Vindication

Let's be honest....you and I both have struggled with seeing people who have hurt us or people we consider our enemies seem like they have everything in life that they want and appear so so happy, and we struggle with that... Don't we? Struggle to see things seem so unfair. Where is their Karma, right? Why is God not punishing them for what they did?

Trust me, I know where you are coming from. But here's the thing...it's not our job to worry about them "getting what they deserve".

You have to remember that this world is a temporary place. There is a final judgement for us all.

You have to consider that appearances are not always truths. many times people wear a mask of "Happiness, joy, or having it all together", when really behind it all where no one can see there is brokenness, discontentment, and pain.

Now here is the BIG issue....
It's tempting in hearing that to feel a sense of relief and almost satisfaction that perhaps these people we consider our enemies in this world may actually be secretly miserable.

I pray you be careful with these feelings ( and I speak to myself as well here ).... Now, you are on dangerous ground. What "Karma" does it create for yourself? And bigger yet, do you think that pleases God?

You have to know deep down that these people, whatever hurtful roll they have played in the story of your life were not born the way they are. Hurt people HURT people. And whatever negative, despicable, inexcusable things they may have put you through and done to you... Something has happened to make them that way.

Again, that makes no justification or excuses for whatever it is they have done (criminals belong in jail, etc) but as a way to keep yourself healthy and without sin, you must realize that finding joy in others misery is never good. You can be content in justice without dirtying your heart.

Praying for your enemies seems like an impossibly. I know this for a fact. I have told God Himself that it was too much to ask of me... But I found after time and effort that it became easier, and that with it came a sense of peace.

See, it's not even really about the other person. You can't change them. But letting go of the hate, resentment, and animosity... Will change you. You will be able to focus on your own life and blessing without being overshadowed with thoughts and worries about them.

Know inside, that no matter what.... We all stand before a final judge, and in the end God will hold them accountable for what they have done to you. Find peace with that, and keep your heart right. You are being watched too.

Allow yourself the freedom of moving on. God is your vindicator.

Love and light,
The Kate

Love Knows No Boundaries

For the past few days the Lord set something upon my heart to share with 2 sets of people in my life.

1) Those who are hurting and walking through a painful place right now.(Sickness, loss, unemployment, the death of a loved one, the betrayal of afriend, the ending of a relationship, etc.)

2) Those who feel that they are not, or can not be loved by God.(feeling unworthy, feeling not good enough, has opposed God in the past, wastold by someone that God doesn’t love them, etc.)

I want to really address the love, mercy, and compassion of God with you today. Having sat under the teaching of my pastor recently, and already having this desire to write about it, I feel the time is now….

* JESUS IS POWERFULLY COMPASSIONATE TOWARD PEOPLE THAT HAVE OPPOSED HIMOR CALLED HIM THEIR ENEMY*

*JESUS HAS COMPASSION FOR THOSE WHO FEEL THEIR FAILURES DISQUALIFY THEMFROM MERCY*

*JESUS HAS COMPASSION FOR EVERYONE THAT HAS BEEN LABELED AN “OUTSIDER” *

*JESUS LOVES THE BROKEN AND HURTING*

I want to share a story from the book of Matthew Chapter 15 (feel freeto read the actual text in the Bible):

An “unworthy” Canaanite woman, despite the godlessness of her people andlow status, boldly came to Jesus acknowledging Him as Lord, and begging for Himto have mercy on her and her daughter who needed healing. She compared herself toa dog, stating that she knew that she was not like the worthy people who ate atthe table, but a dog that would gratefully take a crumb that fell on the floor,if He would be so kind to offer it to her. Jesus saw and praised this woman’sgreat humbleness and faith, and because of this, He healed her daughter.

My, friends, I really want to encourage you to not exclude yourselffrom the love and mercy of God. We are ALL undeserving. Yes, there are alwaysconsequences for our bad actions, and there will always be pain in thisimperfect world…but hear me when I tell you that NOBODY is outside of thecircle of God’s love. NOBODY! Consequences of our mistakes can be MANY things,but they NEVER include losing God’s love.

 And if someone has ever told youthat the bad things that have happened in your life is a result of Godpunishing you, or that God doesn’t love because you are a certain race orsexuality (gay), or that the things you have done in your life are unforgivable...THEYARE WRONG!

NOTHING CAN SEPARATE YOU FROM THE LOVE OF JESUS!

I don’t care who has told you otherwise….”Christian” or not. If theyare telling you that God doesn’t love you because of ___________...then theydon’t really know who

Jesus is.

“The single greatest cause of Atheism in the world today is Christians,who acknowledge Jesus with their lips, and then walk out the door and deny Himby their lifestyle. That is what an unbelieving world simply finds unbelievable.”

There are 2 types of people in the world. That’s it…just 2…

1) People who are obviously screwed up.

2) People who are just as screwed up, but hide it well.

It is not “us” against “them”….we are all the same.

God alone is our judge. And as you establish a relationship with Him,and study His word, HE alone will convict you of any changes you need to make,and He will help you make them. As you start to understand Jesus, your heartwill open more, and you will find your compassion for other people will alsogrow.

I know many of you wonder (as have I in the past)…If Jesus is compassionate,why is my life this way and why do bad things happen? You cannot look at thecircumstances of your life and judge God’s love for you.

I know that this planet and this life can be painful and hard….trustme, I do…

And none of it seems fair. I know that I can’t say I know what it islike to walk a mile in your shoes, but I do know pain.  I want you to find comfort in the fact thatthis is not our HOME…this is a temporary place, and in the end, God will makeall things new. He is FOR YOU!

Heaven awaits those who believe, and there, there is no more painand no more suffering…only joy, peace, and happiness.

See, God loved you so much that he took all the punishment, andsuffering that we as sinners deserve…and He placed it all on Jesus, so thatinstead, we could receive the mercy and love that Jesus deserves. Jesus tookOUR place. That is how much He loves you!!!! God has such amazing compassionfor us, otherwise…He would have never sent Jesus to die for us.

Giving our heart to Him does not require our perfection….just ourwillingness. He is there to forgive us, and help us get up when we fall.

There is a song called ‘What if I Stumble’…

“What is I stumble, what if I fall?

What if I lose my step and I make fools of us all?

Will the love continue when the walk becomes a crawl?

What if I stumble, and what if I fall?

Lord, I hear you whispering my name (You say…)

My love for you will NEVER change”

What I wanted mostly to do today is leave you with a feeling and knowledgeof how truly loved you are by God…just as you are….through yourpain, and though your mistakes…and NOTHING can change that. Not even yourejecting Him.

And if you are going through a storm in your life right now and arehurting, I promise that allowing God into your life, will comfort you in waysyou never thought possible. Let Him love you through this.

“Everyone needs compassion

A love that’s never failing

Let mercy fall on me

Everyone needs forgiveness

The kindness of a Savior

The hope of nations

So take me as you find me

All of my fears and failures

Fill my life again

I give my life to follow

Everything I believe in

Now I surrender”

If anyone wishes to discuss any of this further with me, feel free toinbox me on Facebook or you can email me at that_kate@yahoo.com