33 These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”

One promise that we are all given as Believers but don't often lay claim to or talk about is trouble. It comes to all of us whether we like it or not; it's just a simple fact of life. We live in a fallen world. In the last part of Matthew 6:34, Jesus tells us "Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof". On some days, truer words could never be spoken.

Galatians 6:9(New King James Version)

9 And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.

Like it or not, it's the tough times that define us. It's what we do when we don't FEEL like it, when we're not MOVITIVATED, or just don't give a rip any more. We have to reach down into the well of our soul and try to find something to sustain us. In other words, we need to persevere. I John 4:4 and I John 5:4 are verses that encourage us that God is with us, in us. He is unshakable, He will never leave us, He is committed to the end. We can't overcome on our own; we need God's help, His strength, His guidance, and we also need one another.

Galatians 6:2(New King James Version)

2 Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

If we're going to be successful, we're going to have to become vulnerable to the Spirit of God, and also become vulnerable to one another. We're so afraid of being judged by someone because of what's going on in our lives; so we just hold it in and intensify the pressure. Be real with God, and be real with your true friends. Learn to distinguish attacks from the devil and character building issues. Remember that God gives us what we NEED before He ever gives us what we WANT. Wouldn't any good parent do that? Sometimes the medicine just doesn't taste too good.

If we go back to our original text in the first part of this entry, one thing we can extract from it is that life isn't just about US. I know it's difficult, but we need to get to the place where we stop asking the Lord the "what about me???" question. "When does it get to be MY turn?" Stop comparing your situation. Help comes when we realize life is bigger than "us". Take the focus off yourself and become an ambassador for the Kingdom of God. Find someone that needs help. Luke 6:38 is not a verse that is just about money (like most Pastors use it), in fact, money is not even mentioned in the context of that passage: Give and it shall be given unto you, good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over shall men give into your bosom. It's about sowing and reaping. The Kingdom of God is all about sowing and reaping. Sow what you need in someone else's life, and you'll reap it. In the process, you'll take the focus off of yourself and you'll see God come through and change you in ways you never expected or thought possible.

Don't quit. Don't give up. Don't stop believing God for what He has placed in your heart. Don't think the Lord has abandoned you or forsaken you. Your BEST days are ahead!

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I have talked to a number of people (believers) that have experienced a similar year in 2008. Many are worn out, battered and confused. As I sought the Lord for a message for our bible study last week, this message was birthed in my heart.

It began in Matthew's account of the Last Supper, in chapter 26. In that account, (paraphrased) Jesus tells his followers that all of them will betray Him. Peter promises that though everyone else may, he will not. Later in the same chapter, in verses 69-75 after Peter HAS fled with the other apostles, he is confronted three times and denies knowing Jesus to the point of cursing, and Jesus' prophetic statement becomes a reality. Into chapter 28 of Matthew (v 1-7) the followers approach the tomb of Jesus only to find it empty. In Mark's account in chapter 16, verses 5-7 reveal something specific that Matthew's account does not reveal.

Mark 16:5-7(King James Version)

5And entering into the sepulchre, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were affrighted.

6And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him.

7But go your way, tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he said unto you.

 Did you notice that? The angel said "Tell the disciples AND PETER".. he specifically names Peter. Why did he do that? Peter had to be at the place where he was completely detached from the Lord by reason of his denial. He must have been a spiritual and emotional wreck. Surely he thought his "service to the Lord" would no longer be required. But God is a God of restoration. Even when we feel at our lowest point, He hasn't given up on us, He hasn't left us. He didn't do it in Peter's case, and thank God He is no respecter of persons.

In John chapter 21, Jesus returns and offers Peter a chance to repent. He lovingly confronts him face to face. Jesus wants to be SURE that Peter understands that  the love of God is still being extended toward him and that God still has a plan for his life.

As I studied these passages, I heard the Lord say a few things in my heart:

Don't give up. Don't quit.

Don't stop believing God for what He has placed in your heart.

Don't give up on your faith.

Don't think your life doesn't matter, doesn't count, isn't important, or isn't having a positive effect.

Don't think that God has forgotten you, forsaken you, or doesn't care.

This was His admonishment; to me, to those in our study, and to Believers everywhere. Peter probably had similar thoughts that came against him.  Stay tuned for the second half.

One phrase we hear from people that have experienced a measure of success from time to time is this: I never forget where I came from. When we think about it, there are really no more successful folks in the entire earth than Christians. What are some things you can remember about your life before you got saved? (Spare some of those details). I can easily think back to times of rejection, severe depression, anxiety, fear, hopelessness, outbursts of anger, etc.

