Wednesday, May 26, 2010

Freaks, Geeks & Weirdos – The Peculiar People




Have you ever felt like you don’t belong or that you are different from everyone else? People call you names reminding you how different you really are?

Earlier this year my son was getting ready for school and came to me saying, “Mommy, I don’t want to go today, everyone thinks I’m a freak!” Ironically, this was the morning after I read that scary book of Deuteronomy. I replied, “That’s great! Freaks are awesome!” He looked at me with a worried look as though he was questioning my sanity. I said, “Sweetheart, the Bible says that you are to be set apart from all the others, to be a peculiar people.” That means that you aren’t to be like everyone else; to be popular with everyone else to be unpopular with God. You aren’t like everyone else because God expects you to be a leader not a follower. You are kind, happy and you like to keep peace. Of course they are going to call you a freak; people criticize what they don’t understand.”

He didn’t believe me so I pulled out my Bible and showed him:

“You have been set apart as holy to the LORD your God, and he has chosen you from the LORD thy God, and the LORD hath chosen thee to be a peculiar people.” Deuteronomy 14:2

He read it and smiled and went his merry way to school. As he ran out the door, I yelled at him, “Don’t worry, I’m a freak too!”

If you are currently or ever have been called a freak, geek or weirdo, REJOICE! God has called you to be set apart and has great plans for you! You are a chosen one!

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” 1 Peter 2:9


Be blessed this week!


Your freaky, geeky and weird servant of Christ,


Katrina Green
President
Butterfly Ministries, Inc.

Take a Stand. Spread the Word. Save the Butterflies ♥


"It is the mission of Butterfly Ministries, Inc. to empower and inspire positive transformation in girls and young women by encouraging them to take a stand against gender exploitation and to give rise to a historic revolution."

COMING SOON! Join the Butterfly Movement!

Launching Fall 2010!

"Strength and honor was her clothing" Proverbs 31:25

Thursday, May 20, 2010

Defying Labels


I was coming into work early this week and a co-worker said, “Did you see the butterfly outside?” Intrigued, I went outside by our back entrance and there was the largest most beautiful insect that I had ever seen with wings that were absolutely stunning. I was in awe because as I am drawing closer to the launch of Butterfly Ministries, I am always in prayer asking God to send signs that I’m on the right path so of course, I interpreted this as confirmation that I was indeed, on the right path.

She was sitting on the concrete not moving at all but I could see why as she appeared very pregnant and ready to lay her eggs. I wasn’t going to let her sit there in her weakened state so that a bird or raccoon could come and devour her and all of the cargo that she was carrying. I came into my office and started calling the zoo and exotic animal hospitals to find out what to do because she appeared that she wasn’t from here but someplace warm.

My co-worker put her in a box and brought her to my office. Everyone was gathering to see her and taking pictures. They were amazed at this beautiful creature with a wing span of over 5 inches long. They kept saying, “What a beautiful butterfly!” Then a few others stepped in and snapped back with a snarky, “It’s not a butterfly, it’s only a moth!”

After hearing that, I was hurt. Moths were plain and only came out at night, we found her early morning and she was anything but plain. My co-worker went on google and found out that she was indeed a moth. It also said that she was very rare and after emerging from her cocoon, she doesn’t eat or leave her tree and only lives for a few days to mate, reproduce and pass on. What was amazing is that it was considered rare to see one of them and to find them in an urban community at daylight. We were blessed just by being able to be in her presence and catching a glimpse of her beauty. We found out that she needed to lay her eggs soon and it suggested that we release her in a maple tree. My co-worker and I took her out to a maple tree and put her on a branch. We looked at one another with a feeling of accomplishment and with big smiles as though we were parents saying good-bye to their child.

That experience made me think. When I heard, “It’s not a butterfly, it’s only a moth” I guess underneath, it felt like it was the enemy trying to get in my mind and spirit. I am writing a book on my transformation from caterpillar to a butterfly and preparing for the launch of Butterfly Ministries. I heard, “You’re not a butterfly, you’re only a moth!

All my life there was someone telling me what I wasn’t or couldn’t be. I was told, I’ll never be successful and that I am just another statistic. I may try to be a butterfly, but I should just face it, I'm merely a moth. Moth's live in darkness, so I should just accept my fate.

Although moths may dwell in the dark they are still attracted to light desiring something brighter than the darkness that they live in.

