PASSING BY

With less than one week away until Christmas, I doubt very seriously that in our rushing around and our last minute gift buying that we notice the people that we pass by each day.

  1.  The shoppers at the mall
  2. The customers in line at the post office
  3. The drivers on the road

 WHAT DO WE NOTICE AS WE PASS THEM BY?

  • Are they confused?
  • Are they hurting?
  • Are they frustrated?
  • Are they alone?

This week, I was online looking at our local funeral home page. I was looking for information on a funeral I wanted to attend. I noticed in my search, that since December 1, our small town funeral home has held 24 funerals.

 MY HEART ACHED FOR THESE FAMILIES. 24 families that will have a Christmas without a loved one.

While I shopped, baked, wrapped and hurried along my merry way…I had not stopped to see the hurting around me. As I passed by literally hundreds of people these past couple of weeks, I only saw what I wanted to see.

 I am so glad that when Jesus passes by – He takes His time to see us as we are!

 JOHN 9:1 “Now as Jesus passed by, He saw a man who was blind from birth.”

 What I love about this passage is the fact that as Jesus passed by…HE SAW!

  •   HE SAW because He was not in a hurry!
  •  HE SAW because He was not distracted!
  •  HE SAW because He was not oblivious to the need!

 I love the song we sing, Reach out and touch the Lord as He goes by”…

 “Reach out and touch the Lord as He goes by.

You will find He’s not too busy to hear your heart’s cry.

He’s passing by this moment, your needs He’ll supply

Just reach out and touch the Lord as He walks by.”

I encourage you ~ don’t just pass by your neighbor.

Do not be too busy to hear someone’s heart cry!  

REACH OUT AND MINISTER TO SOMEONE THIS WEEK!

Dear Lord…this week as I walk amongst hurting people at the stores, at my place of employment, and in my neighborhood – please open my eyes to see beyond their faces. Give me a heart of compassion to speak love and peace to someone who is hurting. Help me to not just pass them by, but to reach out to them. AMEN

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11 thoughts on “PASSING BY

  1. Laurie Ann

    Praying my eyes and heart will be opened to not miss a thing. Have you heard Brandon Heath’s “Give Me Your Eyes” song? That’s my prayer.

  2. Marsha

    Bless your compassionate, tender heart. Thank you for your reminding us to see this world through His eyes and with His heartbeat.

    Blessings to you this day.

  3. LynnLynn

    Hi Laurie,

    You know I am truly trying to practice this… this year… I loaded up my car with small bags of cookie. I plan to give them away to anyone who I notice and the Lord prompts. Gave one away today to the cross-walk lady who serves every single day at my daughter’s Middle School.

    Great devotion. Thank you. Merry Christmas

  4. Kelli

    It is so easy for us to get so caught up in the business of life that we miss the opportunities and privileges He has given us as His servants and ministers of His word. Thank you… for a much needed reminder today.

    JOYfully in Him,
    Kelli

  5. eph2810

    You are right, Laurie. We often are too busy to notice the hurting around us. We are in rush to get our things done. Thank you for the reminder to sometimes stop to reach out; just like Jesus reached out to us.
    Thank you for sharing from your heart.