You Got the Want To?

Do you have the crazy want to? Are you one of the "want tos" that stops or are you a drive by?

Yesterday I was headed to work out when I saw a turtle in the middle of the road. He was moving slowly of course and all I could think was, "You are about to get run over."

I pulled over on the side of the road, put on my hazards, and slowly approached my new friend. As I neared the little critter, I noticed he was not an ordinary turtle. He had spikes on his back, a long tail flowing from under his shell, and really thick, big legs. He looked like a scary mini Ninja Turtle. I wanted to pick him up so bad and put him in the grass but I couldn't get up the nerve. Something about him scared me.

Several cars drove by and I asked for help but people were reluctant, busy, or unmoved and continued on their way. Finally, an elderly man saw my desperate need and stopped. He jumped out of his truck and said, "Can I help you?" I wanted to grab his neck and hug him. "Please!" I said. He examined the little reptile and noticed this wasn't our ordinary turtle. Without fear, he placed the turtle in the grass, wished him luck, and thanked me for helping. In an instant, the white-haired man was gone and my little friend was saved.

As he drove off, I thought about the story of the good Samaritan. Remember, the man who was robbed, beaten, and left on the side of the road to die? How many people walked by and refused to help? Finally, one man, the good Samaritan, stopped.

I wondered yesterday as the old man disappeared, "What makes a person a good Samaritan? Why are some people quick to help and others don't care? What is it that makes a person kind?"

Some people say genetics. Others would add it's how a person is raised. Some might even think it's religion or spiritual. What about you? What do you say?  What makes a person a good Samaritan?

I know for me, the only thing that makes me good is Jesus. If his spirit wasn't living in me, I'd be a "hot mess." On my own, I'm so bad and would probably drive right pass every person I see in need and maybe even say ugly words. Because Jesus lives in me, he makes me want to. Yes, he gives me some rare, supernatural "want to" hep others. It's like this good Samaritan buzz inside me that says, "Turtle, grandma, child, or homeless man," get out there and help them all.

Do you have the "want to?" Is it because you're momma taught you to? Is it genetic? Or is it because Jesus lives inside of you? I don't know what you think, but for me, I like the buzz. If I were you, I'd let Jesus come on in and give you the rare, supernatural, "want to" and experience a whole new world of helping people! It's really fun!

God Works in Bathrooms

Have you ever had a random meeting with someone in the bathroom? A totally unexpected, God ordained meeting in the restroom? Maybe I should put it this way, do you believe God can do amazing miracles where people are "using it?"

Yesterday I was in Buccee's on my way home from Bryan, Texas. I was minding my own business drying my hands at the sink when I noticed a young girl about 20 with big crocodile tears running down her cheeks. I turned around and asked if she was okay. (Which, by the way, why do we ask that question? When people are crying, they are not okay.) She said she was okay and I wasn't sure what to ask next so I simply said, "Are you sad?" She replied, "No ma'am. I'm just frustrated."

The conversation continued and I discovered that her family lived in another state. She left home to get far away from them because as she said it,"They are bad, really bad." She moved to Texas, started college paying her own way, and was working at Buccees full-time to pay for school, apartment, basically her life.

When she arrived at work, her boss told her that she needed to change her hours or work part-time. She knew working part-time was not an option because she had to afford to live and with her schedule she could not work the hours he needed. She was devastated and frustrated. She had no idea what she was going to do.

I asked if she knew Jesus. She did. We talked about how he loves her and he is the one who could take care of everything for her. She smiled and said, "Thank you." We prayed together in the bathroom at Buccee's and she gave me her number.

That evening I sent her a text with my favorite "40 I Ams" to say every morning and before she went to bed. She immediately replied and said that after we prayed, her boss told her he had thought about their conversation and realized what a hard worker she has been, how she offered to work extra shifts, she hadn't been absent and he decided how valuable she is. He thanked her and told her not to worry about anything that her hours could stay the same.

I was so happy for her but what stirred my heart the most were the next two lines in the text.
"Instantly I thought of my God! All it took was a little prayer. You came to me at a very vulnerable time in my life when I was losing my faith and I believe God sent you to make sure that didn't happen."

Wait what? God sent me to her in the bathroom at Buccees to make sure she didn't loose her faith in him? YESSSSSS!!!! That's how our God works. He works in bathrooms, grocery stores, parks, gyms. Wherever his children are, he is there working. Don't miss him!

Have you missed seeing the awesome display of his power through you or to you through other people because you weren't looking, too busy, or didn't care. Frankly, get your eyes off yourself and this stinky world. Look around at people and see YOUR God at work. I don't know about you, but I don't want to miss God. No matter where he is or what he's doing, I say, "Here I am, Lord, bathrooms and all, use me."

Stop and Have Snow Cones

When was the last time you ate a snow cone? Who did you enjoy it with? Did you eat it on the run or sit and savor each bite?

Last night my friend and I went on church visitation. We were driving to the home of a church guest when she pointed out a little snow cone truck on the side of the road. She explained how the best snow cones EVER were sold out of that truck. I could tell she really loved these snow cones. Her next words caught me by surprise. She immediately without hesitation said, "On the way back, let's get a snow cone. I want to treat you."