I guess I could relate to that moth. She was found out of her natural habitat and she was pregnant. Did she not realize the risk that she was taking to fly away while she was carrying her eggs? Maybe before she died, she wanted to fly and see the beauty of the sky and the feel the breeze and the warmth of the sunlight. Maybe she wanted a better tree for her eggs than the tree that she had. Maybe she wanted to prove that she wasn’t just a moth, some label that Science put on her, that she wanted to prove that although she may have been born a moth, she was going to transform into a butterfly.

No one ever became great by accepting man made labels. God created the species and man labeled them. Maybe moths really are butterflies.

If God created you to be a butterfly, don’t accept the label of a moth. You are a beautiful, fearfully and wonderfully made butterfly.

“I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” Psalm 139:14

© Copyrights, All rights reserved


Katrina Green
President
Butterfly Ministries, Inc.

Take a Stand. Spread the Word. Save the Butterflies ♥

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

Satan - The King of all Lies


Have you ever really felt the presence of Satan?


As a child, I remember seeing Satan as a little red man with horns carrying a pitch fork. I remember watching cartoons and when a character was faced with a tough decision, there was always the angel on one shoulder and the devil on the other. When I became a Christian, I discovered exactly who Satan was and what he was after. I discovered him because he discovered me. He discovered me because I discovered Christ.

Back in the day I was no threat to him because the odds against me were in his corner but as I overcame and then gave my life to God, I tricked him. When I called God into my life, I didn’t realize that I had also called Satan. God is the leader and creator, Satan is follower and imitator. He follows God and attempts to manipulate the truth by turning them into lies.

He wanted to know who I was. He wondered, “Who does she think she is?” and he wanted to find out exactly what he could dig up and strike my most vulnerable spots as well as where I was the most insecure.

It’s a very hard feeling to describe but the best way I can is that it is as if you feel like you are being watched and studied by a dark force. Not only in a physical sense but in mind and in spirit as though my thoughts and feelings are being studied. It was evident that it was a dark force because I felt violated and threatened. I sometimes felt like my fears and memories were being downloaded like a hacker stealing my identity so that it could be used against me.

I decided that since Satan was getting into my mind, I would attempt to get into his. So I wrote the poem below thinking that two can play at this game. After writing it, it made since as to who Satan really is. Don't fret, God promises to protect us from all dark forces. God is the only one that can take on the enemy. So although, I know I'm being studied, God loves me and has my back!

"For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord" Romans 8:38

Warning: I encountered demonic dreams for a few days after writing this. I had to really focus on light before entering a dark place of deep thought.


Satan – The King of All Lies

From the beginning of time, I watched you, followed you and studied you.
When you were frightened of that monster under the bed, whispering horrific sounds into your ear?

The bully at school who would tell you all of the things that I wanted you to hear?

Yes, that was me…

introducing you to the spirit of fear.
luring you into a manic depressive state,
Of sorrow, anger and self-hate.
You see there's an art of seduction,
Of grooming, preparation and persuasion,
A slow downward spiral, a festering infection,
Until you to fall into a dark pit of depression
Despair and hopelessness with no direction,
until you succumb to a portal of self decay and addiction.

I am the master of deception.

Look around…
I am in the television you watch, the music that you listen to, the books that you read.
You can run but you can’t hide, or resist the ride
on my carousel of society’s captivity.
Then right when you take a vow of marriage; a covenant of fidelity,

I will strike you with a sin so hot it will set you on fire,
with the sin of aching desire…
inviting and enticing you,
disguising myself with beauty that is pleasing to the eye and pleasure to the touch,
conquering and dominating you with an insatiable appetite of lust,
consuming everything you love and destroying the foundation of trust.

The root of all evil,
corrupting the most noble of men,
Is the love of power and money, the most common of sin.
A temptation so strong with all of all of the trouble it brings…
A magnetic pull of overindulgence on material things.
Under my control, like a puppet on a string.

To keep you the far from God’s grasp,
is vanity and pride,
Humility doesn’t reside with these lingering inside.
They consume your spirit with selfish ambition;
Your goal is a high ranking status of authority and position.
Only giving to feel important or to gain recognition.
You judge others by their faults, but fail to look within.

The most powerful weapon is to convince you that the truth is a lie,
That God doesn’t exist, so when He makes His presence known,
you turn a blind eye.
You refuse to comply and continue to defy,
Your creator and His word and deny the body of Christ,
although to save your very soul,
was the reason why,
that He sacrificed
His only begotten son so that you would have everlasting life.

