Pressed But Not Crushed

 

Oh how I miss my blog and being able to share my thoughts and feelings... heavy sigh.. my blog is more for me to have an outlet then anything else. I miss being able to chronicle my highs and lows and ho-hums and get the occasional feed back.  My safe place in plain sight.  For awhile it's been ok with out access to blogging because I have had very good friends that listen to me, helping me stay sane while hubby is gone for weeks at a time for work. But you know gossip destroys many a good friendships, even when your not the one perpetrating it (not that I am fully innocent either) and trust has been lost.  Maybe we will reconcile.. for I know that is what God would want and maybe this is just a breather break... but I think it is going to take a lot of Grace to get threw either way.

 

I have an easy going personality but that is mainly because I have learned that I am not the one in Control and God is able to provide, he has a grand plan. I just need to get out of the way, learn what lesson I need to and be changed from Glory to Glory.  Yes, just like everyone I have hurts and stress, but for the most part even with all my troubles and what seems like a mounting list of negatives, my life is blessed and good.  Trying to explain that to some one who is not getting that.. not just there in their faith yet and uses the guise of good intentions as opportunity to judge and criticize is exacerbating.  Sometimes you have to forgive and over look alot to have certain friendships.. most often it is worth it.  Everyone is wired different, everyone's walk and path with God is not the same so we need to be prayerfully patient with each other.. commanded to even.

 

One of my favorite songs is Trading My Sorrows.  Part of the lyrics is based on 2 Corinthians 4

 

7But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. 8We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.

 

This morning I went back to that chapter and vers.16-18 puts perfectly what I wanted to get across and assure why I do not worry day in and day out about the stuff and junk:

16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. 17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, 18 while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

AMEN to that!!

On my bathroom wall I have taped notes from a sermon from months ago and I read it everyday.  It is a reminder of how Christians are supposed to act and how they are to treat others.  It is an ideal I fail at everyday but I am striving to improve and asking God to help me.  I also have to remember that my sisters, like me, often are trying too and fail just as much.. so again we should be patient with each other.

REMEMBER

 

1 Peter 2:9  But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;

 

 

Romans 12:9-16

Be Sincere:  9 Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good.

 

Be Considerate:  10 Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another;

 

Be Energetic:  11 not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord;

 

Be Prayerfully Patient:  12 rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer;

 

Be Warm, Practice Hospitality:  13 distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality.

<BR \>Be Different:  14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.

 

Be Understanding  15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.

 

Be ONE- Harmony:  16 Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion. <BR \>