I Love You, But...

I have a habit, like most people, of checking Facebook once or twice a day. I want to see what my family and friends are doing, thinking, posting. One particular friend was on a rant because another friend told her he didn't care for some of the things she posted. I'd be a little perturbed if someone told me they didn't like what I posted. Then again, sometimes I'd be a little shocked that someone actually read any of my postings. I agreed that the person shouldn't have told her that. Personally, I think that's what the delete button is for. Get enough of it, delete the person. Or at least remove the person from your daily feed.
  But my friend said something else. What she said was , if you don't love all of me then delete me. 
    Well, let's think about that for a moment.Can you love every single aspect of a person, as in every part of their life? Can you love the person and not like parts of their lives?
  A popular statement these days just happens to be, if you love me you have to accept all of me. God loves us in the truest form, and He doesn't even do that. He tells us in His Word there are things He cannot and will not abide: lying, adultery, fornication, homosexuality, murder to name a few. Every single person who lives, ever has lived, and ever will live on this earth has sinned or will sin. Does this mean God hates us? Not at all! God loves us, and hates the sin!
  Example two: I love my sister, but she smokes. I don't like that part of her life. If she were to come visit, the cigarettes have to stay outside. The smell makes me ill and I don't want that nasty stuff in my house. Does this mean I don't love my sister or that I love her any less? No way!
  Love isn't and shouldn't be conditional. I don't know anyone who would ever say "I will love you if...". You either love someone or you don't. Conditional love is wrong, on both sides of the street. Telling someone that they have to accept a behavior or activity or they don't love you is just as wrong. Both types of behavior should have been outgrown at least by junior high.
  Bottom line? Facebook, at the end of the day, is really not much more than a virtual "I Love Me" wall. You post on there things that are important to you, that mean something to you. You're sharing yourself in a way that is safe because for the most part, you control who sees "you."  That's the easy part. What you cannot and should not even try to control is how someone feels when they see what you post. Some will like it, others won't. Some will hit the delete button and move on, some will give feedback. Those we have on our friends list are there for a reason. While sometimes it is our first instinct to get angry and defensive when someone disagrees, perhaps we should just go ahead and talk with the person. Learn something. Gain a new perspective. Or just shrug and agree to disagree on that point. 
    Love one another as we are commanded. Jesus is our greatest example of how to love. He loved the people. He didn't love what they did.

A Morning Cup of Tea: Feeding of the Five Thousand

Earlier in chapter 6 (v7) of Mark, Jesus had sent the apostles out two by two to teach and heal. Now, (v 30) they had all come back together and were telling Jesus what they had done and what they had taught. Jesus saw that they needed rest, which wasn't going to happen there because the people were round about them so much they could barely eat. Jesus took them to a desert place to get the rest the apostles needed. 
 The multitudes, however, figured out where they were going and they went too. Jesus didn't have the heart to send them away, seeing they were like sheep without a shepherd. He taught them many things for most of the day. Finally the disciples came to him and suggested that Jesus send the people on their way so they could go find food. Jesus replied, You feed them. The disciples didn't understand. You want us to go into town and buy 200 pennyworth of bread? 
  Jesus asked them to see what they already had here. There was found five loaves of bread and 2 fish. Jesus took the food and blessed it, and broke it apart, and the disciples fed at least 5000 that day, and most likely more. During that time women and children weren't counted, only the men.  After everyone had eaten their fill, all the leftovers were taken up, and they had twelve baskets full left. 
  Jesus saw to the needs of people, both spiritual and physical. We should follow his example and take care of others--not necessarily through letting the government take care of them. The disciples only had a little food, yet they fed many because Jesus blessed it. We ourselves may have only a little food, a few extra clothes, a few words of kindness, but it never ceases to amaze me what God can accomplish through us if we let him.

Gratituesday: Answered Prayer

Join us for Gratituesday at Heavenly Homemakers!

 Now for some, answered prayer always means "I got what I wanted". I'm reminded of a Garth Brooks song, Unanswered Prayer. In the song he met up with a young lady he thought at one time was the love of his life, but he realized how great he had it with his wife and family, and he was grateful for unanswered prayer. God hadn't led him to this other young lady as he'd asked, but to the one who became his wife. I beg to differ with Mr. Brooks on one little point --that wasn't an unanswered prayer. The answer was No, not her. I have someone else in mind for you.
  But today I don't want to focus on prayers that are answered with a no or a wait, although I am very grateful for those as well. Maybe not at the time, but I realize God's wisdom in His timing. I eventually see why I get the answers I do for certain prayers.
  Today however, some prayers were answered in the affirmative. My nephew, who had the ultrasound last week, is doing better. The test results came back with nothing wrong, which is great. His doctors are thinking now that his symptoms are caused by reflux, and he is now being treated for that. He is eleven and one of the sweetest young men you'll ever know so I'm really happy for that.
  Another prayer answered in the affirmative: a young man is either on his way or will soon be on his way to America to go to college. He posted a few years back online that he wanted to become a Christian. In his own family that could put his life in danger. Some online friends of mine were the ones to help him. I know him only through his posts online but I see his love of God, and his desire to be able to freely say I am a Christian. While waiting for his visa approval he worried a bit, but he didn't waver. When he was told to wait a bit, he said okay. He had his trust in God. And now, he will soon be here. I may never get to meet this young man here on earth. But I do pray I get to tell him in heaven what an example he has been to me. I am very happy to call him brother.
  Now what are you grateful for today? Feel free to share in the comments or join us at Heavenly Homemakers with your own link. I know very little about links so I can't yet add that to my page.