Welcome to God's Lemonade Stand

It is my hope that by reading this daily you will grow in your walk with Christ and knowledge of scriptures and be set free from any struggles in your life that are weighing you down. Be blessed to be a blessing.

Friday, January 6, 2012

DEALING WITH MEAN PEOPLE

We are told as Christians to love one another but in life along comes someone who treats you mean mostly on a verbal basis. It could be a friend, co-worker or the worse and most shocking of all, a family member. Being ugly to anyone is uncalled for and those who are victims need to learn to keep praying for these people as they are obviously dealing with deeper more hidden issues and are just using you as a person to take all their anger out on.Sort of 'target practice' or a verbal punching bag of sorts.  Many of these people refuse to admit fault and think they are justified talking ugly. God is not pleased with any form of bad speech or bad behavior. If this is within the family, counseling needs to be sought. If it is among friends you can try to talk but sometimes the friend is unwilling to make amends and thinks they are totally justified. What happened to 'love one another'? Verbal abuse is never right to anyone. It needs to be dealt with and nipped in the bud. At work, a superior may mistreat a junior employee as being higher up in the chain so to speak. If it is severe, a grievance could be filed, but if it is just rudeness and ugliness you need to learn to bite your tongue and keep praying for this person. Hate is not the answer. Quitting is not the answer either. We too need to not be verbal abusee's, so to speak, to people such as phone workers. Treat all people with respsect.

James 1:26 states it pretty clearly when it says "If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless." Have you ever run into anyone who claims to know Christ but yet cusses and takes His name in vain? It is pretty disheartening. But that mouth seems to be hard to control for lots of people. That is still no excuse. If you are dealing with a 'mean person' in your life turn them over to God and ask Him to do a work in their hearts. Nothing we can do or say will help. In fact it may worsen things. It is better to do the soft answer turns away wrath routine. (See Proverbs 15:1). There is a saying that 'hurting people hurt people'. Once again no excuse but Matthew 5:44 says "But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,". In Luke 6:28 it says "bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you." Very hard to do. Human nature wants to start an arguing match or gesturing behind their backs. This is not God's way. God wants you to show love and forgive these 'mean people' even when they do not ask for forgiveness. Forgive them in your heart. Proverbs 17:9 says "He who covers over an offense promotes love, but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends."

Sometimes people talking ugly may not be reading God's word. They may claim to know God but only attend church on Sunday but live like they want the rest of the week. You may live with a person like this which would be hard to take. Nothing we can do to change that but it does say in Ephesians 4:29 "Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen." If someone claims to know Christ they need to be starting to get into the word to practice some of these scriptures. Perhaps you are a person who can not stop saying ugly words or curses. You know it is wrong. Ask God to deliver you from this and start looking up verses on clean and pure speech. If someone in your life is doing it give them over to the Lord. Let the Holy Spirit convict their hearts.  If you are the mean one you need to get a grip and go to the Lord and ask for His help.

So start today to ask God to help you love anyone in your life who is rubbing you the wrong way or being unkind to you. We do not know why people feel justified in swearing and mistreating others. Some of it could be something from their past they need to deal with. In the meantime as a Christian learn to do the right thing and just answer someone with kindness and show love. Proverbs 10:12 says "Hatred stirs up dissension, but love covers over all wrongs."  Even if you are angry that a telemarketer is bothering you, still be kind and realize that is someone's child on the other end. I have been a phone worker before and people can be nasty.

If you are a young couple reading this just starting off married life together purpose in your heart to never go to bed angry. Also make James 1:19 your marriage motto. I often write it on a newlyweds card and it says "My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry." If you have hurt someone ask forgiveness and if you are a victim of this just pray for the person to seek help and ask forgiveness. Only God can mend a hurt heart. He can do the changing. Remember the childhood song which said "Be careful little mouth what you say"? Well we all need to learn to do that. Start today. New year, new you.

PRAYER: Lord I want to represent you well here on Earth whether it is at home, out in the market place or at work. Things happen and people get angry. Help me to not say harsh words to others and if spoken to harshly help me respond with grace to these people who are like sandpaper. I know it breaks your heart to hear family members hurt other family members with unkind words in the one place they are supposed to show love. Father help anyone dealing with any of these struggles come to you and humble themselves Lord and ask forgiveness and seek your face. Help victims of harsh words learn to love regardless. In Jesus Name. Amen.

Note: I have included a song to lift your spirits today. Click on link and praise the Lord!
http://youtu.be/othYj8jWSwc

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