A blog where women are inspired and encouraged to grow in their relationship with Christ.

Monday, April 8, 2013

Yes, You Matter


I ran into Aldi’s the other day to do a little grocery shopping. I  just needed chicken, raw almonds and feta cheese.  That’s it.  Quick. Easy. In and out.  Or so I thought.  After quickly buzzing through the store, I got up to the ONE check-out line and found twelve people- no joke- standing there.  Most with shopping carts heaped high with groceries.  Well, I said to my grumbly self, “Sheesh, you’d think they’d open another line or at least, someone would let me go ahead of them since I’ve only got a few things. I really don’t have time for this.  I’ve got way too much to do!”

And then, totally out of the blue, this thought came to mind... “Mary, you need to pray for these people.”  Now, I’ve come to realize that when I have a totally out-of-the-blue-not-what-I-want-to-do thought that, though not audible, is still deeply impressed upon my heart... Yep, it’s probably the Holy Spirit.
So, deciding to be quasi-obedient, I began a pretty generic draw-them-all-to-You kind of prayer.  And then another not-me thought came to mind...  “Mary, pray specifically for each person in this store.”  And my thought, “But I can’t! I’ll lose my place in line!”  Really Mary?  You’ll lose your place in line?  Really?  That's the best you've got?!

So, I turned my cart around, {darn, now I was fifth in line} and began 
to take notice of each person around me.  
I began to walk back through the aisles and pray specifically for: 

The man with the skeleton tattoo on his neck.

The woman with blond hair, black roots and multiple piercings.

The mom with the red-headed toddler and sleeping baby in the cart.

The sad-faced, white haired woman choosing ice-cream.

The elderly gentleman with a slight limp and a kind smile.

The forty-something woman on her cell-phone.

The tall blond woman in a black dress coat on her cell-phone. 

And, on it went. 



After each person had been prayed for, I finally made my way back to the front of the store.  There was no one left in the check-out line... just me.  So I loaded my few groceries onto the belt, talked and laughed with the cashier, handed her my money and waving good-bye, prayed for her.

After loading my groceries, I sat in my car, head on the steering wheel and cried...  
 Oh God, what an honor it is to pray for those You love.  Forgive me for my selfishness.   Help me to have Your heart for those around me.  Help me to, at the very least, give mental recognition to each person I see.  They exist. They matter.  Help me to love as You love, care about those You care about. 
 Show me Lord...

     1.  It’s not about me or my schedule.

     2.  Every single person mattersYou matter.  God cares deeply for each man, woman, and child that I walk past.  

3.  No one, No. One.  is nameless or faceless to Him.

     4.  When God says “Go”, never say “But, I....”  Don’t say anything but... Yes.     

     I need to go to Wal-Mart this week... That's a very busy place.  Lots of people.
     Honestly, I'm a little worried that the Lord will ask me to pray for everyone there... Surely not :)

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 
By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another”  
John 13:34, 35
 Living in His grace, 
Mary                           
How aware are you of the people around you?
Has God asked you to do something out of your box?!
If so, how did you respond? 
Please leave a comment!
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56 comments:

  1. Replies
    1. Yes, Cheryl, I'm so thankful that God opened my heart to those walking by... He has such beautiful, unexpected ways of extending His love!
      Thanks for coming by!
      Blessings to you ~ Mary

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    2. God wants us to slow down for Him. To put "me" aside to pray, share, and love our world. Thank you for this post!

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    3. Yes! You've put it beautifully! I love when He shows us 'out of the box' ways to love others!
      I appreciate you coming by!
      Blessings to you my friend ~ Mary

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  2. Beautiful! Will be sharing this :)

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    1. Thanks April! I was just at your site. Loved your post!
      Blessings to you ~ Mary

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  3. Thank you for sharing this Mary, its such a blessing to read this kind of encouragement!

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    1. Ashley, I marvel at the love the Lord has for each of us. I'm so glad he reminds me of that!
      I always look forward to your visits... You're such a sweetheart!
      Blessings and love to you ~ Mary

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  4. Sounds like a normal day at Aldi :) At least you obeyed. I put it off to a time which ends up being never...thanks for the reminder to actually listen.

