When the forces collide

Nothing feels better then to stand in the face of temptation and to tell Satan to kiss your butt. Romans Chapter 5:3-5 says this:
^3-5There's more to come: We continue to shout our praise even when we're hemmed in with troubles, because we know how troubles can develop passionate patience in us, and how that patience in turn forges the tempered steel of virtue, keeping us alert for whatever God will do next. In alert expectancy such as this, we're never left feeling shortchanged. Quite the contrary—we can't round up enough containers to hold everything God generously pours into our lives through the Holy Spirit!


I actually decided today that when things are hard, I feel like I can't do it, life is pressing in on me from all sides. I am thankful! Because through these trials and temptations I will develop some amazing perseverance and character in God, my hope is in Him! So Satan, bring it on cuz you can kiss my butt.


Worth the read: "Taking Back Your Faith from the American Dream- RADICAL" by David Platt. Here is a quote from the book that especially got to me! This is about the cost of true discipleship:
"Based on what we have heard from Jesus in the Gospels, we would have to agree that the cost of discipleship is great, But I wonder if the cost of nondiscipleship is even greater.


The price is certainly high for people who don't know Christ and who live in a world where Christians shrink back from self-denying faith and settle into self-indulging faith. While Christians choose to spend their lives fulfilling the American dream instead of giving their lives to proclaiming the kingdom of God, literally billions in need of the gospel remain in the dark."......


"The price of our nondiscipleship is high for those without Christ. It is high also for the poor of this world. Consider the cost when Christians ignore Jesus' commands to sell their possessions and give to the poor and instead choose to spend their resources on better comforts, larger homes, nicer cars, and more stuff. Consider the cost when these Christians gather in churches and choose to spend millions of dollars on nice buildings to drive up to, cushioned chairs to sit in, and endless programs to enjoy for themselves. Consider the cost for the starving multitudes who sit outside the gate of contemporary Christian affluence."


Check out:  notalways.live58.org