People Can Hurt Us

But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! Matthew 5:44

Ever heard the phrase "sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never harm me?" Well I am here to attest to the fact that is untrue. I have been treated very hatefully verbally by people in my past who were once friends. It goes to prove you just never know and friendship can be unpredictable and fragile.  These friends comments deeply hurt me and sometimes stunned me as I never saw it coming. I had to make a decision to let them go as most wanted nothing else to do with me. Then I had to learn from it.

If you have been on the receiving end of  hateful speech, comments behind your back, verbal abuse, betrayal, or someone just shutting  you out of their life  with clear blue with rejection, it hurts really bad. God can help you learn from rejection and you can eventually let them go. Pray for God to bless them, then move on. 

We do not know what makes people "tick" so to speak. Something else may be the root cause but you get the brunt of the verbal abuse and rejection. Continue to pray for them, leave them alone, and live regardless. Then cherish and nurture the relationships you do have currently. 

PRAYER: It is so hard to be ridiculed or talked down to by a friend. It is hard from strangers too but a trusted friend or perhaps a spouse It would be  much worse. Lord help me love them regardless through my pain. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Love On!

But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. Matthew 5:44

Let's face it. Some people are hard to like, much less love. I have had friends not like me anymore and unfriend me on Facebook. Ouch, that stings, especially for someone who is a people lover. No matter if someone loves, likes, or is kind to us, we still need to press on and love on. God commands it.

I recall a neighbor we had several years ago who used to do mean things and it would irritate my husband. I would in a 'preachy' way quote the scripture above. Never, at this point, feeling the sting of rejection from friends, I pressed on, happy with my life. Then it happened. My personality or something started irking a few people and I had friends not like me. I was sad. I obsessed over it lots. But I knew God was going to get me through this and help me grow as well. Perhaps it was a training ground for my devotion writing. If that is the case I guess I need to thank those who have snubbed or hurt me. If you have been hurt or rejected by friends or family it is painful. But we need to love, keep on living life, and learn to let it go and forgive even if the person never seeks forgiveness for their hurt or ever offers an explanation.

Today if you are experiencing this in any way, give it to God. Do not hate these people but feel sorry for them that they are missing out on a wonderful friend and then just pray for God to bless them. It will make you feel better.

PRAYER:I love you Lord and I thank you for all things in my life as they help me grow and develop as a believer. I give my hurt and pain to you to use however you will. In Jesus' name.Amen.

Hurting? Move On Would You?

If an enemy were insulting me, I could endure it;if a foe were rising against me,  I could hide.But it is you, a man like myself,my companion, my close friend, with whom I once enjoyed sweet fellowship at the house of God, as we walked about among the worshipers. Psalm 55:12-14

Hurts in life occur. Rejection by a friend or loved one for unexplainable reasons is one of the hardest to endure but yet one I have had to go through more than one time. I say, "Lord what is it I am to learn from this lesson" and those who dislike me would say "take the hint girl". 

Broken relationships of any sort hurt God immensely. He would rather us dwell in unity. Since creation and the fall, people have been at odds with each other. Many verses in the Bible attest to this. I always say when bad junk happens to me I have new writing material so I guess am very thankful for being "emotionally bruised" by a few former friends. Satan is overjoyed at all kinds of relationship problems. If only true believers could not let this happen. Growth does come through problems in life though.

Do not let people have power over you and rob you of your joy. Cling to those friends who love and appreciate you, warts and all. We can not make everyone like us. Run to Jesus and pray for your enemies. That's in the Bible!

PRAYER: Lord help me to learn from problems in life and hurts in life. I love you and love the people on this Earth, even those who hate me. Help me as I seek to remain focused on you and not get down on myself. In Jesus' name. Amen

Love Meter

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’There is no commandment greater than these.” Mark 12:30-31

How is your love meter registering? Loving all people can sometimes be tough. Sometimes it is even difficult to love those closest to you. Love is the greatest commandment. Loving people above things and above yourself. Being unselfish and kind. Being gentle when you would rather be rude. Showing love to the unloveable or even those people you maybe do not agree with. 

Review 1 Corinthians chapter 13 when you get a moment. It is called the 'love chapter' in the Bible and has valuable scripture that if followed can keep your life on track and your love meter full. Pray each day and ask God to give you love for all kinds of people. We even are supposed to love and pray for our enemies. Now that one is tough especially of someone has hurt or betrayed you. Human nature wants to lash out and God's nature wants us to love unconditionally. There is your assignment. Go into the world and show God's love.

