liberal

growing up, liberal was a dirty word in my house (still is, actually).

i have always thought of liberal as a "political" word,

so i don't think of myself as liberal. at. all.

last week, i got to thinking....

about how liberal is the opposite of conservative (profound, right?!),

and about how there are some areas where the christian should be liberal.

very liberal.

we should be liberal in....

****

sharing

the word of God.

what we've been given.

our blessings.

giving

to others.

of ourselves.

of our time and resources.

worshiping

the Lord.

the Creator of the universe.

and singing praise to His name.

complimenting

those around us.

people that we love.

people that are hard to love.

even when we don't feel like it.

serving

the Lord...

at church.

in our communities.

in our homes.

others.

praying

and talking with God.

for others.

and dialoguing with Jesus.

seeking

His will in/for our lives.

and searching His Word and love letter to us.

thanking

Jesus, our Savior, for dying for our sins.

others and telling them how much we appreciate them.

God for all that He does for us.

God for the blessings He pours out upon us...daily!

the Lord for answering our prayers.

****

this conservative is going to strive to always be liberal in the areas listed above!

below, i've included the definition of liberal....taken from webster's 1828 dictionary.

Lib"er*al (?), a. [F. libéral, L. liberalis, from liber free; perh. akin to libet, lubet,it pleases, E. lief. Cf. Deliver.]1. Free by birth; hence, befitting a freeman or gentleman; refined; noble; independent; free; not servile or mean; as, a liberal ancestry; a liberal spirit; liberal arts or studies. Liberaleducation." Macaulay. A liberal tongue." Shak.2. Bestowing in a large and noble way, as a freeman; generous; bounteous; open-handed; as, a liberal giver. Liberal of praise." Bacon.Infinitely good, and of his good As liberal and free as infinite. Milton.3. Bestowed in a large way; hence, more than sufficient; abundant; bountiful; ample; profuse; as, a liberal gift; a liberal discharge of matter or of water.His wealth doth warrant a liberal dower. Shak.4. Not strict or rigorous; not confined or restricted to the literal sense; free; as, a liberal translation of a classic, or a liberal construction of law or of language.5. Not narrow or contracted in mind; not selfish; enlarged in spirit; catholic.6. Free to excess; regardless of law or moral restraint; licentious. Most like a liberal villain." Shak.