From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I.
Psalms 61:2 KJV
Happy Friday! It’s a day of hope, renewal and an opportunity to bring happiness to someone’s life.
Have you ever felt beaten down, when you were doing what you thought a Christian should do? I think it is the work of Satan. Although it is hard to think of at the time, I tell myself “I must be doing something right!”
There are things we can do to make these times easier to handle. First, surround yourself with other Christians. Psalm 16:3 tells us that “God-chosen lives” are “splendid friends”. They understand. They have probably experienced the same thing. It’s really great when you can build each other up during tough times.
Second, pray for those who hurt you, and treat them as you would like to be treated despite their actions. Jesus taught us in Matt 5:44 to “Love your enemies, bless them 
that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you”. Trust me when I tell you that you will be surprised how well this will work for you.
Third, look for ways to help others. This is one of the best things you can do. It doesn’t have to anyone you know. Just do something nice for someone else. It’s the pay-it-forward idea. One thing a friend of mine sometimes does is pay for the car behind her in the drive-thru line. You don’t have to spend a lot of money. You can visit a shut-in. There are so many things that are possible.
We are surrounded by evil but don’t have to brought down by it. So, if you are feeling down and out, make this Friday super. Hang out with your Christian friends, pray for those who hurt you and help others. God bless you.
if what you are hearing is in line with God’s word. It’s really that simple.
Over the past few months at work I have had the opportunity to write stories about local businesses for both local newspapers. It’s a way to promote businesses in a small town. I love writing, so I was excited about the opportunity from the very beginning, but knew that it would be additional work for which I would be responsible. In other words, I have the same amount of work plus this new assignment. Yet, I have not once hated or dreaded working extra late or early. You might wonder why. The reason is, I have been given a gift to see people in a different light. An hour of talking with someone who would normally visit my office for an unwanted permit has changed me as a person.
cried with him as he revealed his story of how God turned his life around and how promising his future has become. I interviewed a couple who had recently lost an adult child. I spoke with two ladies that God brought together as business partners to help autistic children, and one lady who added to her husband’s business, while he was out-of-town, a ladies boutique called “Mustard Seed” because of her faith in God. I interviewed a lady who went out on her own and opened a business to make others feel better about themselves, and a lady operating her business while caring for two aging parents. That’s just a few of the many touching stories.
Are you having trouble forgiving someone? Do you find yourself facing the same old aggravating stuff with that person all the times? Have you thought to yourself, how many times do I have to put up with this mess? When Peter asked Jesus how many times, I feel pretty certain he wasn’t expected to be told 490 times. It makes me chuckle to think of this conversation taking place, because I know I’d being saying “What?”. Yet, how many 
times has God forgiven us? For me it has been more than 490 times. In fact, it’s been more that 4,900,000 times. It’s so nice to be loved and forgiven. It is important to treat others well, even when there is something that really aggravates you. It is equally important to forgive yourself.
interrupt because I think of something and I’m afraid I will forget. God has been dealing with me on this. I’ve heard two different sources explain how we should place our hands palms up in our laps because it is difficult to be argumentative in this stance. We all know that the Bible tells us to be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to anger (James 1:19). However, while reading I realized there is more. Have you ever noticed how no matter what Jesus was doing, he always had time for people? I believe it is because He knew that the only truly important things in life are God and people. That really puts quite a few things into perspective.
We have all endured temptations and preserved through life’s trials, but some seem especially difficult. Saying goodbye to a family member too soon, watching a friend slowly die or suffer with an illness, poverty, war, homelessness, hunger, and pain are among of the trials we encounter, and there are many more. How close we live to pain and suffering. Yet, when we search our hearts, we can find a glimpse of happiness even in the most painful moments. Although it may be difficult, there is always something for which to be thankful, and there is always someone who has more difficult trials.
beliefs. John the Baptizer was beheaded after rebuking Herod for marrying Herodias, his niece and ex-wife of his brother (Mark 6:17–29). Stephen was stoned to death (Acts 7:54-60), as was James, the brother of Jesus. Peter was crucified upside down and Paul was beheaded. Other early disciples were crucified in various places. Christians have been cooked alive, dragged to death, skinned alive, sewn into skins and eaten alive by wild animals, starved, boiled, ground to death, had the inner organs eaten by pigs while alive and tortured in numerous other ways. Christians are still persecuted today.
exponentially from the very beginning. Why are people willing to be tortured and killed without fighting back and all the while praying for those who persecute them? For me the answer is undeserved loving forgiveness and redemption from sin (grace) by faith that brings promises of eternal life. The faith carried by beliefs is so strong that we are able to face adversity in the steps of Jesus. James the Just, who was later stoned to death , said “[b]lessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him” (James 1:12). The good news is whether you are dying a martyr or living through every day trials, your love for the Lord will lead you to the “crown of life”. Keep the faith.
