they did not pray with the children every time they ate that they would have more customers. Let’s face it, if someone went into a Muslim school and said that the Muslim would not even consider it. Unfortunately, how many of us might consider it to bring in more business, especially if business was down? I believe as this family holds on to the principles in God’s Word, it will be a witness to the Muslims. They will see the faith of these Christians and want Jesus. Also, God will bless them because of their trust in him.

Why would someone want to become a Christian, if we do not stand for what we believe in?

Hebrews 10:22-25 tells us to keep the witness of our hope strong and unshaking because as we do, it encourages others to walk in love and have right conduct.

How often do people say, “Well they did it.”? We have to keep in mind that they can say that about positive actions or negative ones. Most of the time the statement is made because of someone’s negative actions. Paul exhorts us to follow those who are not spiritually dull and indifferent; to imitate those who use faith and patience & as a result of it, receive God’s promise.

My encouragement is to be the best example you can be by believing what God’s Word says about you. As you do, others will want what you have and more people will come into the kingdom of God.

I Was One of Them

lindathompson — Sat, 24 Sep 2011 08:35:03 +0000

This article is just the tip of the iceberg of what you will get when you hear Holly Wagner at our Bella Conference October 6-8. Register online at www.fhclife.org or go to or contact the church – 708-614-6000.

Most of us look at fashion magazines and feel depressed shortly afterward. Why? Because we feel as if we can never measure up. When we look in the mirror our imperfections shout loudly.

“Big pimple in middle of forehead!”

“Serious baggage under eyes!”

“Very large nose!”

“Lots of crow’s feet!”

“Disappearing lips!”

Those women in the magazines look perfect. I would like to let you in on a little secret…shhhh…the women in those photos aren’t perfect either. I know.

Because I was once one of them.

I showed up on modeling assignments looking anything but perfect. It took: hours of hair and makeup geniuses…hemorrhoid cream on puffy eyes…tape to hold everything together…photoshop to get rid of the pimple… all to create an illusion. Honestly, there were times when the image was so fictitious it might as well have been a cartoon!

I recently interviewed Jennifer Strickland who at one time had been a model for the designer Armani. She told stories of the price she, and other young women, paid to look the way designers wanted them to look. There was not one young model she encountered who was not using drugs or dealing with a serious eating disorder.

She told of one model known for her smile.

In fact her smile graced many billboards advertising toothpaste.

She looked ‘perfect’ and happy.

In reality she threw up nine or ten times a day and was desperately unhappy.

She looked in the mirror and saw flaws.

She saw what she wasn’t.

I have read articles and heard various news stories of women around the earth who are desperately trying to change themselves into some image of beauty. There are young girls in Japan who are putting steel rods in their legs because they think that taller is beautiful.

Who said?

There are women in India who are paying to have their skin lightened because they think lighter is beautiful.

Who said?

There are some Asian women having surgery to have their eyes made rounder.

Who said that round eyes were more beautiful???

Why is it that we always see someone else as more beautiful?

The only way to defeat this way of thinking is to look in the mirror and shout…

Go ahead.

Shout it out loud.

I praise you (God) because of the wonderful way you created me. Everything you do is marvelous! Of this I have no doubt. (PS 139)

In fact…why don’t you just whistle at yourself right after you shout!! We were created in the image of our creator and he calls us beautiful…marvelous…every curve, freckle and strand of hair…beautiful.

I get this picture of God right after he created us. He looks at us and does the Italian thing with his fingers against his lips…bellisima…perfecto!!

God has declared that we are marvelous…beautiful.

Yet, we don’t really believe it, so we look and wait for someone else to tell us. Some of us dress in such a way to show every curve…cleavage (if you are lucky enough to have some J)…hoping that someone will say we are beautiful. Your creator has already said it…but I can too…ok…you are beautiful. No matter the shape of your eyes, the size of your nose, the color of your skin, the texture of your hair, or the smoothness of your skin…YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL!!

