Needs, Name, Neighbor

Day 1

Our church is in the middle of a series called "live like you are dying". For a Christian, this may be comforting to think of each day as a gift from God, where we must share him with everyone. For "others", the thought of dying is scary. No hope, no faith, nothing to look forward to. In this series, we have been challenged to share God with EVERYONE, run the race hard, sacrifice some of our comforts for "others", and slow down to focus on our relationships. We have been asked to meet the needs of "others".

I started praying last week for what word to share with you. I was given 3 words: Need, Neighbor and Name. I studied many verses related to each word, and struggled with what I was supposed to share with you. I asked a few people what they thought when they heard the three words. Most came up with the same answer, which was different then what I was seeing through scripture. Then I wondered if I should just be topical, share a few things with you and if you already knew it, then this week would just be review. But there was no peace with that thought.

So here is the point where I struggle with doing something quick that I already know, or take the challenge to dig deeper. I figure that I am not the only one who lives an eventful and sometimes overwhelming life. I am sure that you all have your moments where life is just going too fast. When it comes to the weeks I write, I wonder how many have time to read my long stories and scripture. So in the midst of my overcrowded life, the need to please others and the commitment to you to provide you with something, I must wrestle through this and pray that God will speak through me and not only use me to teach you, but provide me with the wisdom I will need. I pray you will be changed and encouraged this week.

Need- A necessity, a spiritual condition before God. Something that is necessary, something that can be supplied.

Neighbor- close friend, member of the community, close associate, someone who lives nearby.
Name- a label or designation that sets one person apart from another. More than an identifier. Usually formed from words with their own meaning. In the Bible, a persons name would describe their character. Sometimes it would change depending on what that person becomes later in life.

Dear Lord, it's all you. I will be here, so lead my fingers to type your word. Please help me to keep this short and simple and yet challenging and new.

Day 2

Name, Neighbor, Need it's a full circle thing.

So here is the moment where I will capture your mind or loose you completely. Let's start with Name. Each name has a meaning. My name, Heather, means a purple flower. There are some people we call by their last name, each starting with Mr., Mrs., or Miss.. There are the family and friend names some of us would like to forget, like Nader's, spatula, chunky, and ones we get used to, like sweetie, honey, Bo Bo, Sissy, Mommy, and Grammy. We nickname our buddies, calling them shorter versions of their own name like Jenn for Jennifer or attaching a quality like Dash for speed. There are names we earn through our education or calling on our lives, like Dr, Professor, Pastor, etc... Next, the people we associate with may prefer to be called by their last name and some by their first name. There are people I live next to, at first knowing them by their last name and eventually learning their first. Often times continuing to refer to them as the "Gardner's" or the "Flinker's". Then there are the famous ones, whom we know their name, but do not have a personal relationship with. Mostly, there are people we don't even know at all. They are our neighbors, they go to school with our children, they stand on corners and hold cardboard signs proclaiming their "need" for something. When I first started my relationship with God, I called him God. Now, he is oftentimes referred to as my Father, brother, friend, provider, comforter, etc... There are a lot of ways to define the word Name.
God asks us to "love our neighbors as ourselves." (Leviticus 19:18). Scripture does not say a specific name. It simply calls us to meet the "needs" of others. Some of our associates or neighbors or "other's" may be hard to get along with. We may have grudges or dislikes about them, but that is not what God intended for "others". Proverbs 14:21 He who despises his neighbor sins, but blessed is he who is kind to the needy. Turn on the TV and you will find someone in need. Organizations all over the world are meeting the needs of others. Some do this to glorify God and some do not. In fact, this summer, I watched a video about a man who is not sure about God, but has organized an event that raises over 1 billion dollars in one day to help those in need. He does this annually. We are all called to meet others needs, so we should not be surprised when non believers are compelled to do it. It is weaved into our being. Unfortunately the motive may not be right. Matthew 6:1 "Be careful not to do your 'acts of righteousness' before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. Does anyone remember the Proverbs 31 Woman that we discussed last year? (you can look it up on the blog site). It is my desire to be like her, although I may never fully match all the wonderful qualities she has, one thing stands out about her. Proverbs 31:20 She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy. Here we find another layer we must explore. The name of the Lord: who supplies our needs so that we may take care of ourselves and our neighbors. So that we may be spiritually fit and ready to share light in the darkness. So that the name above all names is glorified. 2 Corinthians 9:12 This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God's people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God.
So I have a thought, provoked by scripture. God does not need anything, he supplies all our needs. It is through us that others needs will be met. 2 Corinthians 8:14-15 Right now you have plenty and can help them. Than at some other time they can share with you when you need it. In this way, every one's needs will be met. ...."those who gathered a lot had nothing left over, and those who gathered only a little had enough." While we can meet the needs of others without knowing God, there is something that happens which is far greater when we who love and know God extend his hand, we offer them a window into the world, the relationship we have with God. We have something that they "need" and it is far greater than food, clothing, or shelter. It is only by our actions in supplying basic needs, that we are able to express Gods love to our neighbors, in this, we are able to glorify the name of our Lord. Psalm 138:2 I will bow down toward your holy temple and will praise your name for your love and your faithfulness, for you have exalted above all things your name and your word.

