Congratulations, C.B.!
Hi, all! I hope your week is going great … and I’m excited to announce that C.B. of South Carolina won our drawing for the $99 Peacemaker Group Study. Hooray!
(Oh–and sorry to all that our little “drawing” was slightly delayed. I try to do the drawing exactly one week after the event, but we had an eventful week and I just did it yesterday.)
I’m off to Indiana tomorrow–but we’re forecasted to get snow, so I’m hoping that I actually make it.
Hey–thanks to everyone for your insights and comments on my recent “Third G” post. Here are just a few of the wise comments that were sent to me:
– “You have me on this one! I was right with you on your need to apologize to the airline personnel…we are never to be rude. But on this dilemma of going to someone, it’s very hard. Why? Because of my motives for wanting to go point out someone else’s sin…which is too often to make myself look better! There are situations where “this is never going to get better” and I do know that there are instances where we must confront. But FIRST I must come to Jesus, asking what HE wants me to learn in the situation. Has God put this person there for my sanctification? Probably so! Have I learned anything from the situation (other than to get really angry with them and find even more faults in them)? No, I haven’t learned anything when I have my “mad” blinders on or my “my way is better” attitude. Yes, I must love that person in the choir who causes me much angst. Yes, I must be charitable toward her even though I “know” (think) I can do it better. Yes, the changes MUST start with me and I must leave the work of the Holy Spirit to the…..HOLY SPIRIT! Still…I understand what you’re saying…there are times to confront, but I haven’t figured out exactly what those times are (or maybe I haven’t come up with the proper way to confront and so then the problems have just been compounded). I’ll keep praying over this one!”
– I read your blog and could so very much relate with what you said. I find that I overlook when I should go to the person more than I realized. I read this quote as I was going through my Galatians study and sent it out to some friends:
“The gospel frees us from the need for people’s approval and adoration so that we can confront and anger the people we love, if that is what is best for them. And although it does not always work, this is the only kind of communication that really changes people. If you love a person so selfishly that you cannot risk their anger, you won’t ever tell them the truth they need to hear. If, on the other hand, you tell a person the truth they need, but with harshness and not with the agony of a lover, they won’t listen to it. But if you speak the truth with lots of love evident at the same time, there is a great chance that what you say will penetrate the heart and heal. A gospel-based ministry is marked by loving honesty, not spin, image and flattery.” Tim Keller (Galatians study)
Well said, my dear friends!
Thanks to everyone for sharing encouragement and wisdom.
Grace upon grace!
With love and hope,
Tara B.