Tag: forgiveness

  • House cats and petty squabbles

    two cats curled up asleep on a blanket

    We have two grand cats, which means the family has two house cats that sometimes visit us. They most likely visit when we look after our granddaughters, especially if the girls have friends over.

    Leeloo (the female) and Vader (the male) are siblings who have been together from birth. Like human siblings, they can be best friends or want nothing to do with one another.

    Yesterday afternoon, they wandered down for a visit. Leeloo hopped onto a blanket on the couch, where she sometimes sits beside Kathy. It’s also one of Vader’s favorite spots. He was not impressed that his sister beat him to it.

    She chased him away with a few nasty ears-back looks, and a couple of bats on the head with her paw. He gave up for the moment and spent the next couple of hours trying to convince her to go somewhere else. After a while, it became apparent that she no longer wanted the spot but also didn’t want him to have it.

    Eventually, he forced his way up, and they reluctantly shared it, with neither particularly happy about it. They drifted off to sleep, each trying to nudge the other off the blanket.

    Now, you’d think that as human adults, we’d be more mature than a couple of house cats. Apparently not.

    What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore, whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. James 4:1-4 ESV

    The lusts of our eyes and hearts lead us to quarrels and divisions. At times, we want things just because someone else has them. We can be jealous, petty, and greedy. Even as believers, we can fall into this trap.

    Fortunately, James reminds us that the Lord offers a way out.

    But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you. Luke 4:6-10 ESV

    As we grow to be more like our Lord, may we be less prone to pettiness and jealousy and have less desire for the things of this world.

    May we learn to be more mature and gracious than a couple of house cats.

    Kevin

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  • Grace and Space

    We need to give and receive both

    Frace and Space – aggressive driver, road rage

    The drivers in Abbotsford are often incredibly  aggressive. They tend to drive too fast, follow too closely, and not use their signals. If you happen to drive the speed limit, you will annoy plenty of people. Often, a lot of horn honking, yelling, and hand gestures are involved.

    I know there are plenty of exceptions, but when you drive, you are almost taking your life into your own hands. I’m sure our community is not alone in this phenomenon, which seems to be getting worse all the time.

    I frequently have to remember a mantra a friend in our community group uses when driving, “Grace and Space.” It would help if you gave other drivers both. When I am driving, I often repeat that mantra to myself.

    We need it in the church as well. You likely know the well-meaning people in your local assembly who walk up to people they barely know and attempt to correct their appearance or lifestyle loudly. It makes me cringe when I see it.

    It is even worse when they do it in the community to random strangers.

    I will confess that they are sometimes bang on the money with their criticism. Yet, I can almost guarantee that the “advice” will likely be ignored or worse.

    We are not called to be the Holy Spirit for others. Yes, there is a time and place for correction or church discipline, but this behavior typically is neither. 

    We need the grace to forgive, the wisdom to know when to speak, and the space to build relationships.

    We cannot expect non-believers to live like Christians. Even Christians need help living as they should. Without the grace of Jesus, we’d be sunk.

    I know I’m a work in progress, and much needs repair. You wouldn’t have to look hard to find something to criticize. I also know that God will finish what He starts, so I’ll get there according to His timing—which may not be according to my or your timing.

    Please give other people the grace and space you would like to receive.

    Let’s be sure the Spirit is prompting us before we begin to critique others. 

    Grace and space, my friends. Grace and space.

    Hallelu Yah / Praise God 

    Kevin

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