I’m starting to get back into writing, which I’ve missed greatly, but I’m doing it slowly. I plan on getting an article every two weeks, but if the inspiration hits me, I’ll hopefully be able to send one out every week. Be patient with me and remember me in your prayers as I remember all those who are hurting, depressed, or saddened by some incident happening in their lives. I don’t know your names…but God does and that’s all that matters.  My love to you all and remember…

Stay safe, stay healthy, and keep the faith in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!

INSPIRATIONAL INSIGHTS

#34 – Life’s differences – December 5, 2024

                Galatians 3:28, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”

                Have you ever really thought about how different we are?  Oh, we have that one person that looks like us and we are mistaken for someone else. We’ve been told that “our double” is out there somewhere. But we’re still not the same. Certain twins are considered identical but are they really exactly identical?  Each person has different thoughts. Each person has different looks, and each person has different abilities; athletic abilities, career abilities, spiritual insights, etc.  There are different races, languages, rituals, denominations, ways of living, ways of discipline, and different feelings. We’re like snowflakes; no two are alike. 

People even have different ways of mourning when trouble hits or a loved one dies.  That’s why I never say to someone that’s facing sickness, hardships, or loss of a loved one…”I know how you feel”.  I don’t.  You see…there are also different emotions to every situation, no matter how similar they may seem.

                Recently I saw a quote that states, “We experience Sadness to know Happiness, Noise to appreciate Silence, and Absence to value Presence”. But, for every negative…there is a positive. And for every positive there is a negative.  Notice that negative and positive both have 8 letters? 

                Spiritually there are differences also; Heaven/Hell, peace/war, angels/demons, believer/atheist, life/death, male/female, salvation/damnation, etc.  There is God and there is Satan.  All different, but each one plays an important role in our life.

                I have in my “Book of Stuff” (sayings and quotes I like to keep) a list of words that have opposite meanings.  Notice that each set of words mentioned have the same number of letters:

                                Love – hate (4 letters)

                                Friends – enemies (7 letter)

                                Truth – lying (5 letters)

                                Joy – cry (3 letters)

                                Smile – frown (5 letters)

                                Positivity – negativity (10 letters)

                Life is two-sided in that it offers us choices, and we’d better choose the better side.  We can get so full of hate for our enemies that we end up lying about them, but we usually wind up being the one that cries.  Don’t let your life be filled with so much negativity.  Love your friends and find joy in things that are true.  Be positive. Be at peace. Be the kind of person people look up to and enjoy being in the midst of your company. Greet each person with a smile.  It’s up to them then if they choose to return the favor.

                1 Corinthians 1:10 states, “Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no DIVISIONS among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.”

                There are many different denominations and one might have a few things that are different than another.  But all true believers should have no division with one another when it comes to belief in Jesus Christ, His scriptures, and His teachings. There should have no differences regarding the life He has given us. He taught us to love, speak truth, find Joy (even in times of trouble), greet everyone with a smile, and always (even though it’s hard at times) try to uphold a positive attitude.             

                Our human nature instills in us many instances when we will hate, cry, frown, find ourselves lying, and even find ourselves with enemies.  But just remember…for every negative, there IS a positive. 

                The world is filled with all kinds of differences…and it’s wonderful!  But choose your side wisely.  Your eternal soul might just depend on it.

Nancy Stoppe                     

Stoppe123@comcast.net

 (Jenner Township Baptist Church, Boswell, PA 15531)

Blog – inspirationalinsights6.com

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