Today's Truth 
Ephesians 5:21 “Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.”

Friend to Friend 
"Mom, they were whispering to one another about the birthday party.  They didn't want me to hear because I am not invited," my daughter said with trembling voice as tears filled her big beautiful eyes.

My heart was breaking in half as I listened to how hurt she was.  "They are my best friends at school, Mom.  Why would they not invite me?"

I reached out to hug her, our arms wrapping around each other tightly as she turned her soft tear stained face toward my neck.  It was a familiar crying spot as she had buried her face there time and time again in the same position since she was a baby.  We helped each other without speaking a word for a while.  Sometimes there are just no words to make things better, so I cried with her.  One week later, while driving our daughter to school, she asked her dad in a quiet voice if he would please stop at the grocery store. 

"Why DaNae'?  Do you need something for school?"

"Well, sort of."

"What do you need, honey, because we are already going to be late."

"I need to buy a balloon for someone who is having a birthday party tonight."

"Who is it?"  I asked.

"Do you remember the girl who was whispering about her birthday party in front of me?  Well, I want to take a balloon to school for her."  I looked over at my husband and he looked at me, each of our hearts melting both with a sense of pride and of sadness.  We knew we had to stop even if it meant we would be late. It was worth it!

Da-Nae' walked happily into the grocery store and in a few moments came running out with a huge grin spread across her seventh grade face. Her balloon was flying high in the air with a pack of chewing gum hanging from the bottom, acting as a weight. She was the happiest girl in the world!

My husband and I were so blessed by our daughter's actions that morning.  She stooped to conquer feelings that could have been filled with anger and hurt.  Some people might ask why she would make a fool of herself after being treated the way she was or how she could lower herself after what her friend had done to her.  When Christ is the center of our lives, He empowers us to do things we could never do in our own human nature.  Our daughter chose not to be a martyr.  She chose to stoop a little so she could rise up on a much higher level.  She chose to reject her sadness about not being invited to the party.  She reaped the blessings of stooping to conquer her emotions and blessed her friend in spite of how she had been treated.  When was the last time you stooped to conquer? 

Let's Pray 
"Lord Jesus, please give me courage to stoop to conquer emotions that are not in perfect alignment with Your plan for me.  Help me to be a woman of character--- submitting to Your leading in my life each day.  Show me how to respond in a Godly way when I am hurt.  Lord Jesus, thank You for stooping to conquer both death and the grave for my salvation.  I pray my life will reflect the gratitude You deserve."  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Now It's Your Turn 
Hurt will come to each of us.  We can’t change that fact.  What we can change is the way we respond to hurtful situations in our lives.  Will we become bitter or better? 

Think of a hurt you have carried for a long time.  Think about how it has affected your life.  How did you first respond to the hurt?  What is your response today?

Ask the Lord to bind up your wounded heart and heal you completely.  Ask Him to give you such Godly character that every response is in alignment to His perfect will.

Allow Christ to fill all the empty places in your heart 

Understand that by stooping to conquer these emotions, you will defeat the enemy's ploy to destroy and ultimately win over sin!

Accept the truth that we are all made in the image of God and by submitting to one another as the scripture reference reminds us today, we will be reverencing God in the most beautiful way. 

Communication Skills for Applied Science 4

Achieving the Victory

"For this our light and transitory burden of suffering is achieving for us a weight of glory" (2 Cor. 4:17). (Weymouth)

It is the cry of the dear old hymn:
"Nearer my God to Thee, nearer to Thee, E'en tho' it be a cross that raiseth me."

It is the tree that suffers that is capable of polish. When the woodman wants some curved lines of beauty in the grain he cuts down some maple that has been gashed by the axe and twisted by the storm. In this way he secures the knots and the hardness that take the gloss.

"There is a peace that cometh after sorrow,
Of hope surrendered, not of hope fulfilled;
A peace that looketh not upon tomorrow,
But calmly on a tempest that it stilled.

"A peace there is, in sacrifice secluded,
A life subdued, from will and passion free;
'Tis not the peace that over Eden brooded,
But that which triumphed in Gethsemane."

"At their wit's end, they cry unto the Lord in their trouble, and he bringeth them out" (Ps. 107:27, 28).

Are you standing at "Wit's End Corner,"
Christian, with troubled brow?
Are you thinking of what is before you,
And all you are bearing now?
Does all the world seem against you,
And you in the battle alone?
Remember--at "Wit's End Corner"
Is just where God's power is shown.

Are you standing at "Wit's End Corner,"
Blinded with wearying pain,
Feeling you cannot endure it,
You cannot bear the strain,
Bruised through the constant suffering,
Dizzy, and dazed, and numb?
Remember--at "Wit's End Corner"
Is where Jesus loves to come.

Are you standing at "Wit's End Corner"?
Your work before you spread,
All lying begun, unfinished,
And pressing on heart and head,
Longing for strength to do it,
Stretching out trembling hands?
Remember--at. "Wit's End Corner"
The Burden-bearer stands.

Are you standing at "Wit's End Corner"?
Then you're just in the very spot
To learn the wondrous resources
Of Him who faileth not:
No doubt to a brighter pathway
Your footsteps will soon be moved,
But only at "Wit's End Corner"
Is the "God who is able" proved.
--Antoinette Wilson
 
Do not get discouraged; it may be the last key in the bunch that opens the door. --Stansifer

Matthew 6:19-21
Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:
But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.