Betrayal

Betrayal.  I don't know about you, but when I hear that word, it sends shivers down my spine.  If you have lived long enough you have been betrayed at least once.  If it only happens once in your life time it is more than enough.  As I observe betrayal whether in my life or someone Else's, one thing seems to ring true in every instance: the betrayer was a coward.  Something made him or her afraid and they decided to take the easy way out.  In American slang vernacular:  you got thrown under the bus.  That was the only way for the betrayer to obtain perceived vindication.  It was his only way out of a difficult situation.  In many cases it was a situation the betrayer created himself.  He became jealous, envious, or listened to the wrong people.  

Betrayal.  I'm not talking about being stood up for a lunch date or a friend changing their mind about plans you both made.  I'm talking about the type of betrayal that leaves you reeling for a very long time.  I'm talking about the person--friend or family member, in whom you put complete trust.  So much trust, they knew enough about you they could kill you and get away with it.  Sounds pretty harsh, but I'm talking about real life in my blogs this year.  This is the year of the different.  It will be different things for different people.  But this is going to be a year unlike any other.  No time for status quo. 

Betrayal.  Most of you know about the ultimate betrayal:  When Judas betrayed Jesus for 30 pieces of silver.  'Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, “What are you willing to give me if I deliver Him to you?” And they counted out to him thirty pieces of silver.  So from that time he sought opportunity to betray Him'. --Matthew 26:14-16.  Judas was one of the 12 closest people to Jesus.  They traveled together, they ate meals together, they slept under the same roof, under the same stars.  

This is why as we grow in Christ and mature in age, we have to learn to watch and listen.  We have to ask God for wisdom as we watch people's actions and listen to the words that come out of their mouths.  We all miss queues and signs, regardless, it is how we handle the resulting mess that makes the difference.  How we handle the betrayers in our lives is very important.  How we handle the betrayer shows God that we can handle the blessings He has for us.  How do we handle our betrayers?  The same way Jesus handled Judas.  
 
'Now His betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “Whomever I kiss, He is the One; seize Him.”  Immediately he went up to Jesus and said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed Him.
But Jesus said to him, “Friend, why have you come?” --Matthew 26:48-50.  'Friend, why have you come?'  The key to dealing with betrayers is to 'Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves.'--Matthew 10:16.  Protect your assets, protect your family, protect your heart, and let Jesus deal with the betrayer.  It will not always be easy, but it is the best way.  You will not be the first and you will not be the last to be betrayed.  How you handle it is important for your future. 

Betrayal hurts.  It's a wound that can take a very long time to heal.  The key is to make sure the wound heals and that it does not fester.  That it does not become infected with retribution, hatred, or revenge.  As the betrayed, you have a choice.  If you make the right choice, God will honor you and all of the people that are watching you.

'The Lord is my shepherd;
I shall not want.
² He makes me to lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside the still waters.
³ He restores my soul;
He leads me in the paths of righteousness
For His name’s sake.

⁴ Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil;
For You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

⁵ You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You anoint my head with oil;
My cup runs over.
⁶ Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
All the days of my life;
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord
Forever.'--Psalm 23:1-6 

     Amen.

All scripture taken from the New King James version of The Holy Bible.

Dumb stuff!

When I was in my 20's, I did some stupid stuff.  Yes, I can hear that collective sigh as most of you think to yourselves, 'that would be most of us'.  But one thing stands out as the dumbest thing I did in that decade of my 20's.  I bought a manual shift car.  What was stupid about that?  I did not know how to drive a manual shift.  To this day I do not remember how I made it home from the dealership. 

I remember thinking to myself though, 'it can't be that difficult can it?'  When I asked my Dad to give me a few pointers, he did just that and then I was on my own.  I distinctly remember hearing him grumble as he walked away, 'who buys a car without knowing how to drive it?' 

Every morning when I went out I looked into the car, expecting it to have changed from a manual shift to an automatic.  When I realized it was still a manual shift, my stomach would sink.  I conceded that it was a dumb idea, but I had no choice now.  I would have to learn.  I cannot tell you the amount of times I stalled in traffic, how many times I was cursed for holding up traffic, or how many times I begged God to help me! 

Life is like that.  We make mistakes: we spend too much money and then have buyers remorse.  We get into and stay in a relationship that was not God ordained.  We move to another city or job when deep down we know we should have stayed where we were, or at least waited.  We buy a car we do not know how to drive.  Then we ask God to get us out of the situation!  Guess what, He seldom does.  He will go through with us.  He will protect us through the journey of the mistake, but remove us from it, seldom. 

What I love about these learning experiences is that they strengthen us.  Some of our mistakes take years to fix, sometimes even a lifetime.  But when we trust in God, He will go through the valley with us.  "Yeah though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me"--Psalm 23:4.      

A few years after I learned to drive a manual shift, I taught my youngest sister.  She did not think she would learn either, but she did indeed learn.  In fact, my Dad mentioned once that she drove better that I did!  My Dad is a comedian.  I decided to take that as a compliment.  I learned from my bad decision and was able to teach someone else from that mistake. 

Today, all these years later, I recently bought a new vehicle.  I needed a change, so it is a manual shift.  Yes, I am enjoying the change, and every once in a while I think about the silly decision that brought me to having a choice as to what kind of vehicle I can drive.  Should we all go out and do dumb stuff expecting to learn from it?  No, I would not take that chance, but I know when we trust and believe in God, He will take us through. 

Don't beat yourself up over your mistakes, stupid decisions, dumb stuff; whatever you want to call it.  Definitely think first.  Pray first.  Count to 10.  Do whatever you have to do to avoid that wrong decision.  But know that God does not abandon His children when we do dumb stuff.  I thank Him for that!