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Who Is Your Just One? Making a Difference One Person and One Moment at a Time

Who Is Your Just One? Making a Difference One Person and One Moment at a Time - Lori Schumaker - Searching for Moments

Just one person. Just one moment.

The potential to make a difference.

We were at the beach for a weekend getaway. As I sat perched on my chair overlooking the beach, I noticed a man just below me working diligently on a sandcastle. This wasn’t a dad playing with his children. There were no children with him. This was a man so deep in concentration he didn’t even notice the throngs of people running, laughing, and playing around him. Nothing was a distraction to this man intent on his creation.

Searching for Moments www.lorischumaker.com

I had to ask.

“Hi! What are you working on?”

With that one question, this man shared his story. It poured out. His eyes lit up and the passion behind this project became evident. He loved sharing a part of who he was and I loved listening. I walked away inspired. Maybe God just happened to know I had been struggling with my own dream that weekend? Maybe this chance meeting was designed for both of us.

Have you ever had one of those experiences before? Where a complete stranger opens up and shares their story? I love the power in those moments. Moments that God arranged to meet the needs of two strangers in two very different ways.

All because of just one person and just one moment.

Do not let kindness and truth leave you; Bind them around your neck, Write them on the tablet of your heart. -Proverbs 3:3

Relationship leads to being known. God designed us for relationship and therefore we all have a deep desire to be known.

Last week, I shared the story of our pastor and his family in my post, If You Say So, I Will Go. In it, I asked you these questions.

“To what or where is Jesus calling you?”And “What will your answer be?”

But today, I have a new question. Not to what or where. Today, I want to ask you, “Who?”

Who is your just one?

Who is God calling you to in the everyday moments? The moments that have the power to make a difference? The moments God has set up allowing us the privilege of partaking in His master plan.

But are we missing those moments?

Heads down, rushing to our next destination? Unaware? Absorbed within our own heads or absorbed by the altered version of reality social media has to offer?

You see, I believe God calls us to be good stewards of all our blessings.

Including our moments.

Are you missing the moments that make a difference? #whoisyourjustone #moments #bgbg2 Click To Tweet

And because He deeply values loving others, I believe using our moments in that way is stewarding our blessings well.

“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” -Matthew 22:36-40 NIV

Loving others is as simple as a smile, a hello, a question or an encouraging word.

As believers, we know that at our core, it is God alone who can fill the deepest places in our hearts.  But we are human and living in a world where the effects of sin weigh us down and wear us out.

We find ourselves in seasons where Nameless and Unknown describe the reflection we see in the mirror.

I’ve been there before. In a season that carves a hole in our hearts. A hole striving to convince us of our unworthiness.

God is the only One who can fill that hole. But friends, He chooses to use us here as Jesus with skin on. When we live out the love He calls us to, by reaching out to our “just one”, we allow the love of Christ to flow through us. We become conduit for His love and from that point, God does all kinds of wonderful with it.

Don’t miss your moments. Each day, ask God to reveal your “Just One”.

Reach out to others. Smile. Ask a question. Encourage them in some way. Your moment may be the one God uses to remove their label of Nameless  and Unknown. Your moment may be just what they need to find the true Source of fulfilling love.

Just one person. Just one moment.

The potential to make a difference.

Be a good steward of your #moments.Don't miss the ones God has given you! #whoisyourjustone #bgbg2 Click To Tweet

Heavenly Father, your mighty design is powerful, beautiful, and goes far beyond what our minds could ever construe. Thank you for divine appointments. Thank you trusting us with your moments and with the honor of being the conduit of your unfailing and redeeming love. Lord, I ask You to put our eyes up when we have a tendency to keep them down. Light our faces with a smile even when our faces are more comfortable with less expression. Give us warmth in our words even when we feel timid or uncomfortable with conversation. Lord, use us in Your plan and let us, each day, see our “just one”. Don’t let us miss the moments. In your precious name I pray. Amen.

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33 Comments

  1. Overwhelmed with the beauty of this challenge.
    I particularly loved your story about the man with the sand castle, an example of wholehearted involvement in a pursuit — undistracted, regardless of audience. This focus and determination is something I long for in my walk with Christ.

    1. Oh, Michele, I am so with you on that longing. I struggle with distraction. My brain races everywhere all.the.time. I’ll pray for us both to find that focus and determination!
      Blessings and smiles,
      Lori
      p.s. On May 2nd, I’m stretching myself and launching a link-up called Moments of Hope. Your posts are always filled with so much hope. I would love to have you join me there!

  2. Lori, this is so powerful! I think we’re all guilty of rushing through life with our eyes on our electronics and our minds 10 minutes ahead. What a beautiful way of reminding us to slow down and simply notice each other. Every moment used to make connections. Just a smile or a quick hello can make a difference in someone’s day. I’m challenged to notice more! Thank you! I’m sharing this like crazy!

    1. Deb, My lifelong friend was just telling me another story that started with a simple “hello” that turned into an adoptive set of grandparents for her. It was a such a beautiful story of God’s perfect plan. Someday I think that one will have to be another post! 🙂 Thank you so much for sharing and for your kind words!
      Hugs,
      Lori

  3. I prayed that ending prayer with you. I love what you’ve shared here, Lori. Yes, we need to keep our eyes open to those divine appointments that God has for us. Thank you for sharing this.