I’ve found myself (admittedly) looking down my nose at folks that display those same tendencies once I got saved. I’ve distanced myself from them. I don’t want to be near them. I’ve perceived them as “dirty people”.I've forgotten what it's like to walk in their shoes.

I remember some neighbors my wife and I had in the past that I completely despised.They were "awful people"; hell to live next to. They were slobs,drunks,dope smokers, and sex addicts. They played horrible "music" loud and often. If you saw these folks, you would ask "how much do you charge to haunt a house?" They even (for a time) parked a HEARSE out in front of their house. They sat in it and smoked pot. All I could do was pray that they would move FAR FAR away...when maybe God had them next to me to show them an alternative to life. But I failed to endure; I failed the test. I think far too often, we center our lives around "church people". Now that we've gotten ourselves out of the world, we want nothing further to do with it. If that's the way I was looked upon when I needed salvation, I would probably still be sitting in the stink of my sin. Jesus was often chastised by none other than the religious folks for "hanging around the dregs of society". He proclaimed "it's the SICK that need a doctor".

Let’s look at Matthew 5.

Matthew 5:13-16(New King James Version)

Believers Are Salt and Light

13 “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.
14 “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

We are light. Light shines BRIGHTEST in darkness. The world (and those in it) are darkness. We will shine brightest when in the MIDST of that darkness. What is attracted to the light outside of your door in the summer? BUGS.We were once bugs.

I believe every day we have opportunity knock on our door. We don't SEE it as an opportunity, but that's what it is. We think the devil rang our doorbell and ran after lighting a bag of crap on fire and leaving it outside on the stoop.But in reality, the Lord is the one who left it there. It looks one way to us, but to Him it just looks like a person in need of Him- much like we once did. This is where Godly Testing comes into our lives. We meet folks face to face that are just like we used to be: depressed, angy, hopeless. Yet instead of recognizing their plight, we're often repelled by them. We're not willing to put up with their attitudes, their foul language, and their ignorance. We don't want to get our hands dirty, we don't want them throwing up on us anymore. But when we look into their eyes, we MUST see ourselves.

We must be able to recognize the signs of someone crying out from their soul for hope, crying out for change, crying out for life. The problem is for us that the signs we see are often criticism, anger, or worse. I have been as guilty as anyone concerning this. It took the Lord to inspire this entire thought process. Like I said earlier, it is not IN AND OF MYSELF TO THINK THIS WAY. Honestly, in my thoughts, I have probably thought “to hell with them”. Sad, but true. I could look at someone and think, “THEM receive the Lord??!!! THEM???!!!!! Yeah right !!!!!!!!!!”

Has anyone had a similar test?

Then as I stood at the garage opening, and looked down the driveway, (we have a very long driveway) a foolish thought entered my head. It was the same thought that entered my head several times before. It was a thought that got me into trouble in times past. The thought was simply “I can make it. If I get the car rolling fast enough, and stay on the driveway, I can make it to the street. I know I can”. More than anything, it was the thought of being stranded until someone could come and plow the driveway. It was a week before Christmas, it was my last day off, and I HAD to get out and shop. My friend Eric usually plows my driveway when we have a significant snowfall. I knew he had his hands full with plowing his usual accounts, and my snow blower was in its usual state: broken.

There was one thing that was different this time. Somehow, common sense was present. I thought, “I’ll put my boots on and walk down the driveway and get a TRUE perspective of the situation”. I put my boots on and began to walk down the driveway. It took no more than four steps when this message was birthed in my heart. It exploded all at once. As I began to take those steps down the driveway (and the snow got almost up to my knees) the Lord began to show me how we gain a different perspective when we walk in someone else’s shoes.

Hebrews 4:15(New King James Version)

15For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.

Jesus is our example. He knows what it’s like to walk in our shoes, because He came down and walked in them. The scripture says He is able to sympathize, because He experienced what we experienced.

Did Jesus experience disappointment? Did he experience loss? He wept at the tomb of Lazarus. One of his inner circle denied he even knew Him. Another sold Him out for 30 pieces of silver. Was Jesus ever sick a day in His life? Let’s look at Isaiah 53.