Most of us have probably seen the movie Shrek. At the end of the movie, after ‘true loves’ kiss, Fiona is disappointed to find out that she did not turn back into the woman, but instead remained an ogre. She looked at Shrek and said “ I was supposed to be beautiful.” He replied, “But you are beautiful.”

You and I have been given true loves kiss.

And He says we are beautiful.

written by Holly Wagner http://www.godchicks.com/hollys-blog/i-was-once-one-of-them/

Confessions of a Bad Apologizer

lindathompson — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 16:17:41 +0000

Hayley DiMarco is an excellent speaker and teacher. Here is a glimpse of what to expect at Bella. Register now.

An apology is a beautiful thing, especially when it’s given to me. But ask me to apologize and I’m just sorry you’re such a sensitive person that what happened hurt you. And I’m sorry you think I did something wrong. My apology is all about you, not about me, because frankly, I don’t do anything wrong. If I do anything that offends, hurts or affects you badly it’s an “accident.” “I couldn’t help it.” “The road was slick,” “the deadline was too quick,” “the oven was too hot.” Most of my life I’ve never taken blame for my mistakes, but blamed the circumstances. After all, if they had been different, then I wouldn’t have made a mistake. But tell you I was wrong, or that I shouldn’t have done what I did? Confess my stupidity or miscalculation to you? Are you crazy?! I can’t bear such humiliation.

How I’ve gone most of my life never apologizing to anyone, but continually shifting blame to ‘bad conditions,’ is beyond me, but it’s true, and so I confess it now. Not so that you will forgive me, unless of course I’ve done this kind of thing to you, then I ask, “please forgive me for being so self-obsessed,” but to confess ignorance for myself and for all the others out there who don’t know how to apologize like a grown up. It’s a familial thing, runs in the blood. Adam and Eve started it when they both blamed someone else for their choices, and we all continue it on a daily basis. Which is ironic since the Christian faith rests on the power of confession, which is the best apology in the world. We are not saved till we confess our sins and our inability to save ourselves. And these sins and all the others that follow that original confession, aren’t meant to be hidden away and protected from prying eyes, but boldly brought out into the open to be examined and prayed over by others. The words that best taught me this are found in James 5:16, which goes like this, “confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.” (James 5:16, ESV)

Much of my life I have refused the personal insult of an apology, in favor of keeping up the charade of my own perfection, without really knowing the perfecting-power of confession. When I refuse to take the blame, I not only look ridiculous, but I further prepare myself for an even bigger fall. May I never forget that “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.” (Proverbs 16:18, ESV) And that “everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”” (Luke 14:11, ESV)

I confess my non-apologies, may they never (rarely) happen again.

written by Hayley DiMarco: http://hungryplanet.net/confession/confessions-of-a-bad-apologizer/

Just Pray…..

lindathompson — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 02:22:46 +0000

This blog isn’t the typical do something nice for somebody exhortation. It’s doing something good spiritually for someone that could make or break a life. Praying for others should be at the top of our kindness list. The bible tells us to pray for all men everywhere; to pray without ceasing; to pray for those who have been unkind to us and have used us……Praying is being obedient to Holy Spirit, especially when He nudges us to pray.

Here is an example from my own life that I hope encourages you concerning the importance of prayer and responding immediately when we are asked by the Lord to pray.

Every year on September 11 I am reminded about the importance of prayer and responding to the Holy Spirit when He nudges us to pray. On September 11, 2001 me and a group of our leaders were headed to a meeting. I really felt we were all supposed to pray in the Holy Spirit as we drove, but I kept putting it off since we were enjoying each other’s company. I reasoned that it was important for us to build relationships as a team and that praying could wait. While en route we received a call that told us Tower 1 of the World Trade Center had just been struck by an airplane. Of course, we were all stunned and then we began to pray. When we reached our destination televisions were on showing what happened. As we watched, the second plane hit the other tower. Needless to say we left the meeting and went back to the office because we were unable to concentrate and wanted to pray and check on loved ones. I will never know what may have been prevented had I been obedient to the Holy Spirit. How many lives might have been saved, if I would have prayed?

