I needed a place to go today, not a place to air all my grievances but a place where I could just feel safe to share what is on my heart and on my mind today. Somewhere, someone would understand... So, naturally I turn to the Holy Spirit, who can decipher even my deep signs and groans.
I know I have not written here in a very long time but it has actually been a really difficult year, plagued with many lengthy hospital visits for Cookiepants. She is home, we got home again this past Saturday. We had such high hopes for this last visit, a surgery that in theory would have alleviatedI some of her digestive discomfort. But here we are staring into the face of the same beast that has troubled her since birth, manifesting itself as uncontrollable screaming and punching and being generally inconsolable.
I cry out to the Holy Spirit for His help and His guidance every single day. Whom else should I cry out to but my Father? He is filled with all knowledge and wisdom and is the only one who has what I need. Whether it be comfort or wisdom, He has it. And honestly, I just like spending time with Him. He gets me.
Being a special needs parent has not gotten easier. You just get to a place where you are pushed beyond your, "never will I ever's" and you fix your messy bun, refill your tea mug with the strongest tea you can import and you deal. You stare into the face of all the things you never wanted to do, all of the things no parent ever dreams about doing. In our case, many days have been an especially tailored nightmare. We do our best every single day but some days it just isn't enough.
While we were in the hospital, I prayed and asked God what He wanted me to do. The Holy Spirit whispered, "Sara, you have the ability to bring a bit of heaven with you where ever you go." So I took Him at His word and viewed the hospital as not just somewhere people go to get better (hopefully) but as a Holy Spirit playground. I saw opportunities all over the place to pray for others and lay hands on people in prayer. Back in July when there was the chance that we could have lost Lily, I wasn't going to let her very poor condition stop me from being hopeful for her and for others. I cheered when I saw children going home, knowing my child was going to be there for at least another 10 days. I celebrated the work I saw God doing all over that place. I celebrated when Lily broke through her poor diagnosis and began getting better again. I celebrated when her partial blockage was discovered in her stomach because at least we knew about one more missing piece to the puzzle.
There continues to be so much that we just don't know. This week, in spite of being fed into her intestines, she is still cranky and angry. It would be so easy for me to feel sorry for us and feel defeated but I am just not going to. We have come too far and God has given us too many promises in His Word to neglect even a single one, though things look quite grim today. I don't know what is wrong, I do not know how to fix it but I know that He does.
We are tired. This has been an epic-ally long battle where the fires continue to rage on. I am only one woman but fortunately, I have an entire army standing behind me, because my Father tells me so. No matter how this all shakes out, we will not be defeated, we will not have lost and I will not stop serving my God.
For now, we will hold tight to His promises because they are quite literally all that we have. We have done everything medically that there has been offered to do. Special needs parenting often translates to waiting, a lot. And so we wait. We wait for God to carry out His promises, for the things decreed over our lives to come to fruition, for the prophesies to be made manifest. We await the move of God, because nothing and no one can stop the will of God for our lives, not even the enemy of our souls. God's will is ALWAYS; wholeness, wellness and peace for our body, mind and soul. Nothing less. What I see before me is irrelevant. What God says is what is the truth. That is all I need to know. And that is where I will stay.
Showing posts with label encouragement. Show all posts
Showing posts with label encouragement. Show all posts
Thursday, October 4, 2018
Tuesday, June 20, 2017
Silence
Sometimes silence is birthed through discontentment. Shutting things down because what you see around you isn't what you want to carry with you. If you're not careful, it becomes like a shadow or a carefully placed residue on you.
Have you ever had that happen? Spent time with someone who was in a horrid mood and when you departed from their presence, you felt amiss— to say the least? I don't want that in my life right now and I certainly don't need it either. I'm on a mission. And this mission will not be hindered or stopped.
I've been taking an extended break, for the most part from social media. I'm still on Instagram and Pinterest because those places aren't overcome with disparity and wickedness. The fun has, in my eyes, for the most part been removed from other social media outlets. I'm not sad about my recent removal, It's been quite enlightening. I knew God was going to have a plan for this period of time and He most certainly has been faithful— as expected.
