For the last month or so I have really been convicted in the area of my motives for doing things and the expectations that I place on others. Being a pastor’s wife, there are a lot of social pressures and unwritten rules of what I should be doing. Honestly, we have a very sweet church and no one has ever really come up to me and said, “Are you doing this, because you know it’s your job.” Mostly, the pressures are put on me from yours truly. Many of the unwritten rules were written by me in my head. But I still feel them.
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Hi. My name is Melissa and I need to find a multi-taskers anonymous group.
{insert awkward chuckle here}
For years I have thought it was some sort of great gift to be able to do lots of different things at the same time. Like it was some sort of super power or something, but it’s not.
I’m not sure if it is from our go, do, right this minute, super-hyper, go, go, go culture or just something that I’ve developed over the years, but in the last couple of months I’ve been hit with the harsh reality that this may not be a good thing.
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Are you successful? By what means do you measure your success? How do you define it? The dictionary defines success in this way:
• the attainment of popularity or profit: the success of his play.
• a person or thing that achieves desired aims or attains prosperity: I must make a success of my business.
• archaic the outcome of an undertaking, specified as achieving or failing to achieve its aims: the good or ill success of their maritime enterprises.
Recently a wonderful friend was praying for me. As she prayed, she asked the Lord to help me to not put unrealistic expectations on myself.
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We’re all sinners. No one is all good. Not one. When God looks down from heaven, He sees us all the same. Prostitute, deacon, drug dealer, preacher.
We’re all sinners.
Though there are many people who do not serve God and who still do good, the difference is the standard or the measurement we use to determine good.
In Dwight Edwards devotional, Experiencing Christ With, he explains:
“We can easily slip into a ‘street level’ view of goodness. It’s like walking down a city street sidewalk and comparing the heights of those you pass by. A few people happen to be well over six feet tall and really stand out from the crowd.
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Think about that person who really annoys you. You know who I mean. We all have someone. What about that person who is deliberately mean to you, who has hurt you again and again? What about the person who has hurt your friend, your family member? Just thinking about those people can produce some unpleasant feelings.
Now, imagine that God is speaking directly to you, telling you to reach out to that person.
What? Are you sure God? Let me remind you what they’ve done.
This is what happened when Saul, who became Paul was converted.
Acts 9:10Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias; and the Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.”
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We will not hide them from their children; we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the LORD, his power, and the wonders he has done. Psalm 78:4 NIV
We wandered in and out of the rooms searching for treasure.
Memories.
A piece of history to carry with us.
After my grandmother’s passing, the grandchildren were invited to her house to reminisce and select special items we wanted to keep. I walked on the back porch where my grandparents used to sit on summer evenings and talk. Covered in dust was their old black phone with the rotary dial.
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Though one may be overpowered,
two can defend themselves.
A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.
Ecclesiastes 4:12 NIV
I’ve been blessed in my life to have many different girlfriends. The women come from different backgrounds, ages, and stages of life and that just fascinates me. I have always surrounded myself with this beautifully eclectic group of ladies and have learned so much from them on my journey through life.
Unfortunately, I never really took the time to appreciate what these women, who are like a colorful cord of sisters, have meant to me… until recently. I’m not sure if it is because I am getting older or just wising up to how precious the gift of girlfriends really are to my life.
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Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. Colossians 3:13
Does this verse give you a little knot in the pit of your stomach? I am always so grateful for God’s amazing grace, for His overwhelming love, and for mercy given in undeserved forgiveness. I only wish I found it easier to extend the same mercy, grace, and love to others.
Do you struggle with memories of offenses that have hurt you? Words that betrayed? Cruel comments that left you with a broken heart? Do you feel justified when you replay those memories again and again?
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