Who am I?
I have many names that I go by,
Lucifer, Satan, the Devil,
But you can just call me, the king of all lies.


© Copyrights, All rights reserved

Katrina Green
President
Butterfly Ministries, Inc.

Take a Stand. Spread the Word. Save the Butterflies ♥


"It is the mission of Butterfly Ministries, Inc. to empower and inspire positive transformation in girls and young women by encouraging them to take a stand against gender exploitation and to give rise to a historic revolution."

COMING SOON! Join the Butterfly Movement!

Launching Fall 2010!

"Strength and honor was her clothing" Proverbs 31:25

Monday, May 17, 2010

A Generation in Need of a Revelation



Do you recognize truth when you hear it?

This process is called Revelation.

Revelation - the speech act of making something evident; the first step in knowing truth.

If you are anything like me, you have had the experience and/or been witness to women having to take the leadership role in families. Most of the time they don’t really have a choice.

It started with our generation. Today’s generation, My generation. The scary part is that we are raising tomorrows generation.

Many of us were raised by single mothers. Fathers are becoming absent from the home more and more. The girls learn to take the leadership role and the boys learn to depend on the woman. To make things worse, they attend daycare centers and schools where the women dominate the workforce. So now as adults, we carry it into our relationships and families. I am a single mother myself. Did it make me stronger as a person, yes. Did I grow into the woman I am because of it? Absolutely. But as for my children, I would have chosen a better path for them. "How I wish I knew then, the things I know now."

FACT: According to Families and Living Arrangements: 2006, there were 12.9 million one-parent families in 2006 — 10.4 million single-mother families and 2.5 million single-father families.

So the question is, “Can single parent households be successful in raising and developing children to become productive adults?”

Yes, Absolutely.

The problem? It is out of spiritual order.

They say that there are 2 types of people. There are leaders and there are followers.

What about the third? A team-player.

There comes a time to follow and a time to lead. But when you work as a team, don’t you find that you are more productive, get more accomplished, you are more developed and well rounded? Being on a team, you learn the importance of communication, trust, conflict resolution and sharing the burdens as well as the rewards of your labor.

As good as a mother that you may be, no matter how good you are, no matter how many football games you attend, no matter how much base you put in your voice, you will never be a man.

As good as a father that you can be, no matter how many ballets recitals, and cheerleading practices you go to, you will never be a woman.

But if you have man and a woman working together nurturing, building and growing, you pass that on and it teaches the value of balance and working as a team. Children learn healthy boundaries and set expectations. They learn how to relate and have an intellectual connection with the opposite sex.

The ways of the world and main-stream media divides us by brain-washing us to thinking we only relate on a surface level. Surface attraction, without the balance of both male/female role models just leads us to experience many unfortunate broken relationships/marriages/families. It's almost like we are pitted against one another to become enemies when we were created to be allies/partners.

"The LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.” Genesis 2:7

The LORD God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him."
But for Adam no suitable helper was found. So the LORD God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man's ribs and closed up the place with flesh. Then the LORD God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man.
The man said, "This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called 'woman, for she was taken out of man." For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.”
Genesis 2: 18-24

When God created heaven and earth, the sky and the sea, the birds and the fish, why did He go through all that trouble? For man, for woman, for family. Family was the reason we were created. So why are there so many broken families?

He created Adam from the dust on the earth. He took the woman out of Adams rib. Not to walk ahead of him or behind him; to walk beside him. We were made for each other, to compliment one another, not to compete...but to be a team.

Ladies, we say we want a real man but then try to take the lead when it comes to relationships. You know, we say we are independent, we can do anything a man can do, we don’t need a man, and when a good one comes along that actually treats us with respect and chivalry, well he's too nice. So in essence, we are pushing the men out of their spiritual order. We then waste our time with men who disrespect us, but they disrespect us because we disrespect ourselves, so then we find ourselves in this cycle.

