It’s been so long since I’ve written on a regular basis. So much has happened!
First, I want to share that I finished reading the Bible recently for 2022. I did something different this year. Normally I read from cover to cover, that’s it. This year, I started in the New Testament, going from Matthew to Revelation and then went back to the Old Testament. I used “Faithful Promises of God” to take me day by day and want to share that you don’t have to start at the beginning of the Bible (or “Faithful Promises”) to read though the Bible. I’ve read so many years from front to back that I needed a change. And I want to encourage you to do what you have to in order to read through the Bible! This year I used the New King James Version and next year I think I am going to use the New Living Bible.
For those who are new, I would encourage you to go back in this blog to January 16, 2021, “Give Him the Shame of Your Past”. It will help you understand a bit more of what I am about to share. I find myself opening up to my reading audience in this past year or so. Well, I may have contemplated writing about my own life but I have always had a problem with rejection and once I start opening up, I know some will reject.
I have had some “Christians” ask me, “How can you do…” whichever sin I’d fallen into. So many look at a person and think their lives are much easier and they’ve never gone through hardships or pain. Well, I am here to tell you that we should never look at another person with those judgmental eyes because you are bringing condemnation upon yourself and your family. You are sowing judgment and it will come back on you at some point.
I had something happen to me one time and I had a family member exclaim, “We’re so embarrassed of your behavior.” Within about 12 years, their son went through the same thing I had gone through. Don’t judge, have compassion on those who are struggling!
Luke 6:43-45 says, “For a good tree does not bear bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. For every tree is known by its own fruit. For men do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they gather grapes from a bramble bush. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.”
In many churches we have those who were raised in the church, who have not known the struggles of addiction or adultery, or robbery or even murder. The list could go on and on but I hope you understand what I am saying.
Oftentimes, they don’t have empathy when someone sins but yet, look how Jesus handled the sinner. Their lack of grace is apparent and their haughtiness stands out as they look down their noses in disgust at the “sinner”. The Scripture says, “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Rom 3:23)
All…not just the person who does not walk with God but all! So many surrender their lives to Christ and it takes years to fight to the temptations of their past life. Sometimes they fall short but God is always there to pick them up in love when they repent. People are not so kind. No wonder many Christians are looked at as hypocrites.
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Only when we humble ourselves in repentance and see our own filthiness can we grasp the mighty act of Jesus giving His life for one such as I! He is the sacrificial lamb, He washed away my sins with His blood. We are forgiven! Each day we need to go to Him with a confessing heart.
And so it goes, just like the Israelites of the Old Testament, even on our journey with the Lord by our side, we fall. We sometimes forget that He has our best interest at heart and we decide to go our own way…maybe we think we are just helping God. The Old Testament says the Israelites did what was right in their own eyes. It happens to us too. It’s only a matter of time before we realize we are walking in sin and we come to the Father, we confess our sin and ask Him to forgive us. He knows our heart, He is there waiting. These things happen so that we can learn lessons and grow in our walk with Christ.
It is important that we learn those lessons! I have struggled with being judgmental big time since late March when I found out that my stalker killed himself. Yes, you read that right! I kept asking myself why he didn’t come and apologize for what he’d done before ending his life. Of course, there are no answers and God has been lovingly shaping me to be more Christlike. And I still have a long way to go. I will never know why he did such a thing. What I do know is that God had worked on my heart and I prayed for him every day. God owes me no answers but I owe Him my life.
It's these life lessons that change us. It’s these life lessons that move us to seeking Him more each day. And how do we seek Him more? Through reading the Bible daily as He speaks to us through His Word. And through prayer as we talk with Him in adoration of what He’s done for us and in petitions for others (even those who are not nice to us).
My desire for each of you is to know Christ and the power of His love more this year than last and next year to continue to grow, no matter how painful it can be at times.
Sometimes it’s hard to share what you are going through because you are afraid of being judged. I want you to know that I am here to listen. Contact me through my email address (it’s on the first page of the blog) or through A Fae Original on Facebook and we can set up a time to talk. It helps to talk, it helps to be open with someone safe. I am trusting that each of you will take what I’ve shared and search your own life to see if there is some area in your life that God is wanting you to surrender to Him.