Can You Influence Your City?

Black woman with arms raised, smiling, as confetti rains down on her.

Yes, and after reading this article, my hope is that you will have confidence knowing you are doing some great work with God in your community.

You may live in an urban area, with the ease of drive-through eateries and the pick of grocery markets within a short walk or quick drive. You may live in a rural area, that is the quiet backdrop to all the hustle and bustle. My family lives in a place in between the two, we have neighbors but it takes a quarter of an hour or more to run errands, besides our local Dollar General.

Every time you drive, shop, or otherwise come in contact with your neighbors, you are influencing them. I looked up influence, (don’t fall asleep on me yet!) in the trustworthy Webster’s Dictionary from 1828; the online version.

Webster explains we can identify influence by its effects. Influence is completely unseen, a power, like a superpower, brings a person to respond for good or bad.

A driver who becomes angry on the road can influence another driver to an angry response. This is defined as road rage. What happens when a driver practices the opposite behavior on the road, giving way when it is legal and safe? There is an influence that the other driver will know and anyone who witnessed the courtesy given.

You can dismiss the example as not sweeping enough to bring a big change to your City, but how do you know? We have all heard stories of how a simple kindness turned someone’s day around.

In fact, what you do may be a great benefit to you but it also influences others.

A fellow writer and friend of mine writes for a foundation that is holding a 5k in October. The run is not located in my state and I will not be attending the actual 5k, but, I signed up and am training because I believe in the foundation. I will run a few laps in my somewhat rural neighborhood, waving at the deer and squirrels as I jog to the lake and back.

Why am I doing this? I want to help the foundation. The organization’s goal is to help the families of First Responders who are in need. Is my thirty-dollar entry fee going to change one life significantly? Not at all. But if the power of influence is true, it will encourage the foundation, my friend, and myself.

You see, the world has done its darndest to make you overwhelmed with every single tragedy that occurs as it is occurring across the globe. Of course, you care. But not one of us can take it all in, and that is not our job. It is God’s job. Ours is to do our part, where we are when we can.

What does the 5k give me?

          Health goals I can reach.

          Something to look forward to.

          Feeling good that I am helping First Responders.

          An example to my children.

Most of the time, only God and the person will know the influence you have on another soul. In your City, I bet there are testimonies on how you have impacted someone for a good effect.

Continue to use this unseen power wisely.

Christ sacrificed himself so you can have eternity with his father. Does it make sense that as God calls you to pray for and do good for others in your City, there will be a benefit for you and your family? I sure do believe this to be true. Scripture tells us that very fact.

Would you take a moment to pop onto the Trooper Black Foundation to learn about Trooper Black?

Keep Walking on Mustard Seeds,

Michele Marie Weisman

How your frustration blocks God’s plan and how to clear the path.

Seen from the back, a young boy standing outside, holding and studying a paper map.

Many years ago, my frustrations blocked my path, literally. I got lost. (Pre-2000) Gripping handwritten directions and sweating in mid-summer with a no-air-conditioning Toyota mini-truck left me little to go on. I missed an onramp–somewhere.

My forty-five-minute trip took six hours. Filled with fear, worry, and some tears, once I stopped and asked someone for directions, I clearly saw how to get home.

Frustration Blurs our View

Blurred image of woman's head with hands, palms facing out, covering her head. Ivy background.

Jonah was told by God to travel to Nineveh. Warn the people, God told him, of the wrong they were committing. Johna did not want these instructions and fled in his own direction. He did not like God’s plan and was going to make sure he was not part of it.

When you try to stop God’s plans, life gets confusing.

Jonah ends up cast into the sea by men afraid of his God and soon after swalled whole by a whale. This is quite a mess he has found himself in!

Mesh garbage bin, with crumpled paper inside and on the floor outside of it.

What is the solution to things that frustrate you? Talking to God. AKA, prayer. It is simple. I finally stoped and asked for directions and received the information I needed. Jonah had already been given his directions.

Peace comes with this simple and humble step. Saying, “I don’t know the right thing to do in this situation, but someone else does,” is okay.

Still frustrated–what to do next.

The bigger issue is a heart issue. I know, you probably hear this a lot, so I appologize for repeating what you already know.

If we look at Jonah again, he was spiteful in his heart even while he did what God directed him to do. He warned the Ninevehites, but was bitter about it.

Was it that he needed to forgive these people? No. They had not hurt Jonah. Call it pride, ego, or lack of practice, God calls us to help people.

This help comes in a most unusual way. Prayer. We are to pray. Pray for those we love and pray for those who hurt us.

Stop. Come back!

There is so much discord in our lives. News bombards us with stories of crime, wrong doing, even uncontrollable weather. What can we really do with any of this news? We have our own lives to live.

If you listen, really listen closely to the effect of all the bad news, it creates an overwhelm and finger pointing.

God does not command us to be undone by news reports. He tells us to pray for those who bring harm. (Matthew 5:44) And Luke says it this way, you are to pray for anyone who uses you. (Luke 6:28)

Do you feel a continual flow of harm and being taken advantage of?

That could be the chorus of any news feed.

Dirty white tennis shoe being worn. Brilliant monarch butterfly landed on the toe of the shoe.

We are to respond with prayer. Does that sound boring and wimpy? The gift from God of peace can dwel in us when we submit to His power.

Tell me what you think about this.

I don’t like all of the news I hear about my town. But when I set aside my opinions and wants, praying for each person involved, I am giving God glory though my act of prayer. Instead of six hours of frustation, like my driving journey, I can release the outcome to God in a small amout of time.

God, help me see where I feel pushed around by a person or group. Guide my heart in prayer for them. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Until next week, keep Walking on Mustard Seeds,

Michele Marie Weisman

Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash (map and chile)

Photo by Priscilla Du Preez on Unsplash (blurred woman with hands)

Photo by Steve Johnson on Unsplash (office garbage bin)

Photo by Nathan Dumlao on Unsplash (butterfly)

Response to Fear

Have you been overwhelmed with questions about COVID-19? When will we return to normal? What will normal look like? So many are not allowed to work, how will this affect the economy? Will I get sick? Who will care for my family if I do? Will there be what I need at the store? Maybe your questions are different or similar. Some of us are still being asked to stay home. No matter where you are in the world, we are all affected by the new coronavirus.

Image by ElisaRiva from Pixabay

I do not have answers but I know who does, God.

Walking through the pages of my bible the other day, I came across a familiar chapter tucked in the book of Nehemiah. Chapter nine depicts a celebration of rebuilding. At the start of the book, we meet Neheimah, overwhelmed with grief at receiving news of Jerusalem’s wall and gates being destroyed. (Chapter 1, verses 1-4) By praying to God, and submitting to his king, Nehemiah was allowed to begin rebuilding the wall.

In the rebuilding process, Nehemiah’s work and life were threatened several times. It was financially and politically impossible to rebuild the wall. If you are not familiar with the book of Nehemiah, maybe take this weekend to read it, or chapter nine.

This impossible task was completed because God cares, God has a plan, and he is sovereign! We, like Nehemiah, have hope in knowing God.

Let’s meet back here, Monday, as we look at God’s compassion and love for us in response to our fears.

Hope to see you here Monday!