Loving the Unlovely...

When chaos comes calling do you know where to turn? Chaos entered my world and drama unleashed itself in my small group in the late summer of 2005. I remember there were times when I took the remarks and the gossip so personally and I would come home and fall to my knees and just sob to the Father. It’s during those moments when leadership is not so fun. I was personally being attacked and it was all because a group member no longer liked the night we met on. Worse my right hand person was in the middle stirring the pot! I knew who was behind it as our enemy has not changed his ways, but I wanted to tell these 40-something year-old women to grow up, even though they were merely his puppets at the time Ephesians 6:12 (NIV). We’ve all been challenged to love someone who absolutely drives us crazy. The truth is we may not even like them, let alone love them. Does anyone come to mind? I’m talking about the kind of person we cannot seem to get away from. This person may be a co-worker, an employee, an employer, a small group member, a small group leader, someone who runs in your circle, someone you do ministry with, the neighbor who just will not move, an in-law, an outlaw, a spouse, an ex-spouse, you get the point. This is the type of person when you see them coming, you just want to do a 180 and turn the opposite way. A fellow small group member (in another group for leaders) eloquently called these types of people, “jackhammers” ~ thanks, Sharon! I love that. Jackhammers. Scriptures calls them the iron that sharpens iron. Sandpaper… thorns… difficult…unlovely. Whatever the title you and I want to label them with, we will find they are somehow assigned to us by God. I will share how scripture empowered me by the Spirit of the Living God to love someone I did not even like at the time. Wow, did I just type that out loud? I’m ashamed to admit that while I spent most of those small group years on my knees in prayer for this woman, I just did not care for her at the time. Now the love I have for her is God's love.

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Do You Know Your Worth?

I've been single-again for the past 7 years. In fact, it will be 7 years to the day of my divorce becoming final that my fiancee and I will apply for our marriage license. Talk about God's redemption! For years, I have held 3 verses close to my heart: Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV) "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."; Habakkuk 2:3 (AMP) "For the vision is yet for an appointed time and it hastens until the end (fulfillment); It will not deceive or disappoint. Though it tarry, wait (earnestly) for it, because it will surely come; it will not be behindhand on its appointed day."; I trusted John 14:3 because someday, my heavenly Prince will come (again)! ;). These were words that were personal to me. God works with each of us in unique ways. I found this verse 1 Corinthians 7:17 in The Message to be oh-so-sweet: "And don't be wishing you were somewhere else or with someone else. Where you are right now is God's place for you. Live and obey and believe and love right there. God, not your marital status defines your life." WOW. I remember journaling this in 2003 and that is when it took root in my heart. My singleness was a newly found gift. And speaking of gifts...

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