Shopping Spree

 Proverbs 22:9 - A generous man will himself be blessed, for he shares his food with the poor.

I went shopping the other day,

It seemed a good idea at the time,

But couldn’t find a thing to buy,

I didn’t spend one thin dime.

I came home feeling righteous

Frugal and quite proud

Not adding to my overstuffed closet

Made we want to shout out loud.

And then I looked in the paper

For something interesting to read

And saw stories of hurting children

And many people in need.

Suddenly I knew why I hadn't

Made a purchase to add to my store

It was the good Lord saying

“Others in this world need it much more.”

I'll take my next shopping spree

Where hunger and pain seem to thrive

And through charity and church

Help one family, one person survive.

Renewal

Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Psalm 51:10

As I write this northern New Mexico wind howls outside sweeping away snow clouds; it stirs in me recollections of winters past. When I was a child we lived in Hobbs, New Mexico, where snow was rare, but I recall those magical times when we would come out of church on a Sunday morning and find an overlay of new snowfall that muffled everything, creating a crust of white making the world look fresh and new. That’s what happens when we have a relationship with God. He muffles the noise of the world so we can hear His voice. He covers our transgressions with forgiveness and creates in us a clean heart, one able to take in His love and then share it with others. Just as the snow changes the landscape of the world, God changes us.