Beauty ever after

Life's circles and cycles (harmony, balance and beauty) flow through the insanity of our 1.) hectic pace or 2.) serene existence.

How difficult it is to hear another person when we are thinking of life's impact on us, and how we are going to respond ... strange, when we want to be listened to as well! As stated by one wag, life is full of interesting monologues.

Some of life is needing to struggle so we can enjoy the times of peace and serenity ...

Being homeless is a constant state for believers in Christ, so why do we freak out when it actually happens to us?

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder ... what happens when scars get in the way of sight, and we don't see clearly?

Pride goeth before the fall ... we must really be fallen with all the people saying how proud they are of so many things!

Why do we get jealous of people who experience miracles? Come on, don't let your pride get in the way of being honest!

If being meek is srength under control ... we should really be afraid of meek people! They can whoop our backsides, if God gave them cause to!

Tears refresh and clear our eye ducts when mud from our shortcomings keeps floating up and hitting us in the face. That stuff really gets into our eyes, making it so hard to see!

Seeing someone we don't understand or really know prosper will tell us what kind of heart we have; or we glad for them or envious for ourselves?

I know it says He will not forsake the righteous or let them go begging for bread ... but, the bread of life is Jesus, and He will always be with us! Besides, most of us can stand to fast or go on a diet! He wants us lean to be able to go into battle and not make huge targets!

Living under Duress - the sin of being proud

Life is challenging. No news flash there. How we deal with the challenges are often what do produce the news flashes. (Man kills self and family over debt. Baby found in suitcase. etc., etc.)

Do we have a humble heart, or a prideful heart is the question I find myself asking. Pride is the main "problem" element of how people respond to whatever challenges and/or situations arise in life. Pride is a sin. That is what Satan had before God; yet, how many times do you catch yourself saying how proud you are of yourself, your family, your job, your ___________ (fill in the blank). Where do you think that leaves your gentleness of spirit or your character?

People look at their own situations and forget the power of meekness and humilty that will help them respond to situations in power. Meekness is having the strength to handle a situation without responding out of pride ... strength under control, not responding to our training. Living under duress provides a lot of opportunities to demonstrate how we have been wronged and how we are injured ... our responses come out of our duty or out of our "stations" in life.

A gentle spirit is not a weak spirit, but one of strength. Our desire to be strong to others provide our own stumbling blocks, usually resulting from being proud. It has often been said one's biggest strength is also their biggest weakness. Duress will bring out the best and worse of our strengths. How we respond is based on cultural bias, social bias, economic bias ... rarely out of faith-based strength and knowledge.

People are killing themselves over money, over a lack of stability ... duress provides us with the opportunity to demonstrate what we truly believe in. It demonstrates what we believe ... no matter what we say. Actions speak louder than words.