closed windows.

Well, I'm going to be completely honest. I did not come up with this post. It's from the sermon I heard the other day, which was totally amazing by the way. And it got me to thinking. We had a guest pastor (Bro. Jason is preaching a revival in his hometown) and he talked about relationships. Relationships in which we get hurt. And we think, "Jesus, you say you know what I'm going through. Nobody's every lied to you, betrayed your trust." But that's not true. Judas betrayed him with a kiss! A kiss! The most sincere gesture to show someone how much you love them. Peter betrayed him too. Jesus even predicted he would deny ever knowing Him three times before the rooster crowed. Sure enough, he did. I've been hurt by my friends too. Hurt bad. Secrets have been told, promises have been broken. And I've closed my window. The window to my heart, as he put it. I've sealed it shut, and it hasn't been opened in a long time. I haven't tried to make another "best friend" because I've been hurt so many times in the past. But God wants us to make best friends. He doesn't want us to be on the outside looking in. He wants us to give friends that have hurt us a second chance. He wants us to give them our heart, even though its been broken. He wants us to keep loving.

John 13:34-35

So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.

They'll know that we're His disciples by the way we love one another.

And as usual, I have a song to go along with my post :)

"The Outside" by Taylor Swift talks about the outside looking in. Well, when we close our windows and don't let people in, how can they have a chance to make it up to us?