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Saturday, February 2, 2008
Live for today
Hello!
It's been a while since I have written anything of my own, forgive me for getting caught up in so many distractions which keep me from inputting a personal note here and there! Of course, all content displayed in this blog is a reflection of my personal touch, however, I would like to add a little more of my comments, be they good, or bad depending on your point of view. Hopefully, they will be in line with the way of our Lord Jesus Christ! Following this post is a lesson from Dr. James MacDonald. In it, he mentions selfishness which plagues us all and likens self to a dog barking for attention! This reminds me of a lesson from Greg Laurie about the Indian proverb: our old nature and new nature are like two dogs, both fighting to win over the other in our life and attitudes. When asked which one will win, the wise old man said "simple, the one that I feed the most!" This hits home with me this morning, as I was feeling out of sorts with God because of my stubborn behavior and self will! This little lesson from "Walk In The Word" hit the nail on the head! As we walk the road of life together in "The Way", lets encourage and pray for each other and ask Jesus to help us feed the "right dog!"
cdcwilly
WALK IN THE WORD
with Dr. James MacDonald
Healing Family Hurts
Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
1 Corinthians 13:4-7
Have you got some hurdles to overcome in your family relationships? You know—some things that need to change and improve at your house? All of us can at one time or another admit to family problems, causing family pain.
I have just one word to offer you as you seek help and healing for your family: love. Love is relational dynamite that obliterates all obstacles in its path. Talking won’t do that for you. Pressuring won’t; prodding, insisting, demanding, getting selfish—these all will only tear your life and family apart. But 1 Corinthians 13:8 says, “Love never fails.”
Love never fails to what? Let me point out three things that it will handle for you:
#1 Love never fails to conquer selfishness. I am selfish and so are you. We never have to work at self; it’s just right there barking for attention. Love conquers the biggest obstacle in me: selfishness.
#2 Love never fails to conquer skepticism. Over time, it’s easy to doubt that anything is ever going to change. Your family disappoints you and you want to bail but love holds on.
But James, we’ve got real problems over at our house and some pep talk on love is not going to fix it.
You’re right—that’s why we need 1 Corinthians 13:6, “[Love] does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.”
#3 Love never fails to rejoice in the truth. Love doesn’t sit back in some happy delusion that everything will be okay. Love doesn’t deny problems, but works to see them changed. Love is an action before it’s a feeling.
Here’s your assignment this week:
* In love, serve your family when they choose to be selfish.
* In love, humble yourself before your family when conflict creates distance.
* In love, forgive your family by releasing them from the obligation that resulted when they hurt you. Don’t hold it over them.
* And lastly, in love, speak God’s Word in any situation regardless of the cost. Truth, delivered with love, is what sets us free.
Love gives God an opportunity to work. It’s a tool in His hands to work through you in helping your family.