HARD PILL TO SWALLOW

When I was a young person I had a very quick temper. No one at that period wanted to cross me because they knew anger would fly like fur in a cat fight. I had that quick temper until one day I prayed that God would take it from me. I have jokingly said that after that he made me a little slow on the uptake of recognizing insult until I was away from the situation and could listen to Him before I responded. If we allow feelings to be in charge we will always react wrongly.
1Thessalonians 5:15 (NIV) says: Make sure nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and everyone else.
Thanksgiving is two days away and we are going to be seeing a lot of people, some family, and some friends and acquaintances. People are going to talk and we are going to be listening. It can be wonderful or we can take things the wrong way (maybe even the way they were intended and just respond the wrong way) or we can do as the Word of God says and be kind.

ARE YOU A CONTENDER?

I don't know about you but there are many times that I falter for just a moment and have to stop and evaluate whether I should maybe soft pedal who I am. Anyone who knows me well knows that I always sign off my emails 'Until He Comes or until I go'. As it turned out the other day I was working on a job bid on the internet and I got to the signature and froze. The question was, do I, to this big company who did not know anything about me, sign off in my usual manner or do I make exception in an effort to get the bid?
It was suddenly as if God was asking me, 'Are you my contender or not?' The very question in that light emboldened me and I signed like I always do. If they don't want me as a Christian, then they don't want me.
A contender according to my desktop dictionary is (a) someone who struggles to surmount (b) someone who struggles in a competition or campaign in order to win or achieve, or (c) someone who asserts something in a position or an argument. Philipians 1:27-28(NIV) says this: Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved and that by God.
Are you a contender? As Christians we should be.
Are you a Christian? If not let me tell you about my Lord and Savior. You can email me at: NikkiASharp7577@gmail.com

CRACKED POTS

There are times when we get small glimpses of the plan. A scripture that gave me one of those glimpses this week is 2 Corinthians 4:7 (NIV) But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all surpassing power is from God, not from us.
If some people seem cracked when you look at their lives, God can use those cracks to reveal the light He has put inside.
The question then becomes, are the cracks in you life revealing God's light OR darkness, bitter goo and despair. Think about it!

IT JUST MAKES ME TIRED!

There are times when everything we do seems so tiring. That we are doing it all for nothing. I don't know anyone that hasn't felt this way. Right now with this economy and the world situations that are going on, I know a lot of people that feel it would be a lot easier to just give up, lay down and call it over.
My son has Rheumatoid Arthritis in his spine and large joints. He is 32 years old and won't be 33 until January. There are days like today when he literally screams out for God to help him and pleads that it would be easier if the Lord would take him home.
As a mother, you would take this pain on yourself if you could do it for your child, but it isn't an option. So, you pray, and continue through your day knowing that
the hope that sustains us when nothing else can is the same hope that the Apostle Paul wrote of in the books of Corinthians. It is the hope of our salvation, so we go on. .... I Corinthians 15:58 Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.