A blog about Religion & Faith, Relationships, and Family & Home.
Real Name: Jessica S Gender: female Member Since: September 05, 2006 Last Signed In: August 22, 2009 Profile Views: 3878 Blog Views: 4179 what does intelligence have to do with anything? Importance of fathers Beating the school bullies chid abuse prevention month love friends God doesn't demand perfection love people are people so why should it be... i believe September 06 October 06 November 06 December 06 January 07 February 07 March 07 April 07 May 07 June 07 July 07 August 07 September 07 October 07 November 07 December 07 January 08 February 08 March 08 April 08 May 08 June 08 July 08 August 08 September 08 October 08 November 08 December 08 January 09 February 09 March 09 April 09 May 09 June 09 July 09 August 09 September 09 October 09 November 09 
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I must confess that I have problems with love. All my experiences with love are totally distorted. You know when you're a kid, and you're friends with someone and they say "if you ___ I'll be your best friend forever!!"? Well, its a joke, but in my past, its the truth. I've always had "these" experiences with love. I went to a Christmas gathering with my group last night. There was a lot of talking, a lot of sharing of stories, mostly about embarassing moments, people falling, tripping, funny stories like that. And after I left, it made me realize something. Although I hardly have any embarassing moments, its like my life has been one because I've always had someone pointing and laughing at me no matter what I do. My dad used to do it. I remember one time being a kid, trying to say a word, I think it was electricity but I couldn't say it, after like 3 times I think I said power, and my dad laughed at me. Sure it was funny, but theres always been a "tone" behind it. And its made me incredibly self-conscious and somewhat prideful. I used to weigh a little over 300 pounds and I heard a comment from a kid only once, and I was already in process of getting gastric bypass. It seems like a total copout in my mind but I know I have trouble loving because of these lopsided friendships. I always feel like I'm under a magnifying glass, I seem to attract people who see a tiny flaw and make it the size of a mountain. Last night I left the party thinking "why did I stay for an extra two HOURS to hear these ridiculous stories??!!" I think I had more fun on the way to the party, with the big fat clouds, about sunset time with the pink sky.. it was beautiful.. took a lot of pictures :) So I don't know what friendship is, I'm struggling with the concept of love. But the good news is that we all students, and every day is a new opportunity. And there are plenty of ways to learn. Like the Word says, love is patient, love is kind.. but also this poem/teaching says..
LOVE Be kind rather than be cruel "God is love...he that dwells in love dwells in God, and God in him” As I've said many times, I've encountered many different "types" of people in my life. Friends, acquaintences, co-workers... When I say type I dont mean age, color, etc but I mean characteristics; personalities, beliefs, actions. The person that they are inside. I've been a very easy person in my life to be bullied, it is a huge part of my past. I've had so many friendships where I've felt bullied that I run away screaming when people don't bully me. (Well not literaly, but it is a scary situation for me). The question that is perplexing me is how I put labels on types of people. For me nowdays, there are two types; believers and non believers. Over the past year, the belivers have been a huge influence in my life and have been essential in the healing I have recieved over the past year. They are God's love in action, and I am grateful for them. My non-believer friends don't understand my walk with God, but they are supportive anyway. I know in the past I just wanted to convert everyone, but I know my life speaks more than words can ever express. I spent a few days with my non-believer friends, and it was a fun time. It was months ago and they still call reguarly to chat. These two types of friends, its not a contest of who is better and "which side do I go on?" Because, after all, no matter what people believe, people are people and we are all free to believe what suits us. My non-believer friends don't try to change me and I don't try to change them. Just like the media does with famous people, we, as people, tend to put people on a pedastol. Millionares=worthwhile, homeless=useless. (exaggerated of course). We by nature judge people by their who, what, when, where, and (mostly) ignoring the type of person they are. We are warned of this many times in the Bible, (Matthew 7:15-15Beware of false prophets, who come to you dressed as sheep, but inside they are devouring wolves.)how someone on the outside looks to have it all together while falling apart inside, and the people that lives are falling apart on the outside actually have stability within themselves. Apperances mean nothing, what they do for a living is useless, where they live is so unimportant.. what is really important is a persons character. I know I am guilty of this. I put my believer friends on a pedastol, and while I don't concider non-believers "nobodies", I put all the emphasis on them. As far as I'm concerned, they can do no wrong. And of course that thinking is wrong! How many religious "leaders" have been corrupt? How many non-believers have done works that could be works of God? One teaching that has stuck by me is "take the labels off". Which has been very powerful for me in my life, since the people that "should love me"; actively don't. And strangers are nicer to me than others. But it should be that way for everyone. Labels are useless, its about our character and our heart. We are all of value in this world, we all have our stories, our opinions, our strengths and weaknesses. And luckily, they are all different. Where I'm weak another is strong, and vice versa. We all have a purpose, and no one is better or worse than another. Just because my believer friends have the same beliefs as me, it doesn't make them better than me, and it doesn't mean we are really friends. Some people just clash for whatever reasons. The sooner I learn that and put that into practice... the better off ALL of my friends and I will be.
