people will let you down

No one who trusts in you will ever be disgraced, but disgrace comes to those who try to deceive others.

Throughout the years people have let me down. Some of these people have been close to me. Some of them have been people that I didn’t know but admired. But in one case or another they let me down.

What I realized over and over again was that I put my trust in the wrong person. God will not let me down. People will fail me often. God tells us the truth. He guides my steps, but God doesn’t make me do things I don’t want to do. The options are in front of me as I listen to God and honor Him with my words and my actions.

When we lean on the wrong people, we will be disappointed, and what we do with the pain and disappointment says a lot about us. God has been kind to me. I should be kind to others. God has forgiven me when I least deserved it. I should forgive others. In the mix of loving and accepting people I learn who to lean on, who to trust and how to win in all kinds of situations.

Ephesians 4:32 NLT

Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.

God will see us through. When we are hurt, we can lean on God. When we have been let down, we can brush off the dirt from falling and get back up again to literally try again. I love people, but I am going to trust God because someone will let me down.

Be honest. I will let someone down too. I might even let you down. That’s not my plan. I hate it when I hurt people, but I have done that. God didn’t call me to make people happy or to please people. God called me to trust Him and to love people like God loves them. That means I will take chances on people. That means I will forgive and be kind. That means I will acknowledge my faults and learn from each of them. It means that I will lean on God and love people. That is it.

Deuteronomy 31:8 NIV

The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.

God, thank you for people. Help me to learn to help people and to trust where I should trust, but help me lean totally on you all along the way. Thank you for dealing with the pain that life will often bring me way and turning the struggle into strength because of how good you are. I pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen.

PASS THIS ON:

Pray for back2school outreach as we still have room for students to register. Pass the word and have them call 276-647-8231, and registration will end this evening.

Catalyst ticket arrived

My ticket to the Catalyst Conference, in Atlanta Oct 8-10, just arrived. I'm excited!

wash feet, sharing hope

John 13:4-5,14 NLT So he got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, 5 and poured water into a basin. Then he began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel he had around him… 14 And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. Jesus set the example we follow. He served. He valued and gave value to others. That is why we choose to serve. For 18 years our church has shared an outreach called back2school, and for 16 of those years we have chosen to give students brand new shoes and socks as well as washing their feet. It is one of the most important parts of this event. Washing feet is a humbling experience where both the give and the receiver learn how to share some moments that might change their lives. Jesus said we should do this. See the verse above. Follow His example, do what He did, and give far more than you will ever know....

Have you heard of EDITH BURNS?

Edith Burns was a wonderful Christian who lived in San Antonio, Texas . She was the patient of a doctor by the name of Will Phillips. Dr. Phillips was a gentle doctor who saw patients as people. His favorite patient was Edith Burns. One morning he went to his office with a heavy heart and it was because of Edith Burns. When he walked into that waiting room, there sat Edith with her big black Bible in her lap earnestly talking to a young mother sitting beside her. Edith Burns had a habit of introducing herself in this way: "Hello, my name is Edith Burns. Do you believe in Easter?" Then she would explain the meaning of Easter, and many times people would be saved. Dr. Phillips walked into that office and there he saw the head nurse, Beverly. Beverly had first met Edith when she was taking her blood pressure. Edith began by saying,"My name is Edith Burns. Do you believe in Easter?" Beverly said, "Why yes I do." Edith said, "Well, what do you ...

Michael Harrison's e-devotion

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