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Lord Lift Me Up

  Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness.  Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up. 

                   - James 4:9-10

Affliction, mourning, weeping and heaviness have their purpose.  Yesterday was such a day.

I was wondering why.  Hurt feelings can be an affliction if we allow ourselves to become saturated by the hurt instead of casting our cares on the Lord.  In my weak moment I starting swimming "in my feelings."  But God.  God has a way of reminding us not to think too much of ourselves.  And then, what was left to do? Ask the person who was offended  to forgive me.  I did not want to do that.  Why?  I did not think I did anything wrong. I thought I was helping. However, there is something I learned from a colleague some years ago: "intent versus impact."  I intended to do something I thought was helpful but the impact did not match the intent. I asked for forgiveness.

So why write about it?   Well, God led me to do so.  "Confess your faults one to another and pray for one another that ye may be healed."  - James 5:16 *(a)

The solution. Watch and pray.  (Mark 14:38) When we take it all to God, He will lift us up.  I am a witness.

"Love lifted me.  Love lifted me.  When nothing else could help, it was love that lifted me."

God bless!

in Christ,

Sis. Stephanie

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