Everyday is nothing short of miraculous, if you're looking for it. We woke up again today. We have another chance. Isn't that enough?
I think of the movie Gladiator, where Maximus slays in the coliseum and yells to the crowd, "Are you not entertained?" Because they weren't. They were borderline bored. That's us, as a people. What entertains us? We seek to be entertained at every moment of the day. This mentality, has been a part of my mission, the un-doing of being a typical American and stepping into my rightful lineage of mighty woman of God. I feel it necessary to mention here that the only reason why it is my rightful lineage is because Jesus Christ died for me and became my Savior. He took the punishment for my sins and misgivings. And in turn, I'm set on yielding myself to His working within me. I will not stop. I will not be distracted by the things of the world because boy, they are dead set on keeping me from running this race!
"Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize." 1 Corinthians 9:24
When God points out your next move, run! Run like you've never ran before. Don't stop for anything. Don't turn your face to the right or to the left, just keep on running. When you're on a mission, don't stop. The enemy will try and distract you if he hasn't already succeeded at stopping you. He's a savage, he doesn't care one bit about us. He has all the allure of a dead and rotting corpse. But don't cash in for his plan, which may sound nice or sounds like it will be a short cut to where you need to go. But you will not have completed your mission as God had originally set you forth to do.
This world has a plethora of distractions. They come in the form of games; TV shows, apps, perceived needs, goals set forth by worldly wisdom. But what are we really achieving to unless it is for the furtherance of the Kingdom? Whatever we do that isn't in line with God's will for our lives will be cast into the fire. (Matt 7:19, Matt 3:10, John 15:6)
So, what is it that I'm supposed to be doing with my time then? I'm coming to find it's a lot less complicated than I thought... This has been an interesting journey I've been on and it seems as though it's just beginning, really.
"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind; and love your neighbor as yourself." Luke 10:27
"Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give." Matthew 10:8
This is what normal should look like. This is what it is supposed to look like. This is what I strive to attain. This was the great commission, it was meant for you and I too. We may not have been standing there that day hearing it but it's just as valid today as it was then. Because: "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever." Hebrews 13:8
Nothing has changed, only our perception. If we regard the Bible as truth then this is our life. This is what we strive toward. This is God's will, bringing the Kingdom to earth— "Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven." Matthew 6:10
Because that's what Jesus did while He was here. If you're a Christian- a follower of Christ then this is what you do.
Now that I've discovered that this really is supposed to be my reality too, I won't stop until it is. I don't stand condemned, nor should you. I feel a fire rising up within me to seek God more than ever and grow closer in communion and in friendship with Him than ever. He knows I'm a stubborn woman and He also knows He can use that to His glory and I am more than happy to lend myself to Him. I am more than happy to live for Him. Because He has made eternity possible for me. He has blessed me beyond measure. He has loved me more in one moment than anyone can manage in a lifetime. He is my heavenly Father.
I hope this has encouraged you today. It has encouraged me in my seeking and my perceived silence in the virtual world of the internet. But I have been far from silent, I've been pressing in and asking questions that only my Father has answers to.
My request today; let us stop wasting time screwing around with time wasters and momentary distractions and start doing things that move the heart of the Father. Let us live from a Kingdom minded standpoint. Let us love the way He loves and do as He does. Jesus did what He saw the Father doing and this too, was our directive because we follow after Him.
Be blessed today friends, bless others.
Have you ever had that happen? Spent time with someone who was in a horrid mood and when you departed from their presence, you felt amiss— to say the least? I don't want that in my life right now and I certainly don't need it either. I'm on a mission. And this mission will not be hindered or stopped.
I've been taking an extended break, for the most part from social media. I'm still on Instagram and Pinterest because those places aren't overcome with disparity and wickedness. The fun has, in my eyes, for the most part been removed from other social media outlets. I'm not sad about my recent removal, It's been quite enlightening. I knew God was going to have a plan for this period of time and He most certainly has been faithful— as expected.
