I miss blogging. When I have a little time to sit and write it's very therapeutic for me.
I haven't had the time, and even though I'm not writing as often as I would like, I appreciate those of you who are still sticking around. Thanks! Makes me feel as if I'm not talking to the air. (lol)
But seriously, thank you.. When I first began this blog there was so much to share and talk about, (and still is) but, now I'm sitting back wondering, can I say that? Is that too much information? Naaa, def. cant talk about that. Yup, this is real life for us. The funny camp stories don't go on, the cute kids who use to love being around you begin to pull away and treat you like an absolute stranger, the families that invited you into their space and you invited them into yours began to become enemies as you learn of the slander, and backbiting that's taking place outside your presence. Where you once felt a genuine relationship now there are feelings of things being one sided and shady . The list goes on...
I've had days where I would ask the Lord when is enough an enough? When can I cut that person off for hurting me? When can I show vengeance for the harm done to my family or friends? God clearly, and quickly had to show me my own sinfulness and how my heart was just the same as the people I'm angry with. I'm so spiritually bankrupt.. I tend to forget that from time to time. I'm thankful tonight for the reminder. After hearing a sermon by a godly older person who is in the lives of some friends of ours, I asked him to share with me again the idea of what it means to love. Or shall I say, Love Overboard is what he called it. To go above and beyond in your love for your neighbor, no matter what they have or haven't done to or for you.. This was his godly counsel to me:
Nicole,
My position is based on passages
such as (1 Peter1:22)" since you have in obedience to the truth purified your souls for a sincere love for the brethren fervently love one another from the heart". This type of love is relentless, determined, not easily dissuaded, and long-suffering. The one qualifier this love has is that it must be partnered with biblical truth. Therefore the dispenser must live the truth in love(Ephesians 4:15) thus there are times when we must refrain from actions that we would want to extend to someone in need because our gifts would not lead to empowerment, but rather they would continue to enable the recipient to live recklessly or irresponsibly. There is no formula to know where to draw the line , but as we stay close to God's Spirit, He leads us case by case. The motivation though is always love as our foundational goal, not our frustration and exasperation with the person we are serving.The overarching texture of this philosophy is an all out, all in approach to love from the depths of our hearts, even after we have been hurt and disappointed over and over again. The principle in operation is: you cannot do authentic ministry without being vulnerable. You cannot be placed in continuos states of friendship relational vulnerability without being hurt. You cannot reach people within their hearts if you do not minister out of the depths of your heart. So the transformation in our attitude was once paraphrased by Gladys Knight " some people say I love too hard, I say I don't love hard enough, Some people say I go too far, but for someone you love, around the world is not far enough Love Overboard"
What counsel!!! All this we deal with is apart of the calling. It's like you know that, yet you dont admit it and you just move on. I've been reading over this email and many others for the past couple of days now. I want to love well, I want to always remember that this calling isn't going to always be peaches and cream . I also want to remember that I too am sinful and in need of Gods grace just like those in and around my community. Gods presence tends to be the strongest in the most difficult circumstances . I'm so thankful for that, God is such a promise keeper, I can trust HIM...He promises to NEVER leave us nor FORSAKE us. Even while we are living in the hood.
Please forgive me if I seem to have done a lot of rambling...
