Let Offenses Go!!

Today's blog was born out of a funny Facebook status I posted this morning. After giving it some thought, I wanted to take it to a more serious level and blog about it. I'll include the original Facebook post here and then expand upon it further after you've read it.

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Facebook status update:

No matter what you're going through today, you will get through it. Nothing lasts forever, trust me. You may have troubles right now, but tomorrow they might be gone. Not to make light of anyone's sorrows or trials but I can't help but think how people and life are fickle, for lack of a better word. Yesterday they were beating up statues, today they are engrossed in the sun, tomorrow it will be something new. Proof positive that the old saying "this too shall pass" is correct. So if you're going through something, think of the statues and how they felt last week. This week, they are breathing a sigh of relief, happy the sun took the attention off of them. I've been there as well, one day you're hated by the town, the next day, they hating somebody else. Like I said, I'm not trying to be facetious, just stating the facts. #thistooshallpass #nothinglastsforever #eclipse

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I posted that trying to be funny because really if you think about it all, you have to laugh to keep from crying. This world is messed up. People get offended at everything lately, and that's not a good place to be in your life and mind.

My old pastor used to tell us, "you can't offend a man that's prayed up". Meaning that if you are close enough to God, things won't bother you as easily. It would take something on a pretty large scale to get you upset. I agree with him (yes, I actually agree with him on something, lol).

Some of you might not understand that fully because, let's face it, there are some really heavy things going on in the world and this country right now. But, we all know that God's word tells us in 1 John 4:8 that God is love and in John 13:34, He instructs us to love one another.

Everyone screams love, love, but how many really put it in action? How many demonstrate it on a daily basis? If we have the love of God in us, truly deep down inside, then we might not get as offended as we do.

I don't care what side you are on, you need to love others. God loves EVERYONE, not just a certain group.

I know I got a little off subject there, but I felt the need to say it.

Anyway, the whole point of my blog was supposed to be this: everything passes, like in the post, this too shall pass.

It's true. In a few hours, the sun will set and a new day will dawn, bringing with it new troubles and new offenses. The world will forget about the eclipse and latch onto the "new" thing and allow themselves to be sucked in where they shouldn't.

I saw a post this morning on Facebook about something minor, it was a video of a dog licking a baby. although I don't want one licking me, I thought it was cute, nevertheless. I clicked on the comments because I knew what I'd find. And yep, wouldn't you know it, before long a fight broke out amongst the viewers. LOL Some were saying it was cute, then others were blasting the parents, saying they were wrong in allowing the dog to lick the kid. Ughh. I'm telling you, people look for stuff to get upset about. They look for reasons to be mad.

So, like I said last week, it was the poor statues that were getting beat up for no good reason, today it's the solar eclipse that has America holding their breath, tomorrow it will be something else. But what you and I can do to keep ourselves from getting offended at everything and to stay out of the mess, is to keep our minds on God and His Word. Isaiah 26:3 "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee." There you have it!! You want peace? Keep your minds on God. It's a daily struggle, I'll be the first to admit that. It's not the easiest thing to do, because there are things in our own lives that are waiting to meet us before our feet even hit the floor.

I know that was true this morning for myself. I was on the phone with someone before I even got up. Something was said and my feelings were hurt. I could feel the offense trying to take hold. But I prayed and asked God to help me. You know what? Within a minute, I could feel it letting go and moving away. I took my mind from the offense and put it on God, and just like the verse says, He gave me peace. It works!! Try it the next time you feel yourself getting upset about something.

Now, I always include this statement each time I blog something similar to this because like the word tells us in 2 Corinthians 2:11 "We are not ignorant concerning the devices of the devil". He would love to make a mockery of me when I blog positive things by causing me to lose my temper and say what I'm not supposed to say. So I always try to include the statement that "I am trying", just like the rest of you. Will I mess up? Yes!! A thousand times because I'm human and because I still have emotions that go off the grid because of menopause. Yes, it's about to take me out. LOL. But I know that as long as I try with my heart to do what's right, it will help. If we all tried a little harder to get along with each other, strangers, neighbors, friends and relatives, then half the stuff that goes on in our lives would be absent.

Our country needs help and prayer. You can offer the latter each day. I will stop here before politics come into it, because that's ONE area I won't go. LOL.

All I wanted to say is don't be so easily offended. And when they are talking about you, remember that tomorrow they will be talking about someone else. I KNOW it's hard. Believe me, I've been famous in a small town for eight years now, but you really have to let it go or it will eat you up. I know that from experience. I try to remember that I've not done anything that anybody else hasn't done (some others wanted to do the same thing before me, lol), nor are my sins any worse than the next person's. So hold your head up and smile. Tell them God loves us all and go on. It's really all you can do. And remember, this too shall pass.

Well, I'm gonna go watch the eclipse on the news and see what the fuss is all about. I love you all. I hope I've said something helpful and not offensive, lol. It's my intention to lift up others and offer encouraging words whenever I can.

Remember to work hard and Dream Big!!

Much love,

Christy