Noticing Paterns

[Aleksander]

Satan KNOWS what things temp us and he will use those things on us again and again.

And again, and again, and again... like an army of siege catapults during the siege of the castle, until the castle falls. Fail to use the Shield of Faith and your castle is in rubbles soon enough.

I think these kinds of people are there for a number of reasons: we are to do what we can to help them rid themselves of those attitudes and we are to learn from them and not fall into the same attitude.

[dcampsart]

God is working on my stubborn habit of... when I'm reviled...BOY... do I want to revile in return! Can you imagine how Christ entrusted the Father who judges righteously? That means to me... it's UP TO ME to trust the Father who knows the heart. He knows when people are evil toward me without cause. Whether it's Satan's imps or just rotten people, I KNOW nothing's going to change in the situation until I put into practice what God says to do. Whenever I've made a determined effort to simply keep my mouth shut... EVEN WHEN IT HURTS... God seems to miraculously change the other person... sometimes rather quickly. I've noticed that people sometimes change even faster if, after deciding to keep my mouth shut and not revile in return, to either DO something nice for them or to simply return with "God bless you" right smack dab in the middle of their spurting out fumings. After doing something like that the verse telling us "Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good" comes to life. I watched one person go simply silent and look dumbfounded, as if they really didn't know how to comeback after I said "God bless you." I truly believe that we wrestle with the unseen forces behind people's negative actions toward us. I believe a lot of the same types coming around again and again is going to continue until I start agreeing to behave like a Christian. Trust me... I know... it hurts to grow up and let go of fear and walk in

Romans 12:9-19

9 Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. 10 Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; 11 not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; 12 rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; 13 distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality.

14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. 16 Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion.

17 Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. 18 If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. 19 Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written,