Mean people

• Some people are just mean and there is no other way to say it. They hurt other people because they can, because they are interested only in themselves, because they want control... and many other reasons.
  
  But regardless of the reason, the result is the same: it hurts.
  
  We encountered one this week. Overcoming emotions that arise from such an attack is a battle, yes, but not a lost cause. No matter how powerful the emotions, you do not have let them dominate you.
  
  You can refuse the bad feelings. Like a package delivered to your door that you did not order, refuse to accept them. Set your heart to overcome and accept nothing less. It is a struggle and may take some time, but the effort is worth it.

Accountability

• We are accountable to God for what we say, do, AND think.
  
  Some feel this is an intrusion into their privacy. I consider it one of the ways God protects me from damaging myself--which I could easily do (have done) if left to my own devices.
  
  I want Him in my every thought. Why? I trust Him. I find peace and security in His loving watch-care. In my opinion, having tried both extreme independence and deep surrender, the latter is a far better way to live.

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May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer. (Psa 19:14 NIV)

But God

• Ever encountered someone who does not let you forget mistakes? No matter what you have done since, they judge you by them and "hold them over your head". They can be at work. They can be family. They can be anywhere.
  
  Why do they do it? Perhaps they are insecure and the judgment makes them feel superior. Who knows? I do know that regardless of "why", it can be very discouraging to be connected to such a person.
  
  I am grateful God does not treat us that way. That encourages me and gives me hope. I am what I am today--not what I was in the past.

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If you, O LORD, kept a record of sins, O Lord, who could stand? But with you there is forgiveness; therefore you are feared. I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in his word I put my hope. (Psa 130:3-5 NIV)

Praise Him

I will exalt you, my God the King; I will praise your name for ever and ever. Every day I will praise you and extol your name for ever and ever. Great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom. (Psa 145:1-3 NIV)

Feelings!

• Yesterday's message was about feelings. Continuing that thread...
  
  Feelings are powerful. They cannot be ignored. They will dominate if they can. And often, we struggle to understand why or what we feel.
  
  It is a dilemma, no doubt about it. Paul experienced it, just as we do. So what can we do?
  
  As yesterday, in my opinion, our understanding and response must be rooted in our relationship with God. Therein is trust and security. Therein is being understood even when we do not understand ourselves.
  
  And isn't it comforting to know that someone understands?

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I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For in my inner being I delight in God's law; but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. (Rom 7:15,18,22,23 NIV)

Tough times don't last, but tough people do.

• Having a hard day today? Or week... or month... or year?
  
  Emotions try to take hold in those times. They can mislead you and distort your perceptions: lots of things can feel real that are not.
  
  If you are there, do not believe the lie that you are a failure in faith for feeling such things. Focus on the solution, and in my opinion, it begins with your relationship with God.
  
  This is what helps me: Like the psalmist in today's Scripture, I tell Him how I feel even if it is not "pretty". He listens. And in time the feelings give way to truth and reality. They always do.

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I think of God, and I moan, overwhelmed with longing for his help. You don't let me sleep. I am too distressed even to pray! I think of the good old days, long since ended, when my nights were filled with joyful songs. I search my soul and think about the difference now. (Psa 77:3-6 NLT)

It doesn't matter what it is.

• Sometimes we forget how much little things matter--or at least what we consider little things (God has different ideas): things like honesty, integrity, genuineness... even how we treat the cashier in a checkout line. It all matters.
  
  It is good to be reminded that how we handle the little things matters to God. And it is good to remember that it matters a lot!

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"Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. (Luke 16:10 NIV)