Everyday is nothing short of miraculous, if you're looking for it. We woke up again today. We have another chance. Isn't that enough?
I think of the movie Gladiator, where Maximus slays in the coliseum and yells to the crowd, "Are you not entertained?" Because they weren't. They were borderline bored. That's us, as a people. What entertains us? We seek to be entertained at every moment of the day. This mentality, has been a part of my mission, the un-doing of being a typical American and stepping into my rightful lineage of mighty woman of God. I feel it necessary to mention here that the only reason why it is my rightful lineage is because Jesus Christ died for me and became my Savior. He took the punishment for my sins and misgivings. And in turn, I'm set on yielding myself to His working within me. I will not stop. I will not be distracted by the things of the world because boy, they are dead set on keeping me from running this race!
"Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize." 1 Corinthians 9:24
When God points out your next move, run! Run like you've never ran before. Don't stop for anything. Don't turn your face to the right or to the left, just keep on running. When you're on a mission, don't stop. The enemy will try and distract you if he hasn't already succeeded at stopping you. He's a savage, he doesn't care one bit about us. He has all the allure of a dead and rotting corpse. But don't cash in for his plan, which may sound nice or sounds like it will be a short cut to where you need to go. But you will not have completed your mission as God had originally set you forth to do.
This world has a plethora of distractions. They come in the form of games; TV shows, apps, perceived needs, goals set forth by worldly wisdom. But what are we really achieving to unless it is for the furtherance of the Kingdom? Whatever we do that isn't in line with God's will for our lives will be cast into the fire. (Matt 7:19, Matt 3:10, John 15:6)
So, what is it that I'm supposed to be doing with my time then? I'm coming to find it's a lot less complicated than I thought... This has been an interesting journey I've been on and it seems as though it's just beginning, really.
"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind; and love your neighbor as yourself." Luke 10:27
"Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give." Matthew 10:8
This is what normal should look like. This is what it is supposed to look like. This is what I strive to attain. This was the great commission, it was meant for you and I too. We may not have been standing there that day hearing it but it's just as valid today as it was then. Because: "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever." Hebrews 13:8
Nothing has changed, only our perception. If we regard the Bible as truth then this is our life. This is what we strive toward. This is God's will, bringing the Kingdom to earth— "Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven." Matthew 6:10
Because that's what Jesus did while He was here. If you're a Christian- a follower of Christ then this is what you do.
Now that I've discovered that this really is supposed to be my reality too, I won't stop until it is. I don't stand condemned, nor should you. I feel a fire rising up within me to seek God more than ever and grow closer in communion and in friendship with Him than ever. He knows I'm a stubborn woman and He also knows He can use that to His glory and I am more than happy to lend myself to Him. I am more than happy to live for Him. Because He has made eternity possible for me. He has blessed me beyond measure. He has loved me more in one moment than anyone can manage in a lifetime. He is my heavenly Father.
I hope this has encouraged you today. It has encouraged me in my seeking and my perceived silence in the virtual world of the internet. But I have been far from silent, I've been pressing in and asking questions that only my Father has answers to.
My request today; let us stop wasting time screwing around with time wasters and momentary distractions and start doing things that move the heart of the Father. Let us live from a Kingdom minded standpoint. Let us love the way He loves and do as He does. Jesus did what He saw the Father doing and this too, was our directive because we follow after Him.
Be blessed today friends, bless others.
Saturday, May 20, 2017
Transparency
There is this lovely gift that you can bestow upon cherished persons around you, transparency. The true, to the core real you. Unhindered; un-polished, uninhibited, the real deal. Whether we realize it or not, we all need these kinds of relationships where we can just relax and be ourselves. We don't have to change our approach, the way we speak or guard the way we act.
Are these relationships difficult to cultivate? I would say they are. Just think about it, how many people are you able to completely be yourself around? Are there certain aspects of your character that you hide from people? Do you speak in a certain way with others? It's odd how our demeanor changes around certain people... Are we trying to impress them? Are we hiding?
