Ginny - Ephesians 4:1-3

Good Morning Girlz!!!

S - Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

O - "Showing tolerance for one another in love" - I need this tatooed on my head! This verse is very timely for me. This past weekend I went to visit my good friend Christi. I love Christi! Such a fun girl. The only thing is she has a very dominating personality to the point where she feels like she should tell me what to say, where to stand, when to talk, when to not, blah, blah, blah. Great girl, but I've learned to take the good with the bad and it's worth it. O.K. well Sunday lunch at the restaurant she tells me where to sit and I couldn't be quiet anymore. In a very fun, casual tone I go, "Christi, I love how you tell me where to sit. I want to say, I'm 33. I'm 33." Well, she blew it off - kinda. I'm not exactly sure, but the moment it came out I wish I hadn't said anything. I should have held my tongue. I wasn't saying it out of love. I was saying it out of irritation.

A - O.K. first off the fact that he said "showing tolerance" leads me to believe Paul knew we were going to have patience and hold our tongue in situations. I'm not always so good at this. In my selfish mind I get to thinking so and so needs to hear my point of view. Wrong! If it is going to hurt that person's feelings shouldn't I just keep quiet? Oh, I struggle with this. By the grace of God, it is better than last semester. I really can see where the Lord has grown me in this area, but I still slip up. I still interject things that weren't necessary and they certainly don't spread love. Instead they quinched the spirit.

P - Lord please give me patience to wait and ask myself my motive. Am I going to help the situation or just be noise? Lord, I don't know what others are going through. I don't know what kind of day they have had or all that is on their mind. Help me be mindful and to hold my tongue.