This brings me to think about the picture we paint of someone else. You might think you know someone just by someone else's view of them. I ran into a friend and she didn't know my daughter. Then she suddenly said, "I think I know her because I see pictures of her on Facebook". I speak highly of my kid/adults and I love the person they have become. They both have gone through hard things of life, but serve the Lord with all their hearts. Other people do think knows us by acts of kindness or words of others.
Galatians 5:22-23 New International Version (NIV)
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
Ephesians 4:32 New International Version (NIV)
32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
It is important to paint good pictures of others. We have all made mistakes and fallen short in life. People view us for who we are today. Today, I live knowing I'm forgiven of mistakes and life has moved forward just fine. I choose to find the good in someone and learn from helping others. There were times that we helped people in life and then they turned on us. Us is being my husband and I. Turning on us meaning we helped them in financial need times but negative words were said about us. Each person is different and we must not take on what others do. We must take on what the Lord says about us and live our best in life. After all, life is short and we miss out on so much by living in the past. We must choose to live in this day.
The picture I paint of God is real. I have found him faithful, a miracle worker and a mind changer. I have grown in the lord over the years and I have learned from mistakes of others, plus my own. It's a new day and filled with choices. In each of our choices, leads us to a road of the unknown as times. We don't know exactly what happens in a new day, but whether we turn left or right, it's road of life. Let us choose to straight on the path of the Lord and go with it. Choosing to live by faith, overcoming and raising high with God. Nobody knows our hearts but God.
Be careful the picture you paint of someone. For example, a person might be mad at someone and tell you their story. Then you find yourself being mad at that person. Before you know it, the other made us with that person and you still feel frustrated. It was never your issue in the first place. We can listen to others, but don't take on their negative pictures. It's crazy how negative can turn positive quickly. That's just one example of not getting caught in the middle.
Paint good pictures of life!
Jeremaih 29:11 God has a plan, a promise and a future for each of us. My prayers continue for you, your family and friends. PURPOSE THIS A GOOD DAY~
~ Sparkie