DAY TWENTY FIVE - GOSSIP MUCH?

Okay, I'm a winner at this one! When it comes to keeping my mouth shut, it's not easy for sure! I've worked on this area before, many times. Like many, many times!! And I'm still learning!!! STILL!!!

I wonder why it's so hard for me to learn this lesson? I think partially because we are social creatures and especially as a female, relationships are so yummy to talk about. The harm comes when we begin to say nasty things about another human being. I used to think it wasn't that BIG of a deal until God called me on it.

It's not just the really nasty things, it's the juicy things or the "I'm-better-than-them" comments that we might say. Research shows that most people do this because there is some sort of failing or underlying self worth issue that we're wrestling with. We try to make ourselves feel better by cutting others down. Think about it. Isn't there some sort of pleasure in unloading about someone else to another friend?

"I can't believe she said...."
"Did you hear what he did..."
"What a moron. Who would...."

Apparently... APPARENTLY... the Bible says we are ALL made in His image...not just the less annoying people. And that He loves all of us...and not one person is more important than another...

"Oh! But I just can't stand..."
"If He only knew..."

If we were to live a life that would honour Jesus, how would this change how we responded to others? First we would stop cutting other people down, and relish in the grace that God has given us - as total sinners...

You know the wages of this kind of sin is death!? WHAT? DEATH!? Hardly. REALLY? GOSSIP = DEATH? But it's true. God says in Romans 6:23 "The wages of sin is death..." The penalty is death...THANKFULLY we have been given a way out... a gift! ETERNAL LIFE and that can only come with repentance. I commented on repentance in a previous post... To repent doesn't mean to just be sorry... It is turning around and living completely differently than you were before.

How do I repent in this case? Well for starters STOP GOSSIPING! So much easier said than done. It is like a poison - a very tasty "donut tasting" poison! It's so hard to stop. First I have to realise when I'm doing it. Then I must act on it. Instead of saying something nasty about someone else, think of things you could say to honour them - I know seems cheezy right? But think about them. Are you loving them as God has called you too!?

Also it is helpful to consider where the other person is coming from... Eg - How does God see them? Are they acting this way because of something else in their life? Give them the benefit of the doubt and be on guard for them! You'll find you aren't so frustrated with them in the future the more you think of ways to bless them!

Imagine the "peace" we could enjoy together if we learned to shut our mouths a bit sooner and opened our ears to hear what God is doing around us. I think we'd live in a different world for sure.

So here's to another day/week/month of trying to think the best of someone else and to practice being an encouragement too. Before your next rant, ask God to show you how you can be a better support to someone rather than a jerk.

Who's arrogant enough to cast the first stone? Eek!

DAY TWENTY FOUR - YOU ARE WHAT YOU READ??

What was your favourite book as a kid? A favourite book/story can tell a lot about a person. Today, unfortunately, reading is becoming less "popular". Especially nowadays with computers, and TV's and smart phones taking up so much of our time! I know we do some reading on these screens, but there's something special about curling up in a corner with a book that takes you on a journey to someplace amazing.

One of my favourite books as a child was "What's For Lunch Charley" by Margaret Hodges. There was nothing fanciful about the book, but I remember I loved reading it. I was really drawn in by the style of writing and read it over and over in my bedroom. It's about a little boy who goes to school and has the same plain and boring lunch every day. There is a girl he goes to school with named Rosabelle who has a very fancy lunch every day, that he admires. One day Charley forgets his lunch and Rosabelle won't share her extravagant lunch - but good ol' plain Jane will share her peanut butter sandwich. (Obviously not written today as peanut butter is banned from school) But instead, Charley opts to eat out, and finds out a few new lessons and surprises along the way!

AM I NOT A PERSON THAT TURNS DOWN SOMETHING PERFECTLY GOOD IN HOPES TO FINDING SOMETHING PERFECTLY ELABORATE INSTEAD- WITHOUT THINKING ABOUT THE CONSEQUENCES?






In my teen years I loved the author Madeleine L'Engle. My favourite book of hers would be "A Wrinkle in Time". It is a science fiction novel about a girl who travels through time searching for her lost father (a scientist). They meet many amazing characters along the way, and her little brother gets trapped by the evil "IT" brain that controls one of the worlds. Meg's mission is to find her brother and free him. The story is a grand adventure and confronts issues like conformity.

I DEEPLY RELATED TO FEELING LIKE A MISFIT AND WONDERED WHAT MY PLAN/PURPOSE OR MISSION WAS. I FIND I AM CONFRONTED WITH THE ISSUES OF CONFORMITY EVERY DAY.






As an adult, I recently read the book "A Town Like Alice" written by Nevil Shute. While I was on bedrest I enjoyed devouring this book. This is a story about a young English woman who meets a man in a Malaya and ends up moving to Australia to marry him. She is an extraordinary woman who takes on the challenge of integrating into the Australian culture and desiring to dream big - to see a small town reach it's full potential in the middle of the outback of Australia.

I LOVED THIS BOOK PROBABLY BECAUSE I RELATE SO MUCH TO THIS WOMAN AND HER JOURNEYS. OF COURSE OUR LIVES ARE TOTALLY DIFFERENT BUT THERE IS A CONNECTION AND AN UNDERSTANDING OF "HER COURAGE".






Another book I got into while living in Australia is "Tomorrow When the War Began". I figured I should read them, as they are Leigh's favourite books from when he was growing up. A group of teenagers leave for a weekend to go camping and return home to find they are at war. It is a story about fighting back and their survival! I still have a few books yet to go to find out how it unfolds!

THIS BOOK CAPTURES ME BECAUSE IT IS A STORY OF YOUNG PEOPLE MAKING A DIFFERENCE.






I hope that I am able to instill a passion in my boys to love reading too. It is something I so enjoy!

DAY TWENTY THREE - HOW GREAT IS OUR GOD

Our small-group is studying Frances Chan's book "Crazy Love". I love it. I love what he has to say, and I love how he says it. He writes confronting lines like:


"I think it's far too easy to blame the American church without acknowledging that we are each part of the church and therefore responsible" (pg 19)

"We need to stop giving people excuses not to believe in God. You've probably heard the expression, 'I believe in God, just not organized religion.' I don't think people would say that if the church truly lived like we are called to live." (pg 21-22)

"As much as we want God to explain Himself to us, His creation, we are in no place to demand that He give an account to us."

"I sometimes struggle with how to properly respond to God's magnitude in a world bent on ignoring or merely tolerating Him. But know this: God will not be tolerated. He instructs us to worship and fear Him". (Pg 28)

"How is it possible that we live as though (life) is about us?" (pg 43)


We are only part way through the book - and I am just eating it up. I love the simplicity of the writing, the humility of the author, and the depth that his words bring. So far the challenges are real, authentic and life giving. He reminds me of Louie Giglio's who speaks on God's greatness too- which if you have the time is a fantastic message. Check it out here:





Frances Chan has videos online to go along with his book Crazy Love so it's great if you are looking for something for your small group to do! Here's the introduction video




Here is the web page with the videos that go with each chapter if you're interested to have a deeper look into it.

www.crazylovebook.com

DAY TWENTY TWO - CLUTTER MONSTER