This is a wonderful time of year. The smells of the Christmas trees, and candles. The sounds of Christmas music reminding us of Christ, God's precious gift. But most of all the chance to bless others around us.
How many of us go through our daily life passing up opportunities to bless others? I know I do. I get so busy with the laundry, the school work, the work, and just the stuff of life that I forget there are others around me. My husband, my kids, my family, my friends but mostly the people I see every day.
This is a time of year when we get a chance to look at others and say "Merry Christmas", "Have a Blessed holiday", or better yet " Hope you have a Christ filled Christmas." So many of us don't want to say anything or do anything. It's like when you drive up to a corner street and there is a beggar standing there. What do you do? Do you ignore them? Or do you roll down the window and give them a quick $5 spot? Doing things like that or just walking through our lives not noticing others, can we say that is intentional living? Are we really living the way Christ lives? Or better yet is it reflecting the way Christ lives to those around us?
I am biased about my music in my car. I pretty much only listen to Christian music. It drives me oldest nuts. :) But for the most part it is the music I enjoy. The station I listen to always has this challenge called the drive through or something like that. Basically the idea is if you are driving through a drive-through like Starbucks, or Burger King or wherever you buy whatever the car behind you ordered. This is an act of blessing. An act that is intentionally kindness at this time of year.
When my kids were a bit younger we did things a little different. When we drove up to a corner and saw a beggar instead of money we gave them food or water. I always had a box of granola bars in my car. Sometimes there might be an extra water bottle rolling around. It didn't matter to us, it was more about the act. Giving an actual item. My intent was to think about the action not just do something on a whim. To put an effort a thought into it. I wanted to show my kids that helping others is more then just handing them a quick $5 dollar bill. It is giving of yourself.
We have always owned larger vehicles. Well, let me correct myself, in the past 8 years we have always owned a larger vehicle of some sort. And for us it makes life easier. But it is also a way to extend a hand of help to those around us. We have helped a many move things from one location to the next. Giving of our time and energy. Trying to show kindness to those around us in a different way.
As the Christmas season is in full swing I am asking myself a few questions. Have I done an intentional act today? Have a reached out to someone who might need something, may it be encouragement or actual item? Or have I let the business of my life, the season, or just myself selfishness keep me from being Christ to someone else?
I want to be Christ to others. I want to allow His love to gush, not just seep, but to overflow like a roaring river out of me. Intentional living is not about me. It is about living my life for Christ. It is about being Christ to all the people in my life both close by and extended.
What is your intentional life?
How many of us go through our daily life passing up opportunities to bless others? I know I do. I get so busy with the laundry, the school work, the work, and just the stuff of life that I forget there are others around me. My husband, my kids, my family, my friends but mostly the people I see every day.
This is a time of year when we get a chance to look at others and say "Merry Christmas", "Have a Blessed holiday", or better yet " Hope you have a Christ filled Christmas." So many of us don't want to say anything or do anything. It's like when you drive up to a corner street and there is a beggar standing there. What do you do? Do you ignore them? Or do you roll down the window and give them a quick $5 spot? Doing things like that or just walking through our lives not noticing others, can we say that is intentional living? Are we really living the way Christ lives? Or better yet is it reflecting the way Christ lives to those around us?
I am biased about my music in my car. I pretty much only listen to Christian music. It drives me oldest nuts. :) But for the most part it is the music I enjoy. The station I listen to always has this challenge called the drive through or something like that. Basically the idea is if you are driving through a drive-through like Starbucks, or Burger King or wherever you buy whatever the car behind you ordered. This is an act of blessing. An act that is intentionally kindness at this time of year.
When my kids were a bit younger we did things a little different. When we drove up to a corner and saw a beggar instead of money we gave them food or water. I always had a box of granola bars in my car. Sometimes there might be an extra water bottle rolling around. It didn't matter to us, it was more about the act. Giving an actual item. My intent was to think about the action not just do something on a whim. To put an effort a thought into it. I wanted to show my kids that helping others is more then just handing them a quick $5 dollar bill. It is giving of yourself.
We have always owned larger vehicles. Well, let me correct myself, in the past 8 years we have always owned a larger vehicle of some sort. And for us it makes life easier. But it is also a way to extend a hand of help to those around us. We have helped a many move things from one location to the next. Giving of our time and energy. Trying to show kindness to those around us in a different way.
As the Christmas season is in full swing I am asking myself a few questions. Have I done an intentional act today? Have a reached out to someone who might need something, may it be encouragement or actual item? Or have I let the business of my life, the season, or just myself selfishness keep me from being Christ to someone else?
I want to be Christ to others. I want to allow His love to gush, not just seep, but to overflow like a roaring river out of me. Intentional living is not about me. It is about living my life for Christ. It is about being Christ to all the people in my life both close by and extended.
What is your intentional life?