People…UGHHHH!

Weird title huh?  But it gets right to the point.  People can frustrate us, hurt us, let us down and be downright ugly.  They can make us scream…UGHHHH!   If this is a new revelation to you then you are too young to be reading this or you have been living on an island.  The reality of life is that we live with people and, generally, people can be pathetically cruel.  If you don’t know the reason for this then let me tell you…SIN.  Yes, that three letter word is the cause of all of this stuff and it makes people do crazy things.  Jesus came to save us from that sin and if you have made Him your Lord then you know what I mean.  Still we have to deal with people everyday.  How do you do it?  How do you deal with people that want to walk all over you?

It is simple.  Are you ready for it?  GIVE THANKS FOR THEM! My enemies, although few, are the loudest group I have ever seen.  But I praise God for them.  I praise God for them, because they help me see what I don’t want to become.  I never want to gossip and spread ugliness about people.  I never want to tear people down.  I never want to hurt another’s career or slander another.  So my enemies’ behavior really helps me be a better person and not sink to that level.  Does it hurt?  Well, not so much any more.  Just disappointing.  But I will never let them steal my joy, because I have too much to do, too many people to love.

Now the neat thing about GIVING THANKS FOR THEM is that it actually helps me forgive them and pray for them.  The people that want to hurt me are lonely, unhappy people.  I pray that they find happiness.  I pray that they come to know Jesus Christ.  I pray that they begin to use all that energy to love and edify.  So when I give thanks for someone that has hurt me, in the same breath, I pray they stop.  What a difference in my heart when we pray for good things for people instead of brooding about it.

People can sometimes make us go…UGGHHHH!!  But it doesn’t have to be.  Try giving thanks for them.  Then try praying for them.  In the end, I guarantee, you will start loving them and when you do you will have peace like never before.

Have a great week!  It is a new you!

Love you all,

Rev. Jim