Sometimes...

in my last post i talked about standing strong. can i just say that sometimes it is HARD to Stand Strong?

Things happen. Life goes on. Things are said. And yet, we are to Stand Strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. How are we to react/respond when tempted to give-up? We are to press on. Let His joy be our strength, as in the book of Nehemiah "The joy of the Lord is your strength".  What about when we fall, and we haven't stood strong? We can confess our sins, and He who has called us is faithful and just to forgive us of our sins.  What aobut when we are faced with slanderers/deceivers? There is anger that rises up within us when slander happens. And yet, we are to forebear. Confront if we can with love and boldness, but if we can't...forebear, knowing that Christ is the Defender of our Soul. He is the Just Judge.

For me, i know that i need to be walking in the fruit of the Spirit..love, joy, PEACE, patience, gentleness, goodness, self-control, in the power of HIS might. It is in my weakness that His strength is perfected.

Self Control. Standing Strong, by NOT giving in to what we would REALLY like to do, or say. Standing Strong by confessing when we have fallen, and receiving the forgiveness that was already purchased for us at the cross. Standing Strong when words are said against us that are untrue.

OIY. Lord, right now i need Your strength to make me be able to Stand Strong. You alone are my Refuge. My Defender. My Shield. Blessed be Your awesome name.
~Amen.

Hopefully this made some sense... :)

for all of us...

this thought came to me last night as i was praying for my children, and i am now praying it for all of us, as Christ-ones.

   Hold Fast. Stand Strong. Stay True.

May we all Hold Fast to the Word of God. May it be our guide, and may we know it so well, that we can recognize the counterfeit.

Your word is a lamp to my feet
 And a light to my path.  Psalm 119:105

May we all Stand Strong in the days of adversity. When we are going through tough times. When we want to live by our feelings. When everything seems to be going wrong. May we be strengthened in the inner man, in Christ Jesus. May we have our feet firmly planted on the Rock of Christ.

 ¹⁶ that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory,
to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man,
¹⁷ that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; Ephesians 3:16-17a

May we all Stay True to the call of God on our lives. May we not fall prey to false doctrines, or half-truths that are making their way in to some of the churches today. May we be like Stephen, and Stay True no matter what the cost.

When they heard these things they were cut to the heart,
and they gnashed at him with their teeth. 
But he, being full of the Holy Spirit,
gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God,
 and Jesus standing at the right hand of God, 
and said, “Look! I see the heavens opened
 and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!”
  Then they cried out with a loud voice, stopped their ears,
and ran at him with one accord;
 and they cast him out of the city and stoned him.
And the witnesses laid down their clothes
 at the feet of a young man named Saul. 
And they stoned Stephen as he was calling on God and saying,
 “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”
Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice,
 “Lord, do not charge them with this sin.”
And when he had said this, he fell asleep.  Acts 7:54-60

I pray you were encouraged as you read that :)