Temperaments

Tonight in Women's Biblical Guidance, Pastor Kenny talked about something that's been on my mind constantly for the past week. In a nut shell he was talking about people who excuse their temperaments on "that's just the way God created me" as if they can't help it. As Christians this just isn't acceptable!

Amber R, Nikki T, and I have been memorizing Colossians 3. Verse 12 says "put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience". If I'm being honest I didn't really understand why the verse started with 'put on'. HELLO! These things don't come naturally...our sin nature is everything opposite of these qualities. It's our responsibility as children of God to pursue ('put on') these things and not excuse our sin when we fail in these areas. Patience is still something I struggle with and seek help and strength from the Lord. Anyone who knows me could tell you that I often lack compassion in certain situations. This isn't because God created me that way; it's years of habitual sin in my life previous to salvation (passed down from Adam...not from God).

"What about people who aren't Christians and are kind and compassionate?" This is what I'll say about that, (and please correct me if I'm wrong or if this isn't Biblical) their 'kindness and compassion' is tainted with pride and done under selfish motivations...which in return isn't true kindness or compassion at all. There is no way they're honoring a God they don't even believe in...they completely lack humility. These qualities are meant exclusively for Christians. A lost person would see no significance in these characteristics because everything inside them goes against them.

All I'm saying is that I hope I never hear a Christian again try to justify their lack of compassion, patience, meekness, humility, or kindness on the way they were "created". I think it's important that we're all transparent with each other and realize that these things may never be fully, righteously achieved here on Earth; however, WE need to take responsibility for it, not blame it on God.

On another note, I had some sweet sweet fellowship with some middle school girls tonight after church in KFC. They were asking about my testimony and I was so encouraged by their attentiveness and their own testimonies. I had the opportunity to be extremely honest with them and shared some really personal stories with them that I haven't shared with very many people....at all. But it was so important to me that they knew that I haven't lived a perfect christian life, but at the same time God has spared me from so much sin that I could have fallen into. Man...they were just so eager to listen and learn! I pray that I said the right things and that they'll seek Christ more and trust in His strength instead of their own.

Something New

Not that I have anything important to say or anything that will be more significant than what the Word will bring you, but I pray that this will be an oppertunity for me to let any readers know how to pray for me better and also encourage any readers in ways to push them towards Christ. Also, I've been praying that the Lord would teach me to apply James 1:19 "Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, SLOW TO SPEAK, slow to anger;". For some reason I have a lot to say and unfortunately I tend to say things with out thinking. I believe this will be a great oppertunity for me to take the time to express the thoughts and convictions that the Lord has given me in a gracious and thought out way. WARNING: I'm not good or fluent in writing. Forgive me if my grammar or spelling is incorrect or if my thoughts seem unorganized:)