Gentlewoman

Guest Post by Kelly

Last, but not least, our final guest poster this week is a godly young woman who has been an immense encouragement and challenge to me.  Though several states separate us and our meetings and chats are too few and far between, she is the most genuinely joyful woman, with an endearing southern accent and a bubbly smile for all she meets.  Kelly and her sister's blog was one of the first Mikaela and I read, so I am so excited for you all to read what the Lord laid upon her heart to share today! 

Happy 2nd Anniversary One Bright Corner!!

I would like to express my gratefulness to Lauren and Mikaela for their faithful service in writing such an uplifting and excellent blog. Through this blog, many lives have been and will be impacted for our Lord and His ways. Just as it is on my own blog, the entries posted are usually a reflection of the lessons the Lord is teaching us in each of our lives.

In fact, speaking of the lessons the Lord is teaching us, that’s just what I would like to talk with you about today! Not too long ago, I was blessed to hear a sermon which really impacted my life and provided me with a lot of challenging thoughts to ponder over. These truths made a difference in my life and I pray they might make a difference in your life as well!

My insights are based on a sermon given by Dr. Joseph Norvell the day after Christmas. He began by reminding us of God’s gentle working in our lives. Psalm 18:35 “Thy gentleness has made me great.” I am assuming that we already understand that God is great in mercy and lovingkindness. (Jeremiah 31:3 "The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee." ) There are so many other verses that refer to His mercy and lovingkindness, they would hardly fit on this blog if I listed them all! (-:

God desires that we should respond to His gentle leading in our lives. His ultimate goal is to conform each of us to the image of His son. (Romans 8:29) (That’s right! It’s the verse right after the one we all quote so often. Why not add it to your memory?)

As we grow in our relationship with our Lord, and respond to His gentle leading, we will find these are more often a part of our lives.

Christ will help us to:

1. Make no attempt to cause others to think better of ourselves.
2. Make no attempt to cause others to think less of someone else.  After all, love covers a multitude of sins. (1 Peter 4:8)
3.  Feel no attempt to always have to be right or even to win an argument!

(How about that? You don’t have to win! Shortly after hearing this sermon, we walked into a restaurant and noticed a sign on the wall right by our booth that read “The man who wins all his arguments may lose most of his friends." :-)

I hope you understand what I am explaining here. These things have to do with standing on Christ’s righteousness, not hanging onto your own. (Romans 3:10 "As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one.") Here is one more.

     4.    Christ is working in our lives, when we make no attempt to set ourselves above others, but instead serve the other person.

Doesn’t this remind you of our Lord on so many occasions? (John 13: 12-14 for just one example.) (Phil. 2:1-11, Matt.23:11, 1 Peter 4:10, Gal. 5:13, Mark 10:45 for serving others.)

One final thought. Don’t be surprised if when yielding to the Lord’s working in your life, you feel a battle between the flesh and the spirit. Remember, you don’t have to rely on your own strength to change yourself! (Or, as we say in Texas, “Pull yourself up by your own bootstraps!!” :- ) Aren’t we grateful that God is the one, who by His mighty power and strength changes each of us? (Philippians 2:13 "For it is God who works in you, both to will and to do, of His good pleasure.")

God’s blessings on each of you as you respond to the gentle working of God in your life!

Photo Credit: Tangent~Artifact