When you look in the mirror...

If you pass by a mirror quickly, you can get a quick glimpse of what you look like. You can see in a couple of seconds whether or not your hair is out of place or your outfit is "ok." But, if you stop and stare, you will see that not only is your hair out of place, but you have lipstick on your teeth and a stain on your shirt as well.

Like the mirror to see what I look like physically, the Lord is showing me what my heart looks like on the inside. I've asked the Lord to use me and teach me, to show me what it means to crave peace and choose joy in the midst of any situation. These past 3 weeks, I'm seeing a lot of things about myself that I've never seen before. I'm really examining my heart to see what desires of the flesh are stronger and how to pray more effectively against such things.

Thank you, Lord, for your revelations and your patience and I strive to grow more in You.

Feelings..nothing more than feelings

There are "thinkers" and there are "feelers." I am a feeler. At times I embrace it and other times, I wish I was the other. I embrace it when I can empathize with a friend or with my kids at work.  It is not embraced during the times when "my feelings" are hurt.

God is teaching me that in the end, my feelings don't really matter. In situations when my feelings are hurt, I'm learning that I need to sit back and say to myself, "It's not about me." I need to look at the situation and try to understand why the person is acting this way. The lesson is how I am reacting to them, being a true friend and not letting the current situation cross out years of friendship. 

Right now, the Lord is reminding me that "A friend loves at ALL times."