Just a thought.....
This note is a plea for gentleness. A request to trust that God holds a purpose for every person you see living, including you. As Christians we forget that we weren't born saved and we have little to no patience with anyone that seems to fall short of our "standards". We also make a big deal when we see a saved person make a mistake.
For a while I sought perfection in people and took it to heart if they faltered or fell. Bad move. But God,our all-knowing God, was kind enuf to show me that I'm a thought, word or action away from becoming anyone that I think negatively of. I then read Lamentations 3:22-23......and a bulb lit up!!!
Think of where the Lord has brought you from. Saved or not, we can admit to one thing: None of us has suffered ALL the consequences of their mistakes. Some of the consequences of our actions would be too severe, FATAL even!! Why do we escape.......why do we live to tell the story? It's called GRACE.....that God does not keep the air for those that acknowledge Him, but He allows all who wake up to breathe the same air, whether or not their actions demand punishment.
So to my people that are waiting for an encounter with God, He loves YOU. Seek Him and you will find Him. Call to God and He will hear you.
To my Christian people, focus on your relationship with God. If you do, you may hardly have a chance to notice others' relationship with Him. Paul calls us to correct gently in Galatians 6:1 saying,"Brothers, suppose someone is caught doing something wrong. You who have the Spirit should set him right, but in a spirit of humility, keeping an eye on yourselves so that you won't be tempted too." I understand disappointment in a friend when they slip, but my pastor says FAILURE IS AN UNWILLINGNESS TO RISE AGAIN.....TO TRY AGAIN. When we focus on a person's moment of weakness, we encourage failure.
So I rest with this in mind: He who began a good work in all of us will be faithful to complete it...so let's not try to rush Him. God bless
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Am I Only As Good As My Word? If So, How Good Am I?
Today I had a less than lively conversation with my father. The topic: Me keeping my word. Now here’s something I have always professed to do, yet looking back through my history, it appears I may be the one person I know that is least successful at it.
The trigger: I said I’d call at a certain hour, but ended up calling about two hours later. I later came to find out that he had made contact with a relative who I have not spoken with in 3 years. Sadly, they happened to both be in one place when I promised to call, but regardless how patient one is, two hours is quite a stretch.
The disappointment registered in his voice told me he was not too pleased. I thought of the last time we had broached this topic.......and I realize it was hardly a week ago. And folks, I know I speak for everyone when I say that people that cannot keep their word irritate beyond compare.
There may be one of you thinking,”But it was unavoidable!! See what happened was......” and I tell you, excuses by any other name are definitely tempting. But I am favored to have audience with some very wise people. One of them once told me,”We tend to judge others by their actions and ourselves by our intentions.”
Now once I projected said model on myself and several situations where the above conversation would have been deemed necessary, I realize one thing: TO ANYONE BUT OURSELVES, WE EITHER DO WHAT WE SAID WE WOULD, OR WE DO NOT, AND IN EITHER CASE WE REAP THE REWARDS THEREOF. We promise to be there for a friend’s party, but whether or not the weather did not allow it, we can be at the party or be the absentee friend. If I have a job interview, I either show up or I lose my chance at the position applied for.
I do not deny that extenuating circumstances do exist. All I’m saying is that if they seem to be the norm - if it seems I am always a victim of some circumstance or other - then I need to reevaluate my actions. I need to bring to question my preparedness for the inevitable - did I leave early enough to make the appointment whether or not traffic is horrible? In my order of priority in thinking, am I living an ‘out of sight, out of mind’ life....where the current activity erases the urgency of the next?
Food for thought, but when all is said and done(or not done!), let not your words but your actions answer these questions.
The trigger: I said I’d call at a certain hour, but ended up calling about two hours later. I later came to find out that he had made contact with a relative who I have not spoken with in 3 years. Sadly, they happened to both be in one place when I promised to call, but regardless how patient one is, two hours is quite a stretch.
The disappointment registered in his voice told me he was not too pleased. I thought of the last time we had broached this topic.......and I realize it was hardly a week ago. And folks, I know I speak for everyone when I say that people that cannot keep their word irritate beyond compare.
There may be one of you thinking,”But it was unavoidable!! See what happened was......” and I tell you, excuses by any other name are definitely tempting. But I am favored to have audience with some very wise people. One of them once told me,”We tend to judge others by their actions and ourselves by our intentions.”
Now once I projected said model on myself and several situations where the above conversation would have been deemed necessary, I realize one thing: TO ANYONE BUT OURSELVES, WE EITHER DO WHAT WE SAID WE WOULD, OR WE DO NOT, AND IN EITHER CASE WE REAP THE REWARDS THEREOF. We promise to be there for a friend’s party, but whether or not the weather did not allow it, we can be at the party or be the absentee friend. If I have a job interview, I either show up or I lose my chance at the position applied for.
I do not deny that extenuating circumstances do exist. All I’m saying is that if they seem to be the norm - if it seems I am always a victim of some circumstance or other - then I need to reevaluate my actions. I need to bring to question my preparedness for the inevitable - did I leave early enough to make the appointment whether or not traffic is horrible? In my order of priority in thinking, am I living an ‘out of sight, out of mind’ life....where the current activity erases the urgency of the next?
Food for thought, but when all is said and done(or not done!), let not your words but your actions answer these questions.
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