Day 3

Questions

There are a lot of good people meeting NEEDS and loving their neighbors. Can you think of some? Are you one of them?

Our actions are motivated to glorify a NAME. What NAME should we glorify by our actions?
As a christian, do you meet the NEEDS of NEIGHBORS by calling upon the NAME of Jesus?

When we call upon the NAME of Jesus, it means by the authority of Jesus Christ. This allows for God to receive all the Glory. Are there times where you have allowed your NAME to take the place of God's? Have there been times when God should have received the glory for a need that was met? Do you believe God uses us to meet the needs of others?

We all know great people who meet the NEEDS of others. Who gets the glory in their works? Do they do it in their NAME or in the NAME of the Lord? Can you think of a NEIGHBOR or someone in NEED in your community? How can you open your arms to the poor and extend your hands to the needy (proverbs 31)?

Day 4

Focus

Let's focus on Needs, Names and Neighbors.

What are your needs? Are they being met? Will you be willing to share them so that others may be used to meet those needs? Please let our group know your needs.

What are your neighbors needs? Do you pass by someone who could use a new coat, a word of encouragement, a warm meal? Does your child have a friend that needs a safe place to be? Does your neighbor need you to extend a helping hand? Does your church have the opportunity to reach out the the needy, what can you and or your family do to help those efforts?

Depending on what your relationship is like with God right now, can you list all the names you call him? What names do you hear others calling him, but have not yet experienced? o you know someone else who needs a Father, friend, brother, husband, comforter? What is their name? Can you get to know them better?

Neighbors are not just those that live next to us. Think about these "others". How do they meet your needs? How have they extended their hands to you? Have you offered your thanks to God for these people?

Now, don't forget to send me an email with whatever comments you have about this week and your praises for tomorrow. I am sure there is at least one praise you can send.

Day 5

Praise Fridays

Hopefully you have been challenged to do something to meet the needs of others. Maybe you have begun a new relationship with God, getting to know him more. Perhaps you introduced yourself to a neighbor. Maybe you decided to let others know what your needs are. Whatever this devotional has caused, I hope you remember that it is God who deserves all the Glory, that when we strive to meet the needs of others, our needs are met as well.

I have one last thing in honor of Grandma Ada who's memorial was last Saturday. When others ask how you are doing or how your day is, would you respond with "blessed" and truly believe that you are blessed that they even asked. God may have put that person in your path to be blessed as well.

Ask God to continue to challenge you in meeting others needs. To reveal needs that you can meet and to give you the courage to ask when you have needs.

Praise God for those who have met your needs, for the ability to love your neighbor as you love yourself.

Confess moments where you wanted the glory, or where you did not meet someones needs or ask for help when you needed it.

Lord, I thank you for this devotional, even if it means that I learn along the way. I thank you for those who read it and are willing to offer feedback and who truly act on what they learn. Lord, I know it is hard to ask others for help, but we are stealing others blessings if we are trusting in you to provide our needs, but not receiving them. Help us to call on the name of Jesus to heal, supply and comfort those in need. Give us the courage to go outside our comfy neighborhood, church, workplace and meet those needs that are far greater than ours. Praise you for the women in our group who have already responded to your calling. May they be blessed according to your will, abundantly, if I have anything to say about it. As far as I am concerned, Lord, I ask that you use me and all my things that I do not need so that I can meet the needs of others.