1 Timothy 4:12
Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.
I'm limiting myself to only 15 minutes to do this post, so forgive me for my briefness. :)
How often do we read these words of Paul and take them to heart to mean that we are supposed to be bold to those who are older than us? And then how often do we miss the message he also meant, to not look down on those younger than us? We are supposed to allow ourselves to be 'iron sharpening iron' by speaking truth to those older than us, but we're supposed to also be open to the truths spoken TO us by those younger than us.
How are you doing this in your walk with God and fellowship with other believers?
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Monday, April 12, 2010
Why is forgiving so hard??
Why is it so much harder to forgive when older women hurt us? I don't know what it is, maybe it's because I think they should know better because they're older. Or I forget that they are sinners just like me.....or, something. Any ideas?
So, to save you younger ladies a lot of pain I'll just claim right now that I don't always know what's best. I'm not perfect and shouldn't be viewed as such. I am a 'work-in-progress' too and most of the time feel like I'm taking 2 steps forward and 3 steps back, just like you. I apologize now for any hurt I may cause you because it is most definitely not intentional! If I could save you from having to repeat lessons I've learned, I would. If I could protect you from the hurt I've experienced, I would. But it doesn't work that way. God designed it so that while I'm sharpening you, you're sharpening me. He's not done with me just like you feel He's not done with you. Please forgive me AND confront me when I'm not listening to the Word you're speaking into my life! Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Colossians 3:12
Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
Did I just answer my own question?? haha Well, I suppose my hangup is never hearing something like this from an older woman (other than Nancy Leigh DeMoss in her online radio ministry) in real life. Freud would say it was because my dad never apologized when he was wrong, so now as a result I have a hangup when people older than me don't apologize when they're wrong. Whatever Freud....I'm just going by what the Bible says!
So, to save you younger ladies a lot of pain I'll just claim right now that I don't always know what's best. I'm not perfect and shouldn't be viewed as such. I am a 'work-in-progress' too and most of the time feel like I'm taking 2 steps forward and 3 steps back, just like you. I apologize now for any hurt I may cause you because it is most definitely not intentional! If I could save you from having to repeat lessons I've learned, I would. If I could protect you from the hurt I've experienced, I would. But it doesn't work that way. God designed it so that while I'm sharpening you, you're sharpening me. He's not done with me just like you feel He's not done with you. Please forgive me AND confront me when I'm not listening to the Word you're speaking into my life! Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Colossians 3:12
Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
Did I just answer my own question?? haha Well, I suppose my hangup is never hearing something like this from an older woman (other than Nancy Leigh DeMoss in her online radio ministry) in real life. Freud would say it was because my dad never apologized when he was wrong, so now as a result I have a hangup when people older than me don't apologize when they're wrong. Whatever Freud....I'm just going by what the Bible says!
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