Needs Under My Nose

I was out cutting my grass one day and had a God encounter. He began to speak to me concerning the purpose and importance of outreach. The challenge He spoke to my spirit was one of being a witness to my own neighbors. God had my attention, but I had to be willing to see what He was talking about.

As I continued to cut the grass I looked a few doors down and saw a young lady playing outside with her 2 year old son. Sadly, I didn't know her name or her sons name even though we have been "neighbors" for several years. The Father asked me, "Why haven't you invited that little fella to come and play with your boys?". That was a great question! Why haven't I done that? This would have been one of the simplest things I could do. Then God said, "If you meet the basic needs of those around you, then you will open the door to relationships." So, there I was being schooled in the simple by God Almighty. He was showing me that my habit of making things "mysterious" in the Kingdom only gave me excuses to not demonstrate them.

Within the next two days myself, Megan and the boys were outside playing and there was no way I was going to let another chance slip by without responding to what the Lord had been showing me. Before you knew it, there was my neighbor with her little boy playing in the yard. I invited her and her little fella to come and play anytime. Her response was one of thanksgiving! She said, "That would be wonderful! My son only gets to interact with adults. He sees yours boys playing outside and is always wanting to be a part of what is going on." That simple interaction schooled me big time!

Needs are not nearly as complex as we make them out to be. Most often they are the simplest of gestures. Get out there! Make a difference and show the love, compassion and care of God!

To be continued...