Always with Me

Recently, I have fought on the battlefield of my mind again, warring against the lies in my head telling me that I am no good and not worthy of people's love. I was able to hold onto the truth that my family loves me, but was fighting to see why they would. It was a rough few days. Through it all, however, God communicated in a number of different ways that He was always with me.

As I mentioned holding onto the fact that my family loves me, I was also able to hold onto the truth that God loves me, too. It was a truth that I could feel in the core of my being. At one point when it was really hard, I asked Him, "Lord, could I just be done?" it was as if I received a soft hug from the one who never left my side and a quiet, 

"No, my child." 

My family could tell I was struggling even if I wasn't verbalizing it, and they often told me "I love you." As much as I felt like I didn't want to hear that, it was exactly what I needed to hear over and over. I got hugs and cuddles, even (and especially) from the least cuddly family member.

During low moments, if we had music playing, the songs seemed to be communicating from God directly to me. He often uses music with me. I would just sit quietly and listen to the words, letting them do their work. (I'd usually share with you the specific songs, but I wasn't mentally in a place to write them down this time around.)

Another way I felt God's presence was through soap bubbles. Yes, soap bubbles! When washing dishes, I'll often puff the soap container, which causes it to release a few happy little bubbles. During my battle, I would puff the soap, and MANY bubbles would float up. Instead of floating off like they usually do, they floated right back in my face - every time! Okay Jesus, you got my attention that time. 

Once, a specific word triggered the war again. I left the room and knelt down, sobbing, with my head against a table. I said, "Jesus, I need you." I raised my head and saw on the table a figurine of Jesus praying, much in the same position I was at that moment. There - right there in my moment of need - was a reminder of Jesus, that He was with me at that moment - that He was (and is) always with me. He understands what I'm going through and He'll always be by my side, every time I fight the battle.

One day last week, I prayed for God to help me again. I prayed for Him to help me "fight the devil's schemes," to "take my stand," to "put on the full armor." I realized then that I had just prayed the Bible verse that I was teaching my niece that week (Ephesians 6:11). He knew that I, too, would need that specific verse last week.

If you find yourself in a situation like this, where the lies in your head continue to attack you, hold tightly to Jesus and keep fighting! Turn on some Christian music. Read your Bible. Seriously. Continue to draw closer and closer to God and He will draw close to you. No matter how you feel, you are not alone. You don't have to be. I know it's hard to reach out to someone, especially in those moments, but if you can, please find someone with whom you can talk. (More people fight these battles than you may realize.) Fight those lies with truth, and refuse to believe the lies anymore!

Hebrews 13:5b - "because God has said, 'Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.'"

Deuteronomy 31:6 - "Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you."

Joshua 1:9 - "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go."

James 4:8a - "Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you."

The Treasure and the Thief

 

One night recently, I was lying awake. For some reason, sleep would not come. When I find myself with difficulty falling asleep, I often use that time to talk to God and pray for others, which is what I did this night. 

First of all, I felt overwhelmed and amazed by all the good ideas God gave me during that time! I had to get out of bed and go in the other room to write a list of all the ideas He gave me because they were good and I didn't want to forget them by the morning! He gave me ideas about how to help each of my children with a different aspect of school that was troubling them (or me for them).

At one point (after returning to bed), as I was praying for different people, I prayed for my children. I prayed that the Lord would protect them as they were sleeping. I prayed that He would keep "the thief" far from them. That was when God led me to this message.

My children are a treasure given to me by my Master to take care of until He returns. 

Jesus told a parable that is recorded in Matthew 25:14-30 about a master going away and entrusting some of his money to three servants. Two servants wisely invested the money and increased what their master had left with them. One servant buried the money and did nothing with it. He didn't even put it in a bank to gain interest. A similar parable is recorded in Luke 19:11-27. 

How do I want Jesus to find the treasure with which he entrusted me? 

I want Him to find that my children know Him, love Him, and follow hard after His will. I want Him to find them working to bring others into His kingdom and family, showing His love and compassion to others. I want Him to find them doing the right thing all the time, no matter what, because they want to please Him, and not just other humans. I want Him to find them full of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. May they have clean hands and pure hearts before their God and King!

How can I invest in my treasure? 

