Hello everyone,

Have you ever noticed that when you ask God, in all sincerity, to help you be a better person, He usually does – with a good dose of humility?  If you ask for more compassion for people, He teaches by example and we will usually need compassion in some way.  If we ask for patience, He will put plenty of opportunity in our paths!

The Bible says that love does not notice when others do things wrong.  (1 Corinthians 13:4-5) We can all use a reminder of that scripture at times.  Why is it that we always easily remember that scripture when it is us making the mistake, but what about when it is someone else?  Do we find fault and criticize them?  OOPS!

This week, I had several people that God put in my path that were an example of His love, compassion and understanding to me.  So often, He will show us by the example of others’ behavior toward us. 

I had been praying for more of God’s love and compassion for others, and sure enough, He answered.  First, by giving me the opportunity make the choice to visit someone that caused my family pain when I was a child.  I had to laugh when I realized that God was behind this and giving me the opportunity to show compassion to them - and even though I had forgiven them  - to be kind to them.

Next, He put a young couple in my path – I had just met them and they truly showed love and understanding to me.  He teaches by example.  In Lessons I learned from the Lord, I write that we learn from our mistakes, not our perfections.  For isn’t it by failing that we seem to remember more easily and try to do better next time?  But also, isn’t it when we fail and people are understanding and show love to us – that we want to “do unto others” and show them compassion when they fail?

We will all have these “oops” moments in our lives at times.  So will others.  Let’s remember to give them the love and understanding that we would want to receive ourselves.

Blessings, Evelyn

Hello everyone,

We’ve all had these times – in prayer, God asks us a hard question.  I’m not talking about hard in the sense of not knowing how to do something, but in the sense of it being difficult for us to do.  You know – stepping out of our “comfort zone”.

The other day I was in prayer and God asked me, “What would you do if you knew I was coming next week”?  Well of course I immediately answered that I would call everyone I knew and tell them!  We do not know the day or hour, but Jesus tells us that we will know the season.  Just as we know that spring is here when the leaves start to come out on the trees.  Well, we certainly know that we are living in the end times – we can see the signs all around us.  So what are we doing?

When I was growing up (back in the dark ages), I was taught that you did not speak about two subjects among friends – religion and politics.  That has definitely changed in these days.  

We find it so easy to talk to friends about sports – even if they are in favor of the opposing team winning.  Even talking about politics these days is a lot easier.   But talking about religion is still generally not a hot topic.   Especially with new acquaintances we are socializing with at a get together.  However,  it is not religion that needs to be talked about these last days, but relationship.  When we get to heaven, I do not think Jesus will ask us if we are Methodist, Catholic or Baptist, etc.,  in order to enter the pearly gates! 

I find it easier to talk to friends about the Lord than strangers and I know that I have to work on that.  But what if we knew Jesus was coming next week?  I think we would find it a lot easier to talk to everyone.  So I still wrestle with that question when it comes to the uncomfortable part of talking to strangers.  I do pray that they will see the love of the Lord in me and I am a witness in that way.  Yet even then, I fail sometimes when I goof and do not say or do something that would show it.

I have found since writing the books, that it is a lot easier to talk to new acquaintances when people ask me what I do.  It naturally opens the door.  I have a platform when speaking or doing a TV interview – but what about when meeting  someone new and what I do does not come up in conversation?   That’s when it gets more difficult.

For those of you who have read “Lessons I learned from the Lord,” you know that my favorite childhood story was “The Wizard of Oz”.  And so Lord, like the lion in that story, I need courage! 

I pray that God will grant us all the courage we need at exactly the right moment we need it!

Have a great week!

Blessings, Evelyn