Journal Ed Welch talked about how our histories can impact us, particularly in dealing with conflict. God used this to help me see how I approach conflict as a gardener would his garden. I have a family member who approaches it more like a sword-yielding gladiator, and this has led to struggles. Realizing these differences has vastly improved our relationship. A dear friend of mine recently experienced a conflict with another individual. Her approach to conflict is very similar to mine. The person she was in conflict has a more aggressive, direct, and blunt approach. My friend was crushed. I was able to share what I had learned, using the metaphors of a garden and a sword. I encouraged her to look at how this person’s
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I felt alienated from God and tried many different means to hide my nakedness before Him and make myself look good. I sang songs in church louder, I tried to be kinder to my sister, I tried to listen to my parents. It got me nowhere. But God pursued me, as He did Adam. He made me aware of the fact that I did not need to do penance; He accomplished all that was needed for my sins in His death on the cross. He made it very clear to me that He is my Father, and when I was 13, I moved from darkness into light, and became a daughter of the King! Nevertheless, even as His daughter, I find myself acting like the Israelites and creating false images that I believe will satisfy me. God has shown me that my idol of comfort hinders me from trusting Him as I should. Sometimes this is a daily battle that I need to fight; like it says in Deuteronomy 4:9, I need to keep my soul diligently. Redemption is the third theological category we see in biblical anthropology. I was lost, I was dead. But, I have a Savior who was THE Imago Dei. He came as a man, lived a perfect, sinless life, was tested and said, “No!”, suffered, died for my sins, and rose victorious over death. Because of what He did, I was brought into Christ. I was adopted into His family! When I feel weak, I can look for my strength in Christ (Phil. 4:13), I can have balance in my relationships. Jesus can be enough for
I felt alienated from God and tried many different means to hide my nakedness before Him and make myself look good. I sang songs in church louder, I tried to be kinder to my sister, I tried to listen to my parents. It got me nowhere. But God pursued me, as He did Adam. He made me aware of the fact that I did not need to do penance; He accomplished all that was needed for my sins in His death on the cross. He made it very clear to me that He is my Father, and when I was 13, I moved from darkness into light, and became a daughter of the King! Nevertheless, even as His daughter, I find myself acting like the Israelites and creating false images that I believe will satisfy me. God has shown me that my idol of comfort hinders me from trusting Him as I should. Sometimes this is a daily battle that I need to fight; like it says in Deuteronomy 4:9, I need to keep my soul diligently. Redemption is the third theological category we see in biblical anthropology. I was lost, I was dead. But, I have a Savior who was THE Imago Dei. He came as a man, lived a perfect, sinless life, was tested and said, “No!”, suffered, died for my sins, and rose victorious over death. Because of what He did, I was brought into Christ. I was adopted into His family! When I feel weak, I can look for my strength in Christ (Phil. 4:13), I can have balance in my relationships. Jesus can be enough for