tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2087443128769701074.post6125831316336623055..comments2023-05-20T08:15:32.309-07:00Comments on Somewhere in my Memory: Just Say NoMattityahuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05549061279827942555noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2087443128769701074.post-5679227619872862862008-07-26T10:34:00.000-07:002008-07-26T10:34:00.000-07:00Matt,Thank you...and I also thank Papa for putting...Matt,<BR/>Thank you...and I also thank Papa for putting in front of me this specific Blog this morning. I just had a conversation with my parents (we call each other weekly) and my dad said a few things that were hard to swallow. I love them dearly, but after a conversation like the one today (most are wonderful, genuinely) my heart felt heavy.<BR/><BR/>Thus, the particular words in your blog stood out to me and comforted my heart:<BR/><BR/>"Rest assured that it's not God. Our Father says in Isaiah 54 that whenever someone stirs up strife with us, it's not from Him. It's very easy to mistake the voices of disappointment and disapproval people may show towards us and take it as coming from God."<BR/><BR/>Thanks Matt and Papa.<BR/><BR/>~Amy :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2087443128769701074.post-88945237765320901532008-07-13T15:54:00.000-07:002008-07-13T15:54:00.000-07:00Indeed, great post, Matthew!Too often I've found m...Indeed, great post, Matthew!<BR/><BR/>Too often I've found myself slipping into the mode of "if I'm a Christian and God's love is in me, then why don't I love people better..." and stuff like that. I have to let go and relax as you're saying here, and just let myself be loved by God.<BR/><BR/>We know love not because we loved God first but because He loved us, and if we aren't 'being loved' by God then why do we even think we can love others with His love. I mean, we <I>are</I> always loved by God, but often we don't really accept the reality of it and we don't "learn of Him" and His love. We try to learn "how" to love, when love isn't a how, it's a Who.<BR/><BR/>And we make ourselves feel guilty for not loving, when in reality that's not what love is.<BR/><BR/>Lots of good stuff to think about here.Joel Bruesekehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10395847887953875757noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2087443128769701074.post-89638854412702467282008-07-12T19:39:00.000-07:002008-07-12T19:39:00.000-07:00You're right. That's what it is - an exhausting t...You're right. That's what it is - an exhausting treadmill. I'm tired of it and I want off.Aidahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09885702269506142727noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2087443128769701074.post-58768842609367327292008-07-12T19:26:00.000-07:002008-07-12T19:26:00.000-07:00Aida, Thanks for the comment! It's exactly what I'...Aida, <BR/><BR/>Thanks for the comment! It's exactly what I'm experiencing in my own life. It's amazing the freedom we have in Jesus! We're not employees saved only to be God's slaves! He loves us and wants us as sons and daughters. <BR/><BR/>I often fall into that thinking you've mentioned. A voice will come to me that says "You call yourself a Christian? You don't even do this and this for people! And then I'll set out in the energy of my own effort to try and love to prove myself to myself, people or God. And there is never one ounce of peace in that kind of living. It's a treadmill of guilt.Mattityahuhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05549061279827942555noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2087443128769701074.post-33392770345068583242008-07-12T19:04:00.000-07:002008-07-12T19:04:00.000-07:00Great post, Matthew, and exactly where I am right ...Great post, Matthew, and exactly where I am right now. <BR/><BR/>I've done so much out of obligation and now I'm wanting love to be my motivation. It's not easy especially when I don't think that I'm very loving. Then, I get into the "What can I do to be more loving?" mode. When that happens, I've got to stop and remind myself that even that's not about works. It's still Christ in me that has to do the loving.Aidahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09885702269506142727noreply@blogger.com