Well this isn’t going to be fun, but I feel the need to write out a self-evaluation. While reflecting on some recent events I was reminded of the following flaws in my personality:
- I expect others to do the right thing. When they don’t, I want to be the one to tell them they screwed up. (In love of course!)
- I have no trouble pointing out the truth of situations, but I forget few want to hear it.
- I seek perfection in others, and though I try so hard, I overlook that I too come up short.
- I do to others what I am want them to do to me, but I have learned not everyone knows that rule.
- If I’m willing to listen to you, I expect you to listen to me.
- I tend to “nick pick”, because I think people should do everything the way I do it.
I could go on I’m sure, but this hurts. Looking into a mirror, that sees deeper than the exterior, is hard to face. When you see who you really are, you wonder, how can anyone love me? Then, you might ask, how can God love me?
When God first made man, he was perfect. But God refused to have robots obey commands to choose him, so he gave man “free will”. It was the only way to see who would love him, because they wanted to. God first loved us, even though that “free will” opens the door to imperfection, and makes us hard to love, he loves us anyway. There is no means to measure, or weigh how much God loves us. Love, is God’s core nature.
But just how does God do it? Love us even though we are hard to love?
He looks at us through rose colored glasses. The ones that were stained, by the blood of his son, Jesus’ when he died on a cross to forgive us of our sins. I would be more lovable if I saw others as God does.
Copyright © 2020 Mark Brady. All rights reserved.
You finally drop off to sleep, and when you wake up the next morning you have a few seconds of peace before the pain of your current life situation comes crashing back into your mind like a tsunami. You lay there and say to yourself, “Oh yeah”. You force yourself to get out of bed, but if it wasn’t for having to go to the bathroom you would more likely pull the covers over your head and try to go back to sleep.
Why are you reading this blog when you could be reading God’s words for yourself? I’m glad you read this blog, as humbling as it is, but this portion of scripture, Romans chapter 12 verses 1-2, from The Message Bible, was just too good not to share.
When people are in your presence,
Many years ago, like 33 of them, I left full time ministry. I had been a youth pastor in two different churches. I left under circumstances that should have never taken place. I then entered my own desert and had my own version of Mt. Sinai to march around.
Happy New Year!
Christmas is over, at least the actual day.
I love the Virgin Mary’s story. She was so brave. You see the simple truth is, she loved God more than she feared what others thought. There’s a whole sermon right there. Pass the offering plate and call it Sunday!
To know unconditional love;
brady, mark a. 