We’ve all heard that infamous saying, Actions Speak Louder Than Words.  It’s not just a saying.  There is so much truth behind this great saying.  In James 2:14-17 it says, “What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds?  Can such faith save them?  Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food.  If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it?  In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.”

I’ve seen the hurt that is left behind from past actions.  I’ve seen individuals struggle through their lives living in that pain and hurt from those past actions.  I’ve seen them trying to pull themselves out of it but are unsuccessful.  But it’s not easy to make those changes when they choose to not put action behind the changes they wish to make.  If I say to you, “I love you”, yet do not show my love towards you, would you believe me?  If I say, today I will start my book, yet don’t put a pencil to the paper or my fingers to the keyboard, what good is it to say this if I do nothing about it.  We can wish to make changes in our lives, but until we actually stop and begin putting action behind all our words, nothing will change.  We have all suffered a past hurt.  We have all suffered disappointment at some point in life.  But do we continue to allow it to define who we are?  Or…do we take our past and learn from it, creating a better life for ourselves.  We can not expect others to take action and accept their wrong doings and make things right with us.  But what we can do, is forgive them and move on with our lives.  We should not allow the past to hinder us from having a beautiful future.   God has given us this precious life, not to waste it away in our sorrows and pain but to live victoriously in peace and love for one another.

Thank you Heavenly Father for teaching me to not only love others and forgive those that have hurt me but to show them love and mercy.  Thank you God for releasing me from the bondage of hurt and pain and for putting together all my broken pieces.  It’s in your son’s name that I thank you for all you continue to do in me Lord.  It’s because of you that I can live a life of love and compassion, mercy and forgiveness.  Amen.

XOXO…Ileen

psst…God Loves You

“If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in the person?”