What can I do for YOU?

I don't know if it's an American theme, or if this is found else where as well, but I feel like I hear the phrase, "What can I do for you?", quite often. I've heard it from telemarketers, various customer service reps from the companies that I pay bills to, to even servers at restaurants. It seems like so often we are trying to figure out what we can do for someone?...our kids, spouses, bosses, in ministry, whatever...

Now don't get me wrong, that's NOT a bad thing. Shoot, check out half of my blogs! You'll find that most of my blogs touch on loving others, and seeking to not forget and love those around you and that are hurting! So I'm not saying that's wrong. Here me right.

What I AM saying is this....how often do you let others help YOU? How often do you let people into your life...whether it be in areas of pain, joy, confusion, anger, whatever! How often do you do that? Take a moment and think about that....

Ok, moment's up :). Well, I'll just say that I RARELY do that, I don't know about you. I'm so used to taking care of things for myself, and not asking anything from anyone. This has allowed me to not need to trust in anyone, in case that they let me down or don't come through. This is so much in grained into my subconscious and being, that I won't ask for help, not wanting to bother anyone with things going on in my heart, or even something silly like allowing someone to buy me lunch. I can tell you that I've probably missed out on TONS of blessings from others, that were coming straight from the Father to me.

I say this, because we have these hearts that are willing to care for another in some capacity or another, but allow our OWN hearts to be neglected or cared for, or even share them. Folks, we NEED each other. It's not really an option for us. If we are to pour into others, our hearts must be poured into. We have nothing to pour into another, if our cups are empty.

For those of you readers that believe in Jesus, I think of a verse in the book of Hebrews that says, "Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage each other all the more as you see the day drawing near". Plain English, that's reminding us that we need to be in community together. Not only our families, but those outside our circle, and not just anyone either. We need people that can call us out on things that we need calling out on, but can also encourage us. We need people that can love US, into being the people that Jesus wants us to be, not just staying in our comfort zones.

This takes being willing to see past what is comfortable for us, or what we know. This isn't easy for me, as I'm sure it won't be for you, but I'll tell ya what....I don't want to miss out on more blessings, and not only that, my heart longs to be cared for, known and loved deeply, as I'm sure yours does too. And the only way we can experience that, is allowing others into our circle, into our hearts to speak into us. To fill our cup. And the beautiful thing is, is when our cup is being filled, it always spills into others cups, even the one doing the pouring.

Let us take time to slow down our days, to spend time with others, and to ask for help, to ask for prayer, to share "ourselves" and the deep places with others. When we do that we not only get blessed, but bless in return.

So before you figure out how to fill your days, trying to open your eyes to who you can bless, encourage and help...make sure you are allowing for that in your OWN life, and with the right people.

Thanks for listening...be filled!