I needed a new attitude with this person really badly. I didn’t know if it was them, me, hormones, or the heat wave. I did know that if my heart continued down the road it was on, it would be devastating to our friendship.
I did something I don’t make a huge practice of but has worked for me some in the past. I prayed for guidance, took a deep breath, and opened my Bible at random. Oh dear. Seriously? First Corinthians 13. AKA The Love Chapter. *facepalm* *sigh* Yes, yes, Love above all. Love is patient and kind; not envious, not boastful, not proud, not rude, not self-seeking, not easily angered; keeps no record of wrongs; doesn’t delight in evil; always protects, trusts, hopes, perseveres; and never fails. The greatest thing is love. I got it. *sigh* My friend is patient with me, and kind…not rude or self-seeking….does keep a record of wrongs but doesn’t delight in evil. My friend does protect, sometimes trusts, maybe hopes, maybe perseveres a little. “How about you?” Me? I’m awesome at loving this person! I’m patient and kind…most of the time. Okay, maybe I’ve slacked off in that a little. I’m not envious, boastful or proud, except, maybe, when I’m right. I’m not rude. Well, there was that one time. But other than that… I’m not sure I like where this is going. “You do still love that person. You’ve just forgotten how. Their love for you is as imperfect as yours is for them. Love that they try. Notice the little things. You are called to be a messenger of My Love. You need to know how to do it and do it well. It will make all the difference. Go and ponder My Love today and I will handle everything else.” Okay. Love my friend as well as I can and always try to love better. Hmmm. I wonder what the chances are that they’ve read First Corinthians 13 lately… Never mind.
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I’m nothing if not loyal. If you mess with my family or friends, you will feel my wrath long before I enter the room.
If what you do to them is unintentional, that’s one thing. But if you mess with them and you know better, especially if you profess to love Jesus, then you will REALLY wish you hadn’t. I have some friends who have been treated unethically, immorally, potentially illegally, and definitely unchristianly by people who love Jesus and do know better. My friends and their families have suffered greatly from these actions. I. Am. BEYOND. FURIOUS. Just ask those close to me. Unfortunately, the situation goes past my friends personally and into the organization they are all attached to. It has suffered from this and it will only get worse. I realize that asking for the heads of these people on platters is more than a little excessive. I admit that I am biased, and while I don’t have ALL of the facts, I do have a great many. Honestly, give me five minutes with all those involved and I can right all wrongs. It’s a good thing I am not God. One deep concern is what will happen to the organization in the long run. What if it doesn’t survive the damage? Would God allow these actions to cause its death? My thought is that quite possibly, yes He could. It saddens me to even write that. But I have to remember that God is more interested in the hearts of the people than the organization itself. Not only my friends’ hearts, or their families’, but the people who are causing the damage, too. God allows institutions, even countries and cultures, to be damaged or even destroyed by those who refuse to turn their hearts to Him, even if they are His own people. God is willing to let them fall away if it means getting closer to our hearts. Not only our hearts, but “theirs” as well. Because as much as I’d like to see these people as my friends’ enemies (and therefore my own), they aren’t. Our battles are not against other people, but against the actions of The Enemy using other people. I have to remember that my God is their God, too. While people must be held accountable and bear the consequences of their actions (myself included), God requires us to love, offer mercy, and extend grace and forgiveness, in the hopes of reconciliation with God’s people, and God Himself. I have to take my desire for justice out of my Momma Bear paws and put it in His hands and leave it there. My wisdom is foolishness compared to His. I have to be patient and loving, trust His way and timing, and know that no matter what happens with the organization, He will use it for good and His glory. Sometimes the Momma Bear has to growl and bear it. #bethelove --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Thank you for reading, sharing, and commenting. If you’d like to receive these posts and updates in your inbox, please head to the Contact Page to subscribe. A carpenter built a grand and glorious house. Every element, from concrete and shingles, fixture and faucet, tongue and groove, was specifically chosen and masterfully worked.
He invited people to live in it with him. Some welcomed the carpenter and enjoyed their lives together while others completely ignored his existence. In some ways, the people took care of the house. In many other ways they did not, nor did they take care of each other. Trouble continued to escalate until, finally, someone took a match to one of the curtains. It smoldered at first, but quickly the fire spread until the couch, rug, the whole room was engulfed in flames. The fire began to march through the house, room by room. The people avoided the burning rooms but still remained inside the house. They felt protected in the other rooms, convinced the fire would never reach them. Until it did. Some believed there was nothing beyond the house and awaited their fate. Others argued that there had to be more than one way out. How could a loving carpenter design only one way out of the house? Amidst the molten metal and cracking beams the carpenter shouted, “I built this house with my own hands. I know every nail, screw, and sanded place. I designed it so we could live together. I am here in the house with you. I always have been. But now it’s burning down and you will only get out if you come with me. I am the way. All you have to do is acknowledge you need me and ask me to help you. I don’t want anyone lost in the flames, but I can’t lead those who won’t follow.” ---------- Did you catch it, my favorite word? It’s WITH. As in, accompanied by. The carpenter has a name – Emmanuel, which means God WITH Us. Always together. Never alone. Not God Far Off and Directing. Not God Standing Over and Barking Orders. But God In the Midst of Hell WITH YOU. God Who Will Never Abandon You. God As Close As You Will Let Him Be. God wants to be WITH us. It’s what The Father planned in the Garden of Eden. It’s what the New Heaven and New Earth are all about. It’s Jesus, God with skin, God with us, the perfect example, The Way. It’s the Holy Spirit INSIDE us. You can’t get any more WITH than that. Those who want more than one way out are missing the point. It’s not about how to get out of the house, it’s about how to get with the carpenter. Why? Because he loves you. He loves us all. #heisnotwhatyouthink #thepowerofwith #bethelove ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Thank you for reading, sharing, and commenting. If you’d like to receive these posts and updates in your inbox, please head to the Contact Page to subscribe. |
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