Will I let "life" just take its course and shape them however it may - or will I choose to invest in the treasure so my Master may find more belonging to Him when He returns than when He went away? Letting the world shape them without my influence would be synonymous to squandering my wealth. I can invest by refusing to shy away from doing the hard work of discipline. I can work to train my children to be not only good, moral people who are honest, kind, compassionate, generous, etc., but I can also teach them to know Jesus - to know about His character, to read their Bibles, to pray, to listen for His direction, and to obey. I can teach them how to love God and to love people. In so doing, my investment may have a positive effect on not only my children but also their friends, their friends' families, their future coworkers, their future spouses. I may never know how many lives are affected by my investment in the two treasures I have, but God will know. He will know not only the number of lives affected, but also my efforts with regard to His treasure.

I remember when my babies were born - especially the first one. I remember rocking them at night, thanking God for entrusting me with them. I prayed that I would do a good job and that He would be pleased with the outcome. I recognized that they are ultimately His and only "on loan" to me for whatever time He has set. I felt honored to be entrusted with such treasure!

What if you don't have children? 

You can still invest in others - at any age! When in high school, I believed that my calling would be to raise children to love the Lord. I worked toward that calling for a few years before I even had any children of my own. I still invest in children other than my own two children - nieces and nephews, friends' children (who often feel like nieces and nephews to me), speech-language therapy clients, children at church, children in Vacation Bible School, etc. I invest in my church family, whether they are younger than me, my age, or older. I love being to talk to others about how God is working in our lives. You can do this, too! 

Encourage someone today to grow in their relationship with Jesus!

What about you?

What is your treasure? Even if you don't have children of your own, in whom can you invest for the kingdom of God? For whom will He speak to you and say, "Well done, good and faithful servant?"

1 Peter 5:8 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.

Matthew 6:19-21 Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

John 10:10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. [This is Jesus speaking.]

Matthew 24:43 But understand this: If the homeowner had known in which watch of the night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into.

- I recommend reading the rest of this passage (Matthew 24:36-51) to get the whole context. It's definitely worth it. If you don't have a paper Bible handy, check out the Bible app by YouVersion, or biblehub.com.

As Cheap as Dirt But as Expensive as Gold

I'd like to welcome a guest writer to Striving for God's Glory! My ten-year-old son is excited to share with you all.

As Cheap as Dirt But as Expensive as Gold

When you think you might want to be a Christian, and accept God in your heart, it is as cheap as dirt but at the same time as expensive as gold. You don't have to pay anything, but it is so expensive because of how valuable it is. It's like you feel like you just found a cave, a big diamond, or a very large chunk of gold in your backyard. It is a great feeling, that you are doing what God wants for you. 

Here are some verses about getting saved and the kingdom of heaven:

 "This water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ," 1 Peter 3:21 NIV 

 “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field." Matthew 13:44

What Itching Ears Want to Hear

 

I'd like to start with 2 Timothy 4:3-6, which says:

"For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry."

On Friday, I was thinking about the Netflix documentary film called "The Social Dilemma." I haven't seen it myself, since we don't have Netflix, but I have heard that it discusses the dangers of social media and how - based on what we post, like, view, etc. - certain content is then filtered toward or away from us. This then leads to you only seeing specific content, often that with which you agree. For example, if you support or against a certain position on an issue, you will see content that matches your stance.

The danger with this is that it causes a greater rift between people of differing beliefs. Those who lean more toward "X" start leaning further toward "X," and those who lean more toward "Y" start leaning further toward "Y." We start seeing ourselves as so incredibly separated from one another that anyone who leans the opposite direction is seen as a fool. An imbecile. Trash.

Oh, the dangers of this!

Ever since I heard about the documentary a few months ago, I started monitoring what I see on social media. Is what I see all geared toward one specific way of thinking on any specific issue? I haven't seen anything in particular, but I prefer to stay away from discussing certain things online. I did notice a greater preponderance of Bible verses and stories about what God has done in people's lives, but as far as social and political issues - I equally see posts from different sides.

On Friday, I started thinking how it can be with us in church circles, too. If we listen to the speakers, teachers, and sermons that only come from our denomination, who only speak about certain issues (or avoid speaking about certain "uncomfortable" issues), from whom we never feel challenged but only justified...I think people in this boat are floating in dangerous waters.

