Good morning! How are we faithing? We've talked a lot about actions and reactions. I totally understand when someone gets in your grill and disses you. Our hackles stand up and we're ready to fight but have you ever paused for a split second, swept your hackles down and responded not in kind? Hard I know but Jesus was our example of that. Oh he flipped some tables and stood strong when he needed to but typically he responded with grace and wisdom rather than violence. We need to be in the Word and understand that this life is not always rosy nor is it all depressive. Paul explains it thusly;

Eph 4:28-32  Let him who stole steal no more, but rather let him labor, working with his hands the thing which is good, so that he may have something to give to him who needs.  Let not any filthy word go out of your mouth, but if any is good to building up in respect of need, that it may give grace to the ones hearing.  And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you are sealed until the day of redemption.  Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and tumult and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake has forgiven you. 

That last line always speaks to me. I know what was forgiven in me and that remembrance keeps me from unforgiveness or at least an understanding of where the cad before me may be.

Heavenly Father, Thank you for redemption. Thank you for a heart for you. Help us see where we need to stand strong and where we need to be tender. We praise you Lord and it is in Jesus' name we pray, amen