Tuesday Writing by Diane Sutton.......1/17/17

Good Morning,

Today's writing by Diane Sutton is titled ,"A Controversial Life." Diane compares a life of a man who has already shown his input. on the world  with the life oF  person who has not yet proved his mettle ...Martin Luther King and Donald Trump. They are both controversial, and each have people who admire them and people who hate them. Diane also mentions Jesus who had to deal with the same kind of attitudes when He was on earth. Diane wrote, "Let us rise above the turmoil, hatred, and fear that is strongly impacting our world by following the teachings of Jesus Christ. Let us forgive our enemies, so we can show them the love of the Savior.. Let us pray for those who are lost and do good to our enemies so that all will know the powerful mercy and grace of Jesus Christ."

Have a good day, and please pray for our country and for the Inauguration and other events that are planned as Donald Trump and Mike Pence take office.

God bless

Corinne and Diane

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Tuesday Devotional 

"A Controversial Life"

This week our country is celebrating both the inauguration of our next president Donald Trump and the life of Martin Luther King Jr. Both men are known for navigating controversy, fear and hatred in order to bring change in our country where people have been unwilling to accept these changes. Both men have strong supporters and                                                           those who hate them.

History has already defined the legacy of one man while the other man has yet to define his footprint in American history.

There is another man whose life caused controversy – Jesus Christ.

In biblical times the Pharisees were upset that Jesus healed people on the Sabbath against the Jewish law and claimed blasphemy when Jesus proclaimed to be the Son of God.  Jewish leaders hated his controversial teachings so much that they plotted his death.

Today in America we are witnessing how many people and leaders are acting like the Pharisees in biblical times, causing turmoil by spreading untruths, fear and hatred against those whose beliefs are different than theirs. Christianity beliefs and values are no longer considered relevant.

In Matthew, Jesus warns that believers will be hated because of Him and that many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other.

Luke 6: 27-35 calls us to do something controversial to the world’s ways – we are to love our enemies.

“But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,  bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.  If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them.  Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back.   Do to others as you would have them do to you.

 “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full. But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.”

Let us stand firm amidst worldly controversies, knowing who we are in Christ. Let us rise above the turmoil, hatred, and fear that is strongly impacting our world by following the teachings of Jesus Christ. Let us forgive our enemies, so we can show them the love of the Savior.. Let us pray for those who are lost and do good to our enemies so that all will know the powerful mercy and grace of Jesus Christ.

Kari Jobe 

sings
"Forever"

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Here is an uplifting graphic

for you to think about.

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Prayers are lifted up daily for 

you by the Devotional Writers 

and the Monthly Writing Staff

of Women's Focus Ministries.

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