I'm not saying to be wishy-washy about your beliefs or convictions. I'm saying be open to listen to others. How in the world are you ever going to bring someone to know Christ if the only people with whom you associate supposedly already know Him? How are you ever going to grow, to test your faith and learn more about His great love and purposes for your life if you think you've already reached that perfect "sweet spot"?

On Saturday, I began hearing about people leaving Facebook and Twitter to move to alternate social media sites such as Parler and MeWe. My understanding from those posting about moving to these sites and from reading a few articles about each of them, they both currently have a large right-wing, conservative base of members. Again, I'm going to try to avoid politics here, but I personally had some red flags go up.

If people are jumping off the Facebook and Twitter ships to board other ships with more like-minded people, won't the expansion of division only increase? If people continue to share and bounce their own beliefs off each other, won't they just become more stubbornly adhered to them? Will they only be listening to what their itching ears want to hear?

I have many friends and family members with whom I have the opportunity to communicate on Facebook with whom I wouldn't often otherwise have the opportunity. Many of them have views different from mine. Sometimes it makes me sad. Sometimes my heart hurts. Sometimes I feel attacked because of hurtful, hateful things they say about a specific group or "type of person" with which I might identify. Many times, I go immediately to prayer - for them and for myself. But if I leave - where would be my opportunity to talk with them and to have any level of open dialogue with them? I'm not saying to have conversations through posts that are open to the public, but more personal conversations, one-on-one, even if it be through keyboards and modems, etc. How can I ever hope to change someone's mind, or allow myself to grow, if I'm only hearing what I already believe?

I attend a Baptist church, but I have friends from other denominations and religions. On Friday, I talked to a friend from an Apostolic church. On Saturday, I listened to sermons from a Methodist minister and a message from a friend who is Mormon. Do I agree with everything they believe or say? No. Do I agree with some? Yes. Is there room for conversation? Yes! Did I derive some opportunities for growth from what I heard? Yes! 

It is still my job to test and approve what I hear to see if it matches up with God's word and His character. It is still for me to decide whether I hear truth or not. Satan has a sneaky way of inserting partial truths and tricking people with subtleties. It's not easy to discern truth in all situations, but it's important.

Maybe I don't know what I'm talking about. Maybe these other social media sites are (or will be) better than the current fare. I understand some people are moving because their views were being censored and deleted. I understand wanting a place to freely express beliefs. Please know that my desire is not to tell people not to try these other sites, nor to condemn anyone who moves to another social media site. (Seriously, how ridiculous would that be - to get defensive about social media providers!) I am merely suggesting that you consider your reasons and the results of whatever your choice may be. Maybe it's considering your participation on any social media site.

This is not meant to be only about social media. There is a bigger theme here.

My purpose in all of this is to implore you to consider the choices you make about what you hear and with whom you interact. Consider whether you are still able to have an open dialogue with people who believe differently than you do. Are you still able to show concern and compassion for them, or do you immediately have a negative impression about them?

As 2 Timothy 4:6 says, we need to "keep [our] head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of [our] ministry."

This, then, is my challenge to you: 

- Consider what you hear and read. Is it all one-sided? Does it all agree with what you already believe? Is is what your itching ears want to hear?

- Consider your mission. If you are a Christian, your mission is to tell others about Jesus, and hopefully lead them to have personal, growing relationships with Him. Are you able to do that? If not, what can you do to make that possible?

Do the work. 

Endure the hardship. 

Do the work of an evangelist. 

Discharge the duties of our ministries.

Getting Ready for a Miracle

"Everyone wants a miracle. 

But here's the catch: no one wants to be 

in a situation that necessitates one! 

Of course, you can't have one without the other."

That's a quote from Mark Batterson in his book called The Grave Robber: How Jesus Can Make Your Impossible Possible (p. 14). Our church Bible study group is currently studying the book, which talks about the seven miracles performed by Jesus in the book of John in the Bible. It purports to help readers look for miracles in their own lives, pray expectantly for them, and more. More than seeking miracles, Batterson invites readers to seek "the only One who can perform them" (p. 14).

