Whiskey, Wine, Winning and Wonderings. Deals with the Devil?

We. As believers. Are born this way.

We believe in something, someone other than ourselves.

We just aren’t sure who or what it is all the time, in every moment.

Tough love is, well, tough.

So.

We journey on.

We drink.

We eat.

We sit. At the table with “others” who we think we need to in order

to get from here to there. Provided we knowingly know what is happening.

We forget.

Forget someone has been sitting alone for a long, long time. We ignore the hurts and habits and we slam another shot with our “others”. This family, we think, is our substitute hero of all progressive ways.

Only He is a hero. After downing oceans of whisky, barrels of wine, winning every card and senseless game, we come to discover only, that, He,

He has been with us all along on our destructive journey of proof.

Sadly. We felt alone, we didn’t know. How to attack the past.

So.

We recklessly dove right in. To right the wrongs. Cease the moment of belonging of what we did not realize for a long time was time spent with the wrong crowd.

Thank God. He attacks His love for us in many ways, too. Our mistakes, our misgivings, our lack of love for our neighbor. Our failure to see behind the eyes of another and see His face.

His face.

Waiting for us to grow in compassion in the most difficult of times. None of us our immune to difficult times. He knows this and He directs our steps.

In our moments of weakness, we resort to a lesser self and make a deal with the devil. A deal for the devil to please get out of the way.Now and forever. Being left behind feels real crummy, we think. So. We think we must do whatever it takes to cheat death, manipulate the turnovers and outcomes. So, in the end winning becomes the aphrodisiac of our numbing quest to get to the top of the heep.

He. Teaches us to love our neighbor. When we listen there is a harmony felt like nothing that has ever been felt before. When we do not listen, we walk away, tail between our legs wondering what the heck just happened.

Tough love is funny like that. Not funny ha, ha, Funny in the various and precarious ways it presents itself to us.

Love is God the Father.

Debates, healthy ones at least, can occur to “see the other side”.

Told ya. Right there is the funniest line of all. “See the other side.” True believers believe there IS another side. And will do whatever it takes in God’s eyes to get there.

He teaches us some examples when we are under attack.

1. Turn the other cheek.
2. Do not resist an evil person.
3. Walk away.
4. Face persecution.
5. Do not seek revenge.
6. Live a moral life.
7. Declare His blessings in your life out loud.
8. Practice what you preach.
9. We are not to practice complete non resistance.
10. Do not stand back and watch.

Attacks, silent or loud, are still an attack. Mostly what we do not realize is the attack IS one of the heart. A hurting heart. All wrapped up in a gorgeous face, or a small tiny baby, or a tall drink of water, or a shot of whiskey or a barrel of wine. The devil himself knows every trick in the book to get us to falter.

The devil knows every trick in the book.

The devil practices every verbal-action-packed deceit in order to throw us off our foundational belief in God.

Do not let the devil and his devilish ways do it to you.

You are most beautiful in His eyes.

And.

He needs ‘ya on His team of good soldiers and warriors. Continue to be the ultimate steadfast steward in and of His army of faith in one another.

Revenge is set aside for God. (Proverbs 20:22). Do not ever say, “I’ll get you for that.”

Wait.

For God.

For He will settle the score.

Do not be a score keeper of the hurts and failings, the attacks thrown your way. What happens is a downward spiral at the hands of evil, the devil, the whiskey, the wine and most sadly, the winnings tally. What happens is sitting at the wrong table of wrong doers.

Don’t say, l will get even for this wrong.” Wait for the Lord to handle the matter.” (nlt)

Patience is a virtue.

The devil knows this too and will test it.

A lot.

Every day.

If you look very carefully into the eyes of another, a neighbor, you will see His face awaiting your next move.

Make it a good one. We have choices every day. Even when and if we are in a constant silent state of quiet attack.

Heck. God’s son Jesus taught us to retaliate with a response. Joseph was sold into slavery by his own brothers.

Sound familiar? Does this story sound like a cross you may be bearing in this moment in time? Joseph’s brothers were jealous of him and wanted him gone.

Wanted him gone.

Whiskey.

Wine.

Attacks of verbal action packed deceit.

What do I do? When no one else is listening, we wonder.

He. Is. listening. He hears our hurts.

We are to stand up for ourselves.

In 1 and 2 Samuel, we read another account of David as he experiences the wrath of Saul

Davis was seemingly ill prepared to stand up for himself. (David brought a rock to a sword fight, remember). David’s life was in danger and he could have killed Saul, but he chose not to. There is a time to fight and a time to turn the other cheek. Joseph’s retaliation took the form of forgiveness while David’s retaliation was becoming king of Israel.

We should stand up for others that are hurting. Retaliation is needed at times, but our retaliation should not take the form of revenge.(ct)

Christians can question those who wrong them. We should practice self-protection without a desire for personal revenge. (ct)

#8 Practice what you preach.

When the devil comes a knock in’, a whispering’ in your ear.

Winning at all costs is for the amateur God follower who takes in the moment of regret and dumps it in a dumpster for another to take care of.

Love your neighbor. Come hell or high water. With the heart of faith (pf). Freely, gratuitously see His face in others and there will never be a reason for revenge.

Turn.

Walk away.

God is always with you to fight the good fight.