The Love Challange

I don't know if any of you remember that a few posts ago I wrote about a book called "I Dared to Call Him Father" and though it's been a while since I finished that book but some parts of it are still being mulled over in my head.

One part was about the great forgiveness and love the author displayed towards those who have hurt her. The Bible has lots to say and demonstrate about forgiveness. Jesus forgave those who were killing him and the apostles were forgiving of their persecutes and there are many, many verses about it.

Luke 6:37 (NIV) "...Forgive, and you will be forgiven."

Mat 6:14-15 (NIV) "For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But, if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins."

Mark 11:25 (NIV) "And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins."

Now I've never really had a problem forgiving people and loving people but I was so moved by this author really learning to love her enemy that I wished I had someone I hated so I could experience God's love by learning to love an enemy. What could be more pure and moving and a better example to me of how great God's love is and of how unworthy I am then that? But I thought to myself comfortably, that's not an option for me b/c as I stated before I don't really have anyone I hate or can't forgive. And now this is where God's sense of humour pops in when I can almost here in my mind 'There is one you hold on anger towards. There is one that maybe you hate'.

Boom! Just like that, my lofty ideas of enveloping myself in God's love goes out the window as I start to whine about how much I do not want to love this guy and how much I do not want to forgive him. You see while I can more easily forgive those who have hurt me, I find myself harboring ugly feelings for this guy who has hurt my friend and continues to do so. When I want nothing more then to punch him in the face, God is telling me to love him???!! I did not realize how deep my feelings of dislike and probably even hatred go until I started this.

So this is my project, to love this guy. To forgive him. And let me tell you this will not be easy. So reluctant am I to do this that I hate even writing these words. So I need your help, if anybody is actually reading this. Pray for me to open my heart, pray for me to really experience forgiveness for this man. How can I be forgiven if I refuse to forgive? How can I claim to be a christian and doing God's will if I have such resentment in my heart?

Each day I will pray. I will pray for patient and love and for my heart to be open and I will pray for blessings on this guy and him to find God's love. I will pray till I love him and want God's love for him. I will pray till I no longer feel this knot in my heart over this and then I will keep on praying.

And I hope you all will pray with me.

Luke 6:27-37 (NRS) "But I say to you that listen, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you... Do to others as you would have them do to you. If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same... But love your enemies, do good... and your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High; for he is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful... Forgive, and you will be forgiven."

Roller Derby Witnessing

In my time away I have joined a roller derby team! I completely love it! It is fun and good exercise and filled with a great bunch of girls. I have never taken to something so quickly and cannot stop telling everyone (like all of you!) and inviting them to join! I can find ways to bring it up in any conversation with anybody.

I wish I was this way when I was talking about my faith. I can tell 5 or 6 people in one day about how much I love derby and not tell one how much I love Jesus and more importantly how much He loves them.

I wonder if I'm being unfair to myself, because it's not easy to bring up faith, but when you compare it to an somewhat obscure sport (esp here) like roller derby, I have to admit there has to be a lot more chances. I'm just not looking. I have convinced myself that the way to share God's love is through my actions but how will they ever know the reason why I act the way I do if I never tell them? I also worry about being pushy. We have freedom of speech here but that does not guarantee people will want to listen. Not only do they not listen, it's common to be put down for your christian beliefs.

So what do I do then? I read this one book once, Frank Peritti's This Present Darkness which was a really great read that helped give me an idea of how angels and demons might work amongst us. There was this one part in it that always stuck with me, when this youth was having a conversation with the pastor and noticed that all the pastor's conversations eventually lead to talk of Jesus b/c that was the center of that man's life and it all always led back to him. I've always wanted to be like that.

I think if I focus more and more on God it will come more naturally. If He really does become my center everything will lead to Him. I'll just have to make sure I'm listening to God. He'll give me openings and the words to say if I let Him. And I think I'll start rereading those books in the Bible about the early churches, they have a lot of wisdom and not just for new Christians. I'll leave with a verse that recently struck a chord within me.


Ephesians 1:19-20

New Living Translation (NLT)

19 I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power 20 that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms.