More struggles

Sometimes things go wrong and we struggle to understand God's plan for our lives and God's will.
But God is fair, God is just, and God is good. What is occurring may be punishment for evil or inappropriate things you have done. Or God may be molding and strengthening you for greater things.

Songs of struggles from the same artist/singer Martina McBride:

FROM 'ANYWAY':

You can spend your whole life buildin'
Somethin' from nothin',
One storm can come and blow it all away,
Build it anyway.

You can chase a dream
That seems so out of reach,
And you know it might not ever come your way,
Dream it anyway.

God is great, but sometimes life ain't good,
When I pray it doesn't always turn out like I think it should,
But I do it anyway,
I do it anyway.

FROM 'GOD's WILL':

I've been searchin', wonderin', thinkin',
Lost and lookin' all my life.
I've been wounded, jaded, loved, and hated,
I've wrestled wrong and right.
He was a boy without a father,
And his mother's miracle.
I've been readin', writin', prayin', fightin',
I guess I would be still,
Yeah, that was until,
I knew God's will.

"My imperfections and failures are as much a blessing from God as my successes and my talents and I lay them both at his feet."
– Mahatma Gandhi

"The Word of God has always been our best defense against Satan’s temptations..."
- Gotquestions.org, What are the keys to resisting temptation?
http://www.gotquestions.org/resisting-temptation.html

"The devil can get you through your flesh. He knows the button to press on your flesh and have a way into your mind. The flesh becomes a transport medium for evil things if not killed for God. If Christ makes a home in your mind, satan can't get there."
- Israelmore Ayivor

"For most people, the question why be good - as distinguished from merely law abiding - is a simple one. Because God commands it, because the Bible requires it, because good people go to Heaven and bad people go to Hell."
- Alan Dershowitz

"Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit. Turn away from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it."
- The Holy Bible (ESV), Psalm 34:13-14

"Just remember, you will have to answer to God tomorrow for the choices you made today. Choose wisely."
- Unknown

Is it luck or God's will/plan that you were just not aware of?

"From an earthly perspective, things may seem to happen at random, but throughout the whole of Scripture, it is clear that God is in control of all of His creation and is somehow able to take the random acts of natural law, the free will of both good and evil men, and the wicked intent of demons and combine them all to accomplish His good and perfect will."
- http://www.gotquestions.org/luck.html

"We all have our ups and our downs and sometimes, it seems like our burdens are too much to bear, have faith and believe that God knows your strength and he knows your load and he won't give you more than you can carry."
- Rashida Rowe

"Whatever your problem, no matter how difficult, you can release spiritual power sufficient to solve your problem. The secret is--pray and believe."
- Norman Vincent Peale

"You must live with people to know their problems, and live with God in order to solve them."
- P.T. Forsyth

#MainMessageForToday
How do you handle difficulties in life? Do you face the battle alone and hope for the best? Do you ask for a friend's help?
Do you trust in Almighty God?

Do you automatically respect people in authority, people with power?
Maybe there is reason to believe we should question people in authority, but I am not sure it applies in all cases....

From the song 'Nobody Greater' by Vashawn Mitchell:

I climbed up to the highest mountain
I looked all around, couldn't find nobody,
Went down into the deepest valley
Looked all around down there, couldn't find nobody,
I went across the deep blue sea
Couldn't find one to compare... to your grace, your love, your mercy,
Nobody greater... nobody greater than you.

Searched all over... couldn't find nobody,
I looked high and low... still couldn't find nobody,
Nobody greater... nobody greater no... nobody greater than you.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cyRv-tbGJ1Y

"As a child I was taught to respect my elders, people in authority, my parents, my sisters and my neighbors. I was also taught to love and honor God. I am talking about things like, when the elderly man or woman needs a seat; give them yours. Or when the teacher tells you to do something; do it."
- Pamela Rose Williams, Bible Verses About Respect: 20 Helpful Quotes,
http://www.whatchristianswanttoknow.com/bible-verses-about-respect-20-helpful-quotes/

"Throughout life people will make you mad, disrespect you and treat you bad. Let God deal with the things they do, cause hate in your heart will consume you too."
- Will Smith

The Holy Bible says to do good to those that hate and despise you. To help those that need help and to give to everyone who asks of you.
But it is very difficult to be nice to people who treat you bad repeatedly and to always give to those that ask for or demand help.
It could feel like others are taking advantage of your kindness and using you.

Question: Where/how do you draw the line between helping someone and allowing someone to take advantage of you?
Response from GotQuestions.org:
http://www.gotquestions.org/taking-advantage.html

"Forgiveness is God's invention for coming to terms with a world in which, despite their best intentions, people are unfair to each other and hurt each other deeply. He began by forgiving us. And he invites us all to forgive each other."
- Lewis B. Smedes

"My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires."
- Beverly Sills

"I know, to banish anger altogether from one's breast is a difficult task. It cannot be achieved through pure personal effort. It can be done only by God's grace."
- Mahatma Gandhi

"He best keeps from anger who remembers that God is always looking upon him."
- B. C. Forbes

“God has ALREADY given you the strength you need, it's up to you to recognize that you were BORN a conqueror!”
― Yvonne Pierre, The Day My Soul Cried: A Memoir