MY FAVORITE THINGS

blog pic favorite things
blog pic favorite things

Day 15 - Work on One Difficult Relationship This Year.

Let’s admit it.  We all have difficult relationships, don’t we?  People who are like fingernails on the chalkboard of life.  The Cruella deVille’s ... Barney Fife’s ... and Wicked Witches of the West ... in an otherwise Mary Poppins world.

Choose one of these relationships and choose to walk forward in forgiveness and hope when you are dealing with this person all year long.

Reach out to your difficult person with more kindness than they deserve.

Refuse to critique, criticize, judge or belittle this person.  Simply be kind.

Ask them to have lunch with you and listen to their hearts no matter how much self-control it takes on your part.

Ask this difficult and fractious person how you can pray for them this year.  Look for opportunities to serve this person.

Also, look for opportunities to talk in an encouraging way about this person  especially behind their backs.  Always give a good report no matter how they have talked about you.  Do not lower yourself to their standard of behavior but always choose to be the bigger person.

You might need to ask this person to forgive you for being impatient with them or unkind to them in the past.  Humble yourself in this way and expect God to do a miracle!

Your acceptance of them and encouragement toward them may help you to develop a lifelong and healthy friendship!  I believe that some of the most beautiful relationships are forged in the fire!

Don’t give up on this person but keep believing that God will help you to love this difficult person as much as He does.

And never forget ... you may be the difficult person that someone else is praying for!

Carol McLeod
Carol says, “I am just a girl who is head over heels in love with Jesus ... passionately addicted to His Word ... and find all of the joy that I need in time spent in His presence." Carol is a Christmas-aholic, loves ACC basketball and the beach! Like all menopausal women, she is overly fond of chocolate and enjoys a good read. She doesn't like cleaning her house and is an expert in carry-out dinners. She hates to shop … loves to jog … and somehow finds time in her busy life to hang out with small children. She is the kind of woman that you could laugh with over lunch, cry with over disappointment and shout with over a victory! But … if you need her official bio … read on! Carol is an author and popular speaker at women's conferences and retreats, where she teaches the Word of God with great joy and enthusiasm. She also hosts highly successful Just Joy! outreaches. Carol encourages and empowers women with passionate and practical biblical messages mixed with her own special brand of hope and humor. Carol has written three books, "Holy Estrogen!", "The Rooms of a Woman's Heart" and "Defiant Joy!" which was released by a subsidiary of Thomas Nelson. Her teaching DVD, "The Rooms of a Woman's Heart", won the Telly Award, a prestigious industry award, for excellence in religious programming. Carol has also been featured on YouVersion (the smart phone Bible app) with several devotionals, including: "For the Journey Set Before Him", "Jolt of Joy", and "Joy to YOUR world", " Carol has a daily radio program, "Defiant Joy! Radio" which is available in several national markets including Youngsville PA, Warren PA, Buffalo NY, Roanoke VA, Norfolk VA, and Nashville TN.  A 1977 graduate of Oral Roberts University with a degree in Music and English, Carol has the distinction of being both the first Women's Chaplain and the first woman to speak at the university's Vespers.  Carol currently serves on the ORU Alumni Board as chaplain.  She is married to her college sweetheart and love of her life, Craig, who serves as senior pastor of Life Church, a church near Buffalo, NY.  Craig and Carol have been happily married for nearly 37 years and are the parents of five children and three delightful daughters-in-law. Craig and Carol are thrilled with the joy of being grandparents to five precious grandchildren! Carol has written three books, "Holy Estrogen!", "The Rooms of a Woman's Heart" and "Defiant Joy!" which was released by a subsidiary of Thomas Nelson. Her teaching DVD, "The Rooms of a Woman's Heart", won the Telly Award, a prestigious industry award, for excellence in religious programming. Carol has also been featured on YouVersion (the smart phone Bible app) with several devotionals, including: "For the Journey Set Before Him", "Jolt of Joy", and "Joy to YOUR world", " Carol has a daily radio program, "Defiant Joy! Radio" which is available in several national markets including Youngsville PA, Warren PA, Buffalo NY, Roanoke VA, Norfolk VA, and Nashville TN.  A 1977 graduate of Oral Roberts University with a degree in Music and English, Carol has the distinction of being both the first Women's Chaplain and the first woman to speak at the university's Vespers.  Carol currently serves on the ORU Alumni Board as chaplain.  She is married to her college sweetheart and love of her life, Craig, who serves as senior pastor of Life Church, a church near Buffalo, NY.  Craig and Carol have been happily married for nearly 37 years and are the parents of five children and three delightful daughters-in-law. Craig and Carol are thrilled with the joy of being grandparents to five precious grandchildren!
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