Honor and Grace

In the last few years, the value of honor and grace has been ignited deep inside me. I am irresistably drawn to those who's garmets carry it's aroma. Most of all, I long for the day this firey love manifests through me.

Jack Frost wrote an article on his website that I needed to hear again.This is VERY valuable stuff. Hit me big, and reminded me of things that Holy Spirit was working in me when I first got this blog started. Here's pieces of it below:

"Even if your judgment of the other person is accurate, if your words, tones, or body language exposes their faults...............then you have stepped outside of honor and grace. Love covers other people's faults, does not complain about them, and does not seek to expose. He who covers a transgression seeks love, but he who repeats a matter separates…. Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins. Be hospitable to one another without complaint” (Proverbs 17:9; 1 Peter 4:8-9). Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear” (Ephesians 4:29)...........We can be 100% right, but what are we communicating when we talk to other people? Do other people feel value and worth being spoken by us.........Genuine love gives honor. Self-love takes honor and dispenses dishonor. Not to honor can actually become a self-imposed curse and may result in a cloud or shadow of judgment hanging over our home, work place, church, or relationships. Dishonor does not serve well our personal interests and values even if our judgment is accurate. It is like we are trying to punish people when we expose their faults........ Probably my greatest pitfall in walking in honor is that I am often right in my evaluation of other's attitudes, behavior, and weaknesses and the way they have let me down or disappointed me. But is my body language covering or uncovering them? Is my conversation bringing exposure or is it leading to restoration? Is that person's redemption at the root of my words or am I seeking to make myself look innocent by uncovering their faults? We may be right in our evaluation of a person’s faults or weaknesses or how they’ve disappointed us, but love covers and does not expose other's weaknesses or whine about them...........To sum up, let all be harmonious, sympathetic, brotherly, kindhearted, and humble in spirit; not returning evil for evil, or insult for insult, but giving a blessing instead; for you were called for the very purpose that you might inherit a blessing” (1 Peter 3:8-9)......Ninety-three percent of all communication is not words but non-verbal attitudes that are communicated through tone and body language. When a name of a person who has disappointed you comes up in conversation, are your tone, body language, and words seasoned by grace? The way I used to handle disappointment was to just keep my mouth shut if I didn't have anything good to say about them. But that communicates something negative. Silence speaks rejection. So now, as soon as their name comes up, I want to be sensitive to think about their strengths. How can I bring a word of edification about them? Honor is a decision I choose to make to give a person a position of great worth and value in my life." - Jack Frost

Holy Spirit, I appreciate you. I love how you lead me into ALL truth. I love how you will not let me be. More Lord. Blow on that ember and burn away all the self-important and self-protective dross.