Isn't the quote at the opening at least somewhat true? We all want to see miracles - to experience them and know they happen. But, consider the situations in which we think or hear of miracles occurring - healing of illnesses or injuries, provision in times of lacking (job, finances, food, shelter, etc.), saving from horrible events (natural disasters, punishment by government, etc.). Do any of us wish ourselves to be in one of those positions? I don't typically hear anyone say, "I wish I could be terminally sick or injured so I could experience a miracle in my life." Or replace that with any of the other options. You still wouldn't hear people ask for such circumstances.

Over the past weekend, my daughter and I were listening to some music and one of the songs we heard was "Famous For" by Tauren Wells (2020). The chorus says:

"Make way through the waters

Walk me through the fire

Do what You are famous for

What You are famous for

Shut the mouths of lions

Bring dry bones to life and

Do what You are famous for

What You are famous for

I believe in You

God, I believe in You"

If we want God to make a way through the waters, we need to journey through the waters. 

If we want God to walk us through the fire, we need to be in the fire. 

If we want God to shut the mouths of lions, we need to be in the presence of hungry lions.

 If we want to see God bring dry bones to life, we need to be surrounded by dry bones.

Where are you right now? Are you ready to take that step out of the boat and walk on the water to Jesus, or are you still sitting in the cozy cabin on the shore? No, it's not an easy step. It takes faith in the One who performs miracles.

Are you getting ready for a miracle?

Lessons from Moana

From Wednesday, July 15, 2020:

"Here. This is where my favorite moment of today happened. It was around 10 a.m., but I can't imagine anything topping it."

If you saw my Facebook post on that day, you may remember that this was the morning after we watched the movie Moana for the first time. The kids and I took a walk around my parents' neighborhood on this morning and visited some familiar spots from my childhood. This playground is not one of them, but the tennis courts behind it were there. My stepsister, Stephanie gave me tennis lessons there.

Back on topic, about the time we approached this playground, the kids were talking about the movie and told me they loved Moana and all the Christian elements they saw. I had seen a couple, but not wanting to lead them, I said I'd love to hear what it was that they had noticed. We talked for at least half an hour! The kids bounced back and forth with the different correlations they had made. I was absolutely amazed by all the lessons they pulled out of the movie. They found so many!

Here is a list of what I could remember after we got back to the house and I had paper and pen available. Spoiler alert! If you haven't watched the movie yet, you might want to stop here until after you have seen it. I will be mentioning parts of the movie below.

