These past few weeks I have observed many acts of kindness. One stood out to me as I watched.

A woman was at Aldi’s in Aberdeen getting groceries. I noticed she was wearing gloves as a precaution which was a good idea. As she was waiting in line, a young woman 2 people ahead of her was having trouble with her debit card.

They suspended her transaction while she called the bank. I watched the young woman leave the store.

The woman in line started praying for God to let her pay for her groceries. She thought maybe she should’ve paid for them, but both her husband and her were unemployed and needed every dollar they had. They did not have enough to be of help to the young woman.  Plus, the young woman had left the store.

She paid for her groceries and went to the car. The young woman was parked next to her and she was crying. She tapped on the young woman’s window and she rolled it down.  She said, “Come on. We are going to get your groceries.” They walked back into Aldi’s together. She shouted as loud as she could “Everyone! This lovely young mother needs her groceries and is having trouble at the bank. I have $20. Who can help me pay the rest of her bill? We need $100.”

Immediately people started handing her money. (Remember? she was wearing gloves.) Even a little girl around 6 years old brought her a dollar. She kept counting the total out loud. About 10 people kept giving until they reached $100. They handed the money to a beaming cashier!

People, you are in this together! I was so encouraged when I heard her.

“I’m so grateful to the woman who blessed us more than we did her. I feel so encouraged! I’m honored that God chose my talents (being loud and empathetic, lol) to be part of a miracle, and He prepared me by protecting me with the gloves I had JUST bought. Isn’t God amazing! He doesn’t miss a detail. Let us all practice kindness and generosity to our neighbors as we navigate this uncertain time.”

I agree Amen.

“’Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters, you did for me.'”

All My Love

JC

I think music has the most powerful influence over people’s emotions. Music touches us at our deepest level of understanding and feeling. Soft soothing music can calm us, more exciting music can quicken our spirit, and even music with discord can cause us to feel angry and upset. Music can move us through a full range of emotions. The lyrics and music can be very powerful as well. I think it is amazing how music has evolved over the centuries from simple sticks being beaten on logs to create rhythm to marvelous Symphony Orchestra’s playing music from master composers. Every age and every generation seem to have their own style of music, but the results of the music are exactly the same, it moves us to places we’ve never been before.

Recently as I was contemplating the state of the church in the world one simple piece of music came to mind “You Will Know We Are Christians by Our Love” I think this song captures the essence of what it’s about to be a Christian in the church today. Sit back and listen to it and contemplate on the words and music from this song I hope you will find it inspiring.

All My Love

JC

This Sunday I attended a lot of churches, particularly fitting, it was Pentecost the celebration of the birth of the church. I heard a lot of different messages preached, heard a lot of different songs and heard a lot of prayers. I have to say I was little surprised that not all churches celebrated the birth of the church. This is a great day to reflect on what the church means to people,  individual communities, countries and the world. As I reflect back there are two Sundays a year that seem to resonate with all churches, in the message and voice, of course that is Christmas and Easter but for the rest of the 50 weeks of the year not so much.

Again, as I reflect on history I think of Joshua at the battle of Jericho. On that day Joshua was told to march around the city walls and to play a trumpet blast all in unison, and when Joshua followed those instructions and was heard as one sound and one voice the walls of Jericho came tumbling down. Do you know what would’ve happened if on that day Joshua had told his people to go out and dance around the walls of Jericho and each of them play a different instrument, ignoring the instruction that he had been given. Well I can tell you; nothing would’ve happened. I wonder does this sound familiar in today’s world. Anyway, I found a great music video of the song “Joshua fought the battle of Jericho” I think you should listen to it I really enjoyed these kids aren’t they wonderful, I think children get it.

All My Love

JC

A few weeks ago I was sitting having a conversation with a dear friend of mine Paul Harvey. We were talking about what’s going on in the world today, which is one of my favorite topics of course, we were discussing what’s going on in the world today and in particular what’s going on in the United States of America and what’s happening with our churches. Paul reminded me of the radio show that he did back in 1964 which was called “If I Were the Devil”. I told him I remembered that and that it was very prophetic. So I thought I would share it with you I hope you enjoyed listening to it.

All My Love

JC