PRAYER: Give me the ability Lord to love others through you. Open my eyes to hurting people and help me show kindness and respect in addition to love. In Jesus' name. Amen. 

BE NICE REGARDLESS

 There is a Bible verse I love and try to live by with God's help and
that is James 1:20(NIV) and it says 'because human anger does not
produce the righteousness God desires.' Isn't that the truth? My next
favorite one is Proverbs 15:1(NIV) which says 'A gentle answer turns
away wrath but a harsh word stirs up anger.'

Satan is the great divider. He loves causing strife, bitterness,
confusion, misunderstandings, conceit, verbal fights, and physical
fights in all sorts of relationships. If true followers of Christ
really practiced what the Bible said there would be allot fewer
lawsuits, divorces, sibling fights, family divisions, problems at
work, hurt feelings, misunderstandings and marital spats.

If you know how to respond to harsh words or treatment then do it
regardless. Be the "bigger person" and show God's love to mean
spirited people. Try your best to pray for them.

Luke 6:28(NIV) says 'bless those who curse you, pray for those who
mistreat you.' That might seem like a "tall order" when you are
really hurt inside. Think about Jesus up on that cross. He did not
deserve the horrible death he died but yet he said "Father forgive
them for they know not what they do."(Luke 23:34). Another verse I
love and it is good to "sear" into your brain is Romans 12:21(NIV)
which says 'Do not be overcome with evil but overcome evil with good.'

You may be a very compliant, controlled, gentle person and in your
good nature never get hurt or upset but for the rest of us out there
it is my prayer you will keep looking up to Jesus!

PRAYER: Help me Lord to hold my tongue when I would rather get into a
debate over something that is unnecessary. Help me Lord I need your
strength to imitate you. In Jesus' name. Amen

LOVE IS PRETTY IMPORTANT

Today is the big day of love. Some think it was created by a card company to sell more cards but whatever the case it is a day for an opportunity to show that someone special your love. Love is indeed what makes the world go around.

Let me go over 1 Corinthians 13:4-7(NIV)

'Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.' Think about those words for a while. This does not have to necessarily be in a romantic relationship but love in general for friends and others around you on a daily basis. It is so easy to hate and to be angry. Effortless as a matter of fact. Love should be the aim of every Christian, especially in marriage relationships to always be thinking what you can do for the other person, not just on Valentine's Day. When something starts to make you angry note that anger is not from God. Ask God to restore you to a love relationship and renew your mind getting bad, bitter thoughts out. Is there someone you need to show special love to not just today but every day of the year? 1 John 4:8(NIV) says 'Whoever does not love, does not know God. For God is love.' PRAYER: Father I thank you for your gift of love. Thank you for giving me love for those around me even when they hurt or offend me. Help me learn to love like you would and move on and not hold grudges. Let my love shine so Jesus' is seen through me. In Jesus' name. Amen.

FORGIVE....JUST DO IT!!

Valentine's Day is fast approaching. No matter whether you celebrate
this day or not, it is a day of red roses, chocolates, and hearts.
Basically a day for love. Why only have one day for love but why not
let love be your aim around the clock?

Valentine's Day puts undue pressure on young men who are not attached
because if they ask a girl out on that particular day she may get the
wrong message. Basically as my younger son used to call it years ago,
"Singles Awareness Day". Sort of catchy isn't it?

True love involves more than just being romantic. For a married couple
it is about commitment, trust, putting the other person first, and
learning to say you are sorry and ask forgiveness. The person who has
been hurt needs to show their love by not keeping a record of wrongs
as it says in 1 Corinthians 13:5, found in the infamous "love chapter"
in the Bible.

Forgiveness is a major part of loving someone. Learning to let go of
an irritation and forgive whether they asked or not. Unforgiveness
does nothing but drive people further apart and makes anger fester.
Not forgiving is our human side and it is what the devil wants. Now if
on the other hand someone is reading this who is being physically
harmed by a spouse or a date then you need to seek protection as the
individual may need help. Hopefully no one reading this fits that
category but if so get help not hurt.

Being unable to forgive breaks families apart, ends relationships of
friends, can have two adult siblings unable to communicate, and many
other things. Does not sound like a character trait for a believer to
possess now does it? It is so easy to be angry and want our way. That
is self just getting in the way.

Love is a great thing particularly when it is unselfish. That is what
it is about. Are you able to turn the other cheek, get on with life,
and show forgiveness? Are you able to pray for the person who hurt you
or maybe in worse case scenario, killed a family member? Wow that last
one is a biggie. Matthew 5:44(KJV) says 'But I say to you, love your
enemies and pray for those, who persecute you.'

