Rainy days and Mondays always get me down.
It was the worst Monday Moaning of my life (at least at that time).
I felt sorry for myself.
[Just for the record, Monday Moaning is usually self-focused.]
I was so down. Monday Moaning down in the depths of the sea down. Rock bottom down.
Down in the dumps. Down and out. Down for good. Down for the count. Down the drain. Down and done.
Talking to myself and feeling low. Sometimes I’d like to quit. Nothing ever seems to fit.
My thoughts piled up the negatives. [That is another prevalent trait of Monday Moaning.]
Surely, you have been to this place.
Disliked. Dismay. Disgust. Discouragement. Despair. Depression.
Pity Party. Blame Game. Excuses. Conflicts. Complaints. Questions.
I sat in my office and cried.
My only word for God was “Why?”
I desired to lead a church to express love for others in an inclusive manner regardless of racial, social, or cultural differences. I underestimated the history behind that challenge.
“All conflict is caused by unmet or unrealistic expectations” (James 4:1). *[Keep this one on file for a future Monday Moaning.]
Anonymous hate letters included various fonts and four-lettered words. The local chapter of the KKK felt the need to send their greetings. There was a handful of late-night calls with death threats to my wife and children. No kidding. No exaggeration.
Lies, accusations, and rumors swept through the membership list like a wildfire.
A woman screamed at me in Walmart that I ruined her life. One man literally tried to run me over at the supermarket with a shopping cart. Another man chose the church parking lot to yell his expletive version of “I hate you!”
None of that was as frightening as the bullet that crashed through our patio glass door near where my toddler son was playing. (I think they were shooting at the dog).
One Sunday as I stood in the pulpit to teach God’s Word, more than half of the congregation rose to their feet in a mass protest exodus. The city paper even notified me of plans to publish an expose on why so many people were leaving our church.
I felt like the statue for the pigeons at the county courthouse.
There you have it in a nutshell.
I sat in my upstairs office alone and unhappy. There was a pity party going on, just no cake. I stared at the ceiling. I buried my head into my hands. My cries were muffled.
My thoughts were in a tussle for ‘king of the mountain.’ Fear and Anxiety dominated one side of the mental mountain, while Anger and Criticism were tag-team partners for the other side.
I shouted out to no one there.
“Why is this happening to me? Why? Why?”
It seems easier to shout that question to ourselves or to others as if God does not hear us.
God does not always tell us why certain bad things happen. He just promises He will turn it all out for our good.
However, in this case, God did answer my inquiry for some reason this particular Monday Moaning.
His words were audible to my heart. What did God sound like? This time His voice sounded like my lawyer friend in a closing argument to a befuddled jury.
“You told Me you wanted to be more like Jesus. Well, Jesus loved His enemies, so I gave you some real enemies. These people hate you; so, learn to love them.”
I had forgotten the most important thing in life. Love God and Love Others.
That seems to be an even bigger problem on Monday Moaning.
I was running in circles chasing the wind in the wrong direction, spiritually disoriented. I failed to pay attention to the directions in my #1 Textbook.
LOVE YOUR ENEMIES, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you (#1 Textbook).
How? Imitate God’s love.
“God showed His great love for us while we were still enemies, when Christ died on the cross to bring us side by side with God” (Romans 5:8).
To make enemies into friends requires forgiveness, which is the hardest, but greatest, demonstration of God’s love.
How do we love our enemies first and most? It starts with forgiveness. All forgiveness comes from the heart of God, which should cascade through us to others.
God lives in us to lead us to others He intends to love and forgive through us. “Forgive others in the same manner God has forgiven you” (#1 Textbook).
As I sat in my study bemoaning my misfortune inflicted by the hatred of enemies, I needed to be reminded of the most important thing in life. We love God by loving others, especially enemies.
It is an amazing thing when you pay attention to your purpose in life. It affects mood and motivation. It sharpens focus and strengthens faith.
This I call to mind (pay attention) and therefore I have hope (#1 Textbook).
From that moment on, my attitude changed; so did my actions.
I had not lost; I was about to win.
Love forgives first and forgives most. It eliminates the offense from the recycle setting in one’s mind and it releases the offender from any and all retribution. Clean record. No grudges. No bitterness.
Forgiveness treats enemies as if they never hurt you or hated you, even when they still do.
What? That’s impossible!
Why would we want to let the other person off the hook without the hate of revenge and the hurt of retribution? We don’t. God does!
At some point in life, every one of us will be given the opportunity to love those who have offended us. They might criticize, gossip, slander. Those who hurt us might even hate us. At their worst, they still need forgiveness.
Just like you and I need forgiveness, we need to forgive others.
That unforgiven person might be a spouse, parent, family member, enemy, or even yourself. Scripture told us thousands of years ago what science has recently discovered. Unforgiveness and bitterness decrease bone density and joy capacity.
Right now is a great time to turn the page and start a new chapter in your life.
Do you need to hear God’s voice? Listen. “LOVE YOUR ENEMIES, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you” (#1 Textbook).
LOVE FORGIVES FIRST before the enemy ever says he or she is sorry…even if they say they are NOT sorry. Love is the first to set aside every difference and all divisions.
LOVE FORGIVES MOST by being unilateral, all-inclusive, undeserved, unconditional, and unlimited in its scope. Forgiveness is Free. Full. Forever.
Forgive first. Forgive most. You will be healthier and happier.
Oh, happy day
Oh, happy day
When Jesus washed
Oh, when He washed
When Jesus washed
He washed my sins away
Oh, happy day
He taught me how
To watch and fight and pray
Watch and pray
And live rejoicing every day
Every day
Oh, happy day (Oh, happy day)
Oh, happy day (Oh, happy day)
When Jesus washed (When Jesus washed)
Oh, when He washed (When Jesus washed)
When Jesus washed (When Jesus washed)
He washed my sins away (Oh, happy day)
Oh, happy day (Oh, happy day)
Oh, Happy Day! (Edwin Hawkins)
LOVE FIRST...LOVE MOST 