Tag: kindness

Finding Feet to Wash

- dannalundstrom

We recently studied the Gospel of John in my New Testament class.  A particular point really stuck with me from that lesson. In John 13, Jesus washes His disciples feet. Our teacher reminded us Jesus came with a towel, not a sword.  He came to save, not judge.

So often I start my day armed with my sword and prone to judge rather than seeking to “save.”  If I am being honest, defending myself or my people is my natural response, but it is more about gratifying my flesh than glorifying my Father.  I long to do the latter.

I have to ask daily, Father, help me lay down my sword and pick up my towel so I may scan my surroundings for “feet to wash” instead of feuds to win. 

Today, I am praying for you, too.  Where do you need to lay down your sword and pick up a towel?  A towel, although seemingly much inferior to a sword, accomplishes so much more.  You are loved!

Show Them Jesus

- dannalundstrom

bdabfd017d2f8a8ef9afe1cf73331e5bThe news is full of so much junk! I am determined to share light when I can because there are a lot of good people in this world.

Today wasn’t my best day.  After a series of events, I drove into the Summit parking lot and pulled into a parking stall only to hit and side swipe a beautiful Land Rover right next to me.  I have a newer car- so what.  It is a car; an earthly thing, not an eternal treasure.  I was an emotional mess, however, as I sat and waited for the owner of the other car to return.  She finally came and hopped in her car ready to drive away as I was tearfully knocking on her window.

 I was met with mercy!  I was met with kindness, a smile, a hug and I was met with a person manifesting the character of Jesus.  The relief I felt when I was excused from the guilt and shame of my offense was the essence of freedom.  

We have all been released should we chose to be.  We have all been acquitted if we only accept it.  

It is only when we feel the weight of our offense that the ransom is so sweet!  

Not knowing you will be received with love, not knowing you will be forgiven is a substantial weight to sustain as I did for a short time today.  Don’t live with that burden for a life time.  Let yourselves be freed, friends.

Lastly, it is where our treasures lie that determine our reactions when they are compromised.  I am thankful that today I stared into eyes that are not set on the things of this world!  

Be Jesus to someone today and tomorrow should it come. It is so much more about our walk than our talk!
Matthew 5:7 ~“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.

People Builders, Not Breakers

- dannalundstrom

Yesterday was the first time Carter had snow skied post TBI. It has been almost three years. He was a little unsettled at the start of the day, and told me several times he didn’t want to do a black run. I agreed, and told him I would make sure the instructor understood that. We got both kids set with their lesson and left them to get caught up. Around mid day, I spotted Carter and an instructor on a moderately, hard blue run. We stopped and talked and his very kind instructor invited who invited us to ski with them. The man was so good with Carter; encouraging, patient, kind, reassuring, but most of all affirming him for what he did well and making no big deal of the little struggles that would arise. Trevor and I got to talk to the instructor briefly during lunch and we were not sure how, but it was as if he had read the book of Carter. He knew his history, his strengths and weaknesses. After lunch we left them to work until the end of the day. When we picked him up at 2:45 he was beaming. “Mom, I did a black!” What a change from the morning. Later at dinner, my sister in-law told me what really happened yesterday morning and it brought tears to my eyes. Carter’s initial instructor moved him out of the teen group to an adult group because the teen group would mostly be doing black runs. Once he got to the top with the adult group, my SIL said he froze. Complete fear struck him and he would not move. Then, somehow he lost a ski and could not get it back on. The instructor asked my SIL, what is wrong with him, and she said, well you do know he has had a traumatic brain injury. He said, “no!” Why wasn’t I told that? The initial teacher was told but she didn’t pass the information on to him. So the instructor called in the man who ended up teaching Carter. He is a certified adaptive skiing trainer. More than all his qualifications, though, he made Carter believe in himself, feel comfortable, capable and at total ease. He brought him from the point of stuck in a state of fear to skiing a black run in just a matter of a few hours. My point in telling you all this is that our words, actions and how we treat people ascends all barriers, blocks and struggles. We have the ability to help people stay stuck or soar. It does not matter what the struggle is, the right teacher, coach, friend or caring person has the ability to change the landscape of a person’s day, even their life. I pray I remember to use my words of encouragement, affirmation, belief and comfort to always build people up because there are too many that have been broken down. This mama’s heart went to bed a little teary last night, but definitely with a smile.❤

If…

- dannalundstrom

img_0060If
We could all assume the best about each other.
If
We could all believe that people’s intentions are meant for good based on their scope of knowledge.
If
we could all respect and treat people the way we wish to be respected and treated.
If
we could focus more on our commonalities than our differences.
If
we could celebrate life for what it is instead of what it is not.
If
we could all focus on what needs improving in ourselves instead of others.
If…
maybe we could be beacons of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control in a dark world.
If
I, if you, if we…
what an impact on this world we might see!

