"People" are a wonderful part of our lives--sometimes; other times, they're just a big pain! Ever been there? (Maybe YOU'RE the pain--eeks!) But let's be honest--you're a "people person" and know exactly what I'm talking about!

Why? Because we are human (most of us!). We deal with people--at home, school, church job--on a daily basis, as they must deal with us. Relationships are wonderful--warm, loving, meaningful--when they work. But when they don't, the pain starts--that's LIFE! And nothing stops the pain (Excedrin included!), until...we and the Lord deal with it!

And so, let's go to the Well--just you, me, and the Lord. Leave behind your family, your friends, the people at work--Whew, what a relief--they're such a pain anyway!!

A Helping Word...or Two!

Now you "thought" you left them behind, but they're really here with you, deep inside, all mixed up with the pain you feel right now! Let's sort these people-enhanced humans into three "uplifting" groups! Aren't you glad you came?

(1) Bitter People! Know any? God does--her name was...well, frankly, don't know her name--she's "Job's wife." Filled to the brim with bitterness! After all, she had just been dealt a "raw deal" by God--her husband, her children, her possessions all "attacked" by this "God of love." And as her husband drew closer to God in his trouble, she retreated further away. "Curse God and die," she said. A bitter woman--maybe you're there; maybe you know someone who is. But I have good news for you--God loves bitter people! He meets you where you are--in the middle of unanswered questions haunting you, in the middle of people problems literally "eating you up" day and night. He truly wants to help...BUT...He cannot, UNTIL you choose to surrender the bitterness to Him--cry it out, scream it out, whisper it out--however, but you MUST surrender it to God if you would know His peace.

(2) Broken People! Know any? God does--her name was...well, frankly, don't know her name either...She's "the Samaritan woman at the well." Filled with broken, jagged pieces of pain, heartache, and sin from sour relationships. Ever been there? Probably. It's LIFE--broken friendships, broken marriages, broken toys. But I have good news--God loves broken people. He wants to comfort, to heal, to restore. He truly wants to help...BUT...He cannot, UNTIL you choose to surrender the brokenness to Him--cry it out, scream it out; whisper it out--however, but you MUST surrender it to God if you would know His peace.

(3) "Blooper" People! Know any? God does--his name was...now, this one I know--Peter, the brash, outspoken disciple of Jesus. He's the one who denied Christ three times; He's the one who, with one glance from the Lord, went out and wept bitterly. Why not! He was a limping, lifeless failure--for He had done the ultimate wrong--He had denied His Lord. And then it happened. Many days, many tears later, he met the Risen Lord. Embarrassed? Guilty? Sad? Of course, ....BUT...God loves "blooper" people, and God loved Peter. Jesus lovingly restored him to fellowship, and Peter became a powerful servant of His Master.

God knows about your failures. He waits at the Well to turn failure into spiritual victory. He truly wants to help...BUT...and if you've been reading this carefully, say it aloud with me (if noone's around, of course!)..."He cannot, UNTIL I choose to say, 'Lord, I surrender the failure to You--I am crying, screaming, whispering--but I am giving it to You. I MUST know Your peace.'"

And so, He will patiently sit at the Well, waiting for you--bitter, broken, or "bloopered." You see, it's a double-edged sword. God loves YOU too much to let you wallow in your negatives. AND, God loves PEOPLE too much to let you harbor ill, angry, hurt feelings against them. You cannot truly love Him until you love the people He loves. Therein lies your peace!

And that's just a word...or two, from my heart to yours!

His Healing Word

"If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? 1 John 4:20 (KJV).

"Lord, the well is full. I'm bitter against You; I'm harboring hateful feelings for those who have broken my heart; I'm a miserable failure. I need You desperately Lord, and I give my pain to you. Turn bitterness to love, brokenness to healing, failure to victory. Give me Your peace and Your love for the people in my world.. In Jesus' Amen.

With thanks to Gilberto Barreto for the beautiful music playing at Peggie's Place. His original composition is entitled, "I Love You, Jesus."

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