We're in this fight together!!!!

Philippians 1: 27-30

" But whatever happens to me, you must live in a manner worthy of the Good News about Christ, as citizens of heaven. Then, whether I come and see you again or only hear about you, I will know that you are standing side by side, fighting together for the Good News. Don't be intimidated by your enemies. This will be a sign to them that they are going to be destroyed, but that you are going to be saved, even by God himself. For you have been given not only the privilege of trusting in Christ but also the privilege of suffering for him. We are in this fight together. You have seen me suffer for him in the past, and you know that I am still in the midst of this great struggle."NLT

Cliques make me sick! This post has been calling my name for a while and I just never had the time to get my thoughts together and post it. It's been brewing....

I am SO guilty of trying to make myself look good, of being friends with certain people, of talking about people, of GOSSIPING. I am guilty of trying to dress, look a certain way, have certain clothes, a certain car, a certain type of home to impress people. I have been guilty of ALL of these things. I am guilty of not making the effort to truly get to know someone, of just making snap judgements, of nitpicking them apart to make myself feel better about the wife, mother, christian that I am.

I was not so guilty of this in high school. I was not extremely popular because we were not spoiled. I was not allowed to do a lot of things that other girls were. I realize now that this was for my best interest but then it was the end of the world! I had a few friends, I played basketball, I was in the homecoming court. I was made fun of bad enough in elementary and junior high, though, that I shouldnot have made anyone feel left out for the rest of my life. But I didn't. I try really hard now not to make people feel that way. I try really hard to make people feel included. Sometimes I still fail, I go home thinking, " Why didn't I talk to so-and-so?" And I feel bad and dwell on it all evening because I know what it feels like to be left out, to be the only person in the room that no one is talking to. And why do we purposely have these cliques? What are our motives?

There are a few people that I have to deal with right now, they are in my life at this present moment, who tend to be cliqueish(is that a word?lol). They tend to leave people out, whether on accident or because they are trying to prove a point, I don't know. And it doesn't really matter because God knows and I have to remember that. God knows and God weeps when we do our brothers and sisters this way. Because when we do a brother or sister this way, we are doing it to Christ.

So, these verses always hit me where it hurts. I am not just posting about other people, the main person I have to deal with is of course, SELF. But I am hurting pretty bad over this right now, I fight bitter thoughts about it on a daily basis and I would very much appreciate you holding me up in prayer.

I am not talking about any bloggers, so don't even think that! You have been nothing but a blessing to me and my family and I thank you for that from the bottom of my heart. You have been there for us when we needed friends. Your thoughts and prayers have been so felt and appreciated.

I guess maybe this is a rambling post but it's my journal and these are my thoughts. Thanks for taking the time to read them!

Blessings,

Julie