part 4...how “the ministry” almost ruined my marriage...who do you listen to
It’s been a couple of days. I took the weekend off to enjoy some time with my husband, the kids and a good friend that is here visiting. The change of pace in our life, even if only for a season, is a nice one. I have to admit, it took some getting used to. I was not used to seeing Matthew...hardly at all. So to go from that to seeing him every day...sometimes all day depending on his schedule...well, let’s just say that has all been part of the growing and learning process! We are learning to love being together again and enjoying time with our kids. ( I am sure the feeling on that one was mutual!)
Now, through the years I have had a lot of friends. Some are friends that I grew up with that I am still connected with today. Some are from former churches with whom I have stayed in contact with. Some are pastors and their wives who have had a great deal of experience and can give me true wisdom in dealing with a lot of the situations that I have been through.
The bottom line is, I have people that I TALK to and then those whom I LISTEN to and some who fall into both categories...I also have some people from my past who I don’t talk to or listen to. This may sound harsh, but the fact is, that there are people that don’t really have a voice in my life. For whatever reason, they have either never earned that position, or they have lost it.
Have you ever had a person who likes to pop up every now and then with some “words of wisdom” for you? Have you ever wondered if those “words of wisdom” were really for your benefit or theirs? Possibly they feel the need to try to control you or a situation. Possibly they are gossips and want the latest information and they blanket that with “concern”. My favorite...the prayer/gossiper. :0)
Now I will say, there have been some people that have popped up that were divine appointments. No doubt in my mind. Words of wisdom from a person who has no idea of our situation, no ulterior motive...simply a word from God for us.
I could go a lot of directions here, but I don’t want to confuse the issue.
God puts people in our lives to help us along the journey.
You will discover who those truly Godly people are when you have been through a trial or a difficult season of life.
Like I said before, I have had a lot of friends through the years. The thing that has surprised me the most as we have gone through this year is the lack of contact from those who we thought were people that cared about us. Now I do know that some were told not to contact us...for those I understand why there was no contact, because they were trying to honor the spiritual authority in their life. This is right and honorable on their part.
I honestly hadn’t thought a whole lot about it until someone from the past tried to contact me. I knew the moment I received the message that this was not someone who was going to have a voice in my life. Why, you ask did I know so quickly? Well, for one the concern was with our family, of whom my husband is the head, but they didn’t contact him, they contacted me. For another, this was one of those people whom I thought would have been concerned for our family over the past year, who could have at any time picked up the phone to check on us, but this was the first contact I had received from them...and it really wasn’t about us at all...
Lessons learned in the mirror:
From Galtians 6:
Am I perfect? NO, but is anyone?
Do I make mistakes? YES
Am I angry? Yes, at times I am very angry. There are times I have to revisit the past and ask God to help me to love people the way that he loves them. To forgive them time and again.
Ephesians 4:26
Be angry and do not sin. Don’t let the sun go down on your anger,
As I finish, one last thought that we should all take to heart...
When someone does something, whether it be sin or just something you don’t like...they are not trash to be kicked to the curb, worthless to you and the rest of the world. They are God’s child. Saved by grace, the same grace that everyone who chooses Him, is saved by.
Thanks for stopping by,
Crazymom.Crazywife.Crazylife
Wendy Jo
Now, through the years I have had a lot of friends. Some are friends that I grew up with that I am still connected with today. Some are from former churches with whom I have stayed in contact with. Some are pastors and their wives who have had a great deal of experience and can give me true wisdom in dealing with a lot of the situations that I have been through.
The bottom line is, I have people that I TALK to and then those whom I LISTEN to and some who fall into both categories...I also have some people from my past who I don’t talk to or listen to. This may sound harsh, but the fact is, that there are people that don’t really have a voice in my life. For whatever reason, they have either never earned that position, or they have lost it.
Have you ever had a person who likes to pop up every now and then with some “words of wisdom” for you? Have you ever wondered if those “words of wisdom” were really for your benefit or theirs? Possibly they feel the need to try to control you or a situation. Possibly they are gossips and want the latest information and they blanket that with “concern”. My favorite...the prayer/gossiper. :0)
Now I will say, there have been some people that have popped up that were divine appointments. No doubt in my mind. Words of wisdom from a person who has no idea of our situation, no ulterior motive...simply a word from God for us.
I could go a lot of directions here, but I don’t want to confuse the issue.
God puts people in our lives to help us along the journey.
You will discover who those truly Godly people are when you have been through a trial or a difficult season of life.
Like I said before, I have had a lot of friends through the years. The thing that has surprised me the most as we have gone through this year is the lack of contact from those who we thought were people that cared about us. Now I do know that some were told not to contact us...for those I understand why there was no contact, because they were trying to honor the spiritual authority in their life. This is right and honorable on their part.
I honestly hadn’t thought a whole lot about it until someone from the past tried to contact me. I knew the moment I received the message that this was not someone who was going to have a voice in my life. Why, you ask did I know so quickly? Well, for one the concern was with our family, of whom my husband is the head, but they didn’t contact him, they contacted me. For another, this was one of those people whom I thought would have been concerned for our family over the past year, who could have at any time picked up the phone to check on us, but this was the first contact I had received from them...and it really wasn’t about us at all...
Lessons learned in the mirror:
Know who has a voice in my life.
From Galtians 6:
1Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted. 2Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. 3If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. 4Each one should test his own actions. Then he can take pride in himself, without comparing himself to somebody else, 5for each one should carry his own load.
6Anyone who receives instruction in the word must share all good things with his instructor.
7Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. 8The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that naturea will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. 9Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. 10Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.
Am I perfect? NO, but is anyone?
Do I make mistakes? YES
Am I angry? Yes, at times I am very angry. There are times I have to revisit the past and ask God to help me to love people the way that he loves them. To forgive them time and again.
Ephesians 4:26
Be angry and do not sin. Don’t let the sun go down on your anger,
As I finish, one last thought that we should all take to heart...
When someone does something, whether it be sin or just something you don’t like...they are not trash to be kicked to the curb, worthless to you and the rest of the world. They are God’s child. Saved by grace, the same grace that everyone who chooses Him, is saved by.
Thanks for stopping by,
Crazymom.Crazywife.Crazylife
Wendy Jo
Amen!!!
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