Friday 6 November 2015

Sometimes you want to go where everybody knows your name....

Sometimes you wanna go where everybody knows your name, and they're always glad you came..

Yes, we all know the words to that song, CHEERS. A group of people,  who work together, and some who stop by and share their life's problems over a tall glass of beer, before they die. A great comedy, a novel idea.

Sometimes people just want to know someone knows their name. Sometimes people just want to know you are glad to know they are around. December is coming. It's a hard time for many who feel like no one cares. It's often a time when many see the bottom of a bottle.

There is someone who knows your name. There is someone who is always glad you came. And no, it's not the bartender.

Jer. 1:15 Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.

Even the very hairs on her head are numbered (Luke 12:7). I don't know about you but no one could pay me enough to try and count the number of hairs in their scalp!

My mom was telling me that everywhere she goes, people are always telling her their problems, always, and she just doesn't know why, and recently as an acquaintance started emptying her burdens on me, I realized - everyone needs that place- that place where God's grace abounds. Tag- you're it!

We are the salt of the earth, we are God's stand in a rough and tumble world, and sometimes people pick perfect strangers, sometimes they pick people they barely know to tell their troubles, for we dare not trust our own. What is our response?

Are we following the instruction to 'Walk in wisdom towards them that are without, redeeming the time?'  Is our speech always with grace , seasoned with salt? (Colossians 4:5-6).

As I sat and listened to the pouring of this, my acquaintance, not everything I said was seasoned with salt, until, I realized, this person was seeking that ever flowing grace. And then I was able to say..He sees, He knows, He understands.

All anybody wants to do is to feel like they belong, the trouble is they join membership clubs, not realizing they are part of the biggest family. The family of God. A family where even if they don't know your name, you are no less important. You have the right birthright. You have the right family name.

Once I asked a question on Facebook, When you say too persons, How are you? do you really want to hear their response? The answers I got surprised even me, because it was then I realized what I myself used to do. I didn't ask persons how they were, I was asking " (are) you good?". You might think it's an open ended question, but it's really not. Most people will just say yes and keep it moving, because I had already inserted what I expected them to respond; giving a signal that I was only concerned with what was 'good'.

But what if we really asked sincerely, "How are you?" not like it's small talk but like we want to talk? We want to really know how someone is coping? How is someone really feeling in this harsh world? Are we prepared to sit, listen, season our responses with salt and show the grace of God?

What if we wear a face that is inviting, so even perfect strangers will see God in us and we will have an opportunity to share God's love and pick ripe fruits? The harvest is plenty, the labourers are few.

The bartender listens, he or she has learnt the art of listening while pouring spirits, two powerful antidotes to all the poisons that beset our lives, the thing is, as soothing as that can be, it soon will become toxic.

The people of God have to be ready to listen to perfect strangers on the bus, in the supermarket, at the doctors office, in our back yards. Trust that the problems they share, the things they talk about, you are the perfect person, chosen by God to help them, I no longer believe in coincidence. We have to be ready for our schedules to be interrupted, and our plans to go awry, for God's perfect plans for the lives of others to happen through chance encounters with us - God's little helpers.

The spirit is waiting to be poured into vessels empty and upturned to God, where you will never see the bottom of a bottle ever again and the most important One will call your name, and angels rejoice, just because you came. (Luke 15:10).

Acts 2:17 And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:

Will you challenge yourself to listen to the stranger on the bus in order to show God's grace?






You might also like : When a mustard seed is all you need,for God understands small.

Related Readings: Psalm 91:14

12 comments:

  1. Dear Tanya, I haven't commented here before, but wanted you to know I appreciate all you've had to say.
    To God be the glory.
    I've nominated you for the Liebster Award at http:// vineblossom.wordpress.com
    You have a wonderful day.

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  2. Dear Tanya, I've visited here a couple of times from the Christian Blogger Community but never commented. I wanted you to know I appreciate the truth of God that you write about, so I've nominated you for the Liebster Award at http://vineblossom.wordpress.com
    I tried to send this note to you last night, but I guess it didn't go through (sometimes smartphones aren't that smart!).
    I hope your day is blessed.

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    1. Gleniece, thank you for your kind words, I try just to be honest about what's going on with me on my walk and what God has laid on my heart; i am glad that when I obey it blesses others. I have no idea what that award is about, I am humbled and I will definitely look it up! Thank you for the nod- aprpeciate it a lot

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    2. Ok, I will try my bestest(haha) to fill out and do the survey tomorrow, God's willing - thanks again... :)

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  3. Thanks for this post. I sometimes wonder the same, when I ask someone how they are, am I prepared to listen? God has equipped us with the grace for what comes next after how are you, but sometimes we are too busy with ourselves to notice.

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    1. And I think so many of us are guilty of this, even when we are asked, we fear saying how we really feel because we aren't sure how we will be perceived, or if the person really cares; so we just say..'oh I'm fine"...It's hard but sometimes we are just the person that can help. If we stop. I'm glad it gave you pause, and so next time - you will remember to be God's stand in- even for a minute or 2

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  4. Beautiful writing. I have too wondered why people share so much to strangers, but we all need an ear sometimes.

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    1. Thanks Ann, I use to wonder the same thing too, but when you tell a stranger and the stranger leaves, you figure you will never see them again- so you might feel less judged..but now we have to be sure that when they do we show God's grace to them, Thanks for the kind words and for joining the conversation Ann

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  5. This is something my husband is great at and i am not! He talks to people anywhere and everywhere, to the point where it embarrasses the rest of us. But he makes people feel noticed.
    Thanks for this post!

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    1. I need work at this too..haha...bless his heart, sometimes it is all people really need, someone to listen

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  6. Do not be afriad, for I have redeemed you.
    I have called you by your name; you are mine. (Isaiah 43:1-5)

    Happy Advent. God bless.

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    1. Yes, that is very true Victor, and we should be bold and do his bidding. Thanks for stopping by Victor and indeed I will enjoy this season

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