Picking Each Other Apart - Let's say, "I Ain't Doing It." 

My soap box for today is something that has broken my heart....

It saddens me tremendously to watch Christians pick apart other Christians. 

I was in the audience of a Facebook feed when one of my friends posted about a high profile, female speaker who was not living up to her standards, and then a ton of people began to post their disgust, dislike and disagreement with how she was living her life, and how she was acting.

Having lived in a ministerial fish bowl for 30+ years I am all too familiar with the scrutinizing, observing and magnifying glass approach people have with my life. 

The Truth is, is that we're all broken.  Every single one of us is broke.  Romans tells us that "all have fallen short..." When you study Jesus' ministry on earth you see him rubbing shoulders with folks that this group above would have lit up a Facebook feed longer than a giraffe's neck.  He came for the sin-sick, not the well. 

It's refreshing to know that Jesus has the last word on my life. 

We need to remember that God is our judge.  He is the only one who can see a person's heart, motives, and thoughts. 

A very important Truth is that our attacking each other publicly, on social media, etc. is a turn off to believers and non-believers.  It could even be a stumbling block. They would be right to say, "If that's how they treat each other, then why should I darken the doors of a church?"

May God help us be tight lipped accountable for the things we say, and the things we don't say.  Somebody's eternity maybe dependent on it.  Before you post, ask yourself this question, "Does it edify or encourage?" 

Be Still

Life is so hard!  It's like the unexpected hits you almost every day.  For instance, like losing your job.  This is more common than you think, unfortunately.  Companies downsize to stay afloat, or implement more AI (Computer driven methods).  Last year when my husband was let go from his position at a church.  I lost my breathe.  The painful weave of this circumstance was that I was having to leave all of my closest friends.  How would we financially make it?  My heart was aching and breaking.  But God....

Hindsight is always 20/20.  I am able to see clearly now.  God had to step in and pull us away.  Our season was over there.  In our humanness we want to fight.  While those reactions maybe human, they're not Christ-like.  The Lord wants us to be still.  He wants to fight for us.  Exodus 14:14.  His ways are not our ways.  His thoughts are not our thoughts.  He has our tomorrow in mind.  He has our next week in mind.  He has our next year in mind as He is prepping us for our future and next adventure with Him. 

It doesn't always look like we want it to look.  Quite frankly, God is not interested in having it look the way we want it.  He has a master plan that His Mighty hand directs and orchestrates to make something beautiful out of our lives, if we allow Him. 

I've watched my husband discover all kinds of things about himself.  He is a fabulous teacher.  He is full of tenderness and grace.  I've discovered that life without my bosom buddies has been different but not impossible.  God has become "bigger" in my life.  I've grown to know Him more intimately in so many ways.  I've learned how to be still.  I've learned how to enjoy just sitting in His presence.  It makes my heart sing! 

New Season of Life

We've had the privilege of watching a mamma bird tend to her chicks.  She built a nest in a wreath on our front door.  Every day we'd peer thru the window as mamma would build the nest, to get it just so.  And then one day we saw 1 egg, and then 2 eggs and then 4 eggs.  As the eggs hatched, we had a first row seat of her taking care of them, as they "cried" for food she would tend to them.   And then one day, as they got a little older, watching them all "outgrow" the nest.  Literally!  They got so big that they couldn't even fit into the nicely built home that mamma bird created.  And so... the next chapter of their lives begin as they flew off.  We're getting ready to do the same thing with our youngest child.  He's graduated high school and is about to embark on the adventure of college life.  I've been all over the place with my emotions.  I have finally come to terms with it and I am embracing not only his new adventure but my own.  Our entire married life we've had a baby underfoot.  We've never had the pleasure of it just being the two of us. It will be a new found adventure for my husband and myself as we learn our "new normal" for just us two.  I am thankful that we not only love each deeply, but we also like each other.