At the beginning of 2024, after church one day I had the opportunity to do an act of kindness for someone. Then I thought to myself I should really do something for someone every Sabbath. A few opportunities easily presented, and I did it for a few weeks. Then I didn’t do anything, and I only realised at the end of 2024 during a prayer meeting. I was in a breakout room with one person, and we were to discuss what we wanted to do more of in terms of service to others. That’s when it hit me, here we were in December, and I hadn’t intentionally set out to do something since Feb 2024 and had forgotten all about it!
I was not surprised that I hadn’t been successful because in my role of helping people with their health and lifestyle, I educate them on the way to create a plan that will lead them to success and sustainability. Well, I didn’t follow the formula that I teach during my coaching sessions, so it was not surprising that I didn’t do what I had set out to do. I hadn’t written it down anywhere; I hadn’t set specific things to do each Sabbath. I forgot that having an idea in my head would not work in the long term. You would think for something important like this, that stems from my values, I would have followed that formula, but I didn’t. I decided I needed to resume it. You must be thinking by now I’ve written it down, right? No! I still haven’t written it.
However, on the first Sabbath of the month I did remember the plan, when I saw a lady sitting on the cold ground on the corner of the supermarket. I decided to get for her something to eat even though I hadn’t asked her what she needed. You will see later on why it may have been a good idea to ask what she wanted. I was going to visit my cousin who was ill, and she had asked me to get something for her from the supermarket. If anyone is tempted to judge me for buying on the sabbath, I have 2 things to say on that. One is don’t judge and two, as the Lord of the sabbath aka Jesus himself said in the Excellent Book, “it is lawful to do good on the sabbath”. Amen? Amen!
I didn’t know what food to get for her and unfortunately, they didn’t have a hot section so I could get for her some hot food and a hot drink considering how cold it was. I even asked God “what should I get for her”. The reason I asked for guidance is because any food I thought of needed to be warmed in a microwave or cooked in the oven. That wasn’t going to be practical. Then I saw that the supermarket does meal deals that include a sandwich, a drink and a small fruit assortment in a container. I am only sharing all these details so you can understand what I was thinking and exploring in my head and for you to see where the testimony was coming from.
If I give you the ending alone, you won’t get why God decided to act as he did. From what I understand, Jesus, who gave us the greatest blessing of all, taught in the Excellent Book, not to be like the Pharisees who blow their trumpet when they do charitable acts. God is the only one who needs to know, and he is the best one to validate and reward you anyway. I decided to get a sandwich, a nice chubby bottle of water and some fruit. That’s the Health coach in me. No way was I going to get a sugary drink for her. I went to the till and got my 2 small bags ready to pack my items. The lady at the till was friendly and I proceeded to pack the items as she scanned them. After paying, she then gave me a plastic bag. I asked her “without me paying?” Let me tell you such things don’t happen and let alone this kind of supermarket. Give you something for free, even if it’s only 40p? No.
She then nodded her head and gave me a smile. I thanked her as she proceeded to open the bag for me to put my 2 little bags inside. As I put the first bag into the bag she gave me, the bag split, and the items fell out into that bagging area. She then said, “I didn’t even know that would happen!” I told her “You are God sent!” I knew immediately why God had done that. In fact, I felt there were 2 reasons I could humanly give.
One is that God knew I had a journey on public transport before I got to my cousin’s house, which was not too far but not short enough to be dealing with split contents on the streets on a cold wintery day. The other reason I felt he blessed me in advance was because he had seen my heart to give the lady who was begging. It made me smile! God knows how 2024 ended so I feel he has really been intentional about doing things to make me smile and smile I have.
I literally walked out of the supermarket, waving my left hand back to front, fingers (well fingers in gloves) stretched out in praise, as my right hand carried my little shopping. I went to look for the lady, but she wasn’t in the spot I’d seen her!
I felt a little bummed out, then I saw her standing a few steps away from where she previously was. Phew! I then asked her if I could give her a little snack. She said yes then as I gave her the meal deal, she then said she had a baby, and she needed to find somewhere to live and asked if I had money. I said I didn’t have cash on me, which is the truth. If there is someone who does not carry cash, it is me. I struggle with this when I travel because other countries are not as cardless as the UK has wonderfully become. She then asked if I could go to the cash machine and get some money.
As I walked away, I thought to myself anyway God has seen what I did, and he’s already blessed me. My mission is complete! Or is it? I need to write down my service to others plan so that at the end of 2025 I’m not thinking “Oh my goodness! Again, I didn’t do it!” I will not be amused with myself because it means the smiles God has intentionally been giving me, I am not setting out a day to intentionally spread the smiles and kindness to others.
Yes, I know I can do it any day, but this is what I would like to do after church specifically. I also know things can happen and things may not go to plan but on the many occasions nothing happens, I would like to know there is a planned activity. Naturally that’s not the testimony. My continuous testimony is not only does God bless you when you do good but where he knows you want to do good, whatever it is, whether service to others, your health, career, finances, he helps you set things up so you can win! Only Believe and take your hand off as I mentioned in the previous testimony “The Joy of My Heart in 2024". By the way, I have continued to take my hand off and I am smiling hard, as God continues to bless my podcast. Praise God, Hallelujah!
I actually did an episode few days ago on this topic of setting yourself up to win when it comes to planning to make changes.
What I can tell you is this, if there is anyone who wants you to win at life both here in the land of the living and in eternity, it is God himself. Why? God is phenomenally Amazing in every way and full of Love that you will spend the rest of your life uncovering just how Grand, Perfect and Complete he loves you.
In 2025 may you see, feel, experience and RECEIVE, the Love of God in all you do in phenomenal and Divine ways.
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