​Just two minutes of your time can have an incredible impact.  

I am on a journey of learning.  My heart is ripe for life lessons.  I have become more aware of the needs that surround me each day.  I am not sure how I got here but I have to share a few things that I have learned.

The needs are great and we have a serious problem.  

Let me try to explain - society has become so inwardly focused that we have lost sight of what is around us.  In my analytical discussions I have concluded with all my earthly wisdom - that it all stems from the self-improvement industry that took over the book publishing world a couple of decades ago.  While improving yourself is not a negative action, not sharing the improvements with the world around you is.  The majority of the self-improvement books didn't include that chapter.

So what we see today is a society that is looking for the next thing to make them happy, for other people to make them happy, to buy the next trendy item to make them happy.  They are not going to find happiness in any of those locations.

What I have learned is that heart happiness comes from a two minute investment.

A couple of years ago I tried something different for lent, I decided to "give" instead of "give up".  You can read about it here.  That experience has never left the way that I look at relationships around me.

I see the needs around me and I want to help - but the needs are great and I am just me.  

I have friends that are traveling down some dark roads and through deep water and I wanted to add a little light and encouragement to their day.  So I began taking two minutes out of my day and investing in those that need support and strength.  I would pray for my friend and then text them a scripture picture.  

I could write all sorts of fancy words and quotes but nothing that I could text would bring comfort and support the way God's holy word can.

Finding two minutes is easy- sitting in the car line, one less scroll through social media or sitting down at the end of your day.  A short prayer and God's word will have a tremendous impact on those with needs around each one of us.  All of us have an opportunity to be the hands and feet and light of Jesus to the world around us.

I am so enjoying investing my time this way.  I am finding more two minute opportunites in my day and searching for more cell phone numbers to send messages to.  Many times I will be praying for someone and I word or scripture will come to mind and then I know what I need to send to them, many times I get a reply that says, "That is just what I needed to hear today." and that just makes my heart smile.  Our Father knows what they need and I am happy to send the text message for Him.

I created a board on Pinterest where I keep scriptures that I want to share and then I have saved them on my phone.  If you want a head start you can follow my board for options.  

Let's be an encourager to the world around us.  Think of someone that needs encouragement and invest two minutes of your time.  You won't regret it.

I am just overflowing with emotions.  I don't know if it is the change of seasons, the state of the world or the mid-40's - but I overly affected and emotional about the events going on around me.  

Mentoring has always been something that is so heavy on my heart that it pains me to see opportunities lost and the pain and silent suffering of those who needed that interaction in their life.

A young man that I knew committed suicide in our community.  This is becoming too common and is not something that is talked about.  And that just makes me mad!  I am sorry for this family and their loss and that this is the choice that he made, as well as the other families in the community who have lost a loved on this way.  But we need to get our heads out of the sand and see that this is becoming a problem and we need to help our youth.  Why are they even considering this as an option?

As I look at this trend in my community I wonder who are the people that are involved in their lives, who comes across their path that could make a difference?  When given that nudge in our spirit to say a word of encouragement do we choose to make the effort or do we continue on with our busy schedules?

As I am being consciously aware of my responsibility as outlined in Titus 2, I am noticing more opportunities crossing my path daily!  It makes me wonder how many opportunities I may have missed.  As I looked at the picture of this young boy the thought kept running through my head, "What are we as the “church” doing?”  I do not mean that big building on the corner I mean those of us who are the hands and feet of Jesus Christ doing in our daily lives? 
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Scripture tells us to become more Christ-like.  I heard an interesting description from Matt Chandler from The Village Church as I was listening to a podcast.  He was talking about when Jesus was instructing his disciples to go and make disciples.  The word “go” in the context is passive.  It means as you go about your day-to-day make disciples.

I see it the same with mentoring, as you go about your day be an example of Jesus Christ.  The church doesn’t need another program, we as followers of Jesus need to actively live our lives for the greater good.
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I see so much hurt in the lives of teen girls today.  I often ask myself what I am doing about it?  Am I living up to what God has instructed me in Titus 2?  Do the young women today aspire to be women of God?  Why or Why not?
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I am asking myself a lot of questions that are burning on my mind these days - What I have been finding in my own life is that I am too busy.  That I busy myself doing things with my family, with friends, work, etc.  But I leave little to no room for opportunities to be a positive example in the life of someone that God has placed before me.

In order to fulfill our calling in Titus we all need to “make” the time and be open to any opportunity that sets itself in front of us.  The word mentoring doesn’t always mean taking someone out for coffee once a week.  A new term that is being used is “lifestyle mentoring” which is more of what I am thinking about.  That we be open to sharing our lives with those that enter our path as we go about our day to day.

Take a few minutes today to read through Titus 2 and may you start to become aware to whatever opportunity may cross your path.