Over the past several weeks now, my blogging has been poor. I am so busy that when I do have the few moments to just sit and think, I tend to lean more in the brain vegetative direction vs. the inspiring, thought provoking way.
Recently my thoughts tend to revolve around 3 passages of scripture. To save space I will give you the links:
Matthew 18:15-20, Ephesians 4:25-32, Ephesians 6:10-13
These passages seem to work together. When there are issues to be dealt with between people it is important to follow the Word in how to proceed. Take your issue first to the person. If it is not solved, take one or two others with you, if that doesnt work, tell it to the church. This is weighty stuff and is not to be handled passively or gingerly. So then what? This is where the next two passages come in.
Ephesians 4 gives a great example and road map of how to navigate the meeting(s) mentioned above. While not easy, if followed, the devil cannot have a foothold and Truth and Life will spring forth. Read through this passage and think about the last time you had a conflict of any kind. Did you succeed in following these guidelines? I know I didn’t, but I am determined to change! This is where the 3 passages comes in.
It is so easy for us to get tangled up in the emotions and offenses of life. It is so easy for us to say things we regret over the simplest of things. Take stubbing a toe for instance. How many of you are like me and often say loudly or even under your breath, “@!@#$” or something similar? Anger and emotion combining with a loose tongue both of which are so hard to tame! So, read the passage in Ephesians 6 and take encouragement! Don’t look at the person that offended you and think or say bad things over them. Pray on the armor of God and against the dark forces at work. Pray God’s will, God’s emotions and God’s words and timing.
Life is not easy. It never has been. If you go back to the founding of our nation and forward, or earlier in time for that matter, life is a series of struggles and battles of varying magnitudes. Why should today, we think life would be different? I suppose that now, with technology, the difference is that things tend to happen faster. And I am thinking that speed is counter productive to what God has planned. It is counter to the relational existence of Christians to fly through life and leave a trail of broken hearts and trashed relationships. This give the phrase stop and smell the roses a whole new meaning… ever heard of the Rose of Sharon?
March 8, 2007 at 1:15 am
Well, I’ve heard that Life tape is helpful in those situations. . . LOL! Just kidding.
)
March 8, 2007 at 1:17 am
And straight jackets and padded rooms. OR sitting on a front porch on a 60 degree afternoon locked out of one’s house
All in all… God is wonderfully humorous, patient and oh so long-suffering with this child of His 
March 8, 2007 at 1:33 am
sounds like you’ve experienced a few things dealing with inner issues! Of course I’m KIDDING!!!! Your tons of fun so long as you’re not red! Thank the Lord for blessing us with a sign that if the face is red. . . stay out of the way!
March 8, 2007 at 1:50 am
Just for the record, my Lady has known me well for almost 25 yrs and has only seen me red 1 time. It isn’t that I have a temper, in fact the opposite, but like any good family man, mess with my Lady or my kids and that is when I will be in serious prayer mode for restraint. I do not ever want to react out of emotion. Reaction needs to be based on the Word; constructive to resolution and reconciliation not destruction.