On the other hand, I know a pastor’s wife who was instructed by the Holy Spirit to pray. At first she did not know what for, but then He revealed to her what she was praying about. He told her she was praying for a soldier in Iraq and gave her his name. She did not know him, but prayed. A week or so later she saw the young man’s name in the newspaper. It told the story of his bravery and how he was kept safe. The incident occurred on the day she was praying. What if she had not been obedient? Perhaps this young man and many others might have died, but because she prayed he was protected.

So often when Holy Spirit asks us to pray, we do not know why or what for, but He does. Our job is to pray. Our prayers have great power, are effective and have wonderful results (James 5:16).

Just Whose Roar is It?

lindathompson — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 20:22:53 +0000

This is such a great article by Holly Wagner who is one of our speakers at this year’s Bella Conference. Be sure to register. It’s October 6-8. I hope you enjoy the article as much as I did.

I think God puts us in situations where we come face to face with our own inability…face to face with our need for Him. Because it is those situations that our need for Him becomes clear…it is in those situations that His name is exalted…and not our own abilities.

As Joshua entered the Promise Land, I would imagine he was just a bit nervous by the combat ahead of him, and was waiting for God’s big battle plan. Jericho was a very fortified city. But then God appears and tells Joshua, “March around the city for 6 days…Have seven priests carry trumpets..and on the seventh day march around the city 7 times with the priests blowing the trumpets…then have all the people give a big shout. Then the walls of the city will collapse and you can go right in.”

Lets be honest…this is just a bit weird…I wonder if Joshua wanted a second opinion!!

What was God doing?? He was orchestrating this so only He would get the glory. Because what you didn’t hear after the walls fell…was “Way to go Eli on the horn! Wow…Jake when you hit that high note it was powerful!”

NO…you hear each one realizing that only God could have done this!

This is how God works.

He puts his people…you and me…in positions where we are desperate for His power…and then He displays His greatness!!

Every hero of the Bible encountered fear.

And every one of them who praised their God destroyed the fear.

When they lifted their hands and voices to the great I AM.

AND every modern day hero encounters fear.

And we destroy it when we lift our voice to the King of kings.

When we praise our God, we are acknowledging his awesomeness, His majesty.

His kingdom and His cause.

We are acknowledging that He is God and we are not.

There’s a thought.

If you and I just stay faithful to the path…the life that our God has given us, then we can rest in knowing that He is on the throne.

Turning our focus to God destroys fear.

Remember the movie The Lion King?

Simba, the young cub, decided to do some exploring on his own.

He encountered those nasty hyenas that would have loved to eat him for lunch.

Simba stared them down and let out a little growl.

It was not a very intimidating one.

In fact, the hyenas just laughed.

Now Simba was afraid.

He cleared his throat and opened his mouth to roar again.

But instead of a squeaky little noise, a giant, powerful roar came out.

It actually wasn’t his roar.

It was the roar of his very strong, very magnificent father standing behind him.

His little roar got swallowed up by a bigger one.

Our fears get swallowed up by a much bigger God.

lindathompson — Sun, 28 Aug 2011 02:47:41 +0000

I went to the show today, which is something I rarely do. We took some widows from our church to see “The Help”. It really got me to thinking about how sad it must make God to see His creation be mean to one another. There is never a reason to be mean to people. It doesn’t matter what’s been done to you. Jesus was very clear about it. He told us to offer the other cheek, to love those who do not love us and who use us. The Apostle Paul exhorts us a number of times to love and respect others. Yet, we still allow our flesh to get the better of us and we display bad attitudes and downright meanness toward people.

