August 19 2014

August 19, 2014 Greetings My Friend, “Be prepared to give a defense for the hope you have.” This is paraphrased but it is the thought I tend to have as I read Scripture. A friend wrote on her status about the innate need to be acknowledged by others. When someone steps besides you and gives you acknowledgement for your worth you tend to have more confidence. I agree with her statement and I add to it by stating for me God gives me that innate acknowledgement through Jesus. As I accepted Jesus as my Savior I started to experience real love. Until that moment I knew conditional love. As long as I pleased others I was acknowledged and when I displeased others I felt wrath instead of love. With God I felt accepted even when I messed up. He taught me to fess up to admit that I made a mistake. As I learned to be honest and look at my mistake I found God did not yell and scream “How dare you” but I was shown how to not enter into that sin. Sometimes it took several tries before I had it conquered. On occasion I even fell back in that sin years down the road. When I learned to confess it though I walked away quicker than in the past. With God I definitely feel convicted when I do something that is not good for me. A while back I chose to avoid a confrontation instead of being upfront and honest. I hate confrontations so I tend to smooth over things that in truth tend to irritate me. I know if I tell the truth in love that I’ve let the other person know where I am coming from. Even the truth in love at times is hard for me to do because I conjure up all kinds of anger and wrath in my mind. The day I glossed over my anger though I felt convicted. The person would not learn from her mistake if I did not confront her disregard for what I was paying her to do. I texted her that night and began to be honest. I did not fully enter into all the upset but I told her we would have someone else watch our pets. As the days unfolded I was able to enter more fully into my concerns. It was a process for me but I began that process and at that point my heart settled down. I was doing what God wanted me to do and peace reigned in me. I keep learning that “truth in love” is not always that hard to do and being honest all the way is much better. So again I learned God forgave me and I had another instance that was positive. That helps me want to do so again so I try to learn and grow as I go through each situation. I am not perfect but God seems to teach me and then at that point I grow through these situations. May God bless you and keep you make His face shine on you. Love Janet