Hello, I’m January
Inspiration and thoughts on God and faith, written by a simple human, navigating life through the messy and sometimes chaotic.
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Forgive them Father
Photo by Suzy Hazelwood on Pexels.com Make allowances for each other’s faults and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, The Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. Colossians 3:13
Did you know that forgiveness is the highest form of mercy and love?
It is also one of the hardest things to do. When we forgive someone that hurt us, we often feel as if we are giving that person a free pass. That we have allowed them to get away with harming us.
Yet…isn’t this essentially what God has done for us?
How many times have we offended Him with gossip, slander, misplaced anger, and sinful actions?
And when we ask for forgiveness, He doesn’t offer us a list of reasons why we should not be offered grace. When we offer a sincere, humble apology for our transgressions, He doesn’t offer a rebuttal of why it is not accepted.
He forgives. He accepts us freely.
We ALL have our faults. We ALL bring pain and hurt to our relationships, and offend others in our pain without meaning to at times. We have been short in our responses, spoken harshly, and said things out of anger and frustration we wish we could take back.
Wouldn’t you want to be offered grace when asked? Wouldn’t you want your heartfelt apology to be heard?
Then be an example. Apologize. Sincerely. If you have hurt someone, make a vow to NOT repeat the offense. “Go and sin no more.”
And if it is offered to you-that apology? Accept it. Just as God accepted yours.
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Love that chooses you
Photo by Emre Can on Pexels.com “You didn’t choose me. I chose you.” John 15:16
My husband and I have a back and forth banter when we talk about our engagement. His comment is that I married him. My response-“Well, YOU asked ME. I simply said yes.” It is a humorous reminder that he pursued me. Chose me to be his wife.
God is much like a love interest in hot pursuit. And He continues to pursue us until we finally say “yes,” and choose Him.
He chose us from the very beginning. Before we ever knew Him.
And even when we run far away from Him. Reject Him. Turn away from Him and His wisdom-He continues to come look for us.
He chooses us again and again.
Like a date bringing flowers to impress the interest of its heart. God does everything He can to get our attention. He is working in and walking around in our lives even when we don’t see it. Or simply deny His presence.
He sends reminders to us of our worth, when earthly love turns cold, and impressions leave us wanting more, or simply disappointed. We can rest assured that God’s love won’t do either.
It continues to choose you. Look for you. Pursue you.
Until finally…one day-you simply say “yes” and choose Him, too.
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Looking for love? Open this…
Photo by Wendy van Zyl on Pexels.com Write them on the doorposts of your house, and on your gates. Deuteronomy 6:9
I have sticky notes of daily affirmations and reminders of my worth posted in a number of places. On walls. On mirrors. On microwaves. Coffee pots. Some are quotes I have collected through the months, but others are Bible verses.
Because God’s Word is love.
And on the days I don’t feel especially loved, I can read these words on my “doorposts and gates” and be reminded that there is one who most certainly loves me.
How so?
Well…there is that one that says “I have loved you with an everlasting love” (Jeremiah 31:3), to remind me that God’s love does not fail.
There is one that states, “You are altogether beautiful, my darling” (Song of Solomon 4:7); to remind me on days I don’t feel it, that I am beautiful in God’s eyes.
And the other that says, “the Lord your God goes with you. He will never leave you or forsake you” (Deuteronomy 31:6); to remind me I am never alone, and He will never abandon me.
Or another that tells me: “The Lord will fight for you. You only need be silent” (Exodus 14:14), to remind me I always have a protector.
Aren’t these things we all want to hear? That we are loved, beautiful, and always held and cared for?
You don’t have to look too far. These messages are all in His love letter, written to and for you. The Bible. And He is waiting for you to open it up, and read all the amazing things He says about you.
And maybe add them to a sticky note or two!
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The spirit of love
Photo by Lisa Fotios on Pexels.com “For the whole law can be summed up in this command: Love your neighbor as yourself.” Galatians 5:14
It has been said when discussing the act of finding love, that the secret to loving another person is to love oneself first.
Some may see this as selfish, but when looking at the command “to love others as ourselves,” it is hard not to consider the way we treat the very one whom God has made and loved.
