BREAK THE CYCLE OF REVENGE

What is revenge? Revenge is what someone does to get even with someone who wronged them. So, let’s say someone says something mean to another person, so that person says something mean back. That second person would be getting revenge on person one. But, it goes deeper than that. That first person may want to get revenge on person two for what they said, so they may say something mean back, or do or say something worse. Then it turns into a cycle, and it’ll keep escalating and then there’s a full blown-out fight. That’s kinda how wars start. They may start because two people want the same thing, one said something mean to the other, or one did something mean to the other.

We’ve heard of what wars can cause, some of us have actually seen them and experienced them. So, how do we stop fights before they get out of hand? First, you have to spot it in time, then, instead of getting revenge, we do something nice instead. For instance, instead of saying something mean, you could say something nice.  It might be hard, because you wouldn’t want to do something nice to someone who was mean to you. But, I think we can all agree that it’s a much better alternative to wars starting, and friendships breaking.

“Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,’ says the Lord. Therefore ‘If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink; For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.’ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” Romans 12: 17-21

Kai

The Fruit Of The Spirit Part 3-Peace

The Fruit Of The Spirit Part 3-Peace

Galatians 5:22-23

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

I think it’s fair to say that everyone likes peace. (Even my younger siblings who run around yelling all day long.)

The peace that these verses mention is not just peace and quiet, but like the joy of the LORD, it’s an inside peace that allows us to be calm and trust GOD, even when everything around us is chaotic.

John 16:33

These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

Because of what Christ did for us on the cross, we can have perfect peace in Him.

This kind of peace can only come when we have a strong relationship with God. When you trust God fully, you can give all your problems to Him, and have peace.

~Natalia

Beauty

There are so many beauty standards in the world, and pressure to live up to them. Both boys and girls can be succumbed to these ideas, and can struggle with whether they look “good enough” for society. What does the Bible say about what is beautiful?

God created each and every one of us in His image. “So God created man in His own image, in the image of God created He him; male and female created He them.” (Genesis 1:27) If that is not enough for you, the Bible also tells us that we are fearfully and wonderfully made. “I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.” (Psalms 139:14) God made each one of us with care, His works are marvelous and beautiful, and you and I are one of them! "He hath made everything beautiful in His time: also He hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end". (Ecclesiastes 3:11)

If your goal in life is to fit into the world’s beauty standards…you will have a hard time and I am pretty certain you will not be content. The ideas of what is beautiful are constantly changing. Is fitting those standards important though? "Favor is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised." (Proverbs 31:30) I guess not. You are not going to gain the Lord’s respect with your beauty, but rather with who you are as a person. "But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart."(1 Samuel 16:7)

I do not mean to say that you are not beautiful, or that it is wrong to be pretty. We just have to remember to act in a beautiful way. Not doing so can diminish our outward beauty. People who are truly beautiful inside and out are people who fear the Lord, have a good heart, and are kind to others. Have those characteristics and you will have a timeless beauty that will not change in the next decade.

"For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them". (Ephesians 2:10)

Beautiful Faces

Beautiful faces are they that wear

The light of a pleasant spirit there;

Beautiful hands are they that do

Deeds that are noble, good, and true;

Beautiful feet are they that go

Swiftly to lighten another’s woe.

~Anonymous

All verses are from the KJV

-Gloria