Pride or Forgiveness

Have you ever dug your heels in about a decision only to realize you were wrong?  It happened to me yesterday (again).  When I'm in the middle of the battle, (even if  I realize I might have reacted wrongly I AM WRONG, I have a hard time admitting it).
I'm very good at rationalizing my decision.  Making excuses.  Sticking to it, no matter the results.

Why?  Pride.
Pride always hurts others.  I treat the other person as less important than myself. 
Pride always hurts my relationship with God.  I'm telling God I don't need Him.  I don't need Him to point out my sin.  I want to choose my way, not His. 

The consequences....Hurt.  Distance. Sleeplessness.
 
Now what?  Choices.

Ignore it, or honor it.

Continue to rationalize, or humbly ask for forgiveness.

Wait a little longer, or hurry before the hurt grows.

Jesus taught His followers about forgivenss in His famous,"Sermon on the Mount." He said, in Matthew 5:21-24,

"You have heard that the ancients were told, ‘You shall not commit murder’ and ‘Whoever commits murder shall be liable to the court.’ ²² But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be guilty before the court; and whoever says to his brother, ‘You good-for-nothing,’ shall be guilty before the supreme court; and whoever says, ‘You fool,’ shall be guilty enough to go into the fiery hell. ²³ Therefore if you are presenting your offering at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, ²⁴ leave your offering there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your^]offering."

Do you need to ask someone for forgiveness?  Don't delay.  Your relationships are at stake.     

Senseless Gunman: Did Anyone Tell Him?

Picture by Adrees Latif/Reuters

Horrific news again!  A senseless gunman takes 26 innocent lives, including 20 children in an instant.

How could this happen?  Why?  Questions that will never be answered. 

I cannot imagine the deep, gut turning pain the parents felt at the words, "I'm sorry.  Your child didn't make it."  Holding the lifeless body in their arms with no words, just thoughts.  Overwhelmed with emotions of sorrow, anger, dread. 

As I hear my children laughing downstairs after a long day at school, I'm thankful.  I pray I never have to feel the pain of the parents today, but we never know. 


(About the gunman)
I wonder...
Did anyone tell him about a man,
who never did anything wrong?
Why would someone harm another so innocent?

Fear of a riot,
the crucifixion complete.
Only close friends and family mourned.

Did anyone tell him about a man,
different than anyone else.
He healed, forgave, proving to be God,
yet he died with the criminals.

Fear of a thief,
they guarded the tomb
with soldiers that didn't grieve.

Did anyone tell him about a man,
who died, but didn't stay there?
He rose again, three days later
with power over death and the grave.

Fear of a lost friendship, or other excuse,
believers near him stopped short of opening their mouths.
I wonder if life would be different today, if they had told him about the man.


When I tucked my seven-year-old daughter in tonight.  We prayed for everyone involved.  She said, "I hope the children knew about Jesus."
Who do you need to tell?






Linked with Cornerstone Confessions; Time warp wife

Stressed?

I found it ironic when I had to decide if I would attend a continuing education class entitled, "Stress, Anxiety, and Depression," only twelve days before Christmas.  If I attended the class, I would have more stress when I couldn't work on my long Christmas "to do" list.  If I didn't go, I would have to complete all 40 continuing education hours in one year...more stress (I've done that before).

The morning I prepared to host a Christmas party for my international friends, (the day before the "Stress, etc." class, I thought about stress).   I didn't want to be stressed.  I thought I had worked enough the days leading up to the party, but I still had a few last minute details to finish (after my girls got off to school) in two hours.  I had to unload the dishwasher, load it again, wash the pile of nondishwashable dishes, set two tables, sweep and mop the kitchen floor, vacuum the dining room, spruce up some bathrooms, make soup (open cans and dump them in the crock pot), clean the kitchen counters, hide the pile of papers, stuff clean laundry back in the dryer (no one ever looks there), take a shower, and get ready (hair fixed and makeup would be a bonus).  OK.  Maybe it was a little more than a "few details".  I was determined to finish without stress. 

The first step, (not even on the list), call a friend.  As we talked, I worked.  I love to work and talk.  It doesn't seem as much like work.  In our conversation I told her I had company coming.  She heard me starting laundry and surprisingly asked, "And you are doing laundry?"  I explained that the milk spill I cleaned up the night before had to be top priority.  Soured milk in the laundry was not very welcoming.

As I hung up the phone, I decided to talk to God it.  He reminded me of a few tips about stress.  As I scurried around to get my house ready, He said, "I'd rather you prepare your heart."  How many times do I spin my wheels to make myself, or my house presentable and miss my heart?  As I continued to clean, I asked God to prepare my heart.  I wanted my guests to be impressed with my changed heart more than my house, hair, or hunger eliminating food  

I dealt with the list farely stress-free for the first hour and 15 minutes (with my preparing heart challenge).  Then "crunch time" hit.  My last 30 minutes called for some choices.  My long list had dwindled, but not near finished.    

I had to unload the dishwasher, load it again, wash the pile of nondishwashable dishes, set two tables, sweep and mop the kitchen floor, vacuum the dining room, spruce up some bathrooms, make soup, clean the kitchen counters, hide the pile of papers, stuff clean laundry back in the dryer, take a shower, and get ready (hair fixed and makeup would be a bonus). 

Choices I made:  sweep the kithchen floor (only under the table), NOT mop.  Forget the vacuuming (more crumbs to come).  Now, no time for a shower.  But I must wear make up and take out the ponytail (always have pics).  Perfume covers a multitude of smells.  (Extra deoderant never hurts).  Febreze also works well on clothes, but I only use the best for my friends.  I decided my smile was  more important than a perfect house. 

P.S.  I've decided to attend the "Stress" class tomorrow.  More to come on "stress" (When I have time and not stressed).  I decided not to go back and change the verb tenses to show this happened today.  Sorry, too stressful. 

What stresses you the most this time of year?

Philippians 4:6 "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God."