Isaiah 53:3-7(New King James Version)

3 He is despised and rejected by men,
A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.
And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him;
He was despised, and we did not esteem Him.
4Surely He has borne our griefs
And carried our sorrows;
Yet we esteemed Him stricken,
Smitten by God, and afflicted.
5 But He was wounded for our transgressions,
He was bruised for our iniquities;
The chastisement for our peace was upon Him,
And by His stripes we are healed.
6 All we like sheep have gone astray;
We have turned, every one, to his own way;
And the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.
7 He was oppressed and He was afflicted,
Yet He opened not His mouth;
He was led as a lamb to the slaughter,
And as a sheep before its shearers is silent,
So He opened not His mouth.

What happened to Jesus wasn’t fair. He did nothing to deserve what happened to Him, yet He chose to embrace it for the sake of someone else. (Mat 26:53) shows us that Jesus could have put a stop to everything, but He didn’t.

I’m not saying for a minute that we need to fully embrace every bad thing that comes across our path; I’m just saying we can choose to learn from it.

Have you ever had someone say to you, “I know how you feel” and you knew they didn’t have a clue? How can you possibly relate to someone when you have never experienced what they have experienced? I think that’s one reason why Jesus was so often able to be “moved with compassion”; at one point, He had “been there”.

How many of us have suffered sickness? How many of us have suffered the loss of a loved one? It’s never a positive situation. We CAN however, use the power of remembrance when we see it happen in someone else’s life to be able to really IDENTIFY with the loss or the pain they are experiencing. We can then use it to allow compassion to overtake us for someone else and minister to them as only someone that has experienced what they are experiencing. There’s really no substitute for experience.

More to come.

2 To Timothy, a true son in the faith:

Grace, mercy, and peace from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord.

Paul brings this greeting (inspired of the Holy Spirit) for a number of reasons. There is nothing more important to us in our lives than our relationship with God. Jesus spent His entire earthly ministry attempting to convey that message to the religious people (who thought THEIR “relationship” existed only because of their righteous works) and to the gentiles (non Jews) alike.

If we’re honest, we often find ourselves “wondering” how things are between us and God. You know, are we “good”? We SAY we walk in faith and believe the best, but we can become so tied to our feelings and emotions that they can over-ride our current status of faith. Maybe we’re struggling with a type of sin, maybe we said something we shouldn’t have, perhaps we judged someone, or acted selfishly, or maybe we even feel that we have been distant from the Lord lately.

If we read into this particular letter (to Timothy) we do see that Timothy has his spiritual hands full. In our lives we can be pulled in many different directions. We can have a lot going on at once, just like Timothy did. We can often find ourselves over-whelmed and wondering which thing we need to give our attention to next.

But as important as those things may seem, and as important as they were to Timothy, Paul starts his letter by bringing what’s most important back into focus. The thing is, if our focus is wrong, and we get off center, we’re unable to function in life. Through some of our friends , I’m often reminded (thankfully) how important to God (and to us) the SIMPLE things in life were intended to be. How often we neglect them! The simple truths in life establish us.

Honestly, how many times have (even us “FAITH” people) had the thought come to us that “the reason we’re experiencing these horrible things is that somehow we deserve them, or it’s because we did THIS or didn’t do THAT”? How many times have you heard folks say that the reason “x” happened is because God is “trying to TEACH THEM SOMETHING”?

The truth is, no matter how strong in faith we are, we need encouragement. We need the Word, and we need each other. We do however; always need to be reminded that our relationship with God (our primary focus) remains in good standing – not because of what we’ve done or haven’t done, but because of WHO GOD IS.

SO, when we come to God, we need to understand how we are received, and Paul is re-iterating that to us here. We know that in Hebrews 4:16 that we’re told to come BOLDLY to the throne of Grace, whether we feel that way or not. Paul is telling us here, that when we approach the Father, to say hello, to ask for something, or WHATEVER IT MAY BE, before anything comes out of our mouths, His extended greeting to US initially, is GRACE MERCY and PEACE. Stop and say that to yourself out loud. Go ahead. Let it sink in.

I’m reminded of the Prodigal Son in Luke 15. Before he could ever utter a word out of his mouth, his father had already forgiven him. If you look at the passage, we’re told the father noticed the son “while he was a long way off”. The father’s extension toward the son was already decided. The father had extended GRACE, MERCY and PEACE. The father had extended HIS hand to the son before the son could say a thing. I don’t know about you, but that humbles me. I know that I do not deserve that. I don’t need to be reminded about all I’ve done wrong, or fell short of. I’m well aware of those things. Reminding me of those things doesn’t really bring me closer to God (and don’t expect it to do so for anyone else either). The father didn’t do that to the son in Luke 15, and we should expect no less from Him. God’s attitude toward me in WHATEVER state I am in (emotionally or otherwise) when I approach Him, is GRACE MERCY and PEACE.