That’s when you refer to truth – The word of God

"A virtuous woman, who can find? For she is worth far more than rubies." Proverbs 31:10

Rubies are considered priceless and precious gems. They are highly desired and they are sought after. Men in history have spent their entire lives digging for gems hoping to find one. There are many pebbles on the ground, but rubies are hard to find and a man is considered blessed when he finds one. Scripture of the Proverbs 31 woman exists to teach women how to become a gem and sets a standard for men on how to recognize one. In fact, Proverbs says she is worth far more than rubies. It means you are of great value and would be an asset to the one who found you. You are to be sought after, pursued and desired because of your virtues. You should not chase a man or have to convince him that you are of great value, it will be apparent in how you carry yourself. Proverbs clearly states that we are to work on polishing ourselves from the inside out and will shine so bright, we will set ourselves apart from all others and be found by a man that is looking for a gem. Priceless; hard to find.

Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord,” Ephesians 5:22

Submit - To yield or surrender (oneself) to the will or authority of another.

Why are women so afraid of this word? It is a divine word. Submission is a word that sets a whole new meaning to trust. When you submit, it means you have set your fears aside and learned to fully trust someone. Trust them with your heart and with your future. So, how do you do that? Choose him by his character. Not by his car, house, job or appearance. Not by what he says, but by what he does. Don't give all of your time to a man until he proves himself to be worthy of being trusted as a good steward with a gem. It will be easy to trust a man of good and solid character. Trusting him makes it easy to submit to him. Allow him to take his spiritual place. Don't undermine his man hood, allow and encourage him to be who God intended him to be. A man of God knows his spiritual order and it will be evident in how he carries himself, treats you and treats others so it will be easy to submit to him.

Men, you focus so much of your time trying to over-compensate for your manhood looking to conquer and dominate instead of leading. You seem to gravitate toward temptation, lust, greed, wealth and power like a fool being seduced by the glimmering of fool’s gold. It may look real, but it’s not authentic. Underneath the sparkling surface lays cold and dark coal. You say you want to lead but then make decisions that followers make. You allow women to take your place as the husband, the father, the provider and then you wonder why you become frustrated and end up in the same cycle.

That’s when you refer to Truth - The word of God

"But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he is worse than an unbeliever." 1 Timothy 5:8

Ouch!

Men are to be the providers, leaders and priests of their homes. We need our generation of men to step it up, really engulf themselves in the word of God to find out exactly what your role is and then spread that Word and minister to other young men. By becoming a follower of Christ, you learn to take the lead in relationships, family and community. Without that, you are just blind leading the blind.

Lead - To show the way to by going in advance; To guide or direct in a course

Lead does not mean to dominate or take by force. Submission isn’t gained through intimidation or arrogance. It means that your actions display your leadership, not your words.

"Men love your wives as Christ loves the church and gave himself up for her." Ephesians 5:25

Gave himself, meaning he surrendered his life for her, giving her all of him. A man that fully submits to God will have no problem finding a good woman to submit to him. If you do not surrender or place God first, a virtuous woman will have trouble trusting you. If you want to attract and keep a woman of noble character, you must be a man of noble character. It's not about your past, it's about the man that your past has molded you to become.

"Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it." Matthew 10:37-39

I believe this set the standard on how you should prioritize your life. If you put God first, everything will fall in its natural order. If not, things will more than likely fall apart or become unmanageable. Sadly, I have witnessed too many marriages and families fall apart because of this, including my own family.

Putting God first means that you will consult Him in all things which will make you a better spouse, parent, relative, co-worker, and friend. When things fall apart, wouldn't you rather go through a hardship with someone who is strong in their faith and secure with their identity in Christ? That will get you and them through the roughest and most trying of times. If someone will not put God first, what makes you think that they will treat you any different?

Both genders are equally to blame. We spend so much time at the gym, hair salon, nail salon, clothing stores all to work on our physical appearance. We go to doctors to get prescriptions for this and that for our health, go to psychologists for our mental health but neglect our spiritual health.

As I reflect on today’s society, it appears to me that it just doesn’t seem as innocent as it was when I was a child. And I’m sure the generation before thought the same thing. So what does that mean then? I believe it means that with each passing generation, as my friend John would say, “a snowball is now becoming an avalanche.”

There is nothing wrong with being attractive, hygienic and healthy, but when that become the primary focus on our development, that’s when it falls out of place. We must focus on our spirit and inner beauty and it will shine from the inside out. God is our primary source. Without Him, we are merely trying to over-compensate in all other areas. After our beauty, health and mind is gone, what are we left with?

To stop a generational cycle, we must recognize the truth, spread the word and take a stand! I wonder, is our generation up for the task?

