Fragile, Handle with Kid Gloves Only

FRAGILE, HANDLE WITH KID GLOVES ONLY
Have you or someone who know every been tempted to leave the church? Either for “just a few weeks” up to and possibly as far as “permanently”? Our Bible we use as the guide for our lives tells us to confess our sins. I confess, I have considered following through with the above-mentioned temptation. Temptation in and of itself is NOT a sin. We know Satan tried to tempt our Lord Jesus Christ. But, who, what, where, how, why, and how long we let Satan’s temptations affect us can be extremely sinful.
Why do the trials and temptations of life, which I refer to as T&T’s, have to come our way? I have my own answers why I feel they should not be at the doorstep of my life. But I know that none of my own answers hold water, sort to speak. But the Living Water of Life does have answers, and they are perfectly correct. I believe the Bible when it lets us know life’s T&Ts are necessary for our spiritual and mental growth, for our wellbeing. The one certainly affects the other. We must be possessors of the virtues of Love, Joy, Peace, Longsuffering, Gentleness, Goodness, Faith, Meekness, and Temperance in order to share them with others. These things are not easily obtained. We have to have our original earthly vessel changed from inside out. The master physician has to do work miracles in our lives, and transform our moral natures into works of art. Our lives must reflect the Shekinah, the glory, of God from within our being. We must be willing and ready to yield to his touch. Our character must become as his. There are lots of changes needing to be made in my life, maybe you feel that same way.
I do not like the exertion I experience when my spirit is being exercised. But I thank God for the trials and tribulations none the less, each and every one of them. For my T&T’s in this life I know have made me a better Christian today. You might be thinking, what in the world were you like before, if this is all the further you have come today? It is obvious perfection in my life has “NOT” occurred. I am often disappointed in my own progress to the point of discouragement. But God lifts me up, My God is soooooo good and faithful. He walks with me through hills and valleys of my life. I believe he does the same for all of us.
I am running the race of my life, a marathon. I cannot afford nor do I desire, to quit, I MUST NOT QUIT. Salvation is free, but there is cost, and we are instructed to count the cost. Jesus paid for our sins with his life, I must be willing to carry my cross and die to self. I must choose whom I will serve. The Bible says so; we are not our own masters. I can ‘will’ my life to God, to do his will by picking up and carrying my cross daily, be a living testimony to the love of God in my life. Or I can walk away from the cross that is mine to carry, live for self, thereby doing the bidding of Lucifer’s. Whomever I love my heart will follow, thereby determining my own eternal destiny. God is not willing that any should perish. I must not lose out on the chance of a lifetime, and I am speaking in terms of eternity, not our present earth time as we now are in. How can I just up and drop out of what some refer to as the “rat race”? And it is in certain respects just that. The human race daily can be found to be “hurling” themselves forward to catch the “golden ring” before leaving this world. Problem is, we “Ain’t Goanna Take It With Us” when this life we now live on planet earth ends. Only our good deeds, gold nor anything else, can pass through the fire to survive.
During our time on earth, we can only see in part what the other is going through. Help us to be tolerant and loving towards one another, forgiving of one another’s faults and shortcomings. Keep our home and church family together throughout eternity; Show us what we must do in order to support our brother and sisters in Christ, as well as those whom do not know you at present. Help us live lives that shine God’s light to guide those we meet onward on the straight and narrow road. Keep our hearts ready daily, all the day long, that your Holy Spirit be enabled to have His way in our life. That we do not faint nor falter in the days ahead in this our life. Lord help our footsteps trod the straight and narrow path to thy loving arms at roads end.
I did not get the name Sharon Rose for nothing; I came into this world loaded with thorns! I believe God knew I needed my name, to remind me I am a thorn in the garden of life, but by God’s grace I have opportunity to become a rose fit to reside in the kingdom of heaven with my heavenly Father. I see others around me whose stems have thorns as well, with the sweetest and most beautiful smelling rosebuds on them; they are my sisters and brothers. I love each and every one of them. And I hope that they might call me their little rosebud too. Jesus, the Rose of Sharon, the Lily of the Valley, sees each and every one of his children as being more beautiful than all our words together could ever think to say. God wants you and I to be sisters and brothers in Jesus Christ, to be part of the family of God for an eternity.
We must take care to handle others with the love of Jesus Christ. Our touch must be one as loving and tender as a lamb, with the touch of kid gloves.
Christ in us—living His life in us—by His Spirit.