Any thoughts? I'll follow up in the days to come.

Our scripture (Philppians 1:6) tells me that our lives (which are lived in a daily PROCESS by way) need to be about being molded and shaped into all that God is calling us to be. This scripture tells me that I will find myself in this process of the Lord’s hand being upon me to accomplish that until I go to be with Him. He is the Potter, and I am the clay. Now I’ve never heard a piece of clay scream “ouch!” when a sculptor is knocking off one of those rough edges, but I sure do feel it in myself in the context of God’s chisel upon my life. Let me tell you something; if you belong to God, and you’re currently breathing, these times of testing WILL COME. Why? Because God is a progressive God, and God’s desire is that we are always GROWING. If we’re truly being molded and shaped into the image of Christ within us, things had better be changing, whether we immediately notice them or not.

I was just outside a bit ago looking at the beginning of progress on our project. The thought came to me: “Wouldn’t it be nice if I could just snap my fingers and this was all done?” It would be great, wouldn’t it? I wouldn’t have to put up with any more of this waiting on the contractors or endure any more of the “un-pleasantries” involved, and I could just go on with my life. After all, I have more important things to tend to. But do you know what? If that happened, I would find myself standing on the other side of this ordeal, maybe happy for a bit, but no different than I was when this whole thing started. That’s the real tragedy. God uses the PROCESS to mold us and shape us. Without the process, we don’t change. We’re not conformed into His image. We don’t grow, and that not only doesn’t help us, but it doesn’t help anyone else either.

Oftentimes we define being “blessed” as “having no current issues to deal with”. Let’s face it, being blessed is not the absence of issues. The absence of issues will only happen when we leave this body. These times of testing that I’m talking about will come, and they mainly deal with our flesh (our desires, wants, attitudes, the things we have convinced ourselves that we must have to be happy, etc). Often the Lord is requiring an exchange. He wants us to open our hand to Him and give those things up so He can place something inside of our lives that is of greater value. That causes a departure of sorts, sometimes a “tearing away” of old habits and thoughts, and that can be painful. It’s easier for us to point the finger at someone else and blame them for our pain rather than allow God to deal with us, realizing that WE may be the one with the issue.

In our walk with God, the things we believe and we SAY we believe will be tried and tested. Our faith will be tested. Again, something that has not been tested is not PROVEN. If we’re honest, our lives are more to us about being comforted than about being challenged. We say we want to change, and we want to grow. We say we want to see things different, but we don’t want to face the challenges. We don’t want to endure. We must realize that a lack of testing is never conducive to growth. If we are going to grow, we’re going to be tested. We have to ask ourselves if life is really about others, as Jesus demonstrated and taught us, or is it about us?

God does test us and make requirements of us. He refines us as a Refiner purging His precious metals from the impurities and the dross. I’ll never forget what happened to me years ago. I was going through a similar situation at the time. I walked into church for a mid week service, and as I was just getting to my seat before worship started the Lord spoke something to me that I will never forget. He said, “There is no one that has ever been refined that has not gone through the fire”. Wow. Think about that one for a bit. God desires growth, and He is the One at the heart of it. Not is a destructive manner, but in a loving manner. We need to be bright enough to recognize it and allow it to work in us.

Philippians 1:6(New King James Version)

6 being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;

One needs to be very cautious when approaching a subject like this. There have been many things written and talked about along these lines.This is a subject that we all have questions about, and something we’re continually faced with in our walk with the Lord.

I’ve heard in articles I have read and teachings I have listened to that the Lord’s “testing” can involve many things. I have heard folks say God will use anything from horrible car accidents to cancer to get your attention just to teach you something. Let me go on record right here and say that is NOT the God I serve. Contrary to some teaching you may have endured in the past, Satan is NOT God’s messenger boy; they don’t work hand in hand. Satan is not required to "run things by God first and make sure that he is allowed to carry out these catastrophes". I get SO TIRED of hearing people say "Well that couldn't have happened if God didn't allow it".

