There is a cultural, learned pattern in our home the last several years which has been terribly hard to correct.\u00a0 The concept of \u201cstooping beneath\u201d someone else is seen as subservient and undesirable.\u00a0 Pride is prized above personal relationships.\u00a0 Grudges are held until the reason for the anger can no longer be remembered.\u00a0 Stubbornness and pride are not virtues in God\u2019s economy; humbleness and forgiveness are.<\/p>\n
My Bible tells me that \u201c<\/span>All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”\u00a0(Romans 3:23).<\/span><\/span>\u00a0 None of us will get out of this life without making a mistake, hurting someone, needing to ask forgiveness— and through grace and mercy—be restored to a right relationship with the one you hurt.\u00a0 We have only one life to live, so we should learn to live it well.\u00a0 We need to realize our faults and failures before we hold the faults and failures of others up for all to see.<\/p>\n If we consider another person\u2019s feelings above our own, we will not find ourselves with the \u201cwrong motives\u201d Lisa talks about on page 192.\u00a0 It is one thing to be \u2018against\u2019 something, but what are we really \u201cFOR?\u201d\u00a0 We have to be devoted to a greater cause than our individual rights and opinions.\u00a0 Lisa says, “Though we are entrusted with a sword of the Spirit, we are not armed to harm.<\/strong><\/em><\/strong>”\u00a0 The Spirit within us will not strike out to harm another person.<\/p>\n The purpose of the Holy Spirit in our lives is to lead, guide, and direct us on the path of right living.\u00a0 The Spirit will reveal the areas in our lives needing to be cut away and pruned so that we may continue to grow in the Lord.\u00a0 Cultivate a soft heart so the work of the Spirit will be quick<\/span> and less painful.\u00a0 A tender, caring heart is a vessel the Lord can use.<\/p>\n I was stunned at the anger in the heart of a loved one the first time I heard the term \u201cstoop beneath\u201d used.\u00a0 There was hurt and bitterness.\u00a0 Even after hearing the one-sided details of the story she was angry about, I knew there had been wrong on both sides.\u00a0 Neither party was willing to \u201cstoop\u201d to offer an apology or forgiveness.\u00a0 A record of wrongs was being kept and that pattern was taught in the home for many generations.\u00a0 We are still struggling to break down these generational \u201ccurses\u201d with unconditional love.\u00a0 The Bible will lead us to a right definition of LOVE in 1 Corinthians 13<\/span>.\u00a0 Make it your guide as you break down these family curses.<\/p>\n Lisa shares with us, \u201cWe do not fight to tear down but to build up.\u00a0 The authority heaven lends to us on earth is to destroy evil by doing good.\u00a0 Just because I have walked with the sword of God\u2019s Word on my hip for more than three decades doesn\u2019t mean I have always worn it well<\/strong><\/em>\u201d (pg. 192).\u00a0 When we lift our weapon in anger we leave a wound that needs to heal.\u00a0 Without the soothing balm of forgiveness, the wounds<\/span> begin to fester and leave scars.\u00a0 Be quick to ask for forgiveness, grant forgiveness, and begin to restore the damaged relationship.<\/p>\n After the lessons on keeping silent last week, it is only fitting that we focus on WHEN we\u00a0should\u00a0speak, HOW we should speak, and for WHAT purpose we should speak.\u00a0 In 1 Peter 4:11 we find this bit of wisdom, <\/span>“<\/span>If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God.\u00a0 If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ.\u00a0 To Him be the glory and power<\/span> for ever and ever.\u00a0 AMEN.”<\/span><\/p>\n The story Lisa shared about the relationship with her own father struck a chord in my heart.\u00a0 I was emotionally abandoned by my father and I replaced him with God when I was twelve.\u00a0 The new girls in our home were neglected and abandoned by their father and my husband has taken them in.\u00a0 I totally related to the feeling of abandonment\u2026<\/span>and then of JOY at realizing my God was my Father and He would not leave me or forsake me.<\/p>\n In our family we are all adopted by each other.\u00a0 We choose to be a family and love each other.\u00a0 Our story gets told over and over, but we are still hard for some people to understand.\u00a0 When Lisa shared that God spoke so vividly to her that the rejection by her father was an overwhelming ADOPTION by her Heavenly Father I totally understood.\u00a0 It was at that moment that I released my earthly father from his \u201cduties.\u201d\u00a0 I began to rely on my Heavenly Father for nurturing and support.<\/p>\n Like Lisa, I find comfort in the words of Psalms 45:10-11<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cHear, O daughter, and consider, and incline your ear:<\/span><\/p>\n Forget your people and your father\u2019s house,<\/span><\/p>\n And the king will desire your beauty.<\/span><\/p>\n Since he is your lord, bow to him\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Our earthly families are fallible.\u00a0 Our earthly families can hurt us and we can hurt them.\u00a0 We MUST show love like our Heavenly Father and offer forgiveness and restoration wherever possible.\u00a0 Where stubbornness and pride live and flourish, Satan rules.\u00a0 Do not give him a foothold in your life.\u00a0 Keep your heart tender and soft, eager to forgive and be forgiven.\u00a0 We are here to serve each other.\u00a0 Someone will eventually need to \u201cstoop\u201d to show love.<\/p>\n I pray there are more great examples of fathers out there than neglectful ones.\u00a0 We have a choice to show love like our Heavenly Father whether we had a good earthly example or not.\u00a0 Choose today to reflect your Father.\u00a0 It\u2019s worth it.<\/p>\n