That's Messed Up

From whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love. (Ephesians 4:16, NLT)

Last month, I wrote a blog post entitled, "Clean it Up."

Since that post, there has been a tug at my heart to explore another side of "Clean it Up". 

I've been wondering, have you ever seen someone (friend/family{church family or biological family} /pastor/worship leader/their spouse or kids/neighbor/someone at Walmart or on Facebook) carrying a burden that is just too heavy? Has this burden made them accidentally bump into something or someone, making the matter worse? 

Have you seen their huge mess that they have to correct when they are already in a hurry and already have a growing list of things to get done while they are running short on time?

Please, stop what you are doing, run to that person, and I hold them tight. Please listen to them wail for a moment (Hey, we've all needed to wail at one time or another.) Then, tell them, "Everything will be ok, I will help you clean this up."

If you need help helping them, make a few calls/send a few texts…get some help! Work together to clean up the mess, it will only take a few minutes since others are working together.

Help gives hope!

Pray with and for the person, stay in prayer covenant with them until fruit manifests, show them how when we are in hurry and make a big mess, God holds us when we need Him, He draws near to us (James 4:8), and He shows us proper perspective. (Colossians 3:1-4) 

Be the person who rushes in when you hear something has gone wrong and then do everything you can to make everything ok. (Ecclesiastes 4:9) And in doing so, God is blessed as He watches His children love and help one another. (1 Thessalonians 5:11, Galatians 6:2, 1 John 4:7, 1 Peter 2:21, Romans 12:10, Ephesians 4:32)

Clean that mess with your whole heart unto Him! (Colossians 3:23, Matthew 6:3, Matthew 6:16) Bear the burdens of someone else's mess and give them hope. (Proverbs 22:9, Matthew 10:42) It will bless the LORD! (Psalm 103:1)

We are not alone. Oh…the enemy would love for us to think we are. (John 10:10) Don't believe that lie. (Deuteronomy 31:6, Numbers 23:29, John 8:44) 

Please don't take this as a license to rescue. Stay out of the ditch on both sides! Please take this as "For because of Him the whole body (the church, in all it's various parts), closely joined and firmly knit together by the joints and ligaments with which it is supplied, when each part (with power adapted to its need) is working properly (in all its functions), grows to full maturity, building itself up in love. (Ephesians 4:16, AMP)

Father, I pray for eyes to see and ears to hear, for myself and every reader. We thank You, love has been shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost! (Romans 5:5) I pray we are not so consumed with our own lives that we miss an opportunity to give the least of these a drink of water, in the name of Jesus. (Matthew 25:40) Thank You for supernaturally downloading love, charity, generosity, and love-love-love in our hearts! By faith, we receive a passion for the lost and we receive a passion to help others…in and out of Your kingdom…when we feel like it…and when we don't…when we think the other person deserves it…but especially when we don't think they deserve it. In the name of Jesus, I will be more like You! In the name of Jesus, I will be more like You and operate like You in everything I think, say, and do!

Clean It Up

From whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love. (Ephesians 4:16, NLT)

We are a homeschooling family. We include Life Skills as a part of our daily schedule. One of Gracie's Life Skill tasks is to fill our water fountain. We are currently living in a roof top apartment in Honolulu and we don't have a water hose that will reach the downstairs faucet so she fills a container with water and carries the water from the kitchen to the fountain. This process takes about four trips.

Today she was carrying the container (which was too heavy, she had overfilled because she was in a hurry), bumped the kitchen door frame on the way out the door, and yep...water...went...everywhere.

To Gracie, this wasn't just water all over the floor...and walls...and door...and her. To Gracie, this was a huge mess that she had to correct when she was already in a hurry. To her, this was going to take time that she was already running short on. 

I. Can. Totally. Relate.

She burst into tears...very large, alligator tears. 


I. Can. Totally. Relate.


I stopped what I was doing, ran to her, and I held her tight. She said (Ok, she wailed), "I am just so upset right now." I told her, "It's just water, everything will be ok." She said, "Yea but now I have to clean all this up." I said, "I will help you."

About that time, Mikea came to see what was going on. She hugged Gracie. She held Gracie so tight and said, "I'm so sorry, are you ok?"

It was one of the sweetest things I've ever seen.

We all worked together to clean up the mess and it only took a few minutes since we were working together.

Once she had help, it gave her hope, and she said things like, "Well at least most of the water fell outside the door." and "Hey look! Now the floor is clean and now I can cross off mopping from my Life Skills list!"

This incident reminded me of how when we are in hurry and make a big mess, God holds us when we need Him, He draws near to us (James 4:8), and He shows us perspective. (Colossians 3:1-4) Our friends and/or family rushes in when they hear something has gone wrong and they do everything they can to make everything ok. (Ecclesiastes 4:9) And in doing so, God is blessed as He watches His children love and help one another. (1 Thessalonians 5:11, Galatians 6:2, 1 John 4:7, 1 Peter 2:21, Romans 12:10, Ephesians 4:32)

How are you today? Are you cleaning up messes or helping clean up someone else's messes? Whichever the case may be, clean that mess with your whole heart unto Him! (Colossians 3:23) Bear the burdens of someone else's mess and give them hope. (Proverbs 22:9, Matthew 10:42) It will bless the LORD! (Psalm 103:1)