I'm Sorry

I want to say I’m sorry.  I want to apologize to the gay community, to the divorcees, the drunks, the homeless, and to the ones hurting for not showing who Jesus really is. I watched a video this morning entitled “Why are Christians so….” The person typed this into Google and Google automatically populated the most popular searches.  Things such as “why are Christians so mean?” or “why are Christians so rude? Why are Christians so selfish?” I was heartbroken after watching. I went to the computer and tried this out for myself, and sure enough; the truth hit me like a ton of bricks. Lord, forgive us! I fell to my knees and cried to God.

The word Christian means “Christ like.” Therefore, we should be able to substitute that word for Christ and get an accurate picture of Jesus. Sadly, this is NOT the case. Jesus is NOT rude. Jesus is neither judgmental nor selfish. Jesus is the one who was spit on, beat, and falsely accused yet he remained silent.(MARK 14:61) He didn’t feel the need to defend, argue, or prove his point and if we are supposed to represent him shouldn’t we do the same?  Please hear my heart. I know we need to stand up for truth but we need to do it in love.  “By mercy and truth iniquity is purged” (Proverbs 16:6).  From the sounds of it, we have the truth part down, now we just need to work on mercy.  I know that I am guilty of this. Many times I come across harsh and my words are taken wrong. I used to think it’s the world’s problem for misunderstanding me, now I know that I am the one who will be held accountable for how my words come out, not them.   I will stand before God and give an account for all my words. Matthew 12:36-37 says by my words I will be justified or condemned that depends on me!  It’s not the words of the message that we need help with; its how we tell others this message.  Instead of holding signs that say God hates sin, we need to add, and that is why he died for it! He gave his life because what he hates is the separation sin causes. God loves us so much that he paid the ultimate price to free us from the thing that was keeping us away from him.  It is our job to show Gods love.

“By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:35) I was definitely convicted this morning and wanted to share with everyone. I want the world to know the same Jesus that I know. I want the world to know I belong to Him and the bible tells me the ONLY way is by love. Not by how much doctrine or theology I know, not by how little I sin, or how much I go to church but how much I love others!

Father~

Forgive me. Lord you are so good and have shown me grace and mercy that I don’t deserve. You love me even though time and time again I disappoint you. Father, help me love others. Help me not judge or condemn, help me not point my fingers but open my arms. The world doesn’t need me to tell them what they are doing wrong; they need to see your love and you have chosen me to show them that. Lord, help me show the most accurate picture of your love I possibly can. Father, unite your body and bring us back to where we should be. Bring us back to that place of helping the widows and feeding the poor. Lord, the world needs you; help us show that.  Thank you God for the ones that do love. Thank you for the ones that never gave up on me and prayed for me. Jesus thank you for dying for me. Thank you for modeling grace, mercy, and love so perfectly for us. We love because you first loved us. Thank you.

In your holy holy holy name,

Amen

Camping

This week my husband and I went camping with his dad. This was the first time I had met my father in law and the first time my husband had seen him in 17 years! It was a much anticipated trip. The only thing that hindered my excitement was the weather was forecasted to rain the entire time.  I was nervous about the meeting. Wondering if he would approve of who his son chose, wondering what qualities my husband inquired because of this man. My brain was going like always; full speed. His father surprised us early and came the night before the camping trip. It was a wonderful surprise! We talked, looked at pictures, and went out to dinner. I found, like my husband, his father was very easy going. He wasn’t full of words but when he would speak up it usually made me laugh. My husband got his brilliant sense of humor from his dad. I was taken back at how similar they looked. It was almost like I could see my husband in twenty years!

One of my favorite verses of the bible is 2 Cor 5:18 “And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation” This verse has held true in my life in many ways. God has restored us first to him, and then once we are restored to him, he works on restoring our family.  Family is important to God. This weekend was a great reminder that nothing is too big for Gods reconciliation. Sometimes we may think there is too much damage done, or too much time, or the hurt is too deep but no damage was worse, or hurt more than God when we as mankind, walked away from him. It took his son, Jesus, dying on the cross to bridge that gap and bring us to reconciliation. If that wounded relationship can be made whole, I am convinced that any relationship on this earth can also be made complete. It has been remarkable watching God continually work this out in my life.

Camping was wet; very wet. The weather man was accurate and it rained, but the only thing the weather dampened was the ground. Our moods were great as our hearts were being reunited in relationship with family. It was remarkable weekend filled with laughter, God, and reconciliation. Thank you Lord!