Muddled Love
I’ve been going about this all wrong.
My heart doesn’t translate over wires and so I know I must learn a new way. Loving first, living convictions, speaking gentle.
Not pushing.
Not pulling.
Listening, wrapping arms, lifting up.
Clinging to Him, trusting His Word, figuring out the ‘how’ of the tongue.
Face to the floor.
You can do this; your wisdom translates well and some of your articles have impacted my family in very positive ways — you're insight has impacted my marriage, my mothering, and my homemaking! Praying for you, and looking forward to reading many of those articles.
Never doubt what God has given you to do! And that your CARE about the manner in which you do it, is enough for me. I benefit greatly from all you share and will be waiting patiently for it!
Thank you for this.
Oh, Sarah Mae. We have not always agreed on everything, but I have come to appreciate your heart and that you want to seek truth. I think these conversations have been good in that they have exposed us to that. Maybe we can see each other's hearts and that we are all really trying to follow God and His Word to the best of our understanding (even if that understanding differs). I pray that we will offer grace to each other, but that you will also offer grace to yourself. Blessings sweet sister in the Lord!
Sarah Mae, you have been a gracious and thoughtful host for some very difficult and sensitive topics. I'm sure it's not easy, but you must share your passions and convictions when they have been birthed in prayer at His feet!
Others may not agree with your convictions, and that is fine, because even in those instances what matters is that you are urging others to flesh out and think through what they believe and WHY.
We ALL need that :o)
Praying for you, your strength, and that God continues to direct your path, my friend.
I think these are good reminders for us all, but do remember that no matter how gentle, kind, or gracious there are some messages or convictions which will not be received in kind.
Micah 6:8 :)
Me too, Sarah. Me too. Thank you… :)
Sarah Mae, I echo what Kristine said above. I think you do a beautiful job of sharing truths while being sensitive to those who don't agree with you or who may not have the same beliefs that you do. Your posts lately have just oozed truth AND love (in my opinion).
Thank you, Sarah Mae, for your blog and all the Truth that is written in every post. It is obvious you are passionate about the Truth of God's Word so don't be ashamed of that. If you have been convicted of your writtings then yes feel as though you should learn a new way but the Holy Spirit is the only one that convicts, don't let people's comments keep you from proclaiming His Word to us. 2 Corinthians 2:16 says, "to the one we are the smell of death; to the other, the fragrance of life." To unbelievers that reject God's Truth & commands you are indeed like the smell of death, to those of us that are seeking His will and way for our families…you are the fragrance of life. Keep on keeping on, sister! I wish I could be at Relevant to meet you.
This is a good post. I totally understand your heart. And I think we Christians will always struggle with the balance of standing firm on the truths of God's Word, yet showing grace and understanding there is no cookie-cutter Christian. This is where prayer and the Holy Spirit comes in to guide you. Now that we have the internet and blogs, it's a lot easier for people to misunderstand each other, take up offenses, and create arguments when if we were all together in the same room I don't think it would turn out the same at all. Keep seeking the Lord, Sarah Mae! Your blogs have challenged me to seek out the Scriptures and see for myself what they say and not skim over the "outdated" (women must be silent in church) or "difficult" (whoever wants to be Jesus' disciple must give up everything he has) passages. Whether we agree with you or not, your posts are getting us in the Word and I praise God for that!
Having watched some of this from a distance, I really appreciate this post
Sarah, I agree w/ Alyson in that we might not agree on the matter at heart, but i KNOW you speak out of love. every post, i never doubted that you were doing it b/c its what you believe. We are both (ALL) Christians and I think that issues like this are tough b/c it's like arguing… "the Bible says we have to pray before every meal."… does it?? or does it just say that most people back then prayed 3 times and day and since we eat 3 times a day, it happens to have morphed into a "before meal" ritual.
I know you love your readers and most of all you love God. I truly do know that. and thank you for always sharing your heart.
this post did ooze love, but i already knew that. Thanks for your thoughts and love.
I love your humility. You are quickened to grace, and this is a rare and beautiful thing. Take heart ~ His mercy is new every morning.
Emmanuel.
Sarah Mae, I think you have been handling this beautifully. It takes no small amount of courage to take on an issue of such solemnness and volatility. I've been praying for you and will continue to do so… *Hugs*
I appreciate your willingness to "call a spade, a spade"! There are so many, many things that our Creator created or set down for our good, and our sinful carnality twists it into something evil…may we search the Scriptures for ourselves and not allow the misrepresentation of others (even among our families or friends) to eclipse God's ways and purposes.
I think you are very wise! Just remember, when you are discouraged, this quote:
"People who are called to do great things, need to press on, when others are predicting their failure."
