Thought for the day:"Reasoning with some people is like talking into a tin can; they tell you exactly what you just said, only louder, which makes their words sound hollow. "
My new favorite verse is 2 Corinthians 10:12. "For we dare not class ourselves or compare ourselves with those who commend themselves. (Here's my favorite bit) But they, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise." The picture in my mind as I read this verse is that of a man saying to himself, "Hey, look how far I've come! I used to do all of this stuff, and then I decided I wanted to change my life, so I stopped doing all of that bad stuff, and now I'm a pretty good person!" When we start evaluating ourselves according to how far we've come or improved, according to our standards, we look foolish. Because our eyes are on ourselves, everyone can see what we cannot; we are not yet like Christ, but we act like we've made it. Keep your eyes on the REAL model, the TRUE standard. Just because you've cut your swearing down a bit and go to church MOST Sundays doesn't mean you've made it...

"I will lift up my eyes to the hills (I will look up and beyond my own strength and wisdom)
From whence comes my help? (Why am I staring upwards? Just wait...)
My help comes from the Lord
Who made heaven and earth. "(Because when you look up, all you see is the vastness that is the sky, and you are reminded that the God who spoke THAT into being with one breath carefully planned and orchestrated you, and the problem that seemed so big a moment ago is nothing to Him.)
"He will not allow your foot to be moved; (when you stand on His promises He will uphold you.)
He who keeps you will not slumber
Behold, He who keeps Israel
Shall neither sleep nor slumber." (He's not going to be caught off guard by you or anyone else.)
"The Lord is your keeper;
The Lord is your shade at your right hand.
The sun shall not strike you by day
Nor the moon by night." (He will shelter you and ensure your safety, even if it doesn't look the way you expected it to.)
"The Lord shall preserve you from all evil;
He shall preserve your soul. (Circumstances may be dire, and your body may even take a hit, but the part of you that is eternal shall be eternally His.)
The Lord shall preserve your coming out and your going in,
From this time forth, and even forevermore."

I will lift up my eyes...