Christian Living

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We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. 10We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. {2 Corinthins 4:8-10}

Have you ever had one of those days when EVERYTHING seemed to be working against you? It's all those little things that add up to make one less than great day. Well, this has been one of those WEEKS for me! My son and I are both feeling under the weather. I have been late to just about everything I had planned this week. While shopping in a store, I shattered a dish. The bank started deducting money from account according to an absurd policy although I was assured this would not happen upon opening the account. A woman that I was involved in a fender-bender with about seven months ago decided now would be a good time to ask for money to fix her car.....by the end of the week. Oh! And did I mention that my son just threw up in MY bed right before I sat down to write this. Yeah. Good times.

Some people think that going through the ordeal of losing someone close (especially a child) is the greatest test of one's faith. Well, that's not always the case! I've often said that I don't know how people can get through tragedies like that without God. It blows my mind, really. Inn our ordeal, my first reaction was to push Him away, but I quickly came to my senses when I realized that only made me feel worse! I don't think I would have made it through had I not fully believed that I WILL see my angels again. Honestly, I don't know where I would be right now without that truth to stand on. I mean, yeah, that was a terrible, terrible thing to go through, but I wasn't alone. God was right by my side wiping every tear away....and there were A LOT! It's OK now because I know, for whatever reason, that was God's will, and I DID find GOoD in it. But it's when we're bombarded with all the little nuisanses and annoying road blocks in everyday life that we show our true Christian colors. I'll tell ya what....I may have left some people wondering after this week! I put on my "angry eyebrows" and was driving like a crazy lady, throwing stuff around, yelling, ignoring, slamming doors, calling people all kinds of names (nothing too bad - 'jerk' and 'butt monkey' are my favs!!). There have been times when I get to the end of the day and realize I have a vicious headache simply because I've been scowling for hours.....like right now!

A hot-tempered man stirs up dissension, but a patient man calms a quarrel. {Psalm 15:18}

Now, when all these scenarios are playing out in our everyday lives, do we call on God for back-up like we do during tragedy? I certainly need a daily reminder! God is not just there for us during the "big things", He's walking us through the little things as well, but we have to allow Him to help. Just by simply reciting that cliche little query, "What would Jesus do?", we're opening the door for assistance. So....would Jesus yell and scream at the guy in the Ford Festiva who changed lanes without signaling? Or would God fly off the handle and lay the smack down on His kids (uuuhhh, that would be us!) every time they looked at Him funny? Could you imagine Jesus throwing His sandals on the ground and pouting Himself to sleep thinking about how unappreciated He is? I'm gonna say no, no and definitely not! We have to understand people, especially non-believers, are ALWAYS watching those who label themselves "Christians"! If it's not a co-worker, spouse, friend or even a child, the Lord IS surely watching. Therefore, our conduct in EVERY situation is critical. So this week let's focus on being PATIENT and KIND no matter what. Let's REALLY ask ourselves, "What would Jesus do?" in EVERY situation and then DO IT! During the week, as I began to concentrate on God and apply His word, this week became less and less like one of "those weeks" and more and more like a week in the life of a Christ-follower. I guarantee if you 'hide His word in your heart' and stay intentional about living life for God (not you!), you won't even notice the "little things" that once irritated the heck out of ya and you'll be one step closer to JOY!

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written:
"For your sake we face death all day long;
we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered."
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. {Romans 8:35-39}

...and that's REALLY all the matters!!

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