I  was thinking the other day about how sick the world is. Everywhere we look we see tornados, hurricanes, volcanos or multi murders. How can we be anything but downhearted? People, even children, walk around wearing scowls instead of smiles. When will this end? we ask. Will the world always look like this?

I am sure that the world wasn’t any better for the brand new Christians, trying to tell others about Jesus. I can hear them now, telling them Jesus was the one promised many times in the Bible. He was born, killed really by us, and rose from the dead and now lives with God in Heaven. Folks just didn’t believe it! They threw the well being Christians into prisons, which were nothing more than dirty caves. But the church still grew!

Paul and Silas were two who were thrown into prison and beaten for their belief in Jesus. But even when things were bad, they sang and shouted praises from their cold and damp prison cell. As they sang the prison doors were opened but they, and the prisoners who were listening to them, didn’t leave. Many became new Christians that day. That story can be found beginning in Acts 16-16 of the New Testament.

We need more singing and praising in the world today. We do know that God is in charge. But we don’t know or understand why. I am sure that Paul and Silas didn’t understand why their world was so bad either. I think if more of us would praise God for everything He gives us and let Him do what He intends to do. We may have to go through hard times before we see the light, but singing and praising will make us feel better in the meantime! Let’s start today!

I was just sitting in my family room alone. I think I was feeling sorry for myself. It was Saturday and I thought maybe one of the girls would be here. My daughters both work so weekends are The only time I expect them. Shouldn’t I remember that they need to balance their time off between cleaning things that were left during the week and their own kids? But here I was, feeling sorry for myself!

I didn’t often feel that way. How could I? The people who were caught in those awful hurricanes are asking themselves, “How can we ever start over again?” And Those folks who attended that concert in Las Vegas will probably never be the same after the shooting. Our country is really messed up! My little pity party doesn’t amount to much, does it?

Someone was knocking at my door! Who could it be? I answered, and there stood my neighbor and her two little children looking up at me. The Mother was carrying a fall looking mum plant and a fall looking little guy was holding the plant up! There was also a fall looking kitchen towel. She said, ” We wanted to give you this.”

I don’t remember what I said but I know I invited them into the house and I thanked them over and over. I can’t figure out why they did that, but I do know that God nudged them a little. He does things like that even for me and my loneliness! I am so thankful for that mom and her two little kids. Now, what can I do for them?