The best life is a God First life

Tag: others

The Smile That Hides the Battle

It’s not always the person who looks depressed that needs a listening ear; it could very well be the one with the biggest smile. Scripture tells us to carry each other’s burdens (Galatians 6:2), to encourage one another and build each other up (1 Thessalonians 5:11), and to love one another as Jesus loved us (John 15:12)

If you’re dealing with a difficult struggle, you don’t need to carry it alone; in fact, let God’s word encourage you to share it with a trusted brother or sister in Christ. (1 Thessalonians 5:11,14) It’s Obvious: Jesus wants His servants to be there for one another, while Evil wants to separate us from each other, to bring us down so that we might feel lonely and search for answers in worldly things, far away from focusing on Jesus.

Jesus is the answer. He wants us to be prepared to defend ourselves from the spiritual darts of Satan’s worldly “solutions” with the whole armor of God that we may fight the internal spiritual fight against our unseen enemy and win.

Let’s lean on our brothers and sisters in Christ to help us don, mend, or replace our armor. This is a spiritual battle – Lean on Jesus and let his servants help.

“… If God is with us, who can be against us!“

“humble ourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you,”

And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken.”

James 4:10, Romans 8:31, Ecclesiastes 4:12
  • Galatians 6:2 (Share burdens)
  • Matthew 11:28-30 (Jesus’ invitation)
  • 1st Thessalonians 5:11 (encourage/build-up)
  • John 15:12 (Command to love)
  • 1st Peter 5:8 (satan)
  • Ephesians 6:10-20 (armor of God)
  • 1 Peter 5:7 (Cast your anxieties)
  • 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 (God’s Comfort that we may Comfort)
  • Hebrews 10:24-25 (Spur one another)

God First!

Shouting from the rooftops!

I will never regret doing so; in fact, I cherish having expressed my love both privately and publicly. One close to me teased that I was making other men look bad by posting this mushy stuff. In teasing, they said, “I told my wife when we got married that I loved her; if anything changes, I’ll let her know.

However, in my mind, this occasional public display of affection may have been slightly embarrassing for both of us, but I treasured her smiles and appreciation of my efforts more than what people might think, and shouted our love from the rooftops of social media.

Our Anniversary is approaching this coming Saturday, Feb 14th. I will probably remind her of the day’s significance, get her some flowers, a card, and some chocolates to enjoy. I will probably write and share something on that day, then read it to her, and she will enjoy all these efforts only in the moment.

Not everyone needs to write the mushy stuff or shout it from the rooftops, but while our loved ones are still here in mind and body, whether spouses, parents, grandparents, etc. It’s a valuable time we each have to lift up our loved ones in praise and love.

It’s been 10 years now since I wrote the following and posted it on Facebook. This was pre-Alzheimer’s, and Virginia loved and appreciated it.

“Your smile is my sunshine

Your voice is my song

Your mind intrigues me and baffles me some

Your laughter, my ocean

Your eyes are my stars

Your love is my heartbeat and a gift from above.

I love you, babe, and don’t mind shouting it from the rooftops of Facebook.

Oh… and happy Valentine’s Day, Wayne.”

“Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.” – Romans 12:10

“Therefore, encourage one another and build each other up, just as you are doing.” 1 Thessalonians 5:11

Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.”  – 1 John 3:18

Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Philippians 2:3

Ephesians 5:25, 1 Corinthians 13:4-7, 1 Peter 3:7, 1 John 4:19,

God First!

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