I know from personal experience I hide information about myself from certain persons because I know all they'll do with it is dissect it and judge and magnify any fault they can find. There are plenty of people out there like that. So, I can understand that. It seems we're better off disassociating ourselves with persons like that. Bad company corrupts good character.
But how many people do we just keep it real around? And what is it that makes those people who are in your in crowd, in? Is there a such this as being a good friend anymore? It seems that with the age of technology, there is a death within friendships. The death of connectivity and being real. We can all sit behind a computer and be whoever we want to be with only virtual backlash. But are we really who we say we are when the rubber hit the pavement?
When tragedy strikes there is always an out pouring of condolences toward the persons affected but how many are willing to get their hands dirty?
Are we as a people willing to lay our judgments and pretenses aside and allow others to be genuine around us? Or are we going to keep them on high alert but watching them speculatively from beneath our brow? Humans were meant to live from a place of community and one-ness. We were meant to help each other out, not only humans but other beings too.
We as a people should be concerned with cultivating genuine relationships and friendships, not just who is beneficial to us at certain times. -Who can get us what we need, when we think we need it. There have to be people in our lives who we can be completely transparent around, the ones who will love us through the tears and the pain. The ones who will rejoice when we rejoice, because our victory is like a victory for them. Our spouse should be that person and if they're not, work on that. Our best friend should be that person, work on that. If you're feeling that these leading people in your life are no longer the people you can be transparent around, sit down and have a very casual conversation with them. Don't accuse, just share...
More over, the number one person we should be transparent with is God. He already knows anyhow, so you might as well do your best to put it into words. And when you have no words, mumbling and tears will suffice because the Holy Spirit can interpret for you. God loves us more than we could ever imagine, no matter how far fallen we think we are, there is always a way back and that way is Jesus. I know this is fact because I've seen the proof in my own life. If there is ever a relationship aside from our human, day in and day out relationships to nurture, it's our relationship with God. God has seen and created the beginning and He can also see the end. God is the One we can always, no matter how ugly, keep it real with.
But I do know, we were meant to have deep and meaningful relationships with others while were here on this planet too. Otherwise, we wouldn't have a longing for it. That is a longing only our Creator could place within us.
So, if you need to make a change in this area of your life, your relationships are lacking that certain genuine-ness, YOU be the change. Give it a go. Listen to the people in your life and don't listen just long enough to assemble your own reply. Listen just to hear them. Reach out to others, they may be in need of a friend and you have no idea what kind of place they're in. Stop judging! Please, just stop. Don't think you're better than someone because you don't do the "bad" thing they do, guess what, that bad thing they do, is just different from the bad things you do. In other words, don't judge someone because they sin differently than you do. And don't for a minute think that you are without sin, if you do you're only fooling yourself. We can all hop down off our high horses and love others freely and genuinely.
"If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us." 1 John 1:8
We must be the change that we wish to see in the world around us, it has to be within us before it is manifested elsewhere. If we're not willing to love others with abandon, when we are capable, why would it be so for us? Who are we that we should be pampered and groveled after?
"Don't be selfish; don't try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves." Philippians 2:3
"If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn't do it, it is a sin for them." James 4:17
Those are the last bits I will leave you with... Gosh, I love the Word of God, it speaks so true and blunt and to the point! You can't find wisdom like this anywhere else!
Be the change friends, bless someone today merely by just being love to them. If Christ is your savior, I know you've got it in you.
Be blessed.
Are these relationships difficult to cultivate? I would say they are. Just think about it, how many people are you able to completely be yourself around? Are there certain aspects of your character that you hide from people? Do you speak in a certain way with others? It's odd how our demeanor changes around certain people... Are we trying to impress them? Are we hiding?
I know from personal experience I hide information about myself from certain persons because I know all they'll do with it is dissect it and judge and magnify any fault they can find. There are plenty of people out there like that. So, I can understand that. It seems we're better off disassociating ourselves with persons like that. Bad company corrupts good character.
