Rules for New Life

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Flowers my niece arranged for her daughter's rehearsal dinner.

In my Bible is a section of Ephesians 4 titled "Rules for New Life."  The hope in that statement makes me smile.  We can change our past attitudes and beliefs!

We are part of the same body. Stop lying and start telling each other the truth. Don't get so angry that you sin. Don't go to bed angry and don't give the devil a chance.... Stop being bitter and angry and mad at others. Don't yell at one another or curse each other or ever be rude. Ephesians 4:25-27, 31

Lysa Terkeurst writes from a heart that has been broken by marital betrayal and ended in divorce. She shares:

 "When other people sin against us, intentionally wrong us, and blatantly hurt us but never seem to have consequences for any of it, this apparent lack of fairness is what stirs up feelings of bitterness, unforgiveness, and even retaliation. But it's crucial that we don't let these feelings that come at us get inside us. 

The truth that helps me manage the 'unfairness' of hurtful situations is remembering that when people sin against us, they unleash into their lives the consequences of that sin.  We may never see it. In fact, it may look like they just got away with everything. But today we can be reminded that eventually, they will eat the fruit of their ways and be filled with the fruit of their schemes. Proverbs 1:31

It's time to stop suffering because of what another person has done to you."

I know you are singing like Queen Elsa right now..."Let it go."  There is so much freedom in letting go of the past hurts that others have laid upon us.  My husband shared some excellent advice to me recently in a situation where I would be with someone who had wounded me; someone I love and would really like to have a sincere relationship with.  He said, "Lower your expectations."  I added, "Yes. Lower my expectati0ns and lean into Jesus."  

The Songs

It was a treat to search for songs related to leaning on Jesus and find 3 very different genres related to this topic.

Lean On Jesus-Luther Barnes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U2POQLD_N0A


Lean on Jesus the Blythe Family

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fr7bRRxRr78


Leaning on the Everlasting Arms -Alan Jackson

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DObsJ1PSdnQ


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