April 28, 2018

Greetings My Friend,

I am an encourager by nature, I want people to feel better about themselves because I know what not liking who I am feels like. I look to how God loves me then try to imitate that type of love with others, for me learning that the Greeks have several words for the word love has helped me differentiate they type of love I want to give. My favorite is Agape love, servant love, seeking another persons highest good. Recently I have struggled to be positive with how my granddaughter is dressing. She is in her early 20's, I have very little relationship with her so having a critical attitude would make no difference to her, she does not see me as someone whose opinion matters all that much. Still, I try to acknowledge her. After wrestling with my thoughts I started praying on how to deal with this issue. My main point of contact is Instagram, she has a lot of selfie's although there are times there are pictures of the children she works with, with her friends hanging out going to sporting events. God gave me the answer as I was reading my Bible, a couple passages of Scripture spoke to my heart, I wrote them down then I asked the Holy Spirit to open my heart to what I was to learn. I learned I don't have to like every picture, I like the ones that are "clean" in my opinion, leave the ones I find not so good. In my online support group I find that one of the administrator's is gay, he gives good advice, is friendly and sometimes he comments about his partner. I am uncomfortable with the couple comments but did not want to encourage this type of relationship, then when I looked at what the Holy Spirit taught me about my granddaughter, I found I could apply the same principal. My desire is to give Jesus to everyone, not to only the people I love or understand so now I have a way to relate to and love as Jesus loves me. Jesus died for everyone on earth, including Muslims, Gay's, thieves and even addicts. My heart wants to reach any heart that may want to know the love of God. I go back to the woman at the well, Jesus loved this woman even though in her society she was despised because of her being married 5 times and living with a man outside of marriage. Jesus loved the lepers, the blind, the unwanted, the gentiles as well as the Jews, this teaches me there is no one who is too bad, awful or undesirable to come to the family of God so I am doing my best to give the Gospel to all people I know, come into contact with. The Bible teaches us we must admit our sins, accept Jesus is God's Son then we will be part of God's family. God takes us where we are then changes us to follow His ways, for me His ways has been so freeing. May God bless you and keep you, make His face shine on you.