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Everything we have, we have been given.

Take a moment to consider how your life is connected to other people. Have you consciously reflected on the gifts of time and talent others have given you? As you do, you'll soon realize there are many thank-you notes etched in your heart that are filled with expressions of gratitude for those who have made a difference in you.

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As we go through life, we are shaped by our family experiences, educational experiences, spiritual experiences, vocational experiences, ministry experiences, and painful or sorrowful experiences.

God uses all of these experiences of life to test us, to mature us, and to rpovide ministry to others through us. In fact, some of our greatest opportunities for ministry often come through some of our most painful experiences. The vest things that we are prone to resent and regret can become, by God's grace, platforms of grace, mercy, and help in the life of others.

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The most likely and natural of all human responses to the injury of evil is to settle the score and get revenge. Many walk around every day with IOUs in their mental pockets, constantly bringing to mind the people who have done them wrong and thinking of ways they can "make it right." Their motto is, "Don't just get even; get revenge."

One of the things I am learning is that when I am hurt, injured, or offended, it's impossible for me to be neutral. Anger is a real and common emotion. Anger is our instinctive response to injury… but it can be a dangerous, deadly, and defiling emotion. When not handled appropriately, it is an acid that will destroy any container that harbors it.

…we are given in Romans 12:17-21 a guide for "disarmament" in life. In this passage, the apostle Paul gives us sound principles to embrace n the hard and painful experiences in life…

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The Bible is much more than a formal, complex manual. It is a living book, dynamic and strategic, providing framework for both ethic and experience. It is unrivaled in relevance, unchanging in truth, and unwavering in authority. Wherever we are and whatever we face, God's Word provides God's perspective and promise for life.