Love covers

December 11, 2018 Thoughts 0 Comments

“Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.” 1 Peter 4:8

For the past several years I have been contemplating this verse – what does it truly mean? As a trauma survivor, my mind at first naturally went to justice. I value justice. ‘If we cover sins, they how do people change, learn and have consequences!?’.

More recently, as the LORD has done a great work in me, and my mind is a bit more renewed, and my heart a bit more healed… I am looking at this verse differently.

“…love each other deeply…”

What does love look like?

When I look through scriptures love looks like grace, mercy, and kindness. In Jeremiah 31, it speaks about the people of Israel after they were sent out by God into the wilderness, in order to draw them back to Him.

“This is what the LORD says: “The people who survived the sword found favor in the wilderness when Israel went to find rest.” The LORD appeared to him from afar: “I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have drawn you with loving kindness.”

In response to God drawing His people with loving devotion, their response back to Him was one of repentance and a tenderizing of their heart:

‘You disciplined me severely,like an untrained calf. Restore me, and I will return, for You are the LORD my God. After I returned, I repented; and after I was instructed, I struck my thigh in grief. I was ashamed and humiliated because I bore the disgrace of my youth.’ Jeremiah.31:18-19

I believe this is what “love covers a multitude of sins” looks like. There was still discipline, but in the midst of what was right and just, there was kindness, mercy, and grace.

Another thing that comes to mind on this topic is the verse in Proverbs:

“Starting a quarrel is like breaching a dam; so drop the matter before a dispute breaks out.” Prov. 17:14

Each one of us make so many mistakes every day. We hurt one another’s feelings, we make judgments that are not ours to make, nor usually are they correct, and we usually run over people in the quest for our agendas. Maybe that’s just all me…

My personality type is to work things out; to go after something and address an issue. I value transparency and humility. But I have also found it’s not always a good idea to “work something out” because in the process of explaining what I thought….I usually dig myself a deeper hole with someone, unintentionally.

So lately I have found that love covers what I think my friend did to frustrate or hurt me. Love covers how I feel they are letting me down.

And I don’t think “covering” something in this sense is like covering up someone’s illegal activity. We don’t cover up abuse, addictions and rebellion. But I believe that as I pour out my frustrations, anger and judgments to God… I am reminded that He is the one who can speak to them if it needs addressing, and usually in the process He will speak to me as well about my growth opportunities.

That reminds me of one last verse:

“Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?” Matthew 7:3

From one fellow traveler to another, blessings to you.

Lasting Change

April 28, 2017 Thoughts 0 Comments

 

 

How does lasting change work? What is the difference between having an experience and living out of that experience?

In Philippians 4:9 Paul was writing to the saints in Philippi and encouraged them to keep going “Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me – put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.”

Today’s’ culture teaches us we need to know more. Read more books, get more degrees, gain more experience, get more training. The church is not exempt from this mentality. How many books, conferences, trainings and sermons have you attended, heard or read? All of that is like spiritual food. When we eat rich food and do not exercise we can get out of shape and obese.

Even if the only thing we do is attend one church service a week,  do we put into practice what we were taught? Do we challenge ourselves to gain further freedom, breakthrough and maturity?

3 His divine power has (already) given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness. 4 Through these He has given us His very great and precious promises, so that through them you may (now, without waiting) participate in the divine nature, having (already) escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

5 For this very reason, make every effort (daily and consistently) to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7 and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. 8 For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Peter 1:3-8 NIV *(author added)

Let’s make consistent choices to put into practice what we have already been given.

The best part about this is that we are not going at this alone. The Lord is near and is actively involved in our lives. Allow Him to highlight what He wants to do next, and then just keep telling Him yes. He provides the strength needed so you can persevere with Him. We can’t have lasting change without him.

Blessings to you, today.

 

Humility is Needed for Change

April 28, 2017 Thoughts 1 Comment

The following is an except from “How to Stay on God’s Surgery Table” written by Haley Johnson. 

“Yet now, I am happy, not because you were made sorry, but because your sorrow led you to repentance. For you became sorrowful as God intended and so we were not harmed in any way by us. Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death…”. 2 Corinthians 7:9-10

There is a difference between godly sorrow and worldly sorrow. Godly sorrow’s fruit is repentance that leads to salvation – hope, heart change, and life transformation. Worldly sorrow leads to walking in the flesh and spiritual death. Worldly sorrow is characterized by “sorry, not sorry.” I am sorry I got into trouble, I am sorry I was caught, I am sorry that I hurt you, and it stops there due to passivity, over-valuing comfort, hardness of heart and pride.

One of best prayers you can pray in the midst of conviction is “God, don’t lift your hand of discipline until it’s accomplished what you intended and help me to stay under it well.” Be careful though – because you just gave God an open door to meddle and the outcome is so magnificent that your enemy HATES it. The enemy’s number one game plan is pride. Pride keeps up from humbling ourselves and that stops the flow of grace.

The first tool needed to stay on the surgery table is humility. It takes humility to recognize that we don’t have the ability to change on our own. We can be great at behavior modification – but a heart change is done through God’s great mercy. Behavior modification only lasts so long until what is in the heart pours out. Matthew 12:34 puts it this way “For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks.” Humility is what allows us to even get onto the surgeons table and then stay there. Surgery can be painful as we allow God to bring out of darkness what was hidden. Humility is what keeps us from closing up and getting off the table when we face our fears, shame, lies we believe and the rush for comfort.

David’s Declaration

April 28, 2017 Thoughts 0 Comments

Davids Declaration by Haley Johnson

Struggle with having hope and joy some days? This is what David used to stir himself up into peace:

…”Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad, my tongue rejoices; my body also will live in hope, because you have not abandoned me….You have made known to me the paths of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence.” Acts 2:25-28, Psalm 16:8-11

Speak outloud this declaration today:
He is with me
He has not abandoned me
He watches over me
He has given me power
THERFORE
I will not be shaken
My heart – be glad!
My tongue – rejoice!
My body – have hope!
God has already shown me the ways of life
God has given me joy in His presence
I will continue to find joy when I come near to Him
My future is full of joy in His presence

Peace to you today. Hope and Trust can be found in Him.

Peace that Passes Understanding

April 28, 2017 Thoughts 0 Comments

In order to have the peace that transcends all understanding, we must give up our need to understand. Philippians 4:4-9 gives us all the direction and truth we need in times of uncertainty.

4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. Philippians 4:4-9 NIV

 

  • Rejoice in the Lord ALWAYS
  • Let your gentleness be clear to all (bad times are no excuse for bad behavior)
  • THE LORD IS NEAR – you are not forgotten or abandoned
  • Do not be anxious. Make the choice to stop worrying.
  • ALWAYS talk to God about everything
  • Allow His peace (not understanding) to guard your heart and mind
  • Train your mind to only think on things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, praiseworthy.
  • Actually put into practice what you already know
  • God will be with you. You are not alone.

Blessings to you today!