Let me go on to explain what I believe God’s testing in our lives DOES involve through a situation I currently find myself in. First off, I believe God’s testing in our lives involves CHARACTER. Character is conducive to growth, growth cannot and will not happen without character, and character ALWAYS involves testing. Character is something that must be PROVEN to be established. I also believe the things we go through in life are not only for our own benefit, but also for the benefit of others. Let me just inject a simple question here to those of you that still may be hanging around but are a little miffed at my earlier comment. How in the world are we going to help anyone else in a similar situation they may be going through if we’re too weak in our body or racked with pain from emotional scars from God’s “testing” in our own lives? Or God forbid we so failed our test that the Lord just “took us home” and relieved us from our duties? Now THAT’S really going to be a blessing to someone! Especially a non-believer. That type of thinking is dumb to the second power. That’s dumb-dumb.

Anyway, I hope by now you get the point. God doesn’t teach anyone anything by punishing them through some element of destruction in their lives. (Read John 10:10) God’s true testing in our lives involves the building of character. This usually involves the relinquishing of our will to His, and let me say, this can be very painful. Oh we SAY we’re on board with God’s will for our lives and we’re in agreement with what HE wants to do, and we believe His Word concerning that, but when the rubber meets the road, often it’s a different story. The funny thing is, in the midst of these tests (and if you’ll read James 1:3, you’ll see it’s the trying and testing of our FAITH that is the issue) we’ll often find ourselves blaming the devil and accusing him for our plight rather than recognizing the hand of our Father.

We can become very adamant about wanting the things we want, and wanting them NOW. Currently, I find myself in the midst of an outdoor project that just needs to be DONE, and done SOON. Unfortunately, it hasn’t been working out that way. In the midst of the process, the Lord has revealed some things to me.

I’ve found how easily we exalt our needs and desires above the needs and desires of others. I’ve also seen how easy it is for us (Born again, Spirit filled Christians mind you) to exalt things above people. Now I’m not saying for a minute that things inside of this outdoor project haven’t been “up to snuff”, but I think God calls us more to ENDURE rather than call someone on the carpet because our needs are being infringed upon. It’s funny to me how we can call ourselves “King’s Kids” when we’re really acting like “King’s Brats”. We demand (in our hearts and our thinking) that things just roll along smoothly and when they don’t, it’s that dumb devil again screwing things up. I’ve found the problem can be a bad attitude or something deep within me that needs to be dealt with; maybe something God is calling to the surface so He can skim it off my life.

When we find ourselves in this demanding state of entitlement (after all I belong to God, so everyone owes me) do we find ourselves allowing the Lord to deal with our attitudes and motives rather than the attitudes and motives of someone else? We can be so quick to point out someone else’s shortcomings, but what about when God wants to deal with ours? How do we respond?

Can anyone share a similar experience? I'll follow up within the days to come.

1 Samuel 8:5-22(New King James Version)

If there is one thing that I am tired of hearing out of the mouth of American citizens during this election, it's this: "All the other countries are mad at us! We need to start doing things like they do so they will like us again, We need to be like them"

Now, some words come to mind when I think about this (which I will not dare say out loud or repeat here) but can you see how this relates to the passage in I Samuel? Since when did we give a rip what the "other nations" thought about us? Can someone tell me when that started? As far as I can remember, we've done things the way we have because it's been THE RIGHT THING TO DO. Now that the hair has raised up on the back of a few necks, let me inject that I do not believe this country has done everything right or made all the right decisons. HOWEVER, this nation has taken pride in being referred to as "the Greatest Nation on the Earth" because it has always taken a stand when others would not. I pray that does not change, but my fear is that it is about to. My fear is that we are about to lose this nation, it's pride, and it's principles to the winds of mediocrity, indifference, and plain stupidity.  

How does a Christian vote for someone that CALLS themself a Christian, and yet votes in favor of abortion?  "Well, that's not the only issue in this election, brother!" No, it's not, but when is the issue of LIFE supposed to take a back burner to other issues? If you ask me, I see a character flaw here - a serious one.  How in God's green earth do you think someone that is already clearly mis-representing who they really are by nullifying what they say with  their actions going to lead this country in the right direction?

How is it people cannot wake up and see the folks that flew planes into our buildings and killed our citizens are in favor of electing this Senator? Does this not raise a red flag? The folks in these other nations (of whom we are suddenly in dire need of their approval - that also hate us by the way) all agree that we would be better off electing this Liberal Senator (who also SAYS he does not favor gay marriage) but VOTES IN FAVOR OF IT... and nobody is concerned?

