the Joy Dare

I decided to take this dare this year...
This wild joy dare
Running through my days counting up
Filling my days with thankfulness

You can find the joy dare here:

http://www.aholyexperience.com/2012/01/the-1-habit-your-new-year-cant-do-without-giveaway/

Anyway...

I got to January 11th...

It seemed simple enough at first...

Three yellow things that strike you as fresh mercy...

Fresh mercy?

Mercy
mer·cy/ˈmərsē/
Noun:
Compassion or forgiveness shown toward someone whom it is within one's power to punish or harm: "the boy was begging for mercy".

And I wondered... why is this so hard?

"Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment!"

James 2:12-13 (NIV) 

I thought of all of the times I HAVE been punished. Either for doing nothing wrong or for something I deserved to be punished for. 

So, why is it so difficult to recognize the mercy from others? God pours out fresh mercy all day long. Often I wonder, where is that mercy from other people?

I found it... I had to search deep, but I found it.


33. Yellow fabric in quilt squares given and poured out.
34. The gold surrounding the Jehovah Rapha frame... From Jackie, when i was shattered and broken.
35. The yellow brazen sun the day the mission team repaired our roof...




And I wonder... why is this mercy so hard to find. Why would I have to dig to find compassion?


One thing came to mind. Many times mercy only comes from deep relationship. A lasting friendship, a close loved one, a spouse. Compassion sometimes comes to an acquaintance or even a stranger, but even many times... compassion comes to someone much closer than that.

And, I think... somewhere we have gotten that wrong. Love should be contagious and on fire. Wild and growing like this list.

It should know no bounds. And I ask myself... how good am I doing at this? Who have I poured compassion out upon today? Surely the boy and his new blanket... spilling out, pouring out of the sewing machine.







A blanket for a little boy.

I don't know if it will be recognized as an act of compassion or not. But, spreading love is like... pouring out. 

And where will compassion and love burn tomorrow? and the next day?

"For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.' "Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?' "The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'"

Matthew 5:35-40 (NIV) 

All of these thoughts,
spilling out from one little list.


How powerful you are oh Lord,
To use these good things
To build up your people.


So will you join me?

Proverbs 27:17

17 As iron sharpens iron, 

so one person sharpens another.

Join us on this wild Joy dare, and see... see how the Lord will transform you.