As sisters in Christ, we are commanded to love one another. Heck, as the body of Christ, we are called to love one another. 1 Corinthians 13 states that "Love is patient and kind...It doesn't insist in its own way...Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things." (ESV)
Why, when communication becomes stale and conflict arises, do we immediately look inside ourselves and check out our own moral compass? "How can you say to your brother, 'Brother, let me take out the speck that is in your eye,' when you yourself do not see the log that is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take out the speck that is in your brother's eye." (Luke 6:42, ESV) I agree that you need to confirm that you, yourself, do not have any sins hindering you from helping a sista out...but! You need to be aware of how consumed you become with yourself. Do not become a self-oriented sista who thinks that her other friend can deal with her own mess and the conflict will just go away in time. Why do no we not, instead, run to that other person and beg her to let us help her in her time of need?
If there is a conflict between two(or more) people, why can't they run to one another and pray for each other/ love on one another/ challenge each other/ etc?
In all the major conflicts in my life with people, I have had to sincerely get lost in the Lord's Word before I could truly love on the other person and reconcile. My selfishness blinded me from looking out for the other person. Instead, I would hide inside myself and build this wall of insecurity, wondering "what did I do?" and "why can't I be a better friend?"
This is so stupid! These thoughts are about ME. My actions were about me. If I stepped out to "help" my friend, I would just be acting in guilt. Until I asked for discernment and asked the Lord for help in reconciling with my friend, I could not truly love on my friend.
Ephesians 4:26 says, "In your anger, do not sin. Do not let the sun go down on your anger." (NIV)
In conflict, allow love to lead you to confront or confess, admonish (v. to caution, advise, or counsel against wrongdoing or ), and ultimately/prayerfully, reconcile. If you desire to reconcile, you're pointed in the right direction. Peace
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Intense Romance
I have been captivated by a Holy and Precious God
I have been swept up into an intense Romance with Him
When I become insecure about the earthly romance I don't have
He reminds of what I do have
An eternal love affair that allows me to be intense with Him
I can be myself and still be loved
An adventure that offers freedom and victory
After periods of struggle and strife
An everlasting love letter that never
Disappoints or turns void
Many turn away because of my intense passion and
Ongoing ramblings
But I am reminded when they do run that
It's not about me
Thank you, Jesus, for being
Romantic and passionate in your pursuit of me
I have been swept up into an intense Romance with Him
When I become insecure about the earthly romance I don't have
He reminds of what I do have
An eternal love affair that allows me to be intense with Him
I can be myself and still be loved
An adventure that offers freedom and victory
After periods of struggle and strife
An everlasting love letter that never
Disappoints or turns void
Many turn away because of my intense passion and
Ongoing ramblings
But I am reminded when they do run that
It's not about me
Thank you, Jesus, for being
Romantic and passionate in your pursuit of me
Sunday, June 14, 2009
...
I am in a state of complete speechlessnes. I have a longing to write about what He's doing but I can't find words to describe or display.
It's not a funk or a sign of weakness. I believe I am experiencing the Spirit in a new way.
Explanation...
Just today, after a week of praying about it, I began a study on the Holy Spirit in the Word.
What it did, how it did it, its effect on people, who it effected. I shouldn't even be saying "it" b/c my understanding has been broadened to the "he" factor.
Anyway, I studied the Spirit in the Penteteuch today and was overwhelmed by how consuming the Spirit was. He "hovered over the waters" (Gen 1:2) "The Spirit of God was in him" (Gen 41:38) "...He took of the Spirit that was on him and put the Spirit on the seventy elders. When the Spirit rested on them, they prophesied..." etc. x infinity
In my life, I do not believe I have allowed the Spirit to rest on my weary and restless soul. I run too fast and speak an increased amount of words every day. I have never truly allowed him to hover and rest and fill and empower. The Spirit is SO ALIVE!!!
He prophesied through people. He healed people. He transformed people in their brokenness...
I am amazed at how direct the Spirit is. Where he is, something WILL occur. It may be a silent occurrence or a great uproar but he will be there.
I don't fathom this. I know my Father desires reckless passion and devotion from His children. I love this and fear this, all in the same. But as I continue to read about the Spirit and his direct work in people's lives, I see all too plainly how the Lord has allowed us to not be abandoned.
He may desire us to serve Him radically but we are not doing the work alone. We follow and say "here I am" and the Spirit comes, as surely as the Lord's faithfulness does.
Speechless...kind of:)
It's not a funk or a sign of weakness. I believe I am experiencing the Spirit in a new way.
Explanation...
Just today, after a week of praying about it, I began a study on the Holy Spirit in the Word.
What it did, how it did it, its effect on people, who it effected. I shouldn't even be saying "it" b/c my understanding has been broadened to the "he" factor.