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    1. Bekah, it was certainly an interesting shopping trip! I'm trying to be quick to hear and quick to obey... I have to admit that there are times when I don't do either very well. I'm glad He's patient with us!
      Thanks so much for visiting!
      Blessings to you ~ Mary

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  5. Hi Mary,
    My daughter (Stacie) recommended your sight to me. She is the blogger of no.idle-bread.blogspot.com. I have enjoyed visiting your site and I enjoyed your current post especially. I will start following you today and I hope you will follow my blog as well. Surrenderedone.blogspot.com. I have been blogging for some years now but recently my blog got malware on it. I have started the new blog I mentioned above. I have two lovely adult children, a wonderful son-in-law, 5 lovely grand children and an amazing husband. I am a believer in Jesus Christ. Thank you for sharing.
    Winnie

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    1. Welcome Winnie! I'm so glad that Stacie sent you my way! I really enjoy her blog and I look forward to visiting yours. It sounds as though you have a lovely family... five grandchildren! That's awesome!
      I love having you here... and thanks for following!
      Blessings to you ~ Mary

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  6. I want a Mary in the store when I go to one. To be 'randomly' prayed for...Jesus He is so fun to serve. Way to be obedient! He had better plans for you than to 'stand in line', I think I will remember this next time I go to the grocery store!

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    1. You're right, Marlece! He had a much better plan for me that day! He has wonderful ways to extend His love... I just need to hear and obey!
      Blessings to you ~ Mary

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  7. Oh; very inspiring Mary! A gentle voice and a little push from God, blessed you and others around you in an enormous way! I will reflect on this post when I am in too much of a hurry (and maybe a little too impatient?) to think and pray about what is going on in other's hearts and thoughts.

    Blessings and hugs!
    Denise

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    1. Oh Denise, God has such beautiful ways to love on us doesn't He?! He's so good to impress on our hearts what's on His.
      Thank you for coming by today!
      Blessings and love to you ~ Mary

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  8. This post gripped my heart. I could just picture you sheltering all those people under the branches of a tree full of the fruit of the spirit. Prayer softens our hearts to the needs of others.

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    1. Pamela, you're so right. Prayer does soften our hearts towards others. Thank you for creating such a beautiful word picture! Love this!
      Blessings and love ~ Mary

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  9. I just love your heart here, friend. NO ONE is nameless of faceless to Him...oh how that strikes me today as truth! My husband and I were just talking about that...the burden God feels for "each" of His children...no matter who or where they are! Have a blessed, blessed week! ~ Jen

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    1. Jen, I love the conversation you had with your husband! Yes, God SEES and KNOWS the heart of each one... no one goes unnoticed or unloved.
      I'm so glad you came by today! Have a wonderful week with our Lord!
      Blessings and love ~ Mary

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  10. Praying for strangers... I like that.

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    1. Duane, God certainly has wonderful ways to show His love!
      Thanks for visiting!
      Blessings to you ~ Mary

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  11. I sometimes pray for one or two strangers, but this... wow, so hard to get yourself to do it, yet so rewarding. What an encouragement; bless you!
    --Visiting from SDG.

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    1. Hi Janice! Sometimes it's difficult for me to obey... but I'm so blessed when I do! I love to see how God chooses to show us His love!
      Thanks so much for coming by!
      Blessings to you ~ Mary

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  12. What a beautiful reminder of the love God has for each person and for the blessing of sharing that love.

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    1. Rose, I just love how He chooses to stretch us and show His immeasurable love!
      I'm glad you came by!
      Blessings to you ~ Mary

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  13. What a sweet post. I love your sensitivity to the Holy Spirit and being teachable in a time of frustration. What a blessing this post was. Thank you.

    :)

    Heather @ http://wonderousblunderous.blogspot.com

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    1. Heather, I love how patient and faithful God is to teach us how to love Him and others. I'm happy to have you here!
      Blessings to you ~ Mary

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  14. What a beautiful story. So sweet that you were willing to listen to God's voice and change your entire perspective. Now, I need to apply this to my next trip to the grocery store. Since I often shop at Walmart, I hope God just asks me to pray for the people in one section of the store : )
    Really, the possibilities for prayer are endless, aren't they?
    I always enjoy your posts, but this was especially meaningful to me.

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    1. Thank you Gail! God is so good at using the ho-hum things in our days to change us and bless us for His glory. We'll see how your next Walmart visit goes! :)
      I'm so glad you came by!
      Blessings and love ~ Mary

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  15. What a great example of living in the Spirit!

