There are just some things I want to address here. I want to free you from the bondage of worrying about what people think of you.
First, please be reminded that the measure of a Christian woman is not how long her dresses are, if her meals are cooked from scratch everyday, makes homemade bread, sews all her clothes, and whether she homeschools or not.
We Christian women can sometimes get confused by all the voices that we hear coming at us. Even if they are good or well meaning. Sometimes it can lead us to even become judgmental, critical, harsh and not accepting of those whom are different from us.
But the true measure of a Christian woman is who she is in Christ and how much she loves. What is in her heart?
Does she look for the lonely person and extend a hand of friendship to them (no matter how different they are?)? Or does she look down her nose at them because they are different--and not like her?
I think back to times when we have visited churches (large and small churches, mind you) and hardly greeted by anyone. Why is this so? We have even stayed for meals, or lingered after the service with barely a word said to us. My children saw first hand how the body of Christ ignored their family. I was grieved having to explain how Christians didn't make an effort to get to know us.
Are we too religious to welcome in the lost?
Maybe they don't measure up to our "standards"?
Are we too comfortable with our Christian circles?
Christ didn't come so we could be a Christian country club.
He died so the lost could be saved.
And we are missing opportunities.
Here is a quick lesson I learned...the other day my daughters asked for a friend to stay the night. We normally don't do that and they asked at the last minute. We declined because we were tired and the house was a mess. But then the Lord put something heavy on my heart. Here He was putting an unsaved child in our path, who did not know Him and was struggling. Did I actually turn away someone who needed Him more than ever? I felt so convicted and set up the following week to have her over. She got to eat with us, rest and play with us, talked with us and even called our home "peaceful". The result? She went to church with us the next day, heard the gospel, and wants to visit again.
More than ever before I am learning what it takes to truly love others. I never want one person who visits our church or that God has put in our lives to go unnoticed. To eat a meal alone, to visit and not be talked to. My children also vowed that this would not happen to another either.
Even if they're different.
I am grateful for that.
What person is God nudging in your heart to show love to today?
**********
22 comments:
Thank you so much for posting this Mrs Fuentes. You are absolutely right ! Sometimes with all the voices coming at all of us, it can be hard to discern "Well, what really is God's will?"
My favorite line today : First, please be reminded that the measure of a Christian woman is not how long her dresses are, if her meals are cooked from scratch everyday, makes homemade bread, and whether she homeschools or not.
WOW ! Such a powerful reminder. God bless you so much.
Your sister in Christ,
Gertrude @ www.achosenremnant.com
Glad you opened your home and heart that way...having grown up in a liberal home with a single mom I remember the seeds that were planted by our neighbors who allowed me into their home, church and Sunday morning restaurant breakfast ...the seeds did sink deep and sprouted in His time.
Beautiful and very touching post! Thank you :)
Thank you so much for bringing this to our attention, too many just have all the right words, and none of the action. We must put into action what our words say. Amen.. God bless you sister.
I am so encouraged by this today. Thank you, Mrs. Fuentes.
Thank you for posting this. I am Mormon and grew up around a lot of people who were not very accepting of my religion. Even though I had plenty of friends who were not judegmental of our differences, I tended to avoid anyone who procalimed themselves Christian for fear of ridicule. Overall, it was a lonely path.
A few years ago, I became good friends with someone not of my own faith. That relationship gave me courage and helped me be more open to other devout Non-Mormon Christians that I encountered. To make a long story short, we all found common ground and were able to support one another. I was honestly suprised that some of the young women I encountered were eager for my advice about motherhood and grateful to know someone who shared their standards. It has been a very humbling experience.
What I have come to know (and I hope others will learn this as well) is that we truly do need to reach out to one another with love and acceptance. When we are too quick to lable and judge we miss out on SO many blessings.
That was a touching post. The same thing happened when I was a teen. My mom relented and my friend ended getting saved. You never know what may happen.
We've had similar experiences. Thank you for sharing this.
I love this story of your real-life situation! Thank you for the encouraging reminder!
www.destinationproverbs22six.blogspot.com
Thank you for the Biblical admonitions, June.
It is so easy to confuse those verses with God's commands. It is so easy to become more focused on the "length of our skirt" more than loving others. Lovely reminder! Thank you. {By the way, love your new header... very, you!}
Amen! Loved this post. very encouraging:)
This post is so close to home! Thank you
Love xx
www.lovetotum.blogspot.com
What an inspiring post, thank you :) Tara
Gracias por tan hermoso post... Me inspira a seguir y cuidar de no caer en religiosidad. // thank you for this eatiful post.... It inspires me to keep going and not being religious. As Jesus words, encouraging and peaceful words. Blessings from Mexico.
Thank you for this lovely post. I do hope this dear little one finds her Lord.
Blessings Gail
Dear Superwoman,
This comment was not moderated immediately because I needed to take time to look at it. I do not share the Mormon faith in any way (for example, I do not believe Jesus was Satan's brother and many other things that have to do with the Mormon faith and would not want a reader to become confused) but I will share it like I have shared comments from people in the past from many other religions that are different from mine. I don't feel that name calling was necessary and therefore did not publish your second comment.
Excellent blog! Thank you for sharing this with us and reminding us of one of the most important aspects of our faith as Christians...hospitality!
Great post. And oh so very true. Thank you.
June! I love this post! It is soooo very true! We need to be less emphatic about things that we disagree on and simply reach out to others in God's love! Thank you for sharing.
a graceful response Mrs Fuentes, and wonderful article :)
I grew up in a time when coming from a divorced home was very taboo. I was not welcomed into people's homes. I had very few friends and became suicidal by the time I hit high school. I attempted suicide 3 times. Little did I know, God was with me and loving me through it all. When I was 18, God laid it on my heart to go to church. Not knowing any church going people, I went back to a church that had a week long backyard Bible club when I was in 6th grade. Talk about a seed laying dormant. I accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior. I am now a pastor's wife in an inner city church. You never know who you come in contact with or the struggles they face. God puts us somewhere for a reason. People cross our path for a reason. We need to love them and show them Jesus. You might just be the difference between life and death - Spiritually or physically. I love your post! ---Laura
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