Shut me down, Shut me up

More from Sunday...

D was talking about how quickly the enemy can shut us down....sad but true...as we move through life and obstacles arise...if we allow the enemy to shut us down, he also shuts us up! And we need to be ever-joyful and going about the things of the Lord. I was completely moved by this as recently I got "shut down" for a day due to some very small circumstances. But nonetheless I had chinks in my armor...and the enemy got through them. It shut me down and it shut down my joy...for the day. PTL the next day was Sunday...I was supposed to stay home from church with Kate but the Lord arranged it so that I could go get what I needed!

I cannot say how happy I am that Jesus has ultimate victory! Good thing He doesn't count on us to be faithful...Lol

I was thinking about how grace is not only our making room for other's mistakes without judgement but also how we must not be easily provoked so that we can always extend that grace. If we are mad, or jealous, or upset, or hurt, it will be much harder to extend grace. We are "shut down" in terms of extending grace. Ugh, I should be better at this by now. But I recognize it at least...and now I have had a few different opportunities to choose not to be offended. Actually, I WAS offended but I didn't say anything and so it didn't create anything. I chose to extend grace instead which prevented the enemy from shutting me down...shutting down my witness, shutting down a relationship...being easily offended really can shut us down. And as women, you know how easily that can happen...Lol

PLEASE bretheren, extend grace to me when I cross the line! I never intend to...I am still a work in progress! Let me endeavor to show all gentleness first...let me not be the person who one has to say of: She's a great gal, once you get to know her.