Journey Day 4

Why is it so difficult to love unconditionally? It's so easy to get angry and annoyed, but so difficult to love always. Hate and dissension are easy to come by, but these things are not of God. Things like that won't build anyone up, it will just create rifts in relationships. 1 Peter 1:22 says, "Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart." We are to love one another earnestly because God has made our hearts pure. When we love someone earnestly, we love them sincerely

and purposefully, choosing each day to love them, in the good and in the bad. Love isn't a

feeling,it isn't warm and fuzzy, its a choice. Every single day, as Christians, we are called to love

those in our life. It isn't an easy thing to do, but it is what we are called to. Colossians 3:14 says,

"And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony."

The "above all these" in the passage is a compassionate heart, kindness, humility,

meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and forgiving each other. Above all of these

things, is love. It's not only more important, but it binds everything else together. If we have

not love, we have not compassion.If we have not love, we cannot be kind or humble. If we have

not love, meekness will be far from us, and patience will be unattainable. Love is so

important, that it makes every other good thing in the world possible...even attainable. 1

Corinthians 13 says "if I have not love, I am nothing." We can have faith that will move a

mountain, we can understand everything and have infinite knowledge, but if I have not love, I

am nothing. "Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Love never ends." (1 Corinthians 13:7-8a) Everything else will pass away but love will remain.

"So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love." (1

Corinthians 13:13) On my journey of becoming a woman of Christ-like character, I pray that

God will teach me to love as he does. To have a kind, humble, compassionate heart, filled with

forgiveness and understanding. I pray he will create in me an enduring love.

Journey Day 3

It's so easy to bring others down. One quick word without thinking, and already you've affected the way others view a person. Whether your trying to make conversation or make yourself feel better, you can destroy a reputation in one single moment. I find myself having to filter every single word that comes out of my mouth. Sometimes double and triple filter them. If I don't, then word vomit tends to happen. An explosion of mean words, that leave me full of regret once they are out but at that point it's too late... the damage is already done. I'm being taught the importance of watching my words, of building others up, and being edifying. I want to see others as God sees them, as his creation. I work in a restaurant and it is especially hard to watch my words there. People are spreading rumors and gossiping about everyone, and its hard to not be interested. It's hard to not want to chime in and join the gossip. I'm learning to think "will this build anyone up? will this benefit the person involved?", and if the answer is no, then I don't say it. This technique isn't perfected yet, sometimes I speak without thinking, but the more I catch myself, the easier it will be to fix it. I know that a woman of Godly character is edifying and doesn't speak ill of anyone. I hope that my pursuit of purity of speech will bring me one step closer to being a woman of true Christ-like character.

Journey Day 2

This week I'm going to work on my greatest vice...gossiping. I'm going to constantly watch my words, and only build others up. If my words are not uplifting, then they will not leave my mouth. God is going to give me the strength. It's a vice I am giving to God...again. Hopefully this time for good. The bible tells us over and over again how horrible and detrimental it can be to us, our friends, and our relationship with God. James 3:8 says, "but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison." And James 3:10 says, "From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not be so." And finally James 4:41 says, "Do not speak evil against one another, brothers." All of these verses explain why gossip can be so dangerous. Gossip is used to tear people down, and that is not of God. God holds us to higher calling. One of love, tolerance and understanding. When we tear others down it may make us feel better about ourselves temporarily, but in the long run it will only drive us farther from our friends and farther from God. So far I have been trying to think before I speak. I try to decide if what I am about to say will be edifying, or will tear people down. Sometimes I speak without thinking, but already I am getting better! Slowly but surely God is turning me into a woman of character.

Journey Day 1

Character is defined as moral or ethical strength and moral excellence and firmness. Strength is defined as power of resisting attack or force. Excellence is defined as exalted merit, superiority in virtue. Firmness is defined as determination or resolution. So knowing all of that, what does it mean to be a woman of character?Not just ordinary character, but Christ like character. Being a woman of Christ-like character means having superior virtue and exalted merit in the face of moral attack, even when the Christians in your life don't support you. It means sticking to your convictions when its the most difficult, not when its easy. It's difficult and is only possible when Christ takes over your heart and your life. This will be the story of my pursuit of a life of Christian character. I may not write everyday, but I will write consistently, chronicling my journey towards a close personal relationship with Christ. I'm excited to see where this pursuit of singleness and Christ-like character leads!