Thoughts for a friend

I cannot print his email to me, but it is filled with discouragement and visions of failure. I can print my response.

Sometimes, when I have my Christianity thrown in my face, it is just plain old fashion resentment/persecution/self-loathing on the part of the accuser. Whether I have it coming or not, It always leads to self-examination, and sometimes (often) to correction (Confession: I tend to be very self-righteous in my walk), so that I am looking to the wisdom of Christ through the Holy Spirit to keep me on the King's Highway (as described in Bunyon's Pilgrim's Progress), discarding things that may have become idols, and as a prompter for prayer concerning my walk and how it intersects with those around me (which, when there is correction, causes new persecution/condemnation). Yes I get frustrated, angry, losing patience (behaviors that affect my witness), and I direct a lot of these emotions at myself. This is what Christ promised us (Matthew 5:11-12), especially when He talks about taking up our daily cross, and/or dying to self (Mark 8:34, Roman 7:6). It is not easy for me, and I know it is not easy for you. Pray for wisdom, as I will pray for you and your need for wisdom. Thank God for the opportunity to show Christian character despite the oppressiveness of the situation it is a part of. Sanctification is a life-long process that will never be complete until we die and stand before the throne. And there will be times we fail but we will not be disqualified (1 Corinthians 9:27), we will not be out of the race (Acts 20:24).

Remember that 'the Word BECAME FLESH', that is, God didn't inhabit a body through Christ, but became FLESH and all that it entails, human nature in its totality: body, soul, spirit, will and emotions. Christ KNOWS what you and I and everyone else goes through. He knows our weaknesses and struggles, and he experienced not only what IT IS to be human, but what IT IS to experience the wrath of God.

I get very frustrated here at work, and God keeps closing doors that I find open that would lead me out of here. I wasn't here 15 minutes today when I found myself struggling not to say the words to my 'boss' that would get me fired. I am still struggling not to rant and rave to my co-workers about this perceived insult/offense to my person and abilities. Last week I wanted a separation from my wife, not a divorce, but separate living quarters I could go to get away from her and the stress that she causes me. Satan constantly whispers in my ears and I need to constantly focus on Christ, even when I am 'right' and the others are wrong. Once asking his mother (Susanna Wesley) for a definition of sin, John Wesley received a response fit for theology books. "Take this rule," she wrote to John. "Whatever weakens your reason, impairs the tenderness of your conscience, obscures your sense of God, or takes off your relish of spiritual things; in short, whatever increases the strength and authority of your body over your mind, that thing is sin to you, however innocent it may be in itself."

I think I wrote enough. I hope this is an encouragement, and if not, then know that I do keep you in Prayer.