She Shares: The End of Proverbs.

Since coming to the end of Proverbs I have been thinking...'What have I learned.'

Isn't it always true that God's word always has perfect timing.

When we first started I thought. 'well this will be great. Easy reading, a good reminder.' But I didn't think that I would gain so much knowledge from it.

When some sort of issue arises, it is so easy to get angry and upset.

And throw myself a little pity party. Boo hoo Hannah

But realistically, I don't need to get upset and frustrated and feel like someone has created a big unjustice against me. Pleading my case to anyone who will listen.

GET OVER IT! 

I tell myself over. and over. and over.

And I do.

Quicker each time than the last.

I hope that from this study I will just get over it.

Let it pass 

Realize that I can't change people, just my actions.

On the other hand I really should GET OVER IT because others are watching.

My mother in law recently told me a quote she heard that has stuck in my mind.

"You may be the only Bible people have a chance to read."

YIKES!

Is my bible filled with hypocrises and lies. Is it filled with contradictions and anger?

 I feel like everytime I meet someone and mention I am a Christian, someone's put a bad taste in their mouth already.

Great- I think. 

I get frustrated and angry because some 'Christian' put their foot in their mouth or shoved some self-righteous bull honkey down their throat.

But what if I've done that? What if I misrepresented Christ? Left someone thinking Christians are horrible people.

I guess what I want to say is...

SORRY

I'm sorry if that was me.

I'm sorry for hurtful words you've heard.

I'm sorry for being a friend full of anger.

I'm sorry for being the Christian that shoved a jesus at you.

I'm sorry for thinking I was better than you.

I'm sorry for bashing your character.

I'm sorry for spreading lies.

I know this doesn't mean much when reading from a blog, but I hope that one day you will encounter grace and love from a Christian.

Whether you believe or not, I hope that kindness finds you this week and makes you wonder why we deserve it at all.

Blessings to all!

She Shares

Since beginning the She Reads Truth, I have been happy to have found something that keeps me motivated and accountable to read my Bible.

I think that accountability is missing so much from my experiences with bible studies. No one wants to offend another individual. The saying that "Christ is love," is used so often in a way to escape holding someone accountable. I do think that it is a fine line. My experiences with other believers is that there are so many walls up that it is hard to truly get to know someone. So in that case, I probably did offend many because I didn't understand HOW to hold them accountable.

Not everyone likes to hear the cold, hard truth like I do.

Not everyone has the ability to self reflect and WANT to change.

This makes me sad!

I think that growing is such a positive experience. Everyone desires to be a 'better' person. However it is Christ who defines what that is.

It is so easy to say that we as Christians are 'good.'

But what defines that 'goodness'.

Is it our own values?

Is it our own experiences?

If so then isn't everyone's perspective of 'good' good relevant?

That is just one thing that I have been trying to get a grasp upon throughout my reading of Proverbs. The whole book is dedicated to practical wisdom.

Great truths like:

"Above all else, guard your heart for it is the wellspring of life. Put away perversity from your mouth keep corrupt talk far from your lips" (4:23-24)

"the tongue that brings healing is a tree of life, but a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit (15:4)

"A mocker resents correction he will not consult the wise." (15:12)

"A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones." (17:22)

"Wealth brings many good friends, but a poor man's friend deserts him." (19:4)

"Without wood a fire goes out, without gossip a quarrel dies down." (26:20)

There are plenty of other gems in there, which leads me to think that if Proverbs was published as a book alone with the title, Wisdom for the Wise or something like that, would non-Christians find it helpful? *Random thought:)

Anyway, I learned a lot from this reading and it has helped that my husband and I have a little Bible time on Sundays. I'm a auditory processor (I like to hear myself talk things out...I guest that makes me a narcissistic processor :)

Throughout this reading I have relearned to not be a gossip, but am mostly reminded to follow God's definition of goodness and follow his standard and not others.

It is so easy to compare myself to others, but I have to remind myself that everyone wants to be portrayed as 'good' and I need not compare.

So many thoughts. Its really a challenge to write them in a way that doesn't seem rude.

Enjoy this gorgeous weekend!!

Thanks for reading :)