Coffee With a Judger

Do you happen to have those days when you need to "vent" or process externally???  I do! In truth, I ALWAYS process externally.  I have a VERY SHORT list of those that I perform this task with...they are those people that I completely trust, that will point me to Jesus, that speak the TRUTH, NOT tell me what I WANT to hear but tell me what I NEED to hear even though it might offend my flesh, it will stir my heart to love and grace.  

I very recently had coffee with a friend.  She had had a tough month...or 6.  I think she caught me a bit raw this fateful morning.  She needed to vent.  Apparently, so did I.  But something strange happened.  As I listened to her...God began to make Himself VERY present.  Truth is, He is always very present, we just aren't so aware.  But this morning, HE sat Himself right between us on that old, comfy leather couch in that coffee shop.  As I listened to her spill out her hurt, frustration, and yes, judgements, something happened.  I knew exactly how she felt.  I watched her. I listened to her. I WAS her.

"Stop building your case.  LOVE."

Wait a second...that wasn't what I gonna say to her.  She's justified in her situation.

I knew what was coming...HE was borrowing my mouth to take her to the TRUTH.  To convict her to love.  To bring her near.  To bring her back from judgement.  But in reality...those words coming out of my mouth were like hot arrows piercing my heart.  They burned but in a good way, a right way, a loving way that is done with great kindness.  His way.  Remembering that kindness is what leads to repentance (changing the way I think).  He had joined our conversation and He had a lot to say.  

"Who Do I say you are?" "Who Do I say they are?"  that still voice that calms me.

Remembering that God doesn't let us take a peek in someone's humanity so we can make assumptions and sit back and judge them.  He gives insight and revelation so you can PRAY and love and be gracious.  It's a gift from Him...and I confess that I tend to use it as a weapon.  A weapon to build my case against them, as an excuse to not do the hard work of loving.  Yes, loving is not easy.  It's work...to love the ones who have hurt you, rejected you.  Honestly, I can be very bad at this.  I have those in my life that are easy to love...that's not work...and I am more than grateful for those who are just easy to be with.  They are like a refreshing rain in the dessert of a world where loving can be difficult.  When it can offend your flesh to love but it frees your heart.  Have you read 1Corinthians 13?


I'm sure you have.  Read it again.  You know the part where is says, "love does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever truth wins out"?
That's what happened in that coffee shop.  Truth won out. 

 Love is not for the faint-hearted.  It's a choice that I have to choose daily.  And sometimes, I make bad choices. But sometimes I choose correctly.

Coffee this day was 2+hours...so there is so much more.  But now I am spent and there are 2 littles watching cartoons right now that need to be loved on.  

Until next time,
L.