Just try not to fall.

 

"Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore,..."

Long ago I heard a preacher take this portion of scripture and make a point that I had never considered. When you do everything you know to do to stand then keep standing. I know the scripture in question talks about having the whole armor of God but this preacher pointed out that often just standing in God is all we can do. 

After years of living, I have to agree. There are times when just staying in the faith is all we have the strength to do. I'm not saying that we should sit back and take it easy. Far from it, but we need to realize that Jesus took time to rest. God commanded his people to rest, feast (yes, party), and enjoy life. 

Sometimes, we need to stop because we don't have the strength. Sometimes we need just to catch our breath before we go at it again. There are times we need longer rest. This isn't forsaking the faith or giving up. I would say it's just standing. We hold on to the faith but right now isn't the time to try and charge forward. Perhaps even it's time just to try not to fall. 

Don't feel guilty if you aren't charging forward on someone else's command. If God gives it keep pushing, but maybe he's saying just stand in me and watch me do the work.

The next step

I try to remind myself it isn't the last step (or fall) that sets your destiny but the next step. It is where you go from here. Sometimes it is very clear sometimes it isn't. Sometimes it's easy but there are times it isn't. At times the best you can do is just move forward a little or just stand up after you fell. The truth is if you're going the right way or I should say God's way then it is going to be okay. The scriptures talk of the righteous man getting up after falling again and again. It speaks of walking faithfully. Scriptures never speak of quitting, complacency, or even retiring.  Yes, we might retire from a profession but never from life. We are might not be able to do what we did, but we can still do what we can. Be that in our nineties and feeble or in our twenties and beat down by life. We can and need to get up and take the next step.  

Photo by dylan nolte on Unsplash

Let Them Go

 Back when Trump was first elected there were some who called for states to succeed from the Union. I suspect that with Biden's win there will be others calling for other states to leave. 

Perhaps it is time to let them go. 

The divide in this country perhaps needs to be settled not with one side forcing the other to submit but one side letting others leave. Perhaps we need for good fences to make good neighbors is approaching. 

The problem is the extremist on both sides have gone so far in their rhetoric that letting one side or the other go would be the equivalent of giving power to Hitler or Stalin. The future of the planet is at stake or of personal liberties. I doubt one, two, or even a dozen states are going to change the destiny of the planet. 

If we respect people let them go. The other option may be war and I believe we can be better than that. I would hope that we can be without division but that isn't always an option. I realize this could be considered unpatriotic but you can love two people but realize them staying together isn't a good thing. I love my country, but I also fear for what may come from the extremist on both sides.

Rest is important

 Yes, we all know this but often don't do it. I'm supposed to be on vacation so I'm going to do it. Now I challenge you to do the same; rest when you are supposed to. 

No excuses. 

Giving for Christmas

 

No long speeches or talks about giving. I have a few free codes for the audio version of Impossible to Forgive. If you would like one just ask. First come first serve. I only ask you to listen to it.

The Next Step

 There are times I wonder what the next project I ought to work on should be. I know there are some stories I need to finish but what about something bigger. When you've blogged every chapter in the Bible and created 8 journals out of it for people to follow along with it does make you wonder, What could it be? 

The problem is that I do not have a host of people nor a publisher with big bucks encouraging me. So I could ask why try to do something else? What I have however is the knowledge that each of us should use the talents we have to the best of our abilities, even and I might say, especially when no one is watching and maybe even when no one seems to care. 

I won't lay out what I might be doing but I challenge you to rise to the best you can do. If no one notices remember God does. I can't say it will be easy or that it will always feel worth it (it doesn't), but regret is something I can guarantee if you don't try. 

So Go For it!

Now if you accept this challenge leave a message in the reply. You don't have to say what it is just that you are going to accept the challenge to stretch yourself and do something big. 

There are no words.

 

The Apostle Paul said in Romans to rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep. I was reminded today again there are times when the words are hollow and can even be detrimental. Sometimes speaking the truth in love means not speaking and just showing truth by loving. Especially when people are facing death or the loss of a loved one. 

Words are powerful so I am reminded that often the right thing to do is not to use them. Yes, the person may be okay eventually and God will work it for good. However, it isn't good now and they aren't okay right now. The words though true at the wrong time hurt. So for all of us silent love is the best.