But how many people do we just keep it real around? And what is it that makes those people who are in your in crowd, in? Is there a such this as being a good friend anymore? It seems that with the age of technology, there is a death within friendships. The death of connectivity and being real. We can all sit behind a computer and be whoever we want to be with only virtual backlash. But are we really who we say we are when the rubber hit the pavement?
When tragedy strikes there is always an out pouring of condolences toward the persons affected but how many are willing to get their hands dirty?
Are we as a people willing to lay our judgments and pretenses aside and allow others to be genuine around us? Or are we going to keep them on high alert but watching them speculatively from beneath our brow? Humans were meant to live from a place of community and one-ness. We were meant to help each other out, not only humans but other beings too.
We as a people should be concerned with cultivating genuine relationships and friendships, not just who is beneficial to us at certain times. -Who can get us what we need, when we think we need it. There have to be people in our lives who we can be completely transparent around, the ones who will love us through the tears and the pain. The ones who will rejoice when we rejoice, because our victory is like a victory for them. Our spouse should be that person and if they're not, work on that. Our best friend should be that person, work on that. If you're feeling that these leading people in your life are no longer the people you can be transparent around, sit down and have a very casual conversation with them. Don't accuse, just share...
More over, the number one person we should be transparent with is God. He already knows anyhow, so you might as well do your best to put it into words. And when you have no words, mumbling and tears will suffice because the Holy Spirit can interpret for you. God loves us more than we could ever imagine, no matter how far fallen we think we are, there is always a way back and that way is Jesus. I know this is fact because I've seen the proof in my own life. If there is ever a relationship aside from our human, day in and day out relationships to nurture, it's our relationship with God. God has seen and created the beginning and He can also see the end. God is the One we can always, no matter how ugly, keep it real with.
But I do know, we were meant to have deep and meaningful relationships with others while were here on this planet too. Otherwise, we wouldn't have a longing for it. That is a longing only our Creator could place within us.
So, if you need to make a change in this area of your life, your relationships are lacking that certain genuine-ness, YOU be the change. Give it a go. Listen to the people in your life and don't listen just long enough to assemble your own reply. Listen just to hear them. Reach out to others, they may be in need of a friend and you have no idea what kind of place they're in. Stop judging! Please, just stop. Don't think you're better than someone because you don't do the "bad" thing they do, guess what, that bad thing they do, is just different from the bad things you do. In other words, don't judge someone because they sin differently than you do. And don't for a minute think that you are without sin, if you do you're only fooling yourself. We can all hop down off our high horses and love others freely and genuinely.
"If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us." 1 John 1:8
We must be the change that we wish to see in the world around us, it has to be within us before it is manifested elsewhere. If we're not willing to love others with abandon, when we are capable, why would it be so for us? Who are we that we should be pampered and groveled after?
"Don't be selfish; don't try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves." Philippians 2:3
"If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn't do it, it is a sin for them." James 4:17
Those are the last bits I will leave you with... Gosh, I love the Word of God, it speaks so true and blunt and to the point! You can't find wisdom like this anywhere else!
Be the change friends, bless someone today merely by just being love to them. If Christ is your savior, I know you've got it in you.
Be blessed.
Friday, May 5, 2017
Unoffended
With the political agenda's in full swing and the devil handily at work these days, it seems as though, everyone is easily offended. Watch the news or read the paper to see in full view the various marches taking place for "rights" that are already obtained or not even being threatened. It's been astonishing to watch the actions being taken that have led to destruction that could have other wise been avoided. And all the while, being so easily offended, no one has taken thought to the One who is likely the most offended, God.
We take up offense more quickly than we consider and weight our reaction. Which, reaction isn't the thing that is needed right now, it's just God. We need more of God in this state we're in, we need a restoration of faith. We've been so fooled to think that our marches and protests will gain for us the thing that we think we want or deserve, clouding out our true need of God. God has been mistakenly tossed out of establishments and homes as being archaic and extreme. But tell me, if everyone lived as God calls us to, would we have the troubles we are seeing in the world today? Would there be murder? Would there be abuse? Would there be rivalry?