"For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them." Romans 1:18-19

Wednesday, May 5, 2010

God is Love



Have you ever entered into a relationship where those three words, I love you are spoken and no sooner than you utter them, secrets pop out from nowhere? Do you wonder why that is?

When you use the term love you are actually calling on God.

Why?

God is love. God is truth. God is the light.

When love is spoken, the truth and the light peeks through darkness. When you open your heart and reveal that you love someone, you are calling on God without even knowing it. You don’t have to recognize or acknowledge Him for Him to exist. He just does.

For a moment, let’s forget what the television, media, jewelry commercials and Valentine’s Day advertisements say is the definition of love. To really understand love, you must go to the source.

The Word of God/The Bible

Love is

1 Corinthians 13:1-13

“If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.” 1-3

Without love, we have nothing. If we think of love and are reminded that God is love and truth then that would imply that without God and truth, we have nothing. We can give everything we have to the poor, but if we do out of obligation or for recognition and without love, it’s pointless. Love should be our motivating factor.

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.” 4-7

When God is invited in, of course being the truth and light, things will be revealed and your love will be tested. If someone is telling you lies, God will reveal it because you called on Him. If they are avoiding, hiding, covering up or with holding truth, that is the same as lying. Love protects, trusts and rejoices in truth, not lies.

God = Truth
Devil = Lies

Love is patient. No rushing, no guessing, no anxiety and no worries. It doesn’t seek itself, it’s wants to give, nurture and provide; not take, with hold or have ulterior motives. It does not envy or boast; always wanting to see if the grass is greener on the other side or walk around bragging with pride because you have it and others don’t. It doesn’t live in and throw up the past over and over again instilling guilt and shame, it forgives. It doesn’t take revenge or wish misery on others when wronged or hurt. Over time it heals, restores and looks forward to the future. It is not easily angered, looking for an argument or keeping one going. It doesn't compete, it compliments. It does not throw temper tantrums nor is it violent. It is not superficial or shallow, It is humble and deep. Love is sacrificial and unconditional. True love perseveres, overcoming obstacles and challenges.

“Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 8-9

This means of all spiritual gifts that you may have been blessed with, are useless unless you utilize them with love, a pure heart and in good cheer.

For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears.” 10

Ok, so what if lies are uncovered and the past revealed itself. We are all sinners, right? Now what?

Love never fails. Truth never fails. When truth does reveal itself, the reaction from the offended can make the offender run from truth or hold tight to it. Truth is perfect so when it’s revealed, the imperfection starts to fade away so the offended should take a deep breath and analyze the situation and react calmly.

In the spirit, truth is the main artery to the heart. When truth is hidden, you are cutting off the blood and oxygen to the heart and it begins to weaken and then symptoms begin to appear; signs telling you that something isn’t right. When the truth is revealed, the blood rushes back to the heart and revives it. It is important to recognize the symptoms and not ignore them.

When truth is hidden it can leave permanent damage and scarring called “bitterness.” If the heart isn’t treated with patience, kindness, care and concern nursing it back to health, it will not fully heal and the problem will progressively become worse. If truth isn’t fully disclosed and only is revealed in fragments, every time the heart heals from the last attack, more lies can end up hardening the heart creating resentment. Brutal truth (light) will overpower all lies(darkness)

Attempt to think of this before you react to truth in rage. The offender will be afraid to disclose truth in the future, so it will be revealed slowly or run from it and the artery will start building up slowly deteriorating. God reveals truth, but making the offender ashamed of it will determine if you receive it all at once or in pieces. It may also make them run from truth in all other areas in their life as well.

“When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.” 11-12

Like a child means to have not reached maturity. Spiritual maturity is something you have to diligently seek and grow into overtime. You will not change over night. You have to learn to walk a new way, talk a new way and think a new way. If someone has not matured, then when it comes to love, they will be ignorant to it. As you grow older you may look in the mirror and see a man/woman in the reflection but if you have not sought truth, wisdom and knowledge, (God) your spirit is still that of a child. As you start to seek it, it will make itself known and you will then become fully known. This gives the old saying “To know me is to love me and to love me is to know me” a whole new meaning.

Loving and praying for your enemies is also calling on God. God is truth but He is also just. If you consult God with your conflicts, He will bring justice to the situation. Attempt to leave revenge in the hands that it belongs; The Lords alone. Not only will He settle the conflict, but you will also be blessed for your obedience.