Ephesians 4:32(NIV) says 'Be kind and compassionate to one another
forgiving one another just as Christ God forgave you.' I challenge
you today to make a list of anyone you are harboring something against
and pray and give that over to the Lord. If necessary pray for
restoration of a relationship when appropriate.

Is there a person in your life you need to forgive? Well then,go and just do it!

PRAYER: Lord Jesus it is through you that we are able to show grace,
mercy, and forgiveness to someone who may not deserve it. It is part

of what love is all about. Let me reach out to people with God's love
around the clock and not harbor things in my heart. In Jesus' name.
Amen.

Click on link below and worship the Lord:
Forgiveness by Matthew West
http://youtu.be/wz3tkHv5sbg

THE LOVE MONTH

 The entry to 2013 is now well underway and now we are at the 4th day
of February. After a series of devotions on new starts and new
beginnings, this month the primary focus will be on love. Most people
familiar with the Bible can probably tell you the "love chapter" is 1
Corinthians 13. Read it when you have a moment.

Love is patient. It is not rude. Love thinks of others first. Love is
respectful and kind . Love does not remember wrongs suffered or hold

grudges. Love forgives. Love doesn't lash out at others with hateful
words.

The greatest example of love ever was Jesus dying a painful torturous
death on a cross for us and what does He do? He forgives his accusers
and the men who nailed Him up there. Imagine that? We humans have a
hard time forgiving some things but imagine this ultimate test of
letting the hurt go. What good does it do anyway?

Is there someone in your life that has hurt you and maybe never even
knew it that you need to let go of the emotional pain before you can
move on? Some have been rejected by peers, friends, parents, spouses,
children,employers, and yes even those in their own church! Dwelling
on the pain and the injustice done will achieve nothing. Part of love
and being loving is being willing to let go. Get Christian counseling
if necessary but do not keep harboring a hurt.

The Bible sums it up pretty good when it says in Mark 12:30-31 (NIV)
'Love The Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind and all
your strength.The second is this, Love your neighbor as yourself. This
is the second and greatest commandment.'

PRAYER: Father give me the ability to let go of hurts and dwell on
showing love to those you have placed in my life. In Jesus' name.
Amen.

Click link and worship the Lord in song:
http://youtu.be/3nUl0vcXrHw

TURN THE OTHER CHEEK

Do you ever just feel like getting back at someone for how they treated

you? It could be a spouse, a friend, or someone else. Whatever and

whoever it is not God's plan to retaliate. Romans 12:17(NIV) says 'Do
not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the
eyes of everybody.' As spoken of yesterday we need to maintain peace

at all costs. But what about someone who said something about you that is not true or is spreading rumors? Don't you have the "right" then to get back?

The first human reaction to when someone hurts you is sadness,hurt, or the

need to say something back to them. Maybe you want to get your way or
the last word. That is not the wisest thing to do. The best way to

defuse an angry outburst or hurt feeling is to 'hold your tongue' and

try to get your emotions under control.

James 1:19(NLT) I often think would be an excellent verse for married
couples to say each and every day and to commit to memory. It simply
says 'Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be
quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry.' Another
equally excellent scripture is found in Proverbs 15:1(NIV). It reads
as follows 'A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs
up anger.' Think on that one for a moment why don't you? How much
better to say nothing back than to get the "fire of anger" stoked up
and end up in a yelling match. 2 Corinthians 13:11(NASB) tells us
'Finally, brethren, rejoice, be made complete, be comforted, be
like-minded, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with
you.' See there is that word again, "peace". Peace is not achieved by
bickering or belittling. It is achieved by "turning the other cheek".
Letting go of your right to get back basically. The turn the other
cheek thing is actually found in God's word in both Matthew 5:39 and
Luke 6:29. Why not take a moment to look them up.

There may have been moments when you just felt you could not contain
yourself over something someone said about you or to you. I recommend
going to Jesus in prayer and asking God to put love within your heart
for this person no matter the outcome. Keep trying to show God's love
in word and deed.

Matthew 5:44(NLT) says 'But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for
those who persecute you.' Leave the rest up to God.

PRAYER: Sometimes it seems it is easy to get angry at a person over
something that may be so silly. Help me Lord learn to walk away and
drop it and not cause a fight or a broken relationship. Give me
strength to walk away from potential situations Lord. Put your Spirit
within me. In Jesus' name. Amen.