October marks my one year anniversary of blogging here at Ordinary…with a Splash of Flash. Join me each week, as I re-post the top viewed blogs. Thank you so much for stopping by, and for your encouragement and support!

Luke 6:27-28 “But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you”

“I can’t believe she did that! No one with ANY sense of decency would have done what she did!! I’ve never known anyone to be so insensitive. That was SO mean and hurtful…”

I cried as my husband John sat silently by, letting me vent. The pain ran deep from this latest wound. Off and on all afternoon, I would return to vent and nurse my wounds.

I vented to anyone who would listen. When I recounted the story to my sister-in-law, she said “When I’m in a situation like that, I get my Bible, read scripture, and pray about it.” I stared at her for about two seconds then continued my tirade. But she was right; I should have taken my hurt to the God of All Comfort.

By the next morning, a Sunday, I was still weepy with the hurt and pain, but knew I had to take this latest wound to God, and let Him handle things. I opened my Bible to Psalm 31:7-8 and these comforting words greeted me:

“I will rejoice and be glad in Your lovingkindness, Because You have seen my affliction (italics mine); You have known the troubles of my soul, And You have not given me over into the hand of the enemy; You have set my feet in a large place.”

I wept that I hadn’t first trusted God with this heartache. His Word told me that He KNEW the troubles of my soul. How comforting I found that scripture!

When we got to church for the morning services, I was almost knocked off my feet by the title of the day’s sermon: Loving Your Enemies. Oh, my, what else did the Lord have in store for me? I definitely considered the woman who had been so mean, to be an enemy of mine.

My pastor began the sermon with words to this effect: Have you ever wanted to take a gun and shoot someone?

GULP! Uh, yes, as a matter of fact, I thought about that yesterday….

The sermon discussed Luke 6:27-28, the Biblical principle of loving your enemy.

…Love your enemies (Could I love this woman?)

…Do good to those who hate you (NO WAY I could do good to her)

…Bless those who curse you (Um, nope, not this either)

…Pray for those who mistreat you (Ok, maybe this)

I was afraid that in loving this person, we would have to become friends. I’d have to invite her to dinner, go shopping with her, blah, blah, blah. But my pastor explained that while God calls us to love all people, we are not called to be friends with them all. For friendship, there has to be a level of trust. A wise man, my pastor!

So I committed to pray for this woman who had wounded me time and time again.

Those of you who know me, know that I am a task oriented person. I have my prayer journal organized in such a way that I won’t forget to pray for someone. Daily, I pray for my husband and grandkids. Mondays are for family, Tuesdays – church family, Wednesdays – friends….you get it, right?

My dilemma was that I didn’t have a “spot” for this woman. I couldn’t and wouldn’t put her on my Family or my Friends prayer page! What to do? Finally, I adjusted my Wednesday page like so: Friends/OTHER. She was definitely an Other.

When Wednesday rolled around, I saw first hand God’s sense of humor. I had been reading through the One Year Bible. That day the reading was from the “love” chapter of 1 Corinthians (1 Cor. 13:1-13). Come on, you know it, say it with me: Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous…love is not provoked, DOES NOT TAKE INTO ACCOUNT A WRONG SUFFERED.

Ouch. OUCH! I not only took the wrongs into account, I kept track of them religiously!

I persevered in praying for my enemy for a little over a year and a half. Did my prayers change her? No, not that I could see.

So what changed?

Me.

My heart.

I began to see her as God saw her – His child, whom He dearly loves. Jesus died on the cross for her as well as for me. I know I’m a long way from loving her in a Christ-like manner. But Jesus washed the feet of Judas, His betrayer (John 13:1-11). In light of that, and with His strength, I should be able to pray for my enemy.

Heavenly Father, I confess I don’t always see people the way You do. Forgive my limited sight. Lord, give me a heart of love like Yours. God, soften my heart of stone, and mold me into the woman You would have me become. In Jesus name, Amen

Photography by John Chauvin

Psalm 121:2 My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.

The Lord never ceases to amaze me, even in the smallest things…

A recent sermon at church was on Biblical healing. Afterward, anyone who had chronic medical issues, health issues, or any prayer requests were asked to come forward. Several people were there to pray for those who had needs.

I was one of those pray-ers.

This is not something I would normally raise my hand, wave and say “I’ll do it! I’ll help!” As an introvert, this is way out of my comfort zone. My greatest fear was that I wouldn’t remember names. I’ve never been great with names. Since I turned 50, it has gotten much worse – especially when I’m under pressure. Praying for someone extemporaneously puts me under pressure. I needed to remember each name, so that I could pray personally for them. It would be awful to pray “Lord, please heal What’s-Her-Name.”

I knew the first few people that came to me for prayer. It was such an honor to be a burden bearer for them.

Then a young woman hesitantly approached, eyes downcast. I didn’t know her and hadn’t seen her around church. When she looked at me, her eyes seemed wide with fear. I imagined how hard it must have been. She was about to pour her heart out to a perfect stranger. She needed to trust me. I needed to call her by name, to ease her anxiety.

I reached for her hands and asked “What’s your name?”

“Jennifer.”

“Aw, my step daughter’s name is Jennifer! How can I pray for you?”

“Would you pray for me and my husband?”

“Jennifer, what’s your husband’s name?”

“Joshua.”

My eyes widened; my mouth formed an “O” of surprise. My son-in-law’s name is Joshua. Now, I realize those are common names, but what are the odds that I would get to pray for a couple named Jennifer and Joshua? And that I could so easily remember their names, because I have my own Jennifer and Joshua?

I prayed, then gave Jennifer a tight, tight hug before she left. I stood there, in awe of God…how personal and intimate He is. If He answered my little bitty mustard seed prayer of faith to remember names, I know He must have moved mountains for others!

Jesus said “I tell you the truth, if you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it would move. Nothing would be impossible.” Matthew 17:20

Photography by John Chauvin