For some reasons those words jolted my thoughts. First, "Let's get a snow cone." At that very moment I realized I am way too hurried. I'm so busy, so focused, so intentional about getting everything done on my list that I don't stop for snow cones. When was the last time, I thought to myself, much less said to someone, "Let's stop and get a snow cone."

I realize the fact that I was raised by parents on a shoe string budget and if we wanted snow cones, we got them. We went home, popped the ice cubes out of the ice trays, crushed them with a hammer, dropped our makeshift ice shavings in a cup, and poured Koolaid on top. I had no idea what a real snow cone was until much later in life. This may have warped my idea of stopping to get a snow cone, but not my friend. She was willing to put the agenda for the evening aside and spend quality time enjoying snow cones.

Reflecting on her words, "I want to treat you," I immediately thought, "When was the last time I treated somebody?" And to take it to a deeper level, "When was the last time I WANTED to treat someone?"  Do I take the time to do something special for someone else? Do I really WANT to treat others?

As the fleeting moment passed, the challenge resonated in my spirit. I'm stopping for snow cones whenever I want. Life is too short to miss the simple joys like ice smoothered with sugar. I'm also going to think of others more often, suprise someone with a treat. Think about the people who I love and WANT to treat.

I've heard the saying, "Stop and smell the roses," but I think life might better when you "Stop, and have snow cones!" Hope you'll join me in slowing down, enjoying the little things in life, and treating the people we love.

No Tub No Turtis

Yesterday on my way to work out a  crazy thing happened. I turned left onto the same road I travel daily to get to work, the store, church. As I rounded the corner, I noticed a small round something creeping across the road. I slowed down and rolled up to it. As I neared the creature I discovered a dry, gray turtle.

When my children were growing up, we had a turtle. His name was Turtis. We found him one afternoon and quickly adopted the cute little reptile. He lived in a tub in our game room. The kids would feed and water him, take him out to play, and truly loved the little animal. His home, the container, was the perfect size for the kids to carry him in or out, upstairs or downstairs, safely wherever they were going.

One afternoon I cleaned out the garage. It was one of those days when everything was going in the trash. I was tired of so much junk taking up space and if we had not used it in about a week, I was throwing it away. Turtis, in his tub, was in the garage with me keeping me company while I "restructured." I was getting ready to sweep and decided to place his little makeshift home outside the garage around the corner near the trashcan so I wouldn't sophacate him with dust.

With much success and satisfaction, I finished my cleaning project for the day and headed inside to cook dinner. The meal was great and while cleaning up the kitchen, I noticed the trash men outside removing all the junk and clutter I collected.  I was so happy to see them drive off with all of our trash. About that time the children came running downstairs.

"Where's Turtis?" they cried. "We want to play with him."
"Is he in the gameroom?" I asked.
"No ma'am," I heard the little voice shout.

I paused to think where I had last seen Turtis. As I dried my hands on an old dish towel, my stomach dropped. Turtis was outside by the trash can. I looked out the kitchen window. No tub, no little home for Turtis, actually, no Turtis.

I sprinted outside and stood dumbfounded looking at where Turtis had been resting peacefully in his container while I swept. I ran to the end of the driveway, looked both ways. No trash truck to be found.

I hollered for the kids to jump in Big Mac, our suburban. They quickly buckled up and I sped out of the driveway on the hunt for our little Turtle. We rounded the end of the street when we saw it, the most beautiful trash truck I had ever seen. In my mind the filthy vehicle was perfectly white glowing with bright golden lights. I could see angels floating around it and here the sweet songs of heaven playing from the most disgusting pile of trash I ever smelled. Turtis was saved!

We relayed our story in complete desperation to the driver of the truck. The most kind trash man moved by our fear and worry graciously opened the back of the truck. After we all nearly passed out from the odor, we looked. There was no way one of us had the nerve to touch the trash. The driver's two other friends reached in with their gloves and began to shovel through the mess. Finally, after what felt like eternity, we saw it! Turtis' home, all in one piece, resting neatly amongst the trash. One of the gentlemen picked up the tub and handed it gently to us. We were elated. One of the children reached inside to pull out our precious treasure and the look on her face said it all. We had the tub but no the turtle. Turtis was gone. We all stood staring into the pile of banana peels, diapers, paper, and more. Turtis was somewhere in the trash. There was no way to find him, no way to get our sweet little Turtis back.

We slowly walked back to the car after thanking the trashmen profusely. Silence filled the air. Tears began to fall. I drove slowly back to the house. The words then came, "Mom, why did you put Turtis out by the trash?"

It seemed so harmless. A random act in the middle of decluttering and cleaning out that changed our little lives forever. After baths, many tears and repeated apologies, we all resigned to the fact that God was with Turtis. Even in the trash, God was there. God created Turtis. We believe God loved Turtis and God would take care of our precious little turtle.

I thought about my life. How many times have I felt stuck in the middle of a trash pile. Are you caught in the middle of a pile of banana peels, diapers, paper, and more? Does everything around you seem to stink to high heaven? Do you feel alone in the middle of dispair? Are you wondering why someone left you sitting out by the garbage and now here you are in a mess?

It's okay! We know God was with Turtis and we know God is with you. He loves you. He created you. No matter where you are. No matter what you are doing. God sees. God knows and God saves. Talk to Jesus today about your trash pile.