"If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear them from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land." 2 Chronicles 7:14
Taking into account that God is real and that He does exist, what right do we have to take offense? Who do you think you are that you think you have the right to be so angry and boil over and act so poorly to others? Is it not our call to be loving to one another? Is it not in our best interest to treat others as better than ourselves? Is it not our declaration to speak only what will lift others up, rather than bring them down— because you "feel" offended...? It is not our right to be offended and display such terrible behavior because our "feelings" were hurt. Do you know what feeling are? They're temporary. That's all. I don't feel the same about things and people as I did 6 months ago. Feelings, much like today's sunrise and sunset, come and go.
Being so easily offended is exalting ourselves above all else. Including God. Does that sting hearing that? It should. And if it does, we've struck a chord and that's good... Now we must get to work on being un-offendable.
It isn't our job to bring to fruition the things of God in others, the things and virtues He plants within each of us. He is the one to make it grow, He is the gardener.
"I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in my that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful...... I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples." John 15:1-2, 5-8
We have two answers here, One; the Father is the gardener. Two; we are the branches that are to remain in Christ. Apart from Him we can do nothing. We're capable of living lives without Christ but it isn't of any eternal value.
If we are to walk like Jesus every single day and keep our eyes fixed on Him, will we be offended? Will anything unkindly that anyone say or does even matter? You may have that one person at work that rubs you the wrong way. You may have that one person that has an answer for everything that is constantly interrupting you and others. You may have a spouse that storms about the house in a ridiculous display of childish behavior. Or an in-law that gets under your skin. Whatever the case may be, the answer is Jesus.
Oh, I'm not sitting here telling you it's easy. It's takes an awful lot of yielding and restraint on our part but eventually it will be a success. It's hard not to pipe off at the mouth sometimes, I know. The humbling part about it... It's not our job to tell someone else that they're behaving poorly. I know, I know, but we want to. Somewhere within us, we want to tell them all the things they're said and done wrong but honestly, chances are, they won't listen anyhow.
If I concern myself with only my walk with Christ (which should be my only end) then I am enabled to pay no mind nor take any offense to what others say and do. In the meantime, in regard to others, we can pray for them.
"Father God, please tell this guy how much of a jerk he is and get him fired so no one has to deal with him anymore, he really makes my day and life miserable........" No, no, no... tempting but, no.
Our obedience and change of heart lies within the recognition of grace bestowed upon us. The moment you realized how good God has been to you in spite of your behavior, you experienced His grace. It caused you to understand at least one small facet of His love for you, which is overwhelmingly endless. Pray for others? Pray that they would come to understand God's love for them, that He would lavish that love upon them in a tangible and unmistakable way. As for you dear reader, your involvement, continue to love them as Christ does. It isn't difficult if Jesus is doing it through us, it's a matter of us getting over ourselves, forgiving the offense and continuing to push forward in a loving and Christ like manner. Humility here is the key...
I write these things not because I have already mastered them myself, it is because it is something God is working in me to accomplish as well. My walk with Jesus is a marathon not a sprint and I'm learning something new every single day. I am often reminded to keep my mouth shut so that I can yield to Him. I am reminded:
"Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen." Ephesians 4:29
"But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgement for every empty word that have spoken." Matthew 12:36
Ask the Holy Spirit to work into you wholesome speech and to only speak things that will lift others up. We as a people need to get over ourselves and our feelings and get back to what is most important and that is God. Paying attention only to our walk with God and not what others are doing or how they've offended us. God is the only One who can change a person and in their own time, not on our time line. It can be discouraging and frustrating to be subject to poor behavior, especially from someone close to you. I know it hurts. But this is the call to pray that much harder and more fervently for them and for your situation. It's also a call to press into God even more. He is the only One who can accomplish anything in this life.
Much love and blessings to you all.
We take up offense more quickly than we consider and weight our reaction. Which, reaction isn't the thing that is needed right now, it's just God. We need more of God in this state we're in, we need a restoration of faith. We've been so fooled to think that our marches and protests will gain for us the thing that we think we want or deserve, clouding out our true need of God. God has been mistakenly tossed out of establishments and homes as being archaic and extreme. But tell me, if everyone lived as God calls us to, would we have the troubles we are seeing in the world today? Would there be murder? Would there be abuse? Would there be rivalry?
