Friday, April 27, 2012
Jealousy
Jealousy is not a word with which I normally identify myself. I am not covetous of others' things; I do not have even the slightest concern in regard to my husband's relationships.
As it turns out though, I am jealous of some people. The sensitivity of the issue prevents me from going into detail, but suffice it to say that, what I feel like I am missing in my life is deference.
I am struggling with a lack of respect from certain people in my life, respect that I feel I have earned. I feel unjustly dismissed. When I see others whose opinions are respected, whose feelings are considered, who are given the deference they deserve, my heart cries out, "Why not me?". In this particular situation, there are even some who have blatantly abused their power and authority who continue to receive the respect I have worked for years to earn.
As I've been trying to overcome these feelings through prayer and study, attempting to see God's path of peace rather than my path of jealousy, I have been reminded that we serve a jealous God (Ex. 34:14). He deserves our deference, our respect and He, too, is unjustly dismissed - on a far grander scale than I can ever imagine.
So, I am before you, asking that you take a moment and look at how you treat our Lord. Remember all He has done for us and how little we have done for Him.
And then, if you can, say a prayer for me, that God will soften my heart and show me His path.
Many thanks and may God bless you all!
Saturday, April 21, 2012
Republican, Democrat or Christian?
Election season again. Is it just me or did the past four years seem to fly by? I have mixed feelings about election season. It’s an exciting time in our country and I am so thankful for the freedom we have to choose our leader. I am also thankful for the peaceful transition of power that takes place in this country. In so many places there is no right to vote and there is no peaceful transition.
What I don’t love is all the negativity surrounding the process. It doesn’t matter what side of the political fence you’re on. It comes from every side, every candidate, every media outlet and every campaigner. It seems like politics (and here in the South, college football) brings out the worst in people. We are so very passionate about our own political “agenda.”
It’s great to be passionate and it’s great to fully support whatever it is you support. However, it seems we’ve taken our passion to a dangerous level. It saddens me to see that even those that profess to be Christians spar with one another over politics. So much so at times, that it brings shame and reproach on the name of Jesus.
My point here is not to say that we should all agree on every issue. We certainly won’t and shouldn’t compromise what we believe to be true and right, politically speaking. (If you compromise what you believe then did you really believe it to begin with??)
My point is actually not about politics at all. It’s about being passionate.
Passionate about Jesus.
I am amazed that we’ve become more passionate about our candidate that we have about our Savior.
The past couple of Presidential elections have been quite intense. It seems that there is constant e-mail being circulated about the current president as well as the current presidential candidates. The majority of these e-mails are in some way negative. They are either criticizing the current administration or the candidates. There is very rarely a positive message.
What if, instead of “mud-slinging,” these emails circulated the Gospel? What if we were so passionate about Jesus that we would forward everyone in our address book e-mails which share the Good News?
Would that change our community, our culture, our country and maybe eventually, our world? What if those of us that claim to know Christ were proclaiming Christ to those that don’t know Him?
It is certainly OK to have and express your political views and opinions. Praise God that we live in a country where we can openly do just that. However, let’s be Christians first. Let’s talk about Jesus first. When we talk about politics let’s remember to do so in a loving, peaceful way. Not compromising what we believe, but remembering that we are not only representing a political candidate or message but as Christians we are representing Jesus and His message.
What I don’t love is all the negativity surrounding the process. It doesn’t matter what side of the political fence you’re on. It comes from every side, every candidate, every media outlet and every campaigner. It seems like politics (and here in the South, college football) brings out the worst in people. We are so very passionate about our own political “agenda.”
It’s great to be passionate and it’s great to fully support whatever it is you support. However, it seems we’ve taken our passion to a dangerous level. It saddens me to see that even those that profess to be Christians spar with one another over politics. So much so at times, that it brings shame and reproach on the name of Jesus.
My point here is not to say that we should all agree on every issue. We certainly won’t and shouldn’t compromise what we believe to be true and right, politically speaking. (If you compromise what you believe then did you really believe it to begin with??)
My point is actually not about politics at all. It’s about being passionate.
Passionate about Jesus.
I am amazed that we’ve become more passionate about our candidate that we have about our Savior.
The past couple of Presidential elections have been quite intense. It seems that there is constant e-mail being circulated about the current president as well as the current presidential candidates. The majority of these e-mails are in some way negative. They are either criticizing the current administration or the candidates. There is very rarely a positive message.
What if, instead of “mud-slinging,” these emails circulated the Gospel? What if we were so passionate about Jesus that we would forward everyone in our address book e-mails which share the Good News?
Would that change our community, our culture, our country and maybe eventually, our world? What if those of us that claim to know Christ were proclaiming Christ to those that don’t know Him?
It is certainly OK to have and express your political views and opinions. Praise God that we live in a country where we can openly do just that. However, let’s be Christians first. Let’s talk about Jesus first. When we talk about politics let’s remember to do so in a loving, peaceful way. Not compromising what we believe, but remembering that we are not only representing a political candidate or message but as Christians we are representing Jesus and His message.
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