    1. Thank you so much for praying that prayer. It makes my heart smile so big. You are a blessing, Dawn!
      Hugs,
      Lori

  4. Love this challenge, Lori – to seek to minister to one person at a time in one moment at a time. What a wonderful way to do ministry!
    I’m sharing this one all around.
    Sure am blessed by you and your ministry~
    Melanie

    1. Thanks, Melanie! I think we can do more with our idle moments if we keep our eyes open for who God is setting before us. Thanks so much for sharing!
      Blessings and smiles,
      Lori

  5. I love this… and I love that you approached the man at the beach with a simple question and he so willingly opened up to tell his story! Powerful reminder for us to do the same –both to ask, and to tell! We’re neighbors over at Jennifers’ place today! So glad I stopped by!

    1. Hi Karrilee,
      I just love it when God sets up those moments! The man was so inspiring because I am not one who could ever focus and work on art like that so diligently! I love how God designs us so uniquely but allows us to learn so much from each other! BTW – I wanted to let you know I am diving in and starting a link-up, Moments of Hope, on May 2nd! I’d love to have you join me!!!
      Blessings and smiles,
      Lori

  6. Thank you for the encouragement to be a good steward of each moment and each encounter.

    1. Hi sweet friend! Do you know how big I smile when I see your name here? Very BIG!!! Guess what? I’m diving in and launching a new link-up, Moments of Hope, on May 2nd! I hope hope HOPE you come join me 🙂
      Hugs,
      Lori

  7. What a beautiful post. I get so upset with myself when I ask God to lead me to someone/something and I get busy and miss it or am not paying attention when it/they come. As we all are, I am a work in progress.

    1. Amen! We surely are all a work in progress! Our busy world is so conducive to rushing with our heads down. I think it has always been a tendency of man, but in today’s world, we can get locked in the digital devices in our hands and truly miss nearly everything! Thank you so much for visiting!
      Blessings and smiles,
      Lori
      BTW – I wanted to let you know I am diving in and starting a link-up, Moments of Hope, on May 2nd! I’d love to have you join me!!!

  8. Beautiful post. I can imagine the man diligently working on this beautiful sand sculpture, using the gifts that God gave for Him to use. The imagery is lovely. Thanks for sharing.

    1. Hi Rosa,
      Thanks for visiting me and thank you for your kind words! That man was quite inspiring! I love learning about people – especially those different from me. I have such a hyper mind that focusing on art like that is nearly impossible! It is so beautiful how God creates us all so differently!
      Blessings and smiles,
      Lori

  9. Very thought-provoking! Thanks for this prayer-prompt : ) #WomenWithIntention

    1. Thank you, Bethany, for visiting! I am glad you enjoyed the prayer prompt. I’d like to invite you to join me on May 2nd when I launch a new link-up, Moments of Hope!
      Blessings and smiles,
      Lori

  10. I love how God engineers our days when we are supple in His hands – such a privilege, whoever comes our way. thanks for your encouraging words, lori.

    1. Thank you so much for visiting and for your kind words, Sue. We are so privileged to be used by our amazing God, right?!
      Blessings and smiles,
      Lori
      BTW – I wanted to let you know I am diving in and starting a link-up, Moments of Hope, on May 2nd! I’d love to have you join me!!!

  11. Who is my “just one” today? Excellent question that we should ask ourselves every day! So far I’ve only seen one person (my daughter), but I’ve been in contact via internet with many others. God definitely puts people into our paths in SO many ways these days; we need to stay aware of all of these as opportunities to share God’s love. Thanks for sharing your story; great post.

  12. Beautiful post! I believe sometimes those encounters are witness to Angels on earth. Have you ever looked back to see the space occupied by such an experience empty? God is amazing. Who knows when we’re helping a soul share their story, and when God is helping us to believe in ours. I loved the way this made me think and smile up at God today.
    Happy #livefreeThursday!!
    Megs

  13. What a wonderful story. I love these moments. I was very touched a couple of weeks ago when I was trying to fix my bike outside my apartment and an older gentleman came to help me. We had met only briefly before and he owed me nothing, but he worked on my bike for about 15 minutes. His kindness moved me. I hope I can be that person for others.

  14. It is such an honor when people just randomly open up to you. I have always treasured those moments. I, too, am guilty of rushing along and just keeping my head down and not paying attention to those around me. Thank you for the reminder!
    ~Haley

  15. I love the story of the man and the sandcastle. I don’t leave the house too often, but I’m purposing in my heart to pray the Lord gives me my just one the next time we go town. Thank for this encouragement and for sharing with Thankful Thursdays.

    1. I’ll be praying for a beautiful encounter, Lori!
      Blessings and smiles,
      Lori

  16. A moment like this happened just today with me. You never know when God will speak to our hearts, if we obey, we bless others and they bless us. Inspiring post.

    1. Amen! Thank you for sharing you special moment with us! And thank you for your kind words!
      Blessings and smiles,
      Lori

  17. Lori, this is such a great reminder. Sometimes I get so busy I forget to look for my “just one”. On our recent life path it seems as if we are being sent others to lift up or help, and it’s a blessing. Then there are other times that I know that I have been blessed enough to be someone else’s “just one” and man, that is such a great feeling. As if God himself came to check on me, and wanted to make sure I was ok. If God uses me to give that same feeling to someone else, that is so cool!

    1. I am so thankful others are stepping in to be Jesus for you in this time! And I just know that with your beautiful spirit, those who reach out to you, are in turn, blessed abundantly!
      Hugs,
      Lori

  18. So true there can be those amazing moments where it was needed by both strangers on both ends and something amazing was shared. Sounds inspiring. Thanks for sharing your story on #ShareWithMe

    1. Thanks so much, Jenny, for stopping by!
      Hugs,
      Lori

  19. Thanks for these great thoughts and truth. Yes, every person we encounter is a chance to be Jesus to. God bless.