Cry Me A River!

I cry, I laugh, I get angry and I get depressed I'm an emotional person. I have always been that way and until today I never really gave it a second thought. I don't just cry when I'm sad, I also cry when I am happy or when I am listening or singing a worship song that the Lord uses to touch my heart.
It wasn't until today that I realized what an odd ball I am in my family. My parents and my brother are wonderful people, but they don't cry. Why do I cry? Crying was something that I did long before I gave my life to Christ, but certainly the Christian environment makes tears more acceptable than most communities. I'm not walking around blubbering all the time by any means but when I am hurt or sad I will sometimes express that emotion through tears. Yes, I have had pain in my life but so have my family from time to time, so that's not the reason I cry.
My family never used to hug either. We were never brought up to be demonstrative regarding emotions, but one day I decided that I was going to start hugging my parents when we would part company. I know that they were probably not comfortable with it in the beginning, but I think they are okay with me doing it now.
“Jesus wept.” John 11:35 is the shortest verse in the Bible. When Jesus arrived at the tomb where Lazarus had been for three days, He wept. Did He cry because His friend was dead? I don't really think that was the entire reason. He knew that He was going to raise Lazarus. I think He also cried because of Mary and Martha. In those days women depended on their fathers, brothers or husbands to support them. Since Mary and Martha only had their brother, his death would mean certain hardship for them. Jesus wept for that. Jesus wept for his friends.
I think if Jesus was comfortable to show His emotion by tears, it should be quite "okay" for us to express that emotion. I know not everyone is is comfortable showing their tears in front of others, and I respect that. I am comfortable with my emotional personality most of the time. It is the unique way that God has made me as it's obviously not a product of genetics

What A Day!

I need to remember this verse today. I need to claim it and remember that I am under a microscope every day by the world. The world is watching us. They are examining our conduct in every situation. They may accuse us of wrong doing but they must never find any basis for the charges.
May I live a life worthy of the Lord I love.
Amen


November 20, 2007
Now Daniel so distinguished himself among the administrators and the satraps by his exceptional qualities that the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom. At this, the administrators and the satraps tried to find grounds for charges against Daniel in his conduct of government affairs, but they were unable to do so. They could find no corruption in him, because he was trustworthy and neither corrupt nor negligent. Finally these men said, "We will never find any basis for charges against this man Daniel unless it has something to do with the law of his God."
Daniel 6:3-5

How Do We Repay Evil

The natural man wants to repay evil for evil. When we are wronged, we want the other person to feel the same pain they have made us feel. I remember when my first marriage ended many years ago my world felt as if it was over. The pain that I had was beyond comprehension. It was as if a knife was stabbed in my heart. The pain was that real. Many nights I didn't sleep. I would wake up sobbing. Here I was a 27 year old single mother of a two year old. How would I survive? Who would want me now? As I wandered around at 2:00 am I rationalized in my victimized mind that I was feeling this pain because of him and I was awake because of him, so why should he be having a good nights sleep? I would then call my husband's number and hang up when he answered!!! There! I admit it! Thank goodness those were the days before call display. I'm sure he figured it out after I did it half a dozen times through those first few months. I wanted him to suffer in some way. I laugh about it now but isn't that how the world operates?
In our Sunday School today part of our lesson was on overcoming evil. The number one principle for overcoming evil is "Take the Offensive". Romans 12:21 says, "Do not be overcome by evil but overcome evil with good". That's sometimes a tough thing to do. But like the lesson said, we can't defeat evil by focusing on the evil forces. Did my phone calling at 2:00 am do anything to my ex-husband in adultery? Not really. It probably just made him happier that he left me!
Evil is a real and powerful force. but it can be defeated by focusing on good. We don't have to fear evil. We don't have to fear Satan if we have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. He has the victory over Satan by His death on the cross. Satan may seem powerful at times, but God's power is far greater.
If we are faced with a confrontation, the lesson states that we are to picture ourselves as "Rescued". 2 Timothy 4:18 says, "The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen." and Galatians 1:4 says, "who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father"
The Lord wants us to have victory in our lives. If we stew and worry about the attacks of the enemy, we will be stuck in fear and victory will seem impossible. When I am tired and depressed, it is easy for me to listen to the lies of Satan. He will tell me I'm worthless and unworthy and I will start to believe him. Proclaiming the power of Christ is the way to overcome evil. Satan is a liar and a deceiver. He has lost this one and he knows it!!