Before you tell someone that you love them, ask yourself, Am I prepared for truth to be revealed? Can I handle the truth? Am I spiritually mature or am I still that of a child? This doesn’t just apply to romantic relationships, it applies to all relationships, whether good or bad.

“And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love." 13

Without love, hope and faith are lonely. They need love to survive. God is love and truth instills hope and faith. Without the clear and concise understanding of love, you cannot give it nor can you receive it and before you can give or receive it, you must seek it. Jesus, in His words said it best.

“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well” Matthew 6:33

With love, your humble servant of Christ,

Katrina Green
President
Butterfly Ministries, Inc.

Take a Stand. Spread the Word. Save the Butterflies ♥


"It is the mission of Butterfly Ministries, Inc. to empower and inspire positive transformation in girls and young women by encouraging them to take a stand against gender exploitation and to give rise to a historic revolution."

COMING SOON! Join the Butterfly Movement!

Launching Fall 2010!

"Strength and honor was her clothing" Proverbs 31:25

Sunday, May 2, 2010

Loving your neighbors


Isn’t it sad that we are living in a time where neighbors can live on the same street for years but never speak a word to one another? Or a family can eat dinner every night but not speak a word? It seems we have more fellowship with our televisions, cell phones and iPods than we do with our family and neighbors. We can also work next to someone for over a year and never know anything about them.

You never know what the person next to you is going through. The woman behind you in the grocery line, the clerk at the pharmacy that you see every week, the man that you drive by standing on the bus stop carrying that same plastic bag every morning. No one speaks anymore. No one pays attention.

We all have a story. We all are children of God. Although we may appear as strangers, we all our fellow brothers and sisters.

Sometimes when I am waiting to get my oil changed or to pick up my prescriptions, I find myself pulling out my cell phone to play brick-breaker, check my email or log onto Facebook. I have had to catch myself a few times and put away the phone and look over at the person across from me. I often wonder, “What is their story?”

There are those who wear stress on their face because they are too exhausted to care or there are those that look put together, so much as though they are trying hard to cover up whatever struggle lies beneath. There is usually a very awkward silence in the atmosphere. It’s almost as if people are attempting not to speak; although if you pay close attention, they have a desperation that longs for fellowship. A simple hello or a smile during their busy day can make a huge difference. They always appear as if they are longing for something, somewhere.

I think, “Well, if they aren’t gonna speak, I will.” Then, true to my country charm, (a cute way of saying I love to talk) I’ll say something light-hearted and positive like, “I like your shirt” or “Isn’t the weather beautiful?” They usually respond and the next thing you know, you are talking about gardening or the Colts game last week. When it’s finally time to go, you are both laughing and smiling and when you get up to leave, the awkward silence is no longer present. Everyone seems to be speaking and amazingly, they have smiles on their faces and you walk in to greet your family in a better mood than you were 30 minutes ago.

Isn’t it funny how one single effort can be contagious?

Scripture speaks a great deal about feeding the hungry. It is both literal and metaphoric. There are many that are poor in spirit that are suffering from hunger pangs of a starving spirit. If you see someone hungry for fellowship, feed them! We were created in the image and likeness of God. God longs for communion and we inherited that from our father.

Even if the person rejects your invitation for fellowship, don’t lose heart. We are responsible for what we offer and the other is responsible for what they accept or deny. It is what lies on the heart that counts.

I encourage you this week to pay closer attention to your fellow brothers and sisters. Attempt to look at them through Gods eyes. Smile at everyone you come in contact with, speak to everyone that you have an opportunity to speak to. You will notice the difference in the atmosphere, your mood, others mood and most importantly, you never know who may disguised as that stranger! Don’t miss out on your blessings!

Have a blessed week!

“Keep on loving each other as brothers. Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it” Hebrews 13:1-2

“Whoever brings blessing will be enriched and one who waters will himself be watered.” Proverbs 11:25


Katrina Green
President
Butterfly Ministries, Inc.

Take a Stand. Spread the Word. Save the Butterflies ♥


"It is the mission of Butterfly Ministries, Inc. to empower and inspire positive transformation in girls and young women by encouraging them to take a stand against gender exploitation and to give rise to a historic revolution."

COMING SOON! Join the Butterfly Movement!

Launching Fall 2010!

"Strength and honor was her clothing" Proverbs 31:25