that we don't have to change friends if we understand that friends change. that no matter how good a friend is, they're going to hurt you every once in a while and you must forgive them for that. that true friendship continues to grow, even over the longest distance. Same goes for true love. that you can do something in an instant that will give you heartache for life. that it's taking me a long time to become the person I want to be. that you should always leave loved ones with loving words. It may be the last time you see them. that you can keep going long after you can't. that we are responsible for what we do, no matter how we feel. that either you control your attitude or it controls you. that regardless of how hot and steamy a relationship is at first, the passion fades and there had better be something else to take its place. that heroes are the people who do what has to be done when it needs to be done, regardless of the consequences. that money is a lousy way of keeping score. that my best friend and I can do anything or nothing and have the best time. that sometimes the people you expect to kick you when you're down, will be the ones to help you get back up. that sometimes when I'm angry I have the right to be angry, but that doesn't give me the right to be cruel. that just because someone doesn't love you the way you want them to doesn't mean they don't love you with all they have. that maturity has more to do with what types of experiences you've had and what you've learned from them and less to do with how many birthdays you've celebrated. that it isn't always enough to be forgiven by others. Sometimes you have to learn to forgive yourself. that no matter how bad your heart is broken the world doesn't stop for your grief. that our background and circumstances may have influenced who we are, but we are responsible for who we become. that just because two people argue, it doesn't mean they don't love each other And just because they don't argue, it doesn't mean they do. that you shouldn't be so eager to find out a secret. It could change your life forever. that two people can look at the exact same thing and see something totally different. that your life can be changed in a matter of hours by people who don't even know you. that even when you think you have no more to give, when a friend cries out to you, you will find the strength to help. that credentials on the wall do not make you a decent human being. that the people you care about most in life are taken from you too soon. I belong to a small group of women that get together and do God's work together. We've done all sorts of things, but the main thing that we do is that we have a big event for someone that people would label as "unworthy" because of what they do for a living. It is "wrong" in peoples eyes, because of what they are focusing on. They are not focusing on them as a human being. We are a "controversial" group because of this, and we have receieved a lot of criticism and backlash, even from people within the church. They try to tell us that we shouldn't be doing this, even though our Pastors have said MANY times that these are the EXACT people we SHOULD be working for! Everyone, absolutely EVERYONE on Earth deserves the same love and respect, regardless of what the look like, what they talk about, what they do for a living, where they live, etc. EVERYONE is welcome to Jesus, so who are we putting ourselves on a pedastol, making decisions for Him who died for EVERYONE? In the end, does it matter what people say, or is the message of the Gospel more important? As far as the people who are condeming us, I say to them, this is God's work, and God's work does NOT discriminate. God saved ME, and loved me at my very worst. I was not worthy in man's eyes but God deemed me worthy because of His infinite love for us, His desire for ALL of us to be with Him on this Earth and for eternity. ~~~~~~~~~ Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God. (Romans 15:7 NIV)
Jesus loves us even at our worst, demonstrating “his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8 NIV)
He accepts us among his beloved children, despite our messy lives, impure motives, and irritating attitudes. (Ephesians 1:6) His acceptance of us doesn’t condone any sin, rather it recognizes we are God’s workmanship, each of us a uniquely shaped child of God created for a specific purpose. (Ephesians 2:10)
One of the ways we reflect God’s love is to accept each other just as Jesus accepts us. This brings glory to God. (Romans 5:7)
Jesus was not afraid to be friends with non-believers, looking past the sin in their lives to see who God created them to be. (Luke 19:7) He understood that accepting the person is not the same thing as accepting their sins. As the old saying goes, “Love the sinner, not the sin.”
Jesus was ridiculed for being a friend to sinners. He accepted prostitutes, lepers, publicans, and the poor. He believed the kingdom of heaven was available to any who would turn to him.
When Jesus called Matthew to be a disciple, the tax-collector got a bunch of his tax-collecting friends together for a large banquet with Jesus. (Luke 5:30) Jesus jolted the religious culture by hanging out with a group of people who were stereotyped as spiritually bankrupt.
Some religious leaders approached Jesus’ disciples to ask why their master was associating with people they judged should be outcast – people who should not be accepted. Jesus responded to their inquiry by saying, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.” (Luke 5:31 NIV)
Like a doctor accepts a patient, regardless of the disease, Jesus accepts – he loves – us in our present condition and, like a doctor, his intent is to heal us of our sin.
In the story of the prodigal, we find Jesus talking again about this counter-cultural acceptance. (Luke 15) The father in the story unconditionally accepted his son back into the family. He embraced his son, despite what he’d done and where he’d been. Isn’t that what we all want from Jesus? Isn’t that how we’re all greeted by him?
What now?
· No matter where you are, Jesus meets you there – Ask God to help you as you let this truth drench your being: You are accepted by God. Some of us find it hard to accept others because we reject ourselves. (Pray about the meaning of this statement and see what God reveals to you.)
· Jesus looks at you with the eyes of love – Jesus knows everything you’ve ever done, everything you’ve ever said, everything you’ve ever thought – or ever will do, say, and think – and yet he still loves and accepts you. That doesn’t mean he condones your sins, but it does mean that, in his acceptance of you, he forgives you of your sins and he’s actively working within you to transform you into someone who is holy and Christ-like.
· No matter where they are, Jesus meets them there – and so should we. Ask God to help you embrace this truth: Other people are accepted by God too, just as much as you are. Again, this does not mean God, or you, condones their sins; rather, you’re on a mission to lead them to the Great Physician, who will heal them of their sins.
· Jesus looks at them with the eyes of love – Jesus knows everything they’ve ever done, said, and thought, yet he still loves them. Jesus forgives them of their sins and he’s actively working bring them home to him. Will you join Jesus in his work? |