He Changed Me

This past week I've learned that secondhand smoke kills.  Obviously, I mean this in theory, although it does literally, as well.  But I innocently found myself in a tangled mess at church when I heard some gossip about someone I knew.  I went through the right motions, I went to the person above me, but that was when the walls fell down.  I knew that I had really done nothing wrong, but I felt like it was all my fault.  It was a huge mess, people were frustrated and upset and I felt like I was part of the problem.  So, I tried to fix it........but that didn't work.  Then I read this e-mail from my Mom and it kinda put things in perspective for me.

Don’t let the enemy steal your testimony….don’t let him hold it in front of you like it is something to be ashamed of….you are a chosen woman of  God and He always wants you to experience the peace that He has for you.  Remember that everyone deserves a chance to be forgiven and we need to love them despite the wrongs they have committed.  All of us are given the same forgiveness and love from God…no one is turned away………gossip is so harmful and not only to the person who is being gossiped about, but to the people who are sharing and listening.  It is a seed from the enemy to get you off track, change your direction…. But God wants you to keep moving FORWARD in the plan He has for you.  Don’t let the distractions cause drama, fear, or anxiety in your life.

Gossip, I've learned, is one of the most harmful things in life.......whether you are spreading it or just listening to it, it's fatal to everyone!  Is it ever going to go away?  No, it'll always be around, but DO NOT LISTEN TO IT and sure as heck don't spread it around.  It's like a fast spreading cancer once it gets started, and it won't stop..........so just don't let it start!  Trust me, it's not worth it.  Even being innocent through this whole thing, I still got hurt and frustrated......and I wish I had never heard what I did.  But I learned a valuable lesson.  Another one I learned was this, it is important that you are able to trust the Pastors that God has placed before you and believe they are doing what is in the best interest for the church and its people.  You need to ‘have their back’ at all times.  That doesn’t mean that you will always agree with everything about them, but if you don’t, then you discuss it with them, not anyone else…..always agreeing with something would be perfection and we won’t obtain that until we are with God.  What that means is that you defend them to everyone, don’t let anyone cause chaos in the ministry, support them in prayer and in your actions. 

There is no way I could be a youth sponsor if I didn't stand behind my youth pastor, Ryan, and I wouldn't be a good member to my congregation if I didn't stand behind our Pastor and trust what he is doing is right.  I'm glad I learned this lesson, I hate it happened the way it did, but God has His reasons, and I'm just glad it's over!

DON'T GOSSIP!  Don't know if it's something you shouldn't say?  "When in doubt, chicken out, NO, NO, NO!"