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Streeeeeeeeeeeeeetched

Last week was a stretched for me and for many people who were involved in the FHL week.

Churches, government entities, businesses and individuals stepped out to serve our communities.

Many were served:
More than 18,000 bottled water were given away
hundreds of dinner and lunches were served
thousands of trees were mulched
several houses were repaired, lawns mowed
streets were cleaned and curbs painted
hundreds of people were prayed for
thousands of toys and toiletries were given to children
etc., etc., etc.

What's all about these?

Last Tuesday, July 24, 2006, just at the start of FHL week, the Lord gave me this message; I think it is also appropriate after all the excitement.

This morning, I woke up at 5:30am ready to go. I felt tired but at the same time I felt ready to go. Maybe it is anxiety (I have to post the daily 40 days prayer and the newsletter to Indy Christian, prepare for this message and to plan for the day) or excitement of what the Lord will do through us today.

Have you ever felt immobilized that you do not even know where to start your day with? That’s how I felt for about an hour and half this morning.

At 8:00am, after doing my daily web postings and some planning, I ask the Lord what His message is for us today. I know I will be speaking about hope; that’s all I know.

The verse of Isaiah 40:31 came to mind, after all, that was the verse that the Lord has given me while working on the FHL brochure design 2 months ago:
27 Why do you say, O Jacob,
and complain, O Israel,
"My way is hidden from the LORD;
my cause is disregarded by my God"?
28 Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
The LORD is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
and his understanding no one can fathom.
29 He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.
30 Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;
31 but those who hope in the LORD
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.

I have several tropical plants in my backyard; most of them are still in pots because they will die during winter if I plant them directly in the ground. I have this plant, the National Flower of the Philippines-where I was born, called Sampaguita. I have not find any flowers in the US that is as sweet smelling as this flower. I take good care of my plants, I water them regularly, move them from time to time to get enough sun or to receive as little sun as needed.

As I was asking the Lord for His message, while smelling the flowers, it dawned on me that many of us get so busy that we forget to stop and smell the flowers on our way. We get so busy that we miss God’s voice trying to speak to us to provide us hope and solutions to our current situations.

All of us has issues, could be family problems, job, school or any kind of addictions. And at times, we feel like how I felt this morning; helpless, lost or anxious of what’s going to happen today or tomorrow.

Matthew 6:25-27, 25"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? 26Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life[a]?

And yet, many times we waste time worrying. Just like this morning, I worried how this day is going to turn out.

But as I take good care of my plants, God is taking good care of me and you and the rest of the world. He waters our lives and He provides everything to everyone. He provides “Hope that Nurtures”.

Jesus provides hope of eternal life. Hold on to that hope that no one can take away from you.
We are just privileged to be vessels of hope to those the world.

As you go out there and serve our community, don’t get caught up with the task; focus on Jesus and He will direct your path. He will stretch you or prune you. Once in a while, you will feel that He makes a fool out of you. The question is, "Would you do and would you serve according to what He has called you to-even out of your comfort zone?" Stop once in while and smell the flowers along the way-the Presence of God around you. The sweet smelling blessings and the love that He has for all of us…and share the hope, the eternal life that we have in Christ.

posted by fhlinternational @ 9:27 AM