I heard a great message tonight at church. I don't want to forget...
We were talking about the reasons why people think Christians are arrogant.
We can say what we want, but in reality we are judged by our fruit. It's not arrogant, it's humbling. The Fruits of the Spirit. They should see love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. It's that simple.
We were also talking about the difference between tolerance and respect. Tolerance is the ability to put up with something or someone. Respecting someone means you can disagree with their ideas, but love them anyway. I don't want someone to just tolerate me, but I'd love it if they would respect me as a child of God. We all need to respect each other.
We all try to project an image to get people to love us. We want them to think we are a certain way and don't want them to know the "real" us. But the most loving people are full of truth and grace and have an inner beauty. ... Jesus Christ. He knows all of our strengths and weaknesses, our failures yet He loves us anyway. It's the most humbling kind of love. He wants to make us beautiful. I want them to see Christ's love and compassion when they look at me!
Do I think I am a good person? No... the light comes from God. We don't bring it on ourselves. It has nothing to do with us. I remember going to a counselor for years and was told I needed to learn to trust myself. But the truth is I should not trust myself... I can only trust God. It's a humbling love.
He is lovely...
Angie xoxo
16 comments:
such a good post! (and that picture just looks YUMMY!) okay- got side-tracked :) Hoping you are well..been thinking of you! Love ya friend!
I have known for a long time that I can't trust me! I'm far too selfish....but I can trust Him who created me before the foundation of the earth and who knows me by name! I'm so thankful daily that He is trustworthy!
You ARE a loving person...full of truth and grace and you have an inner beauty which shines through and through.
Great post.
Hugs!
Kat
YES! I love that word! It is so good and so true! Thanks for sharing!
Angie,
I like how you pointed out about respect. Love even if one disagrees with another. Wow! Imagine what the body of Christ would be like if we all got that concept!
Great post today. Glad I stopped by!
Blessings in Christ--
Wow, this hits me smack in the face. I have noticed everyone who prays for me lately mentions my "sweet spirit" and I always think, "I don't feel like I am sweet." I just hope that it is the sweetness of Jesus shining through me for others to see. There are so many times I feel so inadequate and those are the times I draw on God's strength, I'm so thankful my Father loves me. even me.
I love visiting you! You always make me stop and examine things more closely.
I love how you take it always to your heart. It is what Christ is after and He is pleased. We sang an old hymn at Bible study the other evening and it was beautiful. One of those moments when they stop all the music and you just hear sweet harmonic voices singing their heart to the Lord. "Hallelujah What a Savior" is the title and there is a pretty good album called Amazing Grace that it is found on at iTunes. I think you would like this collection of old hymns that are "new" to you. Love you, annie
What a good word thanks for sharing it. This is something I need to work on especially with those I love. It always seems easier to be more respecting with those we dont know as well. Those who we each know the others weakness', strengths and failures, we seem to be less tolerate and less respecting of. May we humble ourselves that they may see Christ love and compassion through the respect and love that we give to them.
Love Ya,
Stacey
This is so true. When God lives IN us, His light shines THROUGH us. It can not be stopped. Thanks for inspiring me today.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts! It is so true that we are better off trusting completly in Him alone!
A humbling love.....AMEN!
Thank you for the word. Its just beautiful. I hope we all can reflect Jesus in all things, situations, and circumstances. But, thankfully He loves us the same when we don't.
Hugs~
Fran
Great post - again
Very inspiring....How I too want to reflect Jesus, so much that people will be drawn to me so that I can tell what it is that make me "different". Blessings....
Hi there! Stop by my blog for a special and well deserved award for you.
Hugs sweet friend!
Kat
I had not thought of the difference between respect and tolerance before. Very sharp observance, Ang.
Oh that touches me so much. Thank you for that reminder.
I want God's light to shine so brightly in me that non-believers are atttracted like flies not to me but to the glory and grace of God!
Blessings,
Kim
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