I was reading a daily devotional by Max Lucado and it really made me think, so I thought I would share? How are you treating your neighbor (co-worker, spouse, friend, enemy, family, etc.)?
Are you aware that this is what you are saying to your Father? Give me what I give them. Grant me the same peace I grant others. Let me enjoy the same tolerance I offer. God will treat you the way you treat others.
In any given Christian community there are two groups: those who are contagious in their joy and those who are cranky in their faith. They’ve accepted Christ and are seeking him, but their balloon has no helium. One is grateful, the other is grumpy. Both are saved. Both are heaven bound. But one sees the rainbow and the other sees the rain.
Could this principle explain the difference? Could it be that they are experiencing the same joy they have given their offenders? One says, “I forgive you,” and feels forgiven. The other says, “I’m ticked off,” and lives ticked off at the world.
It’s as if God sends you to the market to purchase your neighbor’s groceries saying, “Whatever you get your neighbor, get also for yourself. For whatever you give him is what you receive.”
Let’s take this a step further. Suppose your neighbor’s trash blows into your yard. You mention the mess to him, and he says he’ll get to it sometime next week. You inform him that you’ve got company coming and couldn’t he get out of that chair and do some work? He tells you not to be so picky, that the garbage fertilizes your garden. You’re just about to walk across the lawn to have a talk when God reminds you, “Time to go to the market and buy your neighbor’s groceries.” So you grumble and mumble your way to the store, and then it hits you, “I’ll get even with the old bum.” You go straight to the skim milk. Then you make a beeline to the anchovies and sardines. You march right past the double-chocolate ice cream and head toward the okra and rice. You make a final stop in the day-old bread section and pick up a crusty loaf with green spots on the edge.
Chuckling, you drive back to the house and drop the sack in the lap of your lazy, good-for-nothing neighbor. “Have a good dinner.” And you walk away.
All your brilliant scheming left you hungry, so you go to your refrigerator to fix a sandwich, but guess what you find. Your pantry is full of what you gave your enemy. All you have to eat is exactly what you just bought. We get what we give.
Some of you have been eating sardines for a long time. Your diet ain’t gonna change until you change. You look around at other Christians. They aren’t as sour as you are. They’re enjoying the delicacies of God, and you’re stuck with okra and anchovies on moldy bread. You’ve always wondered why they look so happy and you feel so cranky. Maybe now you know. Could it be God is giving you exactly what you’re giving someone else?
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dancing in the rain
"Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine........
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About Me
- Ann
- I am a Graphic Designer, pursuing a freelance photography career. I am trying to use the talents God has given me to help others. I am on a journey, with God at my side.
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From what you write , yeah it seems you want to write encouraging words to make yourself feel good or "look good" I know enough about what you and others have done to others. It is a shame and I think you should go forward to the ones who you hurt the most. We have a right to judge others for some reasons, but the only way we can judge others if its that you are living right and know where your heart is. If you are true to yourself you would know it, but from what I KNOW, what you have said to certain people, I believe that you are in the MAJOR WRONG DOING!!! Even this one person has gotten an elders wife involved to see if things can be resolved , b/c she has tried her hardest to make you REALIZE what you are doing! But yet, when the "grudge" or whatever you want to call it doesnt resolve, it means you are holding on to it yourself!!!
I dont see how you can suddenly turn on someone b/c of some friends she has. Please do not judge others when you go out and get trashed yourself, sleeping in the SAME ROOM with a married man and another man on a trip. Do not judge others when you are doing things that look wrong in other peoples eyes!!
I am a christian myself, my father is a preacher so do not act like what I am saying is wrong.
Time to go forward to the enemies you have made! You never know what happens day by day!
yes we can pray and act holier than thou...in public..but what goes on inside matters more than how you act as a cover up!!
Thanks for reading..
I am sorry that you have gotten caught up in a situation that I thought was solved and was in my past - I have repented and also made a direct apology to the individual(s). I was not aware that this situation had be talked about outside of the individuals involved, so I am sorry you got caught up in that as well.
I do ask that you don’t make judgments of me and my attempts to solve the situation. I am a Christian and I do fall short. But please remember there are two sides to every story and until you know the whole situation, with both sides included, please do not point fingers.
I ask that you pray for all people involved, that apologies can be accepted and resolution can occur.