In order to love our neighbor we must love the spirit of His love that lives in us. It is the same spirit that drives us to honor ourselves. To embrace the person He has made us to be.
Galatians 5:22-23 lists the spirit that dwells in us when are are one with Christ, and know His love-love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. It is these very same fruits that work to help us love one another. Ourselves. And our neighbors.
Think about it. Would you treat yourself with contempt? Not be gentle with oneself, and then expect to be able to treat others with respect and gentleness? Probably not likely.
How do we practice this love in the way we treat ourselves, and then in turn show this to others?
Be joyful. Knowing that life isn’t always positive, but we can walk through our days radiating joy through laughter. Being grateful for what is good, and speaking without negativity. This joy can then be demonstrated to others in the way we approach them. Do we smile when we see them? Do we point out those things that make us proud of them?
Be at peace with where you are on your journey. Accepting trials as God’s way of helping you grow. So that you can accept the journey of growth in those you love as well.
This also requires patience. Knowing some things change and some things take time. Your growth takes time. The growth of others will, too. But it is also being present and patient when we feel life is in a rush-not tapping our foot and huffing at the person in front of you in the checkout, but realizing they most certainly probably have places to go, too.
Love demonstrates faith, not only in God, but also in others. Faith that our righteousness, and our goodness will shine for others to see. The goodness that is shown through honesty. Our ability to acknowledge when we are wrong. Our ability to ask for forgiveness. Our desire to be who we say we are in public, as well as in private. So that people have faith in our word, and grow to trust us and in turn Him.
When times get hard. When we mess up and fall, we control our tongue. The things we say to ourselves. We don’t believe the lies that cause us to feel shame, so that when someone else fails, as they will-we will know just the right words to say so they don’t feel it either.
We give ourselves a break when we are unlovable. Offer a second chance. Words of kindness and love.
And as we know we would want gentle words spoken to us in our knothead moments, we must speak the same words of love to others. In all our interactions. With ourselves in our moments of weakness. With all people. Even those that are not so kind to us.
In everything we do, and everything we say-we must always demonstrate His spirit of love.
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Why I “make” them go to church…
“I can’t believe you are taking us to church when there is ice outside. You don’t even give us a choice!”
And he is right. It was cold. There was frost on the windshield. On the porch. On the steps. And, no…he didn’t have choice.
Yes. I MAKE my kids get up and go to church.
And this is why:
The world is going to feed them a bunch of lies. It is going to tell them that fame. Success. Approval. Opinions. That these things matter.
It is going to give them a skewed view of love. Tell them that love is flowers. Chocolate. Gifts. That you have to change or morph into someone else to be worthy of love. That love is based on some kind of feeling, and has nothing to do with actions.
The world is going to convince them that God isn’t real. That He doesn’t exist. That happiness is obtained by having more things. Their faith will be tested, mocked, and ridiculed.
Point your kids in the right direction, and when they are old they won’t be lost. Proverbs 22:6, MSG
I take them to church so they are equipped to combat the lies of the devil, and the ones the world will throw at them. I take them to church so they will recognize a lie once seen or heard, and walk solely in His truth.
I take them to church so they can learn, know, and embrace; not who they are told to be, but who God has made them to be. So they are equipped to walk with their heads held high when the world, and all of its twisted messages of acceptance and success begin to fill them up instead.
I take them to church so they know true love. Love that sacrifices. Love that is unconditional. A love like no other that not one person or thing. Achievement or reward can give them.
I take them to church-not because I believe this is the only place to encounter God. Know Him. Feel Him. But because, when given a choice between the demands of the world and their faith, they will always choose their faith.
So, no. I don’t give them a choice.
I “make” them go to church.
“Write these commandments I have given you today on your hearts. Get them inside of you and then get them inside your children. Talk about them wherever you are.” Deuteronomy 6:6-7 MSG
About Me
I am January! Wife, mother, meemaw, pastor, and mental health provider who makes it through the day with my coffee, my journal, and my God; and I am also on some days a hot mess. A simple human, navigating life through the messy and sometimes chaotic.
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Grace 'n Grounds 