#1MinuteEncouragement It is not fun to be defamed by someone else, especially when they don’t know what they “think they know” about you. If you don’t agree with someone, you can devalue their opinion without dehumanizing them with your spiteful personal rhetoric. Hate what they stand for, yes, hate the person, no. #DigDeeper https://thebridegroomscafe.com/spirit-of-truth/

Are you hurt by a relationship that has suddenly turned sour? Have you been hurt by other people who have stabbed you in the back with their words and actions? REMEMBER: Jesus! I was thinking about Jesus today, and how He loved us even though He had been hurt by us. Jesus loved like He had never been hurt, went to the cross and died for us, and that is why we can make the choice to: LOVE WELL when we have been hurt. Everyone has a human condition that flares up, especially in tense situations. Relationships sometimes get overwhelmed with the stank of assumption. Assumptions are the worst weapons when they are used against us in the form of a false accusation. Jesus even had compassion and forbearance for those kinds of things, those false accusations that pierce your heart as they are shared disrespectfully. Even in the face of angry false accusations, Jesus showed mercy. Mercy is a beautiful thing and we should learn to reflect the mercy God showed us, instead of deflecting relational pain with offense of heart. None of us deserved the forgiveness Jesus bought for us with His life. He loved us with His life, even though we had hurt Him with ours. People wound people, sometimes it is not even intentional, it just happens. Life is crazy at times and we get hurt, we get hurt by something that is not even real, not even reality. People speak what they “think they know” and they speak it like it is a reality of truth. How can they know your heart, your motive, your thoughts, when sometimes they don’t know you at all, yet they speak like they do? This hurts more than anything, to be falsely accused by something that is a fake reality. Even in this, we can love unconditionally, we can forbear, we can show mercy when others don’t deserve it. The mercy Jesus showed us, what a beautiful thing that was! Mercy is a beautiful thing. Express Mercy. Experience the joy of mercy, by entrusting God with your heart wound and with those who hurt you, and love others, even if they don’t deserve it. Love well. There is no peace like the peace that comes after mercy is shown. Mercy Is A Beautiful Thing! God bless ya.