Addicted to Pushing Others

Be still, and know that I am God.
Psalm 46:10

YOU ARE A DRIVER who doesn't immediately step on the gas when traffic clears, so what do you do? Wait for the car to move? Honk your horn? Or just ignore the driver while your blood pressure climb 10 points?
    Rushing, pushing and pressuring others to get moving becomes an addiction that only you can break. When marriage and family therapist Erik Johnson began expressing his pent-up frustrations in his driving, his wife complained. Others saw his stress and anger, but not him. "Managing my emotions would be easy," he said, "if others would dtoo pushing my buttons!"
     Erik started thinking about his life, understanding that the pent-up feelings didn't begin when he turned the key to start the car. His emotional baggage was with him all along and the traffic simply intensified them. He's not alone in his struggles, either.
    The problem is that we take on too much allow the pressure to build, then transfer our stress to others.
    Try the following ideas to break free:
     Ask whether your expectation are realistic. What you can do, others may not be able to accomplish, and to be angry with them or berate them only creates a tension that can escalate out of control.
     Unload the excess weight of your life. Program some "down time" to smell the flowers, to sit and relax and reflect on God's blessing in your life.
Prioritize your expectations. Make three categories for a list: a "must do," a "should do" and an "I'll do it when I can." When your "must do" is too long, you know you are facing a potential problem. Stop pushing. Then those around you will be more relaxed and joyful, too.

    

Do Not Forget

Then sang Moses and the children of Israel this song to the LORD, and spoke, saying, I will sing to the LORD, for he has triumphed gloriously: the horse and his rider has he thrown into the sea. The LORD is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation: he is my God, and I will prepare him an habitation; my father's God, and I will exalt him.
Exodus 15:1-2 AKJV

What a sing of praise! The entire chapter of Exodus 15 is a glorious praise song to the Lord after He opened a path through the Red Sea. You can imagine the Israelites' amazement when they saw the water parted like giant glass skyscrapers. Littles wonder they sang on for twenty-one verses in music and melody.
    But a few verses later, their joy turned sour. Their song gave out. After three days of traveling in the desert without finding water, they grumbled, saying, "What are we to drink? The sing faded all too quickly when they ran into trouble. The irony is, they grumbled about water! Didn't they remember God's miracle with water? They had just watched Him part a whole sea of it.
    Our own songs of praise fade all too quickly when we forget how God protect and provides for us. We need to take the advice God gave the Israelites in Deuteronomy 4:9, "Only be careful and watches yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen."
Next time you"re tempted to grumble or complain, think if your favorite praise song and then sing it. It will be God's way of helping you not to forget His protection and provision in your life.
Lord, forgive me for having such a short memory of all the marvelous ways You've protection has provided for me. I thank You for all that You've done in the past and all You"ll do in the future, I'm grateful to You.

Hear to Upgrade

Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, long-suffering; Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do you. And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfection.
Colossians 3:12,14

When I'm about to leave the house, sometimes my wife, Sabel, stops me and says, "You can't go to the office dressed like that!" It's usually something about the tie not matching the jacket or color if the slacks being out if synchronize  the sport coat . through being questioned about my fashion choices may feel like an affront to my good taste. I have realized that her correcting influence is always an upgrade
    Scripture often ask us to "put on" attitudes and actions that match our identity in Christ. Sometimes we are known by the  clothes we wear, but we can make Jesus known by wearing attitudes and actions that reveal His presence in our lives. The apostle Paul advised us to set the fashion standard by modeling the wardrobe of Jesus compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, patience, and forgiveness (Col. 3:12). And, he added, above all theses things put on love. . .
    And let the peace of God rule on your hearts" Clothing ourselves in Jesus likeness begins with spending time with Him. If you hear Him say " You can't go out like that!" Let Him lovingly take you back to the closet so He can clothes you with His likeness. It's always an upgrades
Lord, help us to see ourselves the way You see us. By Your Spirit teach us to adorn our lives with the attitudes and actions You have designed for us as a public statement about our identity with You.

