Baggy Pants and a Filled Heart - Encouragement Café - September 3, 2015

Baggy Pants and a Filled Heart

Café Menu for Thursday, September 3, 2015

Today’s Special is:  Ladies Who Have Poured Into My Life

Carefully prepared just for you by your friend, Noelle Dey

Main Ingredient:

Similarly, teach the older women to live in a way that honors God.  They must not slander others or be heavy drinkers.  Instead, they should teach others what is good.

Titus 2:3 NLT

Entrée: 

Human Resources was just down the hall. 

That’s what went through my mind as I was grabbed by the seat of my pants.

To add to my astonishment, I turned around to find… an older lady.

With her glasses teetering on the end of her nose, she barked,

Who taught you how to shop?  These pants are at least two sizes too big!

Before she died, my mom used to take me shopping.  Naively, I assumed that whatever size I was back then would be my size for a lifetime.  Regardless of the brand.  Regardless of the new marketing strategy called “vanity sizing.”

It was the start of an unlikely friendship… and pants that fit.

I’ve also been grabbed… not at the seat of my pants… but at the depths of my heart. 

Without my mom, I have yearned for a gentle voice to help guide me on these often-bumpy roads.

Luann Prater and Wendy Blight are Bible teachers who I had admired from afar.  But by God’s miraculous ways, they became mentors and dear friends in my life.  They love me with a gentleness that can only be from God Himself.  Their tender ways whisper,

I might be just a few steps ahead of you on this journey, but let me hold your hand and pour into your life.

Through them, I have learned that God’s love is far wider, longer, higher and deeper than I could have ever imagined (Ephesians 3:18).  They have shown me how to pray with gratitude and unwavering belief (Philippians 4:6-7).  Through their modeling, I’ve grown in handling conflict in Christ-honoring ways and parenting with extravagant love (Ephesians 4:2-3).

These two precious ladies bring Titus 2:3 to life.

Take Out:

Who has God used to show you His love in gentle ways?

Take a moment to thank God for that immeasurable gift. 

Is God calling you to show His love to someone in particular? 

My heart’s desire it to take what Luann and Wendy have given me and pay it forward.  Before you turn away from this devotional, reach out to that person with an encouraging call, email or a text.

Let’s hold onto a hand in front of us and hold someone’s hand who is a step behind.

Dessert:

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for those who have invested in our lives.  Help us to humble our hearts so we can learn from them.  Empower us with Your Holy Spirit so we can also pay the gift forward by loving others.  We want to live respectful lives, watching our words and teaching Your ways.  In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen!

© 2015 by Noelle Dey.  All rights reserved.

Do you know Jesus Christ as your personal Savior?  Pull up a chair… He’s been waiting for you.

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