One of the things I like about this Christian way of life is that you come across amazing people, people who say things that just lift your spirit when you need it. Its like God has put them there at that time and place just because he knows what you need to be told.
Don't get me wrong, I don't just mean I only like people who stroke my feathers and make me feel good, but those who are prepared to be brutally honest with me as well as encouraging and lets face it as much as we might not like it we all need to be put right from time to time. Jesus had a way of getting in under the armour of those who needed telling. The religious leaders for example, always trying to trip him up got some tough love - telling them they needed to go and get it right with God for themselves before they tried laying down the law to others. How like some many of us Christians today - too eager to point out the faults of others, too slow to recognise our own. Again Jesus told his followers to remove the log from their own eye before attempting to remove the splinter from someone else's eye. It's just soooo easy to see what others are getting wrong and so easy to ignore our own issues and attitudes.
But good faithful friends will encourage us, as many have done for me this week, but will also point out where we are going wrong to help us stay on the right track.
To be a good Christian friend, I need to take a good look in the mirror and put me right before I try to put right a sister or brother in Christ.
Sunday 28 February 2010
Thursday 25 February 2010
The best laid plans ...
Life has its little ups and downs and it bigger ups and downs ...
I took a hard punch yesterday when something I was convinced would work out didn't; now that would have been ok but there's no understandable reason for it so there's nothing for me to pin anything to. It just didn't work out.
One of those times when you want something to blame - the folks who made the decision, the timing, some mistake on my part. Then at least I might have had a focus for angst. But sometimes trying to figure out what God is about in a situation only comes with hindsight, perhaps its for my own good or maybe for the folks involved. I prayed before and during, I thought all was on track and yet in the end it went the "wrong" way.
Preparing for a meeting earlier today I was reading 1John 4:7-21, God is love and lives in all who know him, me, my wife and the folks who made the decision and we who love him are told to love each other. So rather than blame them or consider that they got it wrong, I find myself wishing them well and hoping that they will find the person that they need, I don't feel rejected, because God loves me and has my best interests in mind, even if I forget that at times.
A friend reminded me of some words proverbs 20:24 God directs my steps and is definitely in control. A God who is love, loves me and directs my steps, what more could I ask?
I took a hard punch yesterday when something I was convinced would work out didn't; now that would have been ok but there's no understandable reason for it so there's nothing for me to pin anything to. It just didn't work out.
One of those times when you want something to blame - the folks who made the decision, the timing, some mistake on my part. Then at least I might have had a focus for angst. But sometimes trying to figure out what God is about in a situation only comes with hindsight, perhaps its for my own good or maybe for the folks involved. I prayed before and during, I thought all was on track and yet in the end it went the "wrong" way.
Preparing for a meeting earlier today I was reading 1John 4:7-21, God is love and lives in all who know him, me, my wife and the folks who made the decision and we who love him are told to love each other. So rather than blame them or consider that they got it wrong, I find myself wishing them well and hoping that they will find the person that they need, I don't feel rejected, because God loves me and has my best interests in mind, even if I forget that at times.
A friend reminded me of some words proverbs 20:24 God directs my steps and is definitely in control. A God who is love, loves me and directs my steps, what more could I ask?
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