Dear Ones,
A new week beginning and hope you had a restful weekend. This morning I will doing food prep and going to my exercise class and then we have company coming. It is the Best Man from our wedding long ago and his wife and it is always a fun time full of laughter! 
Devotions from Judy’s heart
  I’m sure we have all had those times when we have experienced conflict with fellow believers and experienced hurt and disappointment. Sometimes it is those people closest in our lives and it can cause much pain. The scripture is full of examples of those who did not get along with each other and since we are all imperfect, that is a real possibility until we reach heaven. We are given scriptures to help us and stories of people who worked things out to help us.
  Pastor Mark Roberts from Fuller Seminary writes about how this happens in church leadership also and we have many examples in today’s world. Some years ago, Al and I saw how the Pastor and assistant of a large church didn’t see eye -to-eye on some things and the assistant went across town and started a new church, taking many members with him.  Some years later they reconciled but our responses can affect a whole congregation.
   Roberts shared what Apostle Paul had to say in Col. 3:12-13, “As God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. Bear with one another and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each other; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.” Paul must have known that scabbles would arise and patience would be needed with lots of humility and compassion. The people in the church back then had some of the same scabbles and challenges that we have today We all have to put up with each other’s idiosyncrasies and they have to put up with ours. Forgiveness is key for it doesn’t matter who is the most at fault for we only have to deal with our own failings.
  We shouldn’t be surprised when conflicts arise, but we should be quick to offer forgiveness and accept responsibility for our part. Even if the other person never apologizes, we can be set free when we deal with our own wrong attitudes, words, and actions and receive His grace and forgiveness.
Challenge for today: The next time a conflict arises take a moment to examine your own attitude and respond in kindness, and meekness.
Blessings on your week and prayers and love, Judy
Blessings on your week and prayers and love, Judy