Lessons from Moana

• What you think is good and you depend on can turn out to attack you.
• We need to consider to what we give our devotions.
• In the movie: The coconuts and the Kakamora
• Know who you are and whose you are.
• We recognized this as a major theme throughout the movie.
• We may need to remind ourselves of this repeatedly.
• We are NOT our talents, skills, careers, possessions,... That may be something special about us, but it is not who we are.
• In the movie: Moana repeated this often. Maui needed to know who he was. So did Te Ka.
• Jesus came for humans and gave everything for us - and yet some people still reject him.
• In the movie, Maui's past made us think of this.
• Anger can hide a person's true self.
• We have to look past exteriors.
• In the movie: This was toward the end, with Te Ka and Moana.
• We should also be aware of what our exteriors communicate.
• In the movie: Maui considered Moana a princess because she was a girl with a pet.
• Satan throws flaming arrows at us.
• In the movie: Like the blow darts from the Kakamora
• Extra lesson: God can use our sins and temptations as well.
• He might do this to get us in line with His plan and purpose.
• In the movie: The ocean hits Maui with a blow dart and he is in a position to teach Moana how to sail.
• Sometimes we say no to God. We can choose to not accept the role He offers us.
• Sometimes God lines things us so we have to follow His will.
• In the movie: The island had no more fish, so something had to be done.
• (Side note: Don't be fooled into thinking we can thwart God's will by saying no. He will accomplish His will. Someone else might get the benefit of being involved in a certain way rather than us, though.)
• People can distract and discourage us - even well-meaning family members.
• In the movie: Moana's parents tried to stop her from being drawn to the sea. Also, Maui told her, "The ocean chose wrong."
• People can encourage us. Know who your support people are.
• In the movie: Moana's grandmother encouraged her to follow her calling.
• Satan will try to convince us to stay where we feel safe and comfortable, without need.
• In the movie: Moana's parents and the villagers tried to convince her that there was no need to ever leave their island, that it had everything they would ever need and they were happy.
• Sometimes messages can be repeated so many times and strongly that it can drown out God's call to us.
• These messages can come from family members, our society/culture, etc. - even the church sometimes.
• In the movie: Moana's parents and the villagers repeatedly told her there was no need for her to ever leave the island.
• Extra lesson: God keeps calling!
• In the movie: The ocean continued to captivate Moana and draw her towards it.
• God has a plan for us - even from early in our lives!
• In the movie: The ocean "chose" Moana when she was a toddler.
• Jeremiah 1:5 - "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations."
• God rewards us when we obey.
• In the movie: At the end, Moana gets the shell. (Plus, her village is saved!)
• God gives us one step at a time.
• In the movie: At the beginning, the ocean gave Moana a shell. Once she got that one, another shell was revealed...and then another, and so on.
• We may not see what God is doing, but after we have obeyed, sometimes we are allowed to see the full circle.
• In the movie: Toddler Moana was collecting shells at the beginning, but wasn't able to keep one. At the end of the movie, the ocean gave her a shell.
• You can serve God, even if you are young.
• In the movie: Moana was young, but wise. She set an example for the others.
• 1 Timothy 4:12 - "Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity."
• We need to be voyaging.
• Don't let fear keep us from doing what we're supposed to do.
• We need to be going outside of the church. We need to be willing to leave the comfortable and familiar surroundings of our churches and Christian friends.
• In the movie: Moana's tribe used to be voyagers, but they let fear stop them.
• We don't all have the same call.
• In the movie: Toddler Moana loved the stories her grandma told, but the other children didn't. Also, the ocean chose her, not the whole tribe.
• Being a Christian sets us apart.
• In the movie: Moana had to leave the island on her own.
• (Side note and extra lesson: Don't be unwilling to accept help, though.)
• In the movie: Maui helps Moana. In ways, so do other characters. Moana's grandmother did her own things and that set her apart.
• Following God isn't always easy. Sometimes we want to quit. Sometimes we get another chance.
• Sometimes we have to leave people, places, and things we love.
• Take risks.
• In the movie: Moana had to do some hard things. For one, she had to leave home and the approval of her parents and tribe.
• Don't get cocky.
• In the movie: Moana released an arrow line and said, "Oh yeah. I did that," only to have another onslaught of attacks. Also, Maui considered himself a hero, but was told that was not how humans remembered him.
• Be willing to learn.
• In the movie: Moana went into the cavern to search for the answer to her question. She also learned to sail.
• The hero is not always who you expect it to be. Look for the unlikely heroes.
• In the movie: Moana was a young girl. It wasn't the strong, magical demi-god who was the hero.
• You can be a hero.
• Evil can be disguised or hidden.
• In the movie: Tamatoa (the sparkly crab) was hidden under all his glistening treasure, something that could be quite enticing to some.
• People can mislead us and put us in bad situations.
• In the movie: Maui knew who Tamatoa was and what to expect from him, but he didn't warn Moana about what to expect. Earlier, Maui also tricked Moana into getting trapped in a cave.

My children made my heart so happy when they shared all of these with me! Now, I'll have to watch the movie again, because it is going to be so much more special to me with all of these lessons.

3 John 4 - "I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth."

A Brobdingnagian Consideration

**I'll bet you're wondering about the word "Brobdingnagian." Stick with me and I'll explain further down.

There are so many issues today, and approaching any of them can be like opening a can of worms - or maybe like opening a bee hive. (Don't let our bees fool you; they are really the most docile bees ever!)

The Issues
There are many debates in our current worldwide situation with the COVID-19 virus:

mask or no mask

reopen businesses or not

the importance of social distancing

whether you can get the virus from objects touched

vaccine or no vaccine

contact tracing or no tracing

...and more!

