A Little Bit of G-I-V-E

Here's to a woman who G-I-V-Es her whole life to others.

I remember every thing about Bernie. Her laugh and the way she said "oh no you did not." she could console like a mother and laugh like a sister. and she prayed so hard that you could see Jesus standing next to her. My most vivid memory is of a conversation between her and Jessie. She said, "I need nothing here. So I give it all away. I don't need anything on this earth because all my treasure is in heaven. I am richer than the rich."  and because of that, she gave every bit of herself to us, to her community, and to the Father. I only hope I can be half the woman she is one day. Every so often, she runs through my mind. I wonder what Bernie is doing right this moment? I am certain she is loving someone with her whole heart right about now. I am certain she is changing lives.

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sometimes I feel like I'm living in the land of the dead. my body no longer properly working, deprived of all things it needs: rest, food, water, and some happy too. but I was always told there'd be "days like this." days where i am no longer able to rely on my strength so instead I cling to a black book that has markings all over it, full pages high lighted. it tells me "Come to me all you weary and burdened and I will give you rest." I like to think that he not only means rest, but also food-water-and some happy too.

you see that word up there? water. water. water. He brings the living water! he brings life! He breathes and there it is! walking and talking. He speaks and it becomes known. I have seen these things all around me here lately. I have seen it in Heavenly Valley, South Africa. I see it in the way the sun rises over the city skyline just to wake me up. I have seen old souls be awakened to the glory of God just by a whispered word. and time and time again I have felt Him bring me back to the land of the living on the days when I feel like I'm camping out in the land of the dead.

So what does all this have to do with us? well, I some times like to think of it like a cookie. Say you've got this really great new cookie. and the maker of the cookie just gives it to you, for free. and it's so good that you want to share it. but you dont want to just share it with one person because you want the whole world to know how great this cookie really is!!! it's the same with Jesus. He gives you peace, for free. and after you've had that peace and you know how great it is, something in you wont allow you to keep it to yourself. you've got to share it because you want the whole world to know how awesome his peace is!!

how do we do that? simple. we do it with a little bit of G-I-V-E. sometimes I like to spell that like L-O-V-E or L-I-F-E. we do it, just like Bernie does it every day. we give our whole selves. because in return we gain the same things back. we love because he first loved us. and I know I say that a lot. but it's seriously what keeps me going. realizing that he loves me more than i could ever imagine. and it's so awesome I wanna give that love away.

so we love. not just our friends. we love the person who mutters words of hate when we step over their stuff. we love the girl who will never love us back. we love ourselves when we believe we are not enough. and we give. not just to those who give stuff to us. but even to those have nothing to give in return. that includes giving grace. and giving grace to ourselves. it's not easy. I too find it hard. but i keep striving to love and to give every day. why? because he gives me peace. he restores me every single day. because I want the world to know how awesome his peace really is. and because.. well.. you know...he first loved me.

so let's love, ight? let's give. 

and let's see what God does with it all. 

I betcha it's gonna be something incredible.

.happy weekend.