You know, one good thing about remembering where you came from, is to remind yourself of the grace that people extended to you when you were in that place. I am surrounded by some seriously Godly and wise people who have spoken ridiculously amazing gold nuggets into my life!

It’s easy when you gain wisdom here and there to fall into a place of where you’re looking at people, wondering why they’re not making better decisions. It’s like when you’re a parent watching your kids do something, thinking, “Yep, that’s not going to work,” and yet they do it anyway. How much more could God, in all of his wisdom, continually look at us like a bunch of morons, but He doesn’t!

He loves us and He wants us to see each other in the same light that He does! He runs to those who are lost. He doesn’t say, “Jesus, did you see how they’re acting? That’s ridiculous! Why did we make them again?” No, He draws them close to Himself. We have to be the same. We have to stop the judgement. Luke 6:41 says, “And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not perceive the plank in your own eye?” Just stop!! We need to love people.

We need to love people. Another biggie that we need to guard against, is gossiping under the premise of prayer. We need to stop that too!!

Ephesians 4:29-32 (NKJV) says, “Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.”

Proverbs 16:28 (MSG) reminds us the consequences of gossiping, “Troublemakers start fights; gossips break up friendships.”

Proverbs 20:19 (MSG) also says “Gossips can’t keep secrets, so never confide in blabbermouths.”

So how do we avoid all of this mess? By seeing people the way God does. When you can see people the way God sees them, it will cause you to love them with a love that can’t be explained and doesn’t make sense.

1 Cor 13: 3-8 (MSG) says “If I give everything I own to the poor and even go to the stake to be burned as a martyr, but I don’t love, I’ve gotten nowhere. So, no matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I’m bankrupt without love. Love never gives up. Love cares more for others than for self. Love doesn’t want what it doesn’t have. Love doesn’t strut, Doesn’t have a swelled head, Doesn’t force itself on others, Isn’t always “me first,” Doesn’t fly off the handle, Doesn’t keep score of the sins of others, Doesn’t revel when others grovel, Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth, Puts up with anything, Trusts God always, Always looks for the best, Never looks back, But keeps going to the end.” Love Never Dies.

Now, THAT is love! Next blog we will talk about how this benefits YOU!

~Danielle Paden~
My Not So Perfect, Perfect Life Blog
http://danigirl1982.blogspot.com