The Daily Struggle

 

"Moses answered the people, 'Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.”
(Exodus 14:13-14)

 

To be still. Hah. Easier said than done. My humanity does me in nearly every time.

Even when my body is still, my mouth seems fueled by mypride. Oh, to let the peace of Jesus flow.

But in my responses, my reactions, my pride almost always pushes God's better way, His Spiritual leading, to the back and lets my own self lead instead. That is a recipe for strife, for failure, for everything that is not truly love.

“Where there is strife, there is pride.”
(Proverbs 13:10)

 

What Is Love?

What is love, you may ask? This is Love:

"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres."
(1 Corinthians 13:4-7)

 

I regularly fail at more of those than I want to admit. Pride fuels selfishness, and selfishness is not love. Selflessness is love, but I am too often selfish in my responses, not selfless.

The Love Of Christ?

Thankfully, there's this:

"God does not keep a man immune from trouble; He says- “I will be with him in trouble.” It does not matter what actual troubles in the most extreme form get hold of a man’s life, not one of them can separate him from his relationship to God. "
-- Oswald Chambers’ comment in regards to the first half of Romans 8:35, which says:

"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?”

 

Hallelujah! Thank You, Jesus.

Blessings to you today. Strive on! :)

 

#StraightOuttaTheBible

 

Straight Outta the Bible -- Charm Her With Armor

 

Young man, you say you want a good woman? Best way is to be a good man. Be a real man, not just another guy. Every woman wants a warrior. Charm her with your armor...

The book of Ephesians, chapter 6, in verses 12-20, says:

"For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should."

(Ephesians 6:12-20)

 

Straight Outta the Bible: The Lord's Servant Must Not Be Quarrelsome

 

The Book of 2nd Timothy, chapter 2, verses 19 & 22-26 say:

 

(19) "Nevertheless, God’s solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription: 'The Lord knows those who are his,' and, 'Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness.'"

(22-26) "Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. Opponents must be gently instructed, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will."

(2 Tim 2:19,22-26)

#StraightOuttaTheBible

 

Straight Outta the Bible:Awaken to the Holiness of Life

 

Straight Outta the Bible
(The Harder Stuff That Many Pastors/Priests Don't Seem to Share)

 

The Apostle Paul (St. Paul) says to us...

"Think straight. Awaken to the holiness of life. No more playing fast and loose with resurrection facts. Ignorance of God is a luxury you can’t afford in times like these. Aren’t you embarrassed that you’ve let this kind of thing go on as long as you have?"

(1 Corinthians 15:34)(MSG)