Simply J.O.Y.

SIMPLY J.O.Y.

Simply Jesus Over You

Be a Samantha

My husband and I are greeters at church.  The third Sunday of each month we stand in the vestibule and welcome people to worship, fellowship, and praise.  I am a people person, so I really enjoy serving in this way.  Plus, because we attend a large church, it gives me a chance to meet people I might not.  My hope is that I am a blessing and people will feel the love of Jesus through my simple hello and welcome.

Often, I compliment someone’s outfit, or I’ll notice a new haircut or get to tell a little girl how pretty she looks and a little boy how handsome he is.  I love the smiles on their faces from such a little word.  We never know how our positive comment may be just what someone needed to hear to feel special.

This past Sunday, the tables were turned, and I was the recipient of a crazy, unexpected blessing from someone I’d never met.  A woman came in and as I said hello my eyes were drawn to the  tote bag she was carrying.  It was one of those, “OH MY GOSH, I LOVE YOUR TOTE BAG!” moments.  I’m pretty sure everyone within a mile radius knew how I felt about that bag because my voice volume was likely not “church appropriate.”  She smiled and thanked me. I asked where she bought it; she shared it was from a local store that benefits women battling and recovering from breast cancer. I went on and on about how beautiful it was and that I was going to have to get to the store soon.  Now, here’s where the crazy happens.

She looked at me and said, “I want you to have it.”  I laughed and said, “What?”  She said, “Yes, I want you to have it.”  My response? “No!  I am not taking your tote bag!”  “Yes, you are,” she said.  “I want to give it to you.” This back and forth continued as she proceeded to unpack the tote bag that she was using as a purse.  Now women, you know how much stuff we carry in our purses!  Onto a table she starts plopping down a wallet, tablet, phone, pens, lipstick and I’m not even sure what else.  The entire time I’m arguing, “You can’t be serious!”  I could  not believe this stranger was taking her possessions out of the tote bag and giving it to me.  Who does this?!  I know I was babbling the entire time because I was so overwhelmed by this demonstration of generosity.  Finally, I asked her name.  “Samantha.” 

Samantha took the contents of her tote bag to her car and when she returned, I said to her, “I can’t believe you just did this.  I didn’t want to take your bag!  I feel so bad.”  She said, “You loved it and I wanted you to have it.  It’s going to look beautiful on you.”  We hugged and I thanked her again.  As she walked away my husband turned to me and said, “We need to find someone who has a Corvette, and you need to compliment their car.”  LOL!

As I write this blog, the tote bag is next to me.  There will never be a time that I look at it and don’t think of Samantha and her generosity, kindness, and love.  And while I don’t know what prompted Samantha to do what she did, I have a pretty good idea.  It wasn’t a what, but a who.  I believe that for whatever reason, Jesus told her in that moment, “Bless this woman.  Give her your bag.”  I wonder if Samantha argued in her head or just acted in obedience.  I think it was the latter.  It all happened so fast.  And while I am so very humbled by the unexpected gift, I am wrecked by the overwhelming love in which it was given.  The love of Jesus.  Samantha showed me what Jesus looks like in the natural world.  She demonstrated his crazy, all in, love us with abandon, heart.  And, she showed it to a stranger.

The world isn’t always pretty.  And right now, it can be downright ugly and divisive.  It is filled with “Karens” who think they know what you should be doing, judging your actions, and overreacting and escalating situations for personal agendas.  (Sorry to all the awesome women named Karen out there!)

Now, more than ever, we need to be the light of Jesus in our world.  In our home.  In our workplace.  In our community.  At the gym.  At school.  In our church.  Too often we think that in order to make a difference we need to invest a lot of time or money.  Or we need to make a grand gesture.  We think little things can’t have an impact.   So, we don’t do anything because we think it isn’t enough or we aren’t enough.  But how wrong we are.

Nothing we do for Jesus – if our intent is pure – is too little.  To think so diminishes His power.  If you know Jesus as your Lord and Savior, the Holy Spirit lives within you.  Physically lives in your body.  The same power that rose Jesus from the dead is in you. Do you honestly think that Jesus can’t take that little action and turn it into a life-changing encounter reaching people you will never know?  Maybe you’ll read this blog today and share it.  And then someone will share the story with someone else.  Maybe you will be moved to do something “little,” and God will take that and multiply it and change someone’s life. Maybe you will be the seed God uses to bring someone to Jesus.

Luke 17:6 is often misquoted and misinterpreted.  “And the Lord said, “If you had faith as a mustard seed, you would say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and be planted in the sea’; and it would obey you.”  Not faith the size of a mustard seed.  This scripture – and the parable of the mustard seed – aren’t telling us we just need a tiny bit of faith.  Rather, that our faith must be LIKE a mustard seed.

In Matthew 13:31-32, Jesus told the parable of the Mustard Seed, “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches.” 

The mustard seed is one of the smallest seeds.  It was used in rabbinic proverbs to designate the smallest of things.  It was a comparison that would have made sense in Jesus’ day.    No other seed so small produced such a large plant.  A mustard shrub can grow 10 to 12 feet in just a few weeks and can  reach heights of 15 feet.  The seed is so small it takes almost twenty thousand seeds to make just one ounce.  In the fall, its branches become rigid, creating a safe shelter for birds.

The parable isn’t about having a small amount of faith.  It is about what Jesus can do with small beginnings.  A tiny seed produces a mighty plant. Jesus’ kingdom had a small beginning – Jesus himself; then his apostles and a few hundred followers.  Today there are an estimated 2.54 billion Christians in the world; a third of the world’s population.  And it all started with one man.  Jesus.

There is nothing little in the world of Jesus. Nothing done in faith and obedience is ever too small for Jesus to use to change a life, a community, a school, a business, and the world.  He does it one heart at a time.  He uses people who love Him to BE him in the natural world.  He doesn’t need you to make a grand gesture.  That’s His department.  If you are quiet and willing you will hear His voice telling you where and how to plant a seed into someone’s life.  A little seed.  One that He will water and grow.  One that will go on to plant other seeds and create safe havens for rest and protection. 

Jesus needs us to love unselfishly.  To look for opportunities to lift someone’s spirits and touch someone’s heart.  He wants us to choose compassion over judgement.  Understanding over condemnation.  Kindness over anger.  You have all you need living inside you.  The choice is yours.

Today I challenge you.  In a world full of Karens, be a Samantha.

How might you plant a seed this week?  What little thing can you do in Jesus’ name trusting Him to magnify it for His glory?

Click below for this week’s prayer.

https://simplyjoy.online/prayers/take-my-little/

5 thoughts on “Be a Samantha”

  1. Valerie Jersey

    Random acts of kindness mean so much! I agree and love the testimonial shared.

  2. Tammy Williams

    Very insightful!!! I would rather be a Samantha, but you are right sometimes we miss the moment thinking God & Jesus want something grander than we feel we can give. You never know what a word or an action you take will result in for the kingdom of heaven. I say, Kindness is free and worthy of us giving. Thanks for sharing I really enjoyed this. I will continue to follow you.

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