My brothers and cousin

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Ron Heasley on April 26, 2010 at 3:53pm

Marylee,

THANK YOU for remembering that your 1st calling as a believer is to LOVE. Too many people (& esp. Christians) put the cart before the horse.

How many times did Jesus show compassion 1st? It's not that Jesus didn't recognize the sin that existed in people's lives. Take the woman caught in adultery. Before Jesus, IN PRIVATE, challenged her w/ the statement "Go & sin no more," He stood up for her against the crowd who wanted to stone her & declared "You who is without sin cast the 1st stone." It is right that you recognize that all of us, including yourself, are sinners who've made our own share of mistakes. It's not our job to judge others, even when we know they are living in ways that are contrary to the desire of God's heart for each of us.

Jesus said to the woman caught in adultery, "Neither do I condemn you." He wanted her to know He'd not written her off, that He was not giving up hope that one day she'd realize that she didn't have to continue to "look for love in all the wrong places." Let your unconditional love for your cousin & brothers be the witness that will one day lead them to realize God's everlasting love for them. He wants a loving, joyful & joy-filled life for each of us. But sometimes, we don't understand the fullness of God's love for us & that His plan for us involves loving Him so He can help us understand what it means to love ourselves & others according to His understanding of love. Also, we @ times get tired of waiting for God to lead the right person our way who we can love & be loved by, so we take things into our own hands & try to love according to our own understanding or in the ways the world deems right. Too often, this only leads to pain, heartache, & broken relationships.

It's said, "Before they'll care what you have to say, they 1st need to know you care." Make sure that your family members know your love for them is unconditional - even if things in their lives never change. Let them know that all you want for them is an abundant life - filled with peace of mind & heart, overflowing w/ a joy that isn't connected to the circumstances of life, & a relationship w/ God where the love, mercy, & grace of our Father is real & felt. Pray for their salvation & that God will use whatever means necessary, whatever circumstances necessary to lead them to Himself. If God wants to use you, say "Here I am, Lord, use me." But too often it's not family but another that God uses as an instrument to lead them into a personal relationship w/ Him. Be open to God's will & prat towards that end.

THANKS for your compassion & love for your cousin/brothers. God's love transcends distance. So can yours.

Permalink Reply by Rosemarie Vest on May 2, 2010 at 3:46pm

Hi Marylee, God has given you such a great gift of patience and discernment for your cousin and brother. I know alot of Christians that would have separated themselves and never spoke to either. To me, that would be the wrong example to follow. A friend dealing with a family heartache with family was reminded by an elderly church member that the same voice that curses God will become the same one that praises God-in his(God's) time. Continue to love them and they will be open to and curious about God's love for them. Know we in your community here will pray for all of you without ceasing. Blessings, Rose