Now I'm not going to say God is about to fall off His throne or anything silly like that. I will believe God and serve God (and pray for the next President) no matter what the outcome. However, the people's choice in I Samuel didn't fair well for them, and I don't think it's going to fair well for the United States of America either. Just my .02

Anyone that seriously thinks living the Christian life is a “crutch’” ought to have their head examined; they haven’t a clue. Nobody ever said this was going to be easy. Not everybody in the church is going to dress like Mary Poppins, open up their umbrella and sing everything to you in a sultry voice. It might be nice if things were that way, but sorry- that’s just not reality.

Every one of us are going to have our moments inside the church and out. Every one of us are going to get in the flesh. If we’re going to error, let’s error on the side of grace. People are what’s MOST IMPORTANT. That was Jesus’ message – simply put. There is not a ONE of us that is going to go through life not getting our feelings hurt. I’m tired of being superficial and I'm tired of those type of relationships. We need to be able to tell one another what’s really up without worrying about someone getting all bent out of shape. 

Romans 5:3-5(New King James Version) 

3 And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; 4 and perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us

James 1:3-4(New King James Version)

3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing

These two passages show us something interesting. So often we are told that whenever we experience something negative, it's the devil at work. Hogwash. The passages in Romans 5 and James 1 show us the negativity we experience is triggered by nothing other than our own flesh. When we insist on getting our own way, being selfish, and letting those desires rule us, it's going to hurt when the Lord begins to deal with us. Unfortunatly for our flesh, character isn't produced any other way in our lives. It's our faith that is tested. How strongly do we truly believe what we say? I've honestly found myself letting go of some things that I was SURE I believed over the most simple offense.

Our willingness to endure personal pain (emotionally) is a sure sign of our commitment to love others. Jesus suffered torture and humiliation from the very people for whom He was giving His life. Talk about NOT FAIR. He willingly chose to suffer on OUR behalf. That's love. Our situations are no comparison to what Jesus endured. Let's truly love others. Let's prefer them before ourselves. God is looking after us. Don't be afraid to take a bullet every now and then; remarkably, it won't kill you.   

In fact, I can recall a few years back when a friend asked me how I was doing. I had just received (what I believed to be) the worst news I could have possibly ever gotten in my life; at least I would rank it in the top 5 worst things someone could have told me. I said to my friend, "I feel like I have just been shot in the side of the head and thrown underneath the wheels of a rolling semi truck". He had the nerve to laugh. He told me he was not laughing AT me, but with me. For some reason, that didn't help matters. You see, he had already been through a similar bought, so he didn't react in the same way I did.  But on the other side of that trial, my life had drastically changed for the better. Had I not gone through that, I would still be dealing with issues that would keep me from God's will today.

We must understand one thing: we will NEVER be the ones giving God direction, and telling Him who He can use to test us, what situation He can use, and when. Forget it – that’s not the way God works. We will usually find ourselves right in the midst of a test of our faith at the most inopportune time possible. 

1. 1 Corinthians 10:13
   No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.
    

In the midst of these trials, we often find ourselves saying “I just can’t do this anymore” instead of saying “I just wont do this anymore”.

In I Corinthians chapter 13, we're told that "love suffers long" (verse 4) and "bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things" (verse 7). 

We can  find ourselves in a situation pointing the finger at someone, and telling God: “Look what he is doing,  or look at what she is doing!” To our dismay, the Lord tells us, “This whole situation  isn’t about them, it’s about YOU. This whole thing is about working on YOU, not them." That’s a sobering thought, but has happened to me over and over again.

When we face problems with people, it’s important to remember one thing: DON’T TAKE THINGS PERSONALLY !!!!!!!! 

Many times the attitudes we get from folks are almost NEVER a reflection of something we have done. If we were able to look back over the past few days, weeks, or maybe even years and view the blows these people have been taking in their lives, it may help us to be more understanding and compassionate. Sometimes we’ll be called to endure things for the sake of someone else. Rom 2:4 tells us that it’s God’s KINDNESS that leads us to repentance. That can work the same way with others. 

I’m not saying that folks are justified in acting like complete JERKS, I’m just saying there’s a reason for it (right or wrong) and it usually doesn’t even involve us. We just happen to be the person in the midst of it all receiving the backlash. God has called us to leadership. Sometimes we need to press past our feelings and be the bigger person. Buck up. Take the high road. Wipe the snots off your nose, pull up your boot straps and move on.

I'll be sharing the last part of this article in the days to follow.