Thursday, July 9, 2009

Thirsty Thursday – Gentleness

The next Fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22) is Gentleness (or gentle).  Doesn’t this photo remind you of being gentle? A gentle Mama at least!

Lion and lioness

“Let your gentleness be evident to all.” Philippians 4:5

I feel this about all things Christian! It should be evident that you are a Christian just as your gentleness should be evident!

“…but do this with gentleness and respect.” 1 Peter 3:5

This is important. We as Christians are to share our hope that we have in Christ with even the non-believer! But we need to be gentle and be respectful to those who don’t believe. Although it is very hard when we know the peace and hope we feel because of our belief. True Christians want others to believe so that they may feel the same and have their heavenly reward. We are scared for them but we must be gentle in our words to show respect to their non-belief!

“A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” Proverbs 15:1

WOW! So, so true. We need to watch our mouths!  Think about what we want to say before we say it! My Mom impressed that on me. But, I am human and it slips sometimes. You know the old saying, think about it before you do it and watch how you say that! Same thing!! Although I feel no words can be worse than a harsh word sometimes.

Do you think about being gentle? I can tell you I think more about being kind but now I see being gentle is part of that! Do you struggle with helping the non-believer see? Have you ever thought of being gentle and respectful towards them? How about your gentleness being evident to all, do you feel that people see that? Do you need to work on it? I know I do!

I have a special prayer request. I’m going to make the long story short but just know that God knows the situation and the names. I have a great friend (she is my age) that has struggled with her Dad being an alcoholic and not being a Dad to her all these years. She had some great non-alcoholic days with him the past week but then it happened. She went to dinner with him and her husband and he was already drunk when she picked him up. They went to dinner and he was very rude to her husband, pretty much making a spectacle. She wants her Dad in her life but cannot handle the alcohol. She wants him to be believer of Christ. Please pray for her and her Dad. Thank you so much!

Lord God, thank you for reminding us that being gentle is important. Help us to see this in everything we do right down to the way we treat our online friends, our children, our families and the world around us. Lord, help my friend to be patient with her Daddy, help her to be gentle and have the right words to bring him to you. Help her Dad to see the mess he is making. We know you can and will in time because you are the Great Provider! In Jesus Name I pray, Amen.

Many blessings my friends!

Chele

14 comments:

  1. I'll be praying!!

    Gentleness... trying to teach my kids this as they are screaming at one another. Then, I lose my cool. Ahhh...thank God his mercies are new every morning!!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thank you for reminding me the importance of gentleness. It is way too easy to become cold rather than gentle. I have many non-Christian friends that need to experience gentleness from Christians.

    ReplyDelete
  3. @Marci - AMEN Sister...God's mercy and grace is amazing!!! :)

    ReplyDelete
  4. @Amy - so so true. Too many people don't realize what they are missing!! And it is way to easy in this cruel world to become cold instead of gentle!!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Whoa! This really got me...I NEED to be more gentle (and Kind) w/ my words. My mom and dad also stressed that my entire childhood. Think before you speak/act and try to think of how you'd want to be spoken to/treated. And now w/ my kids I am a total monster. really! I need to work on being more gentle towards them. I forget they are kids sometimes...they make me so mad. I just burts out yelling. This is a great post (all your posts are). Gentle = my goal. Towards everyone, esp. my kids! Thanks for the eye opener!!!

    ReplyDelete
  6. @Heidi... girl you better at least say you love my blog, We've known each other for what at least 20 years!! lol! Just remember you are human and we all have our days! I'm glad this helps you!! hugs!

    ReplyDelete
  7. I never realized that I wasn't gentle until reading THE book...I won't mention the name, I know you are SO sick of hearing it, LOL. I never realized how harsh I can be at times and that is the opposite of gentle. I'm currently praying for more gentleness :)

    ReplyDelete
  8. @Erika - LOL. You are too funny. Oh yeah we can be harsh people, even Christians (as you and I both well know!)

    ReplyDelete
  9. I really LOVE your blog!! really, I do :)

    ReplyDelete
  10. @Heidi- I know you do! Thanks!!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Hello! I came by to visit your blog because I saw that you became a follower of mine! I have enjoyed reading many of your posts. You have a beautiful blog. I love the Christian inspiration I have received reading it. I have been blogging a few months, and I am amazed at how many wonderful Godly ladies there are out here in blogland. It's super encouraging! As a mother of all boys, I am doing my best to raise Godly men for some special ladies out the someday.
    I am having 4 more "Christmas in July" giveaways, and I have entered you in all four for becoming a follower. :)
    It's so good to meet you, and may God bless you as you bless others through your blog!
    Traci

    ReplyDelete
  12. @Traci- Thank you so much for stopping. Thank you for entering me! Hey everyone check this beautiful woman's blog out. It's gorgeous stuff! Good to meet you too!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Hi Chele! This is a beautiful reflection and truth-filled encouragement on gentleness. Being gentle is a HUGE thing for me. HUGE. We talk about it a lot in my home, and the times I fail to show gentleness to my children are upsetting to me in many ways. Thank you for the verses - they are all familiar to me, but it's wonderful to see them all together like this.

    I offered up a prayer for your friend just now. It's so hard to know how to walk the line between loving someone and limiting relationship when things are unhealthy. May she see God's direction and feel His comfort in a mighty way.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Thanks Megan, I'm glad you visited and enjoyed it! And thank you so much for lifting my friend up in prayer, what she is going through is one of the hardest things in life to deal with!

    ReplyDelete