How do our filters of honesty work? And how very badly do we need God to fix our decrepit, depraved idea of the truth, that we dish out day in day out.
I think in blogosphere you don't have to say this is my opinion over and over since the obviously the person writing is expressing their opinion. But just in case I want to make it clear I am a speaking of my own warped honesty screen!!! That being said in general I consider myself not too bad of a citizen.
Recently it hit me as I returned a bunch of emails (trying to clear the very full inbox) I answered the question "How are you" so vastly differently. I understand that friendships and relationships are at their own unique stages, but wow it is amazing the "creative latitude" the English language can allow us to express ourselves with. The passive/aggressiveness, it wasn't really a lie, it just wasn't the whole truth.
Were our parents right growing up? "If you can't say something nice don't say any thing at all" Or do we bravely face the not nice and speak the truth in love, like the bible say to. It's the in love (not in anger, frustration, weariness) part that challenges me. Tact I really believe is a gift, I trend towards blunt and not so compassionate, or I don't say anything until I blurt out the wrong thing at the wrong time with the wrong attitude.
What's the action plan???? To be discerning what part you are playing in God's story of your life and the life others and do your best to not screw up! With Jesus in your heart making it a go the filters are crystal clear.
What if you screw up? Your turn from the way you are going and go the other way. Messes happen, when you have family and friends and co-workers life will be messy. You can always re-calibrate ( a bunch of my friends have been using that word, I can't take credit) the idea that we can re-focus and lock in to a missed target is amazing, I am all for the second chances. Grace is real.
Fast or slow life is going to happen. Big time or tent city you have to do this thing called life. Sharing my steps,missteps,joys and tears is my goal. For you to bust out of ruts, think differently. My story is being written every day by grace and so is yours. Thank you for reading be blessed.
I love you friend. I know you are struggling, but I am assured that you are right where HE WANTS YOU!
ReplyDeleteHere are a couple things from Tim Keller that I want you to read. One is an article about Repentance and our response as a believer. The other is a table of practical differences between the gospel and religion.
http://download.redeemer.com/pdf/learn/resources/All_of_Life_Is_Repentance-Keller.pdf
http://transforminggospel.files.wordpress.com/2011/02/religion_gospel.pdf
My favorite line of the article is
" Our hope is in Christ's righteousnessnot our own- so it is not so traumatic to admit our weaknesses and lapses. In religion we repent less and less often. But the accepted and loved in the gospel we feel, the more and more often we will be repenting."
Love you lady.