Be A Brave, Beautiful Story

- dannalundstrom

9a2c5ccf7a1459d57e23e6a0c54db231The most impactful stories are not the ones People tell, but the ones they live.  We are all storytellers every day.  Today I pray our stories tell of unity, humility, peace, trust, faith, hope, light, and love.  Someone needs you to be an agent of calm, not chaos, kindness, not criticism and tolerance not taunting.  Turn your lights on today and narrate a brave, beautiful story!  You are loved!

Daily Prayer

- dannalundstrom

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Lord Jesus, today help me be more concerned with being kind than being correct.  Give me the grace to live in the shade of eternity rather than the shadow of entitlement.  May the priority of my heart be mankind before me.  Keep me from falling into the trap of judgement.  Remind me that all dress in sin, and although mine may look different than my neighbors,  I am just as guilty!  May all reading this find refuge from the flesh in repentance and rest instead of shame and self condemnation.  Lastly, Lord embolden me to be less anxious about disturbing others with truth, myself included, than offending you with tolerance.  Amen.

Does It Matter

- dannalundstrom

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There is pervasive suffering in our world today.  There are hundreds of worthy causes that need to be defended.  There are multitudes of deprived people who need to be reached and served.  We must choose our battles with wisdom and motives bridled by integrity.  In all things, we put our passion into may we ask ourselves; is it kind, necessary, and for the good of all affected.  Will my action unite or divide?  Will it stir up more dissension or spur along cohesion?  Lastly, if I die tomorrow, will what I was fighting for matter?

Freedom in Jesus Alone

- dannalundstrom

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I have to be honest even when honesty feels scary. Today I feel an incongruence in my heart about celebrating our freedom. The tone of our world right now feels more about imprisonment and fear than independence and freedom.

Are we free? We are burning one another’s churches. Are we free when we are judging and persecuting one another’s sin with a blindness to our own? Our young women and children are being sold into slavery and Americans are committing unthinkable crimes against Americans. Are we free?

I saw an add this morning that said, “freedom is never given, it is won. Many brave men and women have sacrificed immensely, some everything, to keep us safe. They are true heroes, and I will never forget their loyalty, courage, and dedication.

From a different perspective, though, if we are followers of Jesus, the story reads a little different. Our freedom was both won and given. If I look at our world, I often become discouraged and angry. This world feeds us a lot more fear than freedom. Only Jesus gives us the freedom from that fear.

Today more than ever, it is crucial that we fix our eyes on Him. Today more than ever it is vital that we base our hope and our future on our providential creator, not our presidential candidate. Our power, our protection, our purpose and our plan does not come from anything or anyone authentic to this world, but the Author of this world. We must ask Him to use us as vessels of his peace and His purpose. All of us individually must decide to get out in this world and make a difference. We cannot afford to wait for someone else to do it.

We must put idol aside to pursue intentional.

I don’t think our presence in this world is to lead people to delight, but disturbance colored in shades of hope and kindness.

Until we are confused, we will always be content.

There are a lot of good people doing a lot of good in this world. Today I pray we highlight more of the good that is pervasively present than the evil that is persistently pursuing. Darkness can take many things away from us, but not our choices. An inactive light cannot be seen. We must shine our lights! Let’s celebrate the freedom to pursue purposeful paths today.

One God, One People

- dannalundstrom

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I am a color,  but my color does not define me.

I am born of a race,  but I become who I choose to be.

God created me equal to all man so please respectfully acknowledge me.

I have a heart that beats just like yours.  It sins and loves no matter what my ethnicity.

History holds a wealth of bondage from scars inflicted by ancestors,  you and me.

The future does not have to reflect our wounds.  The choice is for God’s people, no matter color, race, religion or gender to spread and live in harmony.

There are good and bad of every kind.  Exclusive to no one;  not yours or mine.

My birth branded me with many labels,  but please don’t use them to judge me.  I only wish to be known as the person who desires to reflect God in how I live,  love and chose to be.

Kindness knows no boundaries in available hearts.  It is immune to the prejudice or color, race or gender.  It respects all, the receiver, and the lender.

We are all one.  May our eyes be blind to any differences and our hearts be open to every kind.  For it is in seeing, knowing and loving,  many treasures we find.