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    1. God is so good to make His presence known! Now if I can just have an ear to hear and the determination to obey!
      Thank you for coming by!
      Blessings to you ~ Mary

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  16. Mary,
    what a great example to all of us. I know I don't get upset in lines anymore and sometimes I remember to pray for those in line but never have I had such an awesome word from God. And you obeyed.
    Thanks for linking to Wednesday's Word.
    Blessings,
    Janis

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    1. Janis, God was so good to nudge me out of the line and 'invite' me to pray for those in the store. I love how He chooses to show his awesome love for us!
      Thanks so much for hosting the linkup!
      Blessings to you my friend ~ Mary

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  17. Dear Mary
    Just the other day my grumpy self was also telling our Lord that I didn't mean much to my family anymore now that I was so often bed- or couch bound by Fm/CFS. Then, on my birthday last Friday, I received a message from my son thanking me for always praying for him for he didn't know where he would have been without my constant prayers!! I felt quite ashamed of my nagging just a few days before. Oh, us humans!
    Sweet blessings to you, dear friend
    Mia

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    1. Oh Mia, I know how difficult having a chronic illness can be. BUT, just because your life doesn't look like those around you, doesn't mean for a moment that you're not sublimely loved and of great value...especially to our Abba. I'm so tickled that your son let you know how precious you are to him. Your faithful prayers and love for the Lord have profoundly impacted your son and so many others.
      Oh, our humaness!
      God bless you and much love, my friend ~ Mary

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  18. Thank you for this reminder to listen and obey -- and to notice and pray for those around us. What a wonderful God we have, who loves each one and says we each matter!

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    1. Hi Janet! We certainly do serve an awesome God who loves each one of us beyond comprehension!
      Thanks so much for coming by tonight!
      Blessings to you ~ Mary

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  19. Mary, what a reminder to have His eyes when I am out and about. I may not able to do much, but I can pray... This is so powerful. What a good word! Thank you

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    1. I know I miss so many opportunities... But if we could have His heart for those around us, we'd be compelled to love with His love. Lives would change... Our lives would change!
      Thanks so much for coming by! I love having you here!
      Blessings to you ~ Mary

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  20. Beautiful post Mary! Thanks for stopping by and linking up at Intentional Me for Thought Provoking Thursday. I'm honored to have you visit. Blessings, Michelle

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    1. Michelle, thank you for coming by and a special thanks for hosting TPT!
      Blessings to you, my friend ~ Mary

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  21. Saw this on a blog-hop.

    Very nice. I think I might have to do that next time at the store. Thanks.

    Thanks,
    Patrick

    csuhpat1.blogspot.com

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    1. It's nice to have you here, Patrick!
      Thanks so much for coming by!
      Blessings to you ~ Mary

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  22. Wow! So glad I stopped by here! What a wonderful message! Bless your heart. I do try to be more patient when standing in lines, etc, but to pray for everyone...I need to remember this. Love!!

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    1. Hi Beth! Yes, it was certainly a lesson in patience and recognizing the awesome love of our Lord!
      I'm so glad you came by for a visit!
      Blessings to you ~ Mary

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  23. Wonderful, thought provoking, and definitely challenging. Thank you for sharing this!

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    1. Hi Kaye! Your comment made me smile because it certainly describes our God!:)
      Thank you for taking time to visit!
      Blessings my friend ~ Mary

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  24. Beautiful reminder to not miss an opportunity to pray for others. (I came from Nanahood's bloghop.)

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    1. God is so good to give up opportunities to bring others before Him... His love is awesome!
      I'm glad you made it over today!
      Blessings to you ~ Mary

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  25. What a challenge God gave you. It a comfort to know someone prays for us while we stand in a line or in any crowd. Thanks for the reminder of praying at every opportunity, it sure cuts down the frustration of waiting. Blessing my sister.

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    1. Hi Betty! It certainly was a challenge! It was just such a neat way for God to show his love for others and for me.
      I'm so glad you came by today
      Blessings, my friend ~ Mary

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  26. "3. No one, No. One. is nameless or faceless to Him. "

    I love this! Thanks for the reminder!

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    1. Hi Ren! It's so awesome that God knows and cares so deeply for EACH one of us!
      It's always so good to hear from you!
      Blessings, my friend ~ Mary

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  27. Love this post! I love those moments when God speaks to me like this (especially when I actually listen...lol). Always reminded that His way is better :)

    Your post is the featured post at Thriving Thursday this week. I pray that others will read it and be blessed by it as I was. http://www.servingjoyfully.com/2013/04/17/thriving-thursday-4-18/

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    1. Crystal, thank you so much for featuring WtoW! I'm so honored!
      Thanks for doing such a great job hosting the TT Linkup! You touch the lives of so many ladies!
      Blessings and love ~ Mary

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Your comments mean so much to me. I love reading each and every one! Thanks so much!