Facebook kicked me in the teeth
But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you – Matthew 5:44
I’m sure you have a friend, acquaintance, co-worker, etc… who rubs you the wrong way. Maybe all the time, maybe only once in a while. God knows I do.
Normally I just get frustrated and angry. Maybe I vent to other friends about it.
WRONG.
The challenge I’ve been presented is to love them, to understand them, to befriend them. What? Yup, be their friend.
Love covers a multitude of sins – 1 Peter 4:8. In love my attitude will change. I’ll begin to get along, I may actually even[shudder] ENJOY their company! Oh no!
How is this possible? How can I love who I hate? Because if I pray continually without ceasing(1 Thessalonians 5:17) God will change my heart. He’ll break down the walls. Stop repaying wrong for wrong(1 Thessalonians 5:15).
I did this wednesday. I repaid wrong for wrong to make a point. I tried to outsmart sin to which I can attest is a bad decision. I’ll always lose that fight.
Yesterday morning I checked in to Facebook and I have a daily verse that pops up every day. Just like any other computer program it’s a randomly generated verse that spits out every day. The same verse goes to 1,000’s of people. But as I looked at the screen my teeth got kicked in. “Love your enemies…” Ugh! To be convicted by a mindless computer program! Yet God knew when I installed that 3 months ago that on this day I would get this exact verse and that it would convict me on sin from just hours before. What a gracious, loving God we serve.
Several people pop in to my mind when I read those verses in Matthew. People that probably have no idea they aggravate me, but I need to be nicer.
As I venture on to tackle this new challenge I’m reminded that in changing for the better I will be attacked even harder by the Enemy. And more than likely, he’ll hit me where it hurts. Friends will question my actions(“You’re friends with who?!”) and these people who I need to love more will probably become more annoying and irritating to try and dissuade me from persuing loving like Jesus. Be strong. Run the race hard(Hebrews 12:1). It’ll get easier to love the more you do it.
Products of our Environment
Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it. – Proverbs 22:6
Over the past few months I have had several run-ins with friends from my past. It’s always good to see old friends and reminisce about the past, catch up on what you missed, and question where you’re headed.
God has really placed a burden on my heart to really contemplate each of these encounters individually. To see the different places these people are in their lives and to understand how they got there, but also to praise Him for the foundation He gave me.
Going to a Christian school my entire life jaded me as a youngster. I wasn’t the strongest Christian in high school, and in fact, most of my friends were stronger.
I look back now and see where some of them are and my heart is sad. Their lives are in shambles. Some say they feel empty or alone. Others are stronger than ever, living for Christ and being an example to all.
When I started thinking about each of them there was one thing that pressed open me, family. Those that are down, broken, and not seeking Him are those who’s families aren’t either.
I’m one of the lucky ones. When I stopped going to church, my mother kept going. When we ridiculed her every Sunday morning as we sat on the couch watching tv, she kept going. For at least 5 years this went on, week after week.
Then, one rainy night, He pulled me back. And He’s never let me forgot that I have my mom to thank for saving my eternal life. I had it easier than most. I was raised a Christian, always knew the truth.
What does this mean for all those with broken homes, with non-believing families? It means it’s going to be hard. Surround yourself with Christian friends who build you up and keep you honest. Who check up on you and correct you when you’re wrong. Even I need those relationships and I’m blessed to have bunches of them.
The lesson I’m taking from this is to stand strong because some day I’ll have a family to care about and worry about. If I am consistently saying I’m a Christian yet am drinking to get drunk and sleeping around my kids are bound to repeat the same mistakes.
I made some huge mistakes growing up, but kids will always come back to what they know. I need to make sure what they know is the truth. The Holy and Anointed Word of God. My foundation.
He told me to write a letter
He who belongs to God hears what God says. – John 8:47
Back in September I heard a voice. No I don’t need to be institutionalized. It took me a while to figure out that it wasn’t just me, that it was the Holy Spirit.
John says: But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come(16:13).
Okay, lets backtrack to January 8, 2006. My then girlfriends father gave me a recliner. Very long story short I decided to pick up the recliner and carry it into the house by myself. Being muscle man and all, I figured no big deal. 12 hours later four paramedics were lugging my large body out the door an into an ambulance. Turns out I had 3 degenerated discs and 2 were herniated.
Over the next year and a half I struggled to cope with my pain, but more importantly, my trial. Then on August 27, 2007 I did something I thought I’d never do: I had back surgery. Immediately all the nerve pain in my leg was gone. Physical therapy had helped my back strength and the surgery had cured what I felt was incurable, excruciating nerve pain.
So, mid September roles around and I get this urge to write a letter. “Write a letter to Dr. Lapp and June Stott and thank them.” What? You want me to do what? I blew it off as me trying to glorify myself. “Look at me, I write thank you letters”. Nah, I’m not going to do. But the voice got stronger and stronger as I prayed about it.
Sometime in October I sat down and wrote a simple letter. Less than a page, it simply said thank you for sound advice, for not forcing surgery first, for allowing me to go back to doing normal things like taking a walk, and for using the amazing gift God has given them both. I mailed it out and expected no response and up until now, nearly 2 months later, forgot I had even written it.
November 27, 2007 – 11:39am. My phone rings. I check my voicemail and it’s the secretary from the doctors office. My heart sinks as I know what this is about. I still owe them plenty of money, money I don’t have. “Dr Lapp just wanted to know if he could give your number to a patient who has some questions about surgery and wanted to talk to someone who had it done.” Huh? Sure, Lord. I will talk to her.
What did I learn from this? Look for the Lord in EVERYTHING. What are you eating for breakfast? What shirt should I wear? You never know when you’re going to change someone’s life. Seek and you will find… Matthew 7:7. If you love the Lord He will speak to you, and if you open yourself to whatever He asks, He’ll blow your mind.
She hasn’t called yet, and I have no idea what to say to her but I’m not afraid. I have a new prayer as I sit down today, “Give me the words.” And I have no doubt the Holy Spirit will guide my words and give her exactly what she needs.
