it's all about love...

Blessed be the God and Father of my Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten me again to a living hope through the resurrection if Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for me, who is kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this I greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, I have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of my faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire may be found to praise, honor and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom having not seen, I love. Though now I do not see Him, yet believing, I rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, receiving the end of my faith - the salvation of my soul. 1Peter 1:3-9 ~ personalized...

How easy it is to read a passage and feel comforted by its wonderful message, but yet not let it sink in as deep as it should ~ a friend of mine told me that she, from time to time, will rewrite a passage with personal pronouns and review it this way, allowing it to sink in, ponder if it still seemed true or recognize that it is sometimes more convicting...

Oftentimes we more easily see the sin in another's life more easily that we see our own. We may even spend time focused on this sin because of how it affects us personally. However, at some point, we often must realize that we are overlooking our own sin problem in this situation - many passages warn us of this danger. For me, this reminder came in through the back door through this passage...

Through a series of (unfortunate) events, I have been placed in more than one position of being routinely subjected to people whom my good judgement and a reasonable amount of experience warns, are simply not who they present themselves to be ~ people who have been elevated in their positions in a way inappropriate to their character or maturity, but people I believe God has called me to work with...

While contemplating how best to approach this, I have considered several passages and have prayed about this quite a bit, but I found that my focus was becoming more on the issues they have and what I should do to deal with it - and I suppose on some level this would help prepare me, but when it seemed to become more and not less bothersome, I had to come to the conclusion that I too was harboring a sin problem toward these people - but what sin?

And then I read 1Peter. In the first chapter and in just a few verses, I was beginning to see more clearly ~ .."I have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of my faith, being more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ..." I know that any trials I face are placed by God for a purpose. And I know that any and all hope I have in all of eternity come solely and completely from my perfect and sovereign God...

And then a later passage completes the picture for me ~ "Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart..." v.22

If my heart is purified from my obedience to love, then I shouldn't be struggling to love - so it seems to me that the trials in my life right now boil down to the challenge of obediently forgiving and loving my brothers and sisters in Christ who seem to be a vessel for inflicting a certain amount of pain and frustration in my life right now...

I have a great and awesome God who protects me with His perfect power, I will not be destroyed by these trials when I put my trust in Him, so I can trust Him when he tells me to love. I can know with certainty that the trials I face will not cause my (spiritual) demise or He would not have given this command! And knowing this, it becomes clear to me that what I should do is forgive as I have been forgiven and then "in sincere love of the brethren, love one another with a pure heart", this is all I need to know for now ~ and in this God will be glorified <3

friendship...

I can't think of a season in my life that I didn't have a friend, but throughout my life, the circle of friends has changed ~ the types of relationships have been almost as varied as the women themselves.

I've had very needy friends and very giving friends, friends who shared more of a common set of interests rather than common life goals, some who I could trust with my deepest thoughts and others who never went below the surface. I've had confident friends and insecure and bossy friends, quiet and reflective friends and outrageously funny friends -

I have been betrayed by some friends and lifted up by others - I've had friends who taught me the need to set boundaries on my time and others who have seriously tried my patience ~ I have had friends who have pulled me down or held me back but others who continue to inspire me by example to be a better woman. Friends I see often, and friends who can pick up where we left off after months apart ~ friends who sincerely share my joy or will just sit and cry with me in my despair.

I cannot claim great wisdom, but I have lived long enough and have been through enough to know this ~ I must treasure the journey as I grow to know someone better, I must not be surprised by the ache from the disappointment of what that sometimes reveals ~ I must remember that through trials and challenges so much is discovered about the true nature of a friendship and know with certainty ~ when the dust settles there are but a few true friends still standing ~ and rarely who you think...

above all I know this ~ friendship should be treasured and protected, given and received and always acknowledged for what it is ~ a beautiful gift from our loving God...

what's in your cup? ...

"When our cup is jostled, what spills out reveals what is inside" Dee Brestin from her study of proverbs...

to illustrate we read in 1 Samuel ~

Penninah and Hannah, married to the same man - that would certainly jostle MY cup! Penninah had children, Hannah could not - ouch, but their 'shared' husband loved Hannah more - serious jostle!!

What spilled from Penninah was jealousy, bitterness and cruelty towards Hannah, provoking her ruthlessly -and it hurt. Penninah sought her own methods of coping, indulging in a fleshly response to her pain...

Hannah's cup overflowed with her faith in God, she took her grief to Him, she indulged in His presence and tirelessly trusted Him...

Penninah increased her pain and suffering ~ Hannah was healed

Although greatly simplified here, what a great reminder of yet another way to measure our progress, to test our hearts - when my cup is jostled, what spills out?