The Responses

Of course, there are always numerous "hot button" topics and debates in life, but it seems like that number has increased significantly with this one virus. People respond to these debates in various ways. We may: 

immediately refute the claims made

respond at a later time

 talk about it with someone else (who will agree with us)

refuse to get involved

How do you respond when you see or hear one of these debates? How do you view the person(s) making the claims? In our current culture, people tend to attack others - very severely, in my opinion - simply for disagreeing with their opinion. Someone may be accused of being stupid, inhumane, the worst scum on the planet, told to kill themselves, and receive many comments of increasing vulgarity and rudeness, just for stating what they believe on social media or in response to an online news article. Personally, I generally choose not to get involved in a debate, but will sometimes respond later (often in writing - like this). However, this post is not about my views on any of these debates. This is about how we make our decisions about them.

Here are a few verses to consider:

Proverbs 15:1 - A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.

Proverbs 11:12 - Whoever derides their neighbor has no sense, but the one who has understanding holds their tongue.

Proverbs 25:15 - Through patience a ruler can be persuaded, and a gentle tongue can break a bone.

The Decisions

How do you make decisions when debates arise like these? I'm not talking about how you decide how to respond, but how do you decide what you truly believe about each one of them? How do you decide which viewpoint makes the most sense? How do you decide what is right? Honestly, at this time, everything is so polarized and extreme that there is not much common ground in the middle. With that in mind, you might consider reading this article from the Victoria Advocate newspaper, printed on May 21, 2020: We'll find better discourse in the middle ground.

How do you decide what to do if you disagree, but it is a governmental policy, such as the shelter-in-place orders? Does your decision-making differ if you expect it to be for the short-term or long-term? How do you decide which battles are worth fighting?

The Bible is filled with a plethora of verses that can guide us. I notice an opportunity to include a new word about which our family learned recently: Brobdingnagian. It means "marked by tremendous size," according to the Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary. Also according to the dictionary, it refers to "Brobdingnag, the imaginary land of giants in Gulliver's Travels, by Jonathan Swift" and came into usage around 1728. So, the list of verses from the Bible for us to consider is Brobdingnagian! It is so immense, honestly, that I will only include some here. This will assuredly not be a complete list. I know it's long, but I hope you'll read through all these verses and see which ones God might press into your own heart.

As you make your decisions - about anything - I encourage you to check your Bible and seriously take some time in prayer, asking God to show you His viewpoint and to make it your own. Ask Him to help you see the issues and the people involved the way He does.

Also, consider what the issue is changing. Ask if the change compromises God's commands, or if it is an issue of preference. Unfortunately for all the people-pleasers, we can never make everyone happy. Maybe it's more fortunate than unfortunate to know that. As I've often told my children, the expectation is to "always do the right thing, no matter what."

A Not-So Brobdingnagian List of Bible Verses

Romans 12:3 - For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.

Romans 14:1 - Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on disputable matters.

Romans 14:13 - Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother's way.

Romans 15:1 - We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves.

Genesis 1:27 - So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.

John 1:3 - Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.

1 Corinthians 6:12 - "Everything is permissible for me" - but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is permissible for me" - but I will not be mastered by anything.

1 Corinthians 10:23-23 - "Everything is permissible" - but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is permissible" - but not everything is constructive. Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others.

1 Corinthians 8:9 - Be careful, however, that the exercise of your freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weak.

Philippians 4:6 - Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 - All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Romans 12:2 - Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Romans 13:1 - Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. (You can read further, through verse 7.)

Acts 5:29 - Peter and the other apostles replied: "We must obey God rather than man!"

Titus 3:9 - But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law, because these are unprofitable and useless.

Proverbs 20:3 - It is to a man's honor to avoid strife, but every fool is quick to quarrel.

Proverbs 8:7-8 - Whoever corrects a mocker invites insult; whoever rebukes a wicked man incurs abuse. Do not rebuke a mocker or he will hate you; rebuke a wise man and he will be wiser still.

James 1:19-20 - My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires.

Romans 12:18 - If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.

Psalm 133:1 - How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity!

Ephesians 4:3 - Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.

Matthew 5:5 - Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

Matthew 5:9 - Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.

1 Peter 3:8 - Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another, by sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble.

Philippians 2:3-4 - Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.

Ephesians 6:10-11 - Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes.

Romans 12:19 - Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord.

Deuteronomy 1:30 - The LORD your God, who is going before you, will fight for you, as he did for you in Egypt, before your very eyes

Ephesians 4:31-32 - Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

1 Thessalonians 4:11-12 - Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.