"If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear them from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land." 2 Chronicles 7:14
Taking into account that God is real and that He does exist, what right do we have to take offense? Who do you think you are that you think you have the right to be so angry and boil over and act so poorly to others? Is it not our call to be loving to one another? Is it not in our best interest to treat others as better than ourselves? Is it not our declaration to speak only what will lift others up, rather than bring them down— because you "feel" offended...? It is not our right to be offended and display such terrible behavior because our "feelings" were hurt. Do you know what feeling are? They're temporary. That's all. I don't feel the same about things and people as I did 6 months ago. Feelings, much like today's sunrise and sunset, come and go.
Being so easily offended is exalting ourselves above all else. Including God. Does that sting hearing that? It should. And if it does, we've struck a chord and that's good... Now we must get to work on being un-offendable.
It isn't our job to bring to fruition the things of God in others, the things and virtues He plants within each of us. He is the one to make it grow, He is the gardener.
"I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in my that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful...... I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples." John 15:1-2, 5-8
We have two answers here, One; the Father is the gardener. Two; we are the branches that are to remain in Christ. Apart from Him we can do nothing. We're capable of living lives without Christ but it isn't of any eternal value.
If we are to walk like Jesus every single day and keep our eyes fixed on Him, will we be offended? Will anything unkindly that anyone say or does even matter? You may have that one person at work that rubs you the wrong way. You may have that one person that has an answer for everything that is constantly interrupting you and others. You may have a spouse that storms about the house in a ridiculous display of childish behavior. Or an in-law that gets under your skin. Whatever the case may be, the answer is Jesus.
Oh, I'm not sitting here telling you it's easy. It's takes an awful lot of yielding and restraint on our part but eventually it will be a success. It's hard not to pipe off at the mouth sometimes, I know. The humbling part about it... It's not our job to tell someone else that they're behaving poorly. I know, I know, but we want to. Somewhere within us, we want to tell them all the things they're said and done wrong but honestly, chances are, they won't listen anyhow.
If I concern myself with only my walk with Christ (which should be my only end) then I am enabled to pay no mind nor take any offense to what others say and do. In the meantime, in regard to others, we can pray for them.
"Father God, please tell this guy how much of a jerk he is and get him fired so no one has to deal with him anymore, he really makes my day and life miserable........" No, no, no... tempting but, no.
Our obedience and change of heart lies within the recognition of grace bestowed upon us. The moment you realized how good God has been to you in spite of your behavior, you experienced His grace. It caused you to understand at least one small facet of His love for you, which is overwhelmingly endless. Pray for others? Pray that they would come to understand God's love for them, that He would lavish that love upon them in a tangible and unmistakable way. As for you dear reader, your involvement, continue to love them as Christ does. It isn't difficult if Jesus is doing it through us, it's a matter of us getting over ourselves, forgiving the offense and continuing to push forward in a loving and Christ like manner. Humility here is the key...
I write these things not because I have already mastered them myself, it is because it is something God is working in me to accomplish as well. My walk with Jesus is a marathon not a sprint and I'm learning something new every single day. I am often reminded to keep my mouth shut so that I can yield to Him. I am reminded:
"Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen." Ephesians 4:29
"But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgement for every empty word that have spoken." Matthew 12:36
Ask the Holy Spirit to work into you wholesome speech and to only speak things that will lift others up. We as a people need to get over ourselves and our feelings and get back to what is most important and that is God. Paying attention only to our walk with God and not what others are doing or how they've offended us. God is the only One who can change a person and in their own time, not on our time line. It can be discouraging and frustrating to be subject to poor behavior, especially from someone close to you. I know it hurts. But this is the call to pray that much harder and more fervently for them and for your situation. It's also a call to press into God even more. He is the only One who can accomplish anything in this life.
Much love and blessings to you all.
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