Follow me on Twitter RSS FEED
Showing posts with label colossians 3:12. Show all posts
Showing posts with label colossians 3:12. Show all posts

That'll Show 'Em

Posted in , , , , By Sarah 0 comments

A few weeks ago when I was working at the convenience store, a regular customer made a comment about how slow I was being (I had paused before asking if he wanted cash back from his debit card). I get really annoyed when people do this sort of thing. I almost always assume that it's their passive aggressive way of saying, "No, seriously, be faster," or whatever their point is. The next time I saw that guy, I was making coffee while he went back to the cooler to get his regular 6-pack and 2 summer shandies. He got to the counter just before I did and asked, "Are you working today, Sarah?" I answered I was and he said, "Are you sure?" That really irritated me. The guy can't wait a few seconds? I mean, I was right behind him. He saw I was there. So, then I thought that I'd show him how much he annoyed me by giving him looks as I rang up his stuff. Maybe I'd smile with gritted teeth or roll my eyes, anything to show him he was being a jerk. 
Then, the thought came to me that I should be nice, genuinely nice. I believe this idea came from God because, obviously, my first inclination is not to be so kind to people who irritate me like that. The question that popped into my head was, when has that ever worked? No one ever thinks, "Oh, this girl is giving me a nasty smile. I must have done something to offend her." If I had done that, that guy probably would've thought I was just being a jerk for no reason. So I, thank the Maker, was nice to him. The next time I saw him, he was really nice. He wanted to show me the sunburn on his legs he had gotten the previous weekend.(It was still a bit purple. Ouch.) I realized that I had misjudged him. He wasn't being passive aggressive with his comments about me being slow. That was just the way he jokes around.
It wouldn't even matter if he was being passive aggressive or an outright jerk. My reaction and attitude toward him, and anyone else, are what matter. Colossians 3:12 says that as God' people, we are to clothe ourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Ephesians 4:31-32 tells us to "Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you." Which would you rather try to show people: how annoyed, upset, and offended you are or the fruit of the Spirit (Galations 5:22)? It's not easy, but let's strive to be the kind of people God has called us to be.

A lily among thorns

Posted in , , , , , By brigitte 0 comments

Disclaimer: This post is possibly one of the toughest I’ve tried to write. It’s taken me a couple of weeks to process and I am still having trouble putting it all into words. Consider it an introduction to a series of posts.

Last summer when I prayed God would grow a compassion for the least in my heart, I should have known he would. Since then he has been amending the soil of my soul with his Word… planting seeds of his promises, character, and love. Here I now stand on the brink of Spring time and my heart soil is bursting with new life.

Like a lily among thorns is my darling among young women. Song of Solomon 2:2
 
I met a woman. A woman who has lived a hard forty years without love… without safety… and without peace. A woman so devoured by satan she is practically invisible to the world around her. No one sees her. No one hears her cries. No one cares.

This woman (let’s call her Lily) has been living in a motel. Lily had recently been released from jail. She owns nothing. She has medical issues from years of drug and alcohol abuse.

What Lily does possess is a welcoming, sweet disposition. She greeted me like an old friend. We sat and talked openly about life and family. She showered me with hospitality.

And I thought I was there to help her.

I sat in her home no bigger than a single room in mine and found myself feeling sorry for her. The Holy Spirit convicted me on the spot –pity isn’t the same as holy compassion! Lily doesn’t need pity. She needs love. She needs her Savior. She needs a friend…and that is what I pray she can call me.

I have known Lily only a few short weeks. In that time the Lord has taught me how to love without expectation. See I’ve always enjoyed giving to others … when it’s easy or I’ll receive something in return. Loving Lily isn’t easy or natural or convenient. It is exactly the love Jesus calls us to…

Didn’t Jesus go out of his way for the Samaritan woman? She was an outcast among the outcast. Jesus “had to go” through Samaria on his way to Galilee (John 4:4). No, no he didn’t. Jews went to great lengths to avoid Samaria and its people. Jesus made his way into this woman’s life with every intention of showing her compassion and kindness like she had never experienced. He offered her the hope, forgiveness, and wholeness that can only be found in Living Water. She was forever changed by this encounter with her Savior.

Have you encountered this Jesus?

Fact: You are a precious Lily among thorns. Jesus longs for you.
Fact: Jesus is pursuing you. He is at the water well anticipating your encounter.
Fact: Jesus LOVES you so stinkin’ much. His love cannot be expressed in words so he showed you by giving up his life for yours.
Fact: Jesus calls you to love like he loves – without expectation, relentlessly, with holy compassion.

Colossians 3:12-14 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.  And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
Design by: WPYAG
Blogger Template by Anshul | Funny Pictures.