A re-post that I most certainly needed

 Coffee/Tea of the Day - Pumpkin Spice coffee

Hello to everyone! I hope you are having a great weekend so far.

I was sad to discover that I lost the entire folder of my craft project phots when my external hard drive became corrupted. that's more than 20 years of photos, just gone. so I've been spending the past few days going through each post on my blog to save what pictures I can. it's been quite eye opening. my style has changed and also circled back around over the years.

the thing that has struck me more than anything is how I used to share my faith. I've gotten away from that for whatever reason. my faith certainly hasn't changed, but how I express it definitely has.

I came across this post from 2013. I have no recollection of the circumstances that prompted me to write, but I was impacted by the reminder that this message holds just as true today, with our political and social climate being less than kind and loving toward 'others'.

I'll share the entire post here, or you can follow the link to the original.

may God speak to your heart in the same way He has spoken to mine, both then and now.

love to all of you!

Jennifer

one day I will stand in front of God and have to answer many questions about how I lived my life. one of these, I'm sure, will be "did you love my people?" how will I be able to look Him in the eyes and say, "well, I chose to love only certain ones, God. some had different opinions than I did, some looked different than I did, some well, they just weren't really that clean or smelled kinda funky, so they weren't all that easy to love. and gosh, God, some just weren't very nice. some were down right mean to me."

and I have a feeling God will shake his head in sadness and reply to me, "and what about those times when you were mean and outspoken and said things in anger you didn't really intend to come out the way they did? or that time back in the 80's (and 90's) when you were just kind of a pain and thought you knew everything, but in fact still had a lot to learn about kindness? how lovable were you then? and didn't someone still wipe your brow and soothe your soul and tell you how beautiful you were?"

and He will remind me of the people who dropped off food at our back door when David didn't have a job or sent cards or texts when I was going through chemo or built a front porch as I went through more treatments for my cancer or the outpouring of cards when Tyler was hit by a car or the multitudes of other blessings that happen each and every day.

He will let me know that no matter what my sin, I was loved always and there were people who let me know.
so by following in HIS footsteps, I have to pass along that same love to others - regardless of their life choices. I am to love others unconditionally. understand that I am not asked to love the sin, but instead to love the sinner, for that is what each and every one of us is. we are all on a journey and can only do this with the help of one another and God's grace.

I am not the judge. I do not sit in judgement upon anyone. I can't. it's not my job. I am only called to love my neighbor. and I am working on it. it's not easy. it's one of the hardest commandments in the Bible. but it's worth it. we have to help each other out, not push each other down. that is what it means to be a follower of Christ, in my opinion.

I'm not here to debate the Bible - just stating my thoughts and opinions. each of us is entitled to our own. I'm weary of the hate and mud slinging from both sides. A & E has a right to suspend whomever they want as far as I am concerned. it's their network, they can do what they want. The Robertsons can say what they want when they are away from the series. they have that right as well. I just don't necessarily agree with them.