Just the other day, I wouldn’t look at somebody in the face or take time to talk to them because of jealousy. They may not have noticed because I appeared to be busy. The motive of my heart was to ignore the person and not interact with them. God knew I wasn’t busy and knew I was jealous. I want to come across as nice & people may think that I am, but God knows what is really going on. Not looking at somebody may not seem like a big “mean” offense, but I was convicted. Little “means” grow up to be big “means”.

After seeing the movie, I cried and cried. I wept about times I am unkind to others and I wept about people experiencing someone being mean to them or rejecting them. It makes me sad. I do not want to cause anyone pain and I do not want others to experience the pain that can take place in relationships, just because we choose to leave someone out or are unkind to them.

I want to exhort you to include others, even if they do not appear to be as “cool as you”, or do not look like you, or act like you. Be kind just because God wants us to be. This should be a good enough reason for us to do everything we do. Let love control you. Choose to be the ointment that heals wounds in people’s lives.

Who’s Driving Your Life?

lindathompson — Sun, 21 Aug 2011 20:25:03 +0000

Holly Wagner wrote this blog. Holly is one of our speakers for our Bella conference, October 6-8. Register online at fhclife.org or at the church building.

I remember when my son Jordan was born, and for the first days of his life, I remember driving so carefully. He looked so teeny in his car seat. (Although he was almost 10 pounds at birth…so not so teeny! Ha!) I put ‘baby-on-board stickers all over my car…as if they would protect him from all the crazy LA drivers.

And yet, those moments weren’t as scary as the moment when he turned 16 and I gave the car keys to him…when he moved from the passenger seat to the driver’s seat.

Because all of a sudden, I was no longer in control.

I could stomp on my imaginary brake…and I did many times…and nothing happened. I was not in control.

This is a big moment in your life…when you hand someone else the keys – when you trade seats. Because whoever is in the driver’s seat has the control.

“If you are driving, I have to trust you.” Because up until now, I have been driving so I got to choose the speed, and the destination. We went my way.

Sometimes I wonder if that isn’t what we say to Jesus. “These are my keys, and we are going my way. Jesus, you can be in the car, but I am driving.”

Let’s be honest, a lot of people find it handy to have Jesus in the car…in the passenger seat…because something may come up and we might need his services.

”Jesus, I’m feeling a little sad and stressed, I need some of your help… I want you in the car…not so sure I want you driving.”

Because if he is driving, then I am not in control.

If he is driving, then I am not in control of my money…it is his.

If he is driving I am not in control of my attitude…my life is his…

If he is driving, I am not in charge of my mouth anymore…I don’t get to gossip, be critical or lie anymore. It is not my mouth. It is his.

I get out of the driver’s seat and hand the keys to him.

So here’s the question…who is driving your life?

Is Jesus in the car just doing a ride-along or have you given him the keys?

Just wondering….

http://www.godchicks.com/hollys-blog/whos-driving-your-life/

lindathompson — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 13:13:53 +0000

As I was reading my Bible this morning, I came across Psalm 4:4 in the New Living Translation. It says, “Don’t sin by letting anger gain control over you.” I think quite often we do not think anger has control of us, when I believe it does it different ways. I know there are times when I continually let little things bother me and I become irritated. I may not lash out at anyone, butI become irritated. If I get a hold of myself, I tell myself how silly it is to think the way I am thinking and try to meditate on a scripture.

Most frequently the one I am angry with is me, if I am honest with myself. I do not like what I am seeing in me. I am not happy myself or something about me, and then it is reflected in my abruptness or curtness as I relate to others. It doesn’t have anything to do with them. It’s all about me.

The key to getting back on track is looking at what God says about me and believing it. If I believe the Bible, I need to believe all of it. Anger will not get the best of me when I allow the Holy Spirit to control me. He controls me best as I think about His Word. This is simple, but so profound. I think we make things difficult for ourselves and everyone else because we do not look at God’s law that has set us free.

If anger gets the better of you, even in a minor way, look into God’s Word. Discover what He says about you. Believe it and act on it.