So many times I want to give up when others predict my failure. It is so important to SEEK HIM FIRST (Matthew 6:33) and know that HIS PLANS for us are to give us an expected END (Jer. 29:11-13)
LOVE YOU!
Your humility and heart for the Lord blesses me so much, Sarah.
"Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal…” (1 Corinthians 13:1)
I love your tenderness toward your sisters in Christ and your awareness of your own sin, even as you boldly proclaim truth. If only more bloggers had your heart.
I thought you might relate to the following blog post:
Regardless of a man’s eloquent speech, or his “right-on” blog posts, if he speaks his words without love, they fall on our ears like a rusty, out-of-tune trumpet. Instead of the music acting as a balm to our weary souls, we are assaulted by a cacophony of clanging. We run from the room with our ears covered not because music is bad, but because of the rusty trumpet that fails to communicate any sort of melody!
Perhaps, more often than not, people don’t “get” what we’re saying because we’ve been more concerned about being right than we have been about getting to the heart of the hearer. Our presentation of any truth should be immersed in the love of Christ.
Each of us must walk worthy of our calling: "With all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace." (Ephesians 4:2-3, NKJV)
And as we present the truth to others, including our children, we “must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will.” (2 Timothy 2:24-26, NKJV)
And for the record, this doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t boldly and unashamedly proclaim the truth of God’s Word. It just means that we don’t pridefully use “the truth” to destroy one another. Because if we do, we prove that the truth is not in us.
"But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes." (1 John 2:11, ESV)
This doesn't mean that if I blow it, I am not a Christian. But it does mean that if I continue to walk in a way that communicates a distinct lack of love for my brother, my sinful heart is exposed and I better repent.
And let us all avoid dissentions and quarrels about the law, and commit to firmly communicating the truth – firmly, boldly, graciously, and always, always in love.
"But avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels about the law, for they are unprofitable and worthless. As for a person who stirs up division, after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him, knowing that such a person is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned." (Titus 3:9-11, ESV)
And for the record, one thing I’ve learned is that persecution, in its most painful form, comes from those who claim Christ – often times from those closest to us. Martin Luther knew it, William Tyndale knew it, Lady Jane Grey knew it, John Calvin knew it, George Whitefield knew it, Jonathan Edwards knew it, and we need to know it. Be ready for it.
Whether persecution comes in the form of a stranger, extended family, neighbors, church family, or fellow homeschoolers, know it will come when you attempt to live out Christ without compromise. Be prepared—and be prepared to be thankful for your tribulations. As you remain faithful, God will do a great work in you in the midst of your trial. In fact, He will create in you a faithful heart so that He may do that great work.
"Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived." (2 Timothy 3:12-13, NKJV)
Keep up the good work, Sarah!
I just heard a missionary friend say something beautiful. He said, "The seed of the gospel will grow in any culture, but its bloom may look different."
I love that concept, and I think it totally applies to home educating and motherhood and roles for women, etc. Maybe our blooms look different . . . and maybe there is a beauty there in the garden.
Praying for you today. Thank you for encouraging and inspiring us.
I love you my dear cyberfriend. Contending for the faith and truth of God's Word is never easy. God's truth is offensive and pricks the heart which causes intense reactions. You have the right heart of humility and boldness. Continue with going before the throne with face to the floor. I'm there with you, dear sister. Recommend Matt Redmon's "I Fall Face Down". http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CqTHgXMBCX8
i think i've commented on your site once or twice before and so i feel rather silly for commenting now, but i can't not say something when it is obvious you are hurting. i read through most of the posts that have to do with homemaking last night and some of the follow-up comments, and my heart broke for you. your heart and your desire for grace and your desire to speak what the Lord has laid on your heart in a loving way is very clear. i went to sleep with a very heavy heart for you as i can only imagine how discouraging it is to try share what it is your are passionate about truthfully and with love.
i'm praying for you today, sarah mae. that our God of all comfort will be near as you go about your day. that He will strengthen you and give you wisdom and clarity of thought as you search out what it is He wants you to teach.
blessings on you.
Hi lovely:
I was going through all of the comments over at my place and saw that you had deleted yours. It made me sad. I hope you didn't feel you had to remove yourself from the conversation. I truly enjoy reading your perspective even though I don't share it.
Also, this post today blessed me mightily. Thank you for your humility and heart for others. That is clear.
Blessings and it's been nice to "meet" you. I hope we can get to know each other better.
Grace,
Sarah @ Emerging Mummy
Yup. Loving people right where they are. I'm there too. Lying right next to you. Face to the floor.