God Promotion

I see Buster every morning on my walk.
He is a beautiful Bernese Mountain dog.
He came to the family as a puppy.
He was spirited and playful.

His family installed an electric fence so Buster has over two acres where he can safely run.
He and I have the same morning schedule.
He comes outside with the oldest daughter as she waits for the school bus.
She always gives him a few tosses of the Frisbee until the bus comes.

I am beginning my walk around the same time she is leaving on the bus.
Buster and I are on “speaking” terms.
I talk to him…and he listens.
Hi, Buster…You’re a good boy…is my greeting every morning.
He waits for it…head turned slightly to catch every word.

One morning, the oldest daughter told me that the family is amazed.
Buster never barks at you!
Come to think of it…he doesn’t.
He barks at everyone else…other neighbors getting their papers, or walking their dogs.

Buster and I have a sort of agreement.
I look forward to seeing him each day.
He watches me come around the corner and up the hill.
Ears up…waiting for my greeting.

I was at the grocery store and a woman was pushing an over sized cart.
It was the kind of cart that has the play car in the front.
The car was being driven by her three year old son…wearing sun glasses.
As we passed each other, I waved to him as his mother was choosing ice cream.

I didn’t even think he saw me because of the sunglasses.
After I passed, he said to his mom…I’m cute…she thinks so!
I laughed so hard…while the mom looked around to see who he was talking about.
I told the mom that I was the one who had waved to him.
He is the charmer, she said.

A simple greeting can mean so much.
A smile can make someone’s day.
How are you…can open up time to share hearts.

It is so important for us to encourage each other.
Not for self promotion.
Rather for God promotion!

I talked to Harry today…though I never knew his name before.
He is in his 80’s…he does all the shopping since his wife is ill.
It is so sweet to see him with his grocery list getting exactly what she needs him to get.

We talked a bit as we were in line and finally introduced ourselves.
We see each other every week…on the same schedule it seems.
Today was the perfect opportunity to listen.

Here is a man that worked his whole life…and finally retired.
The company he worked for went bankrupt, and he has lost everything.
He lives on Social Security.
All he counted on disappeared in the company’s red ink.

Years ago, a woman who was the director of women’s ministry in a local church, said something I have never forgotten.
If you go like this (she said, as she scratched the skin on my arm)…we all bleed!

I have thought about the simplicity of that truth.
We all walk around as if we have it all together.
No one ever sees our pain…our frustrations…our sorrow.
Nor should they…all the time.

We never realize what lies right below the surface in the people all around us.
That is what the woman, all those years ago, really meant.
Appearances aren’t everything…in fact they’re not even most things.
There is so much more…underneath…if we just take the time to listen and to care.

Buster senses that I am safe as I walk past him each day.
The little boy sensed that it was okay to be waved at….his mom was nearby.
Harry felt comfortable enough to share…which lightened the load a bit.

Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.
(1 Thessalonians 5:11)

Buster waits for my greeting…which amazes the family.
The little boy was affirmed in his cuteness.
Harry knew there was a listening ear…who cared.

Not self promotion…but God promotion.

God doesn’t need to be promoted.
He is already perfectly holy and sovereign and majestic.
We cannot add anything to His character.

But we can tell others about Him.
We can God promote by our lives, our words, our actions…our time.
Not because He needs it…but because we need to do it.
We need to worship Him with every ounce of our being.

Come and listen, all you who fear God, let me tell you what He has done for me.
(Psalm 66:16)

People don’t want to hear our words until they see the love in our actions first.
In order to tell others what God has done, they must see the difference in what He has done in us.

People are watching.
They need the little bit that you have to offer them.
Promoting the God you love and serve…for His Glory.