Being Victorious

Years ago, I remember telling someone about my sister. On the outside, she was everything I was not. I was fat. She was thin. We both could dance, but no matter how hard I tried, I could not do a cartwheel. She could do just about anything with her body that she tried. She was made for sports. I was not. She could draw. I could not. She was good at math. But I could write and I could sing. Boys looked at her. They did not look at me. I had male friends but they never felt like I did about them. And I remember one friend that had a crush on my sister. She would have never even looked at him. He was an artist. He was never going to make the money she would expect out of her husband. But he looked at her blonde hair and slim body and was attracted to her, even though, I was a very good friend and loved him. I remember thinking about that and my hope at being victorious.

She had always been the chosen one. But I knew her.

I remember telling him that physically, she is not the most attractive, she just knows how to put herself together. On the inside she is very sad.

From afar, I have watched and it doesn’t appear that she has changed. She has what looks like is the best life and in reality, she has an amazing family and all the things people could want, in every way. I want to be happy for her. And I am happy that she doesn’t need anything because she could not live with wanting for things. I can’t say that she has grown up though. Because when you grow up, you learn how to accept things that you can’t change. You soften. You learn to forgive. You start to want the best for others, instead of looking better than everyone else. You stop trying to control other people.

Romans 8:37 says: in all these things we are more than victorious through Him who loved us.

Paul had been talking about how if God is for us, than who can be against us? And once he had spoken of our victory he went on to say that nothing can separate us from God’s love.

These words I had said to my friend, were the words of a girl that was hurt that her sister was often chosen over her. For lots of reasons that I had no control over. I was trying to teach myself to value myself in a worldly way.

These words from the bible, I am sure I had read as a child had not fully soaked into my heart because my head was hearing the outside world diminish me because I was imperfect and my sister fit a world’s view of perfection more perfectly, but God, He always knew we were both loved. He loved us both.

God loves us both

And nothing can separate us from His love. I’m glad about that. It has been what we both needed all along.

Yesterday

I saw a video of people who call themselves protesters. They went into a church during a church service. From what I saw, they did not physically hurt anyone or damage any property. But they did scare people. They also kept demanding that people say the name of Renee Nicole Good.

1. If they were protesters they would have stayed on the sidewalk. They would have stayed peaceful.
2. I don’t know if they caused physical harm or damage to any property.
3. What I do know is that they wanted to make people angry.

When the guards came to get Jesus in the garden at Gethsemane, He said to them that they had seen him teaching in the synagogue many times, surrounded by people, and they never tried to arrest him, but now, when he was alone with His disciples, they came with swords and clubs. When one of Jesus’ disciples cut off one of the guard’s ears, Jesus rebuked Simon Peter and put the guard’s ear back on and then He went with them, peacefully. We are called to forgive those who hurt us. We are called to pray for those who do evil to us. If we do not, we are no better than those who hurt us.

We show our maturity when we accept that we cannot control others, but only ourselves. Show by example, the person of integrity that Jesus is in you. Show the world the joy, peace, mercy and grace that He is in you. If you see something on social media or the news that seems outrageous, it might be. Find a more reputable news outlet. Get more information. Pray and read your bible.

We were told that it would become confusing like this, but to be brave because Jesus has already overcome the world.

I have said this to you so that in me you may have peace. In the world you face persecution, but take courage: I have conquered the world!

John 16:33 New Revised Standard Updated Edition

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Feel free to leave your comments below!

My name is Summer. That is how you can call me. I hope that I am a blessing to you. I am not perfect. I will fall again. But I am forgiven. For anyone reading this that isn’t a Christian, unapologetically, I am a Jesus Follower, but I believe there is room for lots of beliefs and religions in the world. It is not my intent to offend people with different beliefs than I have and I would be open to open-minded conversations with no goals of changing anyone’s mind, but sharing information. If you are interested in becoming a Jesus Follower…Do you know Jesus? Do want the Holy Spirit to fill you and give you understanding and salvation? Ask Him. Want someone to pray with you? Contact me.

If you would like to know Jesus as your friend, but want to make this amazing commitment by yourself please pray something like this: Thank you Jesus that You are the Son of God, the God that created heaven and earth. Thank you Jesus that You came to earth in the form of a man so that You would be able to empathize with my humanity. Thank You that You did this in order to fulfill the promises You made at the foundation of the world. I realize that I am a sinner and do things that hurt myself and keep myself away from you. Thank You that You died for my sins so that You could defeat death and bring me into Your life. Please forgive me. I ask You to be Lord of my life. I ask you to heal my hurts and show me what my new life, empowered by You looks like. Thank You for Your mercy.

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