maybe they’re not GIVING you a hard time. maybe they’re HAVING a hard time.

Posted on by Julie Stiles Mills

The next time someone gives you a hard time, consider the possibility that it has NOTHING to do with you. Consider the possibility that they are dealing with something you know nothing about.

Think of something you’ve struggled with and lived through that not many people know about.

(The “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger” kind of lived through.)

Now, realize OTHER people – people you meet today and people you’ve known for years – have lived through things you don’t know about.

And cut them some slack.

Give them some grace.

because We’re all #JustADifferentKindOfBroken

where philanthropy falls short.

Posted on by Julie Stiles Mills

I was recently part of a discussion about a church supported service project. A number of different ideas were on the table, none of them mine. The project itself wasn’t my priority. They were all good ideas. All needed. All would “do good.”

My concern, what I had been thinking and praying about for over a week prior to this meeting was that whatever service project we decided upon, it would track back to Jesus Christ.

Over the years, I’ve observed and/or been a part of a number of church supported service projects, at a number of churches – very, very few of which led to an open door to share the gospel.

All were good. All were needed. All did “good things.”

But serving those in need without tracking back to Christ is just philanthropy, not Christian mission.

I feel a metaphor coming on.

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