Why I LOVE Our Church

It seems like every week we attend SMCC, the message is speaking straight to my heart.  I don't know how God does that, but I'm listening and the message he's sending me is LOUD and CLEAR.  Isn't it great how God works like that?  How he speaks to you through others?

A verse that was mentioned today really resonated with me.  It was from Romans, chapter 12:17-18, 21.  It reads:
17. Do not repay evil for evil.  Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of the everyone.  18. If it is possible, as far as it it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.
21. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

What a great reminder of how to live and act when faced with being treated unkindly.  Rising above the temptation to treat someone as you have been when it comes to being treated unfairly or being judged unfairly is not an easy task.  Believe me, I know because it's been something I've been struggling with for, well, the past 17+ years.  Our Jr. High pastor spoke today about not playing fair - by not reacting to situations that are hurtful to you but treating that person with kindness.  God has forgiven us (and we totally don't deserve it) and we need to pay it forward to others in our lives.  He said that we should never play fair; that we should do to others what Christ has done for us.

Reminds you of my post about my reactions to reading The Shack, huh?  See, God is speaking to me and I'm hearing...now comes the part of doing...much harder of a task!