The Plumbline

There are times when my BFF says something and I fake being 'hurt' about whatever she said - like walking away with head hung low, sagging my shoulders, or just putting on a pout. It is all in jest, but there are times when we all say or do things that really hurt another. We may not intend it, but the words come across curtly, the actions seem a little too rehearsed and stiff, or the response just doesn't match the moment. What happens next is critical. We can internalize the hurt so it does us harm, or we can externalize it in a way that harms another. Another option is to learn to actually recognize the offense as an opportunity to grow and to solidify the relationship. Overlook an offense and bond a friendship; fasten on to a slight and—good-bye, friend! (Proverbs 17:9) There are definitely times in life when an offense seems just too significant to overlook - there is just something about that offense that makes you think it is "justifiable" to remain angry ...

Prepared:  properly expectant, organized, or equipped; ready; to put in proper condition or readiness.  The opposite of being prepared is being rather disorganized or unaware.  There are probably a lot of things in life we are neither prepared for, nor equipped to handle at the moment.  They seem to creep up on us and then we are scrambling to find the solution and just struggling the whole time to keep our heads above water.  There are numerous times we are admonished in scripture to "prepare" or "be prepared". All of them have to do with getting the right frame of reference, right frame of mind, or the right frame of spirit. Be prepared. You’re up against far more than you can handle on your own. Take all the help you can get, every weapon God has issued, so that when it’s all over but the shouting you’ll still be on your feet. Truth, righteousness, peace, faith, and salvation are more than words. Learn how to apply them. You’ll need them throughout your lif...