Living Your Life...

I wasn't going to blog today, because yesterday's blog was long enough to last a week! :0) But in reading my bible randomly today (because I just like to flip around and read different stuff) I found Romans 12. The heading says "Place Your Life Before God" and I just really liked what these verses said today. Here is The Message Bible version (which is usually the one I read, and compare to my NIV/NKJ - but it's written more like I talk so it makes more sense to me)

"If you preach, just preach God's Message, nothing else; if you help, just help, don't take over; if you teach, stick to your teaching; if you give encouraging guidance, be careful that you don't get bossy; if you're put in charge, don't manipulate; if you're called to give aid to people in distress, keep your eyes open and be quick to respond; if you work with the disadvantaged, don't let yourself get irritated with them or depressed by them. Keep a smile on your face.

Love from the center of who you are; don't fake it. Run for dear life from evil; hold on for dear life to good. Be good friends who love deeply; practice playing second fiddle.

Don't burn out; keep yourselves fueled and aflame. Be alert servants of the Master, cheerfully expectant. Don't quit in hard times; pray all the harder. Help needy Christians; be inventive in hospitality.

Bless your enemies; no cursing under your breath. Laugh with your happy friends when they're happy; share tears when they're down. Get along with each other; don't be stuck-up. Make friends with nobodies; don't be the great somebody.

Don't hit back; discover beauty in everyone. If you've got it in you, get along with everybody. Don't insist on getting even; that's not for you to do. "I'll do the judging," says God. "I'll take care of it."

Our Scriptures tell us that if you see your enemy hungry, go buy that person lunch, or if he's thirsty, get him a drink. Your generosity will surprise him with goodness. Don't let evil get the best of you; get the best of evil by doing good." (Romans 12:6-21)

Just good words overall, and a great way to start my morning! It seems so easy, but a lot of what is asked can be so hard! Especially the 'enemy' part! :0) I've always heard (and said) "Kill 'em with kindness" - "Keep your friends close, but your enemies closer" - but how hard is this really?? It's SO hard for me! But the bible also says in John chapter 4, "the person who refuses to love doesn't know the first thing about God, because God IS love - so you can't know him if you don't love." So my challenge today - Love my enemies....love helps us give compassion, gives people a break and can excuse their faults and give us more of an understanding of why they act the way they do....