Recently I was at the store and I was bought some flowers for our kitchen. When I arrived at the checkout line, I had an overwhelming feeling to buy flowers for the woman who was checking me out. It didn't make sense, and I knew it would be awkward to randomly give her flowers, but I placed my items on the belt and said I needed to run and get something. I went and picked out flowers and rushed back to the line. When I arrived back she saw the flowers I had in my hand and said how beautiful they were. When I told her they were for her, she paused and said with a questionably look, "are you serious?" I told her again that they were for her, just because. The look of joy on her face was priceless and brought my heart so much joy, more than the flowers I bought myself did.

After I left, I processed the experience and there were two main takeaways:

May we be willing to do something that God puts on our heart, even if it seems strange and may be awkward, not knowing how the person will respond.
May we remember that there is much joy that comes in that act of giving, especially when it is unexpected and where there is no expectation of receiving something in return.

Today, I invite you to join me to...

pause. breathe. pray.™

As we enter this new week, may we acknowledge all the things we are desiring. May we pray that God keeps our desires in check and gives us eyes to see, and ears to hear beyond ourselves. May we also make a commitment to God, and to ourselves, that when we get an unexpected prompting to live out love, no matter how strange it may seem, may we live it out and trust that by doing so we are doing our part in living out God's love, and shining a light of love, into the hearts of others for Him.

With love and hope,
Shawn

In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesushimself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’
- Acts 20:35