Isn’t it wonderful when you get the opportunity to gather with dear friends and family? Sharing a meal, laughing, telling stories, just being together. It brings a sense of completeness, belonging to you.

I love to gather with others. I love the comfort of knowing I am not alone in this world. Even though at times the enemy tries to blind me and make me feel isolated and alone. Sometimes just a simple smile from a friend brings peace and comfort to me. Do you feel that way?

I want to be available to others. I want my life’s heartbeat to be that of someone who is willing to be moved from my comfortable self to go in the direction of a need. We as the body of Christ are to be helpers to one another. We are to love even in the hard places. When we come to Christ we give up our rights to be selfish, to be stingy, to be unkind and unloving. Or at least we should give those things away. What would we do if our Lord acted in those very unloving ways? How hurt would we be if when we called for help he simply was “too busy,” “too uninterested,” to help us?

Having a community, a Godly family is important to our very being. We were never meant to be alone, isolated self- absorbed. We as a joint community in Christ are able to love and do like no one else can. Even if you feel inadequate at times, trust me when I say that even the small things you do, the seemingly small ways you show love matters, especially to a heart in need of comfort.

It does not take but less than a second to offer someone a smile upon making eye contact with them. It takes very little time to express gratitude for a kindness or even good service you have received. We are representing our Lord and Savior daily. Even when we are unaware others are watching and listening to what we do and say.

Jesus was always available. Over and over again we can read where Jesus was surrounded by crowds. They were hungry to hear and he would teach them. In Matthew 13:1-3 we read about how the crowds gathered, and Jesus got into a boat to sit and teach them. In Mark 3:20 he was trying to eat, but the crowds came and he did not disappoint, he taught them.

Are you available? Are you willing to set self aside for the sake of another? We all need to be selfless, we all need to practice kindness; smiling at people we come in contact with. We should have a different look about us. And what I mean by that is this; if we are so full of Jesus, if he is our very heartbeat and we are desiring to be like him, His countenance should be on our faces. If you walk around looking angry and unapproachable, then people are not going to be drawn to Christ through you. Even if you say all the right things, they will turn-tell and run. Why? Because your walk and talk do not line up.

After Moses met with God on the mountain he looked different. Exodus 34:29 “When Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the covenant law in his hands, he was not aware that his face was radiant because he had spoken with the Lord.”

Do you look like you spend time with Jesus? Are you approachable?
One of the things I loved the most about my grandmother was her countanence,the kindness in her eyes and the ready smile on her lips for anyone and everyone. And I believe it was there because instead of focusing on self, or problems, she spent time with the Lord daily and he filled her to overflowing with himself and it could not help but spill over onto all who came near. I want to be that person, so full that it overflows to everyone who comes near. I want my life so full of Jesus that he cannot be missed by the casual passerby.

We all need to practice emulating our Lord. No kindness is too small. It matters in God’s economy, he sees even the smallest thing done in secret.
Matthew 6:4 “so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”

Blessings to you as you live out your Christ like life in practical ways.