Hello friends! I shared this with my women’s prayer group. I’d like to share with you too. May it help you during this holiday season gatherings with family and friends!
Thanksgiving – we prayed that our family get-together will go peacefully and smoothly; and that our discussions will not cause divisions.
When I was in Disney World in Florida last week, I thought a great deal about a graduate student I worked with for four years. She was from Florida, a huge Disney fan, and a lesbian. Once she discovered that I was a Christ-follower, she turned very cold and hostile towards me. It was really hard on me to experience such coldness when she was so warm and helpful at first, and to everyone else. I always wondered what other Christians did to her that she would hate Christ-followers so much. For four years, God used me to sow into her love, respect and kindness. I received the grace and love for her to do this too. In my last year there, she warmed up to me and started including me with other graduate students to her home for gatherings. I’d like to believe that I made it easier for other Christians students that entered her life after since she became a professor.
I’m sharing this with you so that you would be encouraged to know that “love never fails”. If the Holy Spirit keeps on leading you to acts and services of love, then do your best to listen and obey. In my opinion, this is probably the hardest thing to do in my walk with Christ. Please listen to this 30 minute message by Joel Osteen about loving unconditionally, especially if you are getting together with a difficult family member this thanksgiving.
Journal of Faith 