You can thank me later!

This past Easter weekend, I was home relaxing, watching some TV and eating my all time favorite, Ben & Jerry's Pistachio Pistachio ice cream! After a lot of "nothing" TV, I decided to do one last run through to ensure that I didn't miss anything before heading off to bed. Starting at channel 3, I skipped pasted the 24 hour weather channel, to channel 4, which was a random movie that I didn't even want to start watching because I HATE starting movies in the middle, to channel 5, which was a group of people singing their hearts out, to channel 6. Channel 6 in Greenville, the majority of the time, is a Christian affeliated channel that broadcasts various Christianesk performances. Sometimes it's a group doing interpreative movement (don't hate I did that!), or people talking asking you to call in with prayer requests. Well that night, when I clicked to channel 6, I saw this guy, jumping around, somewhat spastic, throwing paint everywhere. Immediately I was like, "lame," and moved swiftly on to channel 7.

As soon as I hit channel 7, I said to myself, "what the crap was that guy doing." So, kind of annoyed that this guy has now caught my attention, I went back to channel 6. And this is what I saw...
Can You Believe This?

Song of the Hour!

Your Love Is Strong
Jon Foreman

Heavenly Father
You always amaze me
Let your kingdom come
In my world and in my life
You give me the food I need
To live through the day
And forgive me as I forgive
The people that wronged me
Lead me far from temptation
Deliver me from the evil one

I look out the window
The birds are composing
Not a note is out of tune
Or out of place
I look at the meadow
And stare at the flowers
Better dressed than any girl
On her wedding day

So why do I worry?
Why do I freak out?
God knows what I need
You know what I need
Your love is
Your love is
Your love is strong

The kingdom of the heavens
Is now advancing
Invade my heart
Invade this broken town
The kingdom of the heavens
Is buried treasure
Will you sell yourself
To buy the one you've found?

Two things you told me
That you are strong
And you love me
Yes, you love me

Our God in heaven
Hallowed be
Thy name above all names
Your kingdom come
Your will be done
On earth as it is in heaven
Give us today our daily bread
Forgive us wicked sinners
Lead us far away from our vices
And deliver us from these prisons

Justification

The word, "justify," is, by far, one of my least favorite words. In the secular sense, "justify," to me, means, that one thing is deemed "Ok" because of something else. I hate, more than anything, when people's actions, words and attitudes are "justified" by others. In my life, I have, unfortunately and sadly, been treated badly to only hear from others that the person who wronged me, said or did whatever because they were upset, in a bad mood, stressed or frustrated. What right, does this person have to treat someone else badly just because their day isn't going smoothly? I completely understand that days are tough, things go wrong, issues come up and times get tough, but in all of that, how is it "Ok" to TREAT someone else, a person, like they are nothing? I, so often, have to remember that these individuals that treat me, and others, like this, DON'T OWE ME ANYTHING. People, unfortunately, will always let me down. They will come up short. They will disappoint.

However, being a Christian, I have to remember... constantly, that I can NOT put my self value, self worth, happiness or feelings in other people. But, I can put all of that in the Lord. Being firmly planted and rooted in the Lord means, I find my identity in Him alone, and not in what others say to me, think about me or do to me. Yes...these things definitely still hurt just the same, but the sting of these actions or words are quickly swept away because I fall back on the knowledge and understanding that the Lord is, and will always be, my only constant.