Anyway, I studied the Spirit in the Penteteuch today and was overwhelmed by how consuming the Spirit was. He "hovered over the waters" (Gen 1:2) "The Spirit of God was in him" (Gen 41:38) "...He took of the Spirit that was on him and put the Spirit on the seventy elders. When the Spirit rested on them, they prophesied..." etc. x infinity
In my life, I do not believe I have allowed the Spirit to rest on my weary and restless soul. I run too fast and speak an increased amount of words every day. I have never truly allowed him to hover and rest and fill and empower. The Spirit is SO ALIVE!!!
He prophesied through people. He healed people. He transformed people in their brokenness...
I am amazed at how direct the Spirit is. Where he is, something WILL occur. It may be a silent occurrence or a great uproar but he will be there.
I don't fathom this. I know my Father desires reckless passion and devotion from His children. I love this and fear this, all in the same. But as I continue to read about the Spirit and his direct work in people's lives, I see all too plainly how the Lord has allowed us to not be abandoned.
He may desire us to serve Him radically but we are not doing the work alone. We follow and say "here I am" and the Spirit comes, as surely as the Lord's faithfulness does.
Speechless...kind of:)
Monday, June 8, 2009
I Am Not Invincible says Ruth
Sprained my ankle yesterday playing volleyball with a sista.
24 hours later, my pride is still teeming with neverending thought strings:
"I thought I was invincible" and "I've never been injured till now!" and "Lord, why now?"
Oh my goodness, people. Why is my flesh winning lately?
I can chalk it up to my lack of true, in the Word, Scripture reading as of late.
I can make more excuses as to the fact that "my desert is just running a little longer these days"
But, all in all, I have been struggling with community with my Jesus.
I haven't been sharpening my Sword by memorizing Scripture or getting captivated by the Word. I mentioned it earlier as if it's a checkpoint on a list but freakin latte! It's not! I haven't been praying like a warrior princess in battle either. I've been thanking the Lord for my food and then off I go.
The daily struggle between Ruth and God is evident. I am a stubborn, selfish, all too prideful woman who thinks that help is a word for the sick and the poor.
As I've been staying off my ankle today, the Lord has greatly humbled me and brought me to this understanding: I am not invincible.
You laugh. I laugh. We all laugh. But, I apparently thought this was true because as my dad carried me into the house and as my best friend brought my little donkey named Risen Star to me, I finally gave up my little knife I've called a sword all these years and just let Him have it. Since then, I've depended on the Lord's whispers of encouragement and loved reading Psalms 16-18....I will not be shaken.
There were times today when all I could do was just journal my pain, as if I was in a punk rock band representing the emo stages of life or something. And, in my entries, the Lord brought me to this realization that as I learn about my weakness and realize that pride is no better for me than the callouses on my feet, I am a daughter who needs her Daddy to rescue her from falling in holes and getting lost in pits of pity and anger. I sprained my ankle. So what? I will not be shaken. I can't go to high school camp and work with some amazing girls this week. So what? I will not be shaken.
The Lord has a purpose. Not just for me. Not just for His army of sons and daughters.
He has a purpose PERIOD
Who am I to question?
24 hours later, my pride is still teeming with neverending thought strings:
"I thought I was invincible" and "I've never been injured till now!" and "Lord, why now?"
Oh my goodness, people. Why is my flesh winning lately?
I can chalk it up to my lack of true, in the Word, Scripture reading as of late.
I can make more excuses as to the fact that "my desert is just running a little longer these days"
But, all in all, I have been struggling with community with my Jesus.
I haven't been sharpening my Sword by memorizing Scripture or getting captivated by the Word. I mentioned it earlier as if it's a checkpoint on a list but freakin latte! It's not! I haven't been praying like a warrior princess in battle either. I've been thanking the Lord for my food and then off I go.
The daily struggle between Ruth and God is evident. I am a stubborn, selfish, all too prideful woman who thinks that help is a word for the sick and the poor.
As I've been staying off my ankle today, the Lord has greatly humbled me and brought me to this understanding: I am not invincible.
You laugh. I laugh. We all laugh. But, I apparently thought this was true because as my dad carried me into the house and as my best friend brought my little donkey named Risen Star to me, I finally gave up my little knife I've called a sword all these years and just let Him have it. Since then, I've depended on the Lord's whispers of encouragement and loved reading Psalms 16-18....I will not be shaken.
There were times today when all I could do was just journal my pain, as if I was in a punk rock band representing the emo stages of life or something. And, in my entries, the Lord brought me to this realization that as I learn about my weakness and realize that pride is no better for me than the callouses on my feet, I am a daughter who needs her Daddy to rescue her from falling in holes and getting lost in pits of pity and anger. I sprained my ankle. So what? I will not be shaken. I can't go to high school camp and work with some amazing girls this week. So what? I will not be shaken.
The Lord has a purpose. Not just for me. Not just for His army of sons and daughters.
He has a purpose PERIOD
Who am I to question?
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