Here we are in the last week of June. How did that happen so quickly? It's almost Christmas!
This past weekend I was in Hartsville, SC to emcee the Little Miss South Carolina pageant. The committee does such a great job organizing this program. Over $38,000 is given away in scholarship at the state competition. That's pretty impressive.
To top it all off for me, the organizers allowed me to do the "pre-show". During that time I shared a brief testimony and sang two of my songs, Come Join in the Choir and For Such a Time as This.
I was able to catch up with my sweet high school friend Meredith. To my great surprise, many of my fellow classmates now have blogs dedicated to their children. Sweet. Now I can check in on them more than once a year! Even though I have two little ones, it is still hard to believe my friends are moms and dads!
Today I checked e-mail to find a less-than-pleasant message from a pageant attendee. Apparently her contestant did not win...and she was not happy. "Shocked", actually. Because I had given my testimony and made my faith obvious, she decided to challenge my authenticity as a Christian. Obviously confused about scoring in some categories, basically she said if I call myself a Christian I shouldn't associate myself with a system that is not on the "up and up". Wow.
You know, even though she was completely misinformed and inappropriate in how she approached me, she did make me think. Christians have a responsibility - It's called a witness. If we claim to be part of God's family, we should act like it in word and deed. Where we go, what we say and who we hang out with says a lot about us!
Sometimes it's hard to take the "high road". My default reaction when I read her yucky message to me was to bow up like a cat and claw her back with my "oh no she didn't" attitude. But, that would not be representing my Heavenly Father very well, would it? So, in turn, I attempted to diffuse her frustration with kindness. Will she receive it? That's not my responsibility. My job is to do my part: respond in a Christ-like attitude above reproach.
A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. Proverbs 15:1
Janet Roller - Living Oak Ministries
- Janet Roller
- Hi. I'm Janet Roller: wife of one, mother of two, lover of coffee and writer of songs. I have just finished my first fiction novel and I'm looking forward to watching how God uses the simple story to minister to others. God is a big deal to me. My goal each day is to wake up and declare, "This day is Yours, Lord. Show me what to do with it."
3 comments:
Hey, Janet!!! So glad to know you and your family are doing well... now I can peek into your life every now and then and see how all of you are doing. So glad to hear you were able to spend some time with Meredith... she is such a genuine and sweet person, isn't she??? Always has been, always will be. So where do y'all live now? I asked my sister, Liz, and she wasn't sure. BTW, your voice is magical... I knew you'd make something of your talents. Take care!
Love,
Katie "McKorell" Liddle
Hi Janet,
Thank you for dropping by.
Your post rings true. It is so easy to 'react' in the flesh--in fact our 'reactions' reveal how much the fruit of the Spirit is growing...a couple of times, my younger son has said to me, "oops, Mom, do ya think you should go have your 'quiet time'?
I'm glad he knows the difference God makes. I'm asking Him to help me see that person who 'offended' me through His eyes...and one time I was so amazed...even when I was talking to this person I 'feared'...a wondrous love welled up in me as I got a glimpse of her needy heart...and a voice that said..."the enemy is not her, it is Satan..."
Thank you for reminding me..
Love, Sita
Janet, I was also at the LMSC pageant and really enjoyed your music. I love to hear someone talk about our Lord Jesus Christ. So many people are afraid that they are going to offend someone and keep quiet. Keep up the good work.
EJS
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