Faithful wounds

Faithful are the wounds of a friend, But the kisses of an enemy are deceitful!
Proverb 27:6

Jesus never gave relief to people who were under conviction. When Zaccheus, in remorse for his sin, shared his generous plans for restitution, Jesus did not say, "Now Zaccheus, the importants thing is that you feel sorry for what you did." Jesus brought no comfort to him as he dealt with his sin (Luke 19: 1-10). Neither did Jesus excuse disbelief. We never find Jesus saying, "Well, that's All right. I know I'm asking you to believe a lot, and that's not easy." On the contrary, Jesus was quick to chastise His disciple when they failed to believe Him. Jesus loved His friends too much to condone or comfort them in their sin.
   It is possible to be too gentle with your friends. When a friend is under deep conviction by the Holy Spirit, do you try to give comfort? Don't ever try to ease the discomfort of someone whom the Holy Spirit is making uncomfortable! Be careful not to communicate to your friends that you find their lack of faith acceptable. You are acting in true friendship if you condone disobedience or even if you look the others way. Kisses are far more pleasant than wounds, yet they can be even more devastating if they lull your friend into being comfortable with sin.
   In our attempt to appease our friends, and our reluctance to share a word from God, we can actually cause great harm. If we see our a friends in danger and do not warn them, God will hold us accountable for our silence (Ezek. 33:6). Are you a friend of such integrity that you would risk wounding your friends in order to deter them from their sin?

WHY DO YOU DOUBTS?

The disciples went to him and woke him up, shouting, "Lord, save us! We're going to drown!" And Jesus answered, " Why are you afraid? You have so little faith! " Then he stood up and rebuked the wind and waves, and suddenly all was calm.
Matthew 5:25-26

It is by faith that God's mighty power is released into the life of a Christian (Heb. 11:33-35). The fact that you have doubts indicates that you do not know God as you should. If your prayer life is infiltrated with doubts, you have denied yourself the greatest single avenue of power that God has made available to you. Without faith it is impossible to please God Heb. 11:6). God never comforts you in your doubts. Jesus consistently rebuked those who would not believe Him. He had revealed enough of Himself for His disciple to gave believed Him in their time of need.
    God wants to build your understanding of Him until your faith is sufficient to trust and obey Him in each situation (Mark 9:23-25). The moment you turn to Him with a genuine commitment to rid yourself of doubts, God will much your doubts with revelation of Himself that can convince you of His faithfulness. When Thomas doubted, Jesus revealed Himself to him in such a way that every doubts vanished (John 29:27). You can only resolve your lack of faith in God"s presence. He must reveal Himself in such a way that any doubts you might have is removed. Jesus did this with His disciple. He involved them in a consistent, growing relationship with Himself. Jesus took them through teaching, to small miracles, to large miracles, and to the resurrection. Jesus knew that the redemption of the world rested on His disciple's believing Him. What does God want us to do in the lives of those around you that waits upon your trust in Him and removal of your doubts.

"Every Maps there is a clue"

and you will hear a voice say, "This is the way; turn around and walk here."
Isaiah 30:21

For me, the best part of s trip is always getting there. When I was little, I would clamor to sit in the front seat of the car. I lived sitting next to my dad so I could spread out the map on my lap and help him navigate. The line on the map would turn from thick red to thin black when the road got narrow. Today we have this goggle map. I do this open the apps and enjoy seeing it. Move and car stop it stop.
    That's why I enjoy my walk with Jesus. His word is just like a map. Pick a verse, any verse and you're on your way. God orders your step. He points to the narrow road rather than the broad one. He says, "I am the way" and you certainly can't get lost when you tailgate the Lord. And if you're a little unsure of your directions, Isaiah 30:21 reads just like a road sign.
Look at the road ahead today as though it were a journey full of adventure. Remember that heaven is your destination. Just keep your eye on the Way. That's all the direction you need.
Lord Jesus, You are the Way, and I know that no matter what lies ahead today, I am safe and secure when I keep close to you. Thank You for being my guide and my map. Your Word tells me exactly where I"m going and how to get there. Ilove following You!

The Changing Economy

And they gathered all the rulers and their armies to a place called Armageddon in Hebrew.
Revelation 16:16

THE BRITISH HISTORIAN Arnold Toynbee used to say, "what I have been trying to tell the West is that the world, the real world, is Asia." He saw it coming! Masses if people today are emerging from poverty and forming a middle ckasswith discretionary income, who can go into international investing. The Bible for tells and relates it to the end of the world as we know it now.
    The Bible predicts that in the end timed an anti-christ, a powerful figure, will control the world  markets. He will demand allegiance and exert such power over the world that without his seal or imprimatur whether it is a embedded in the back of a hand or a number on a forehead you can neither buy nor sell.
    The economies of the world have brco e so interwjned, that when someone sneezes on Wall Street in New York, other catch cold in Tokyo and Manila What Scripture foretold has become economically possible.
   If the many prophecies contained in the Bible, written by men of God who had no vested interest in deceiving people, have come to pass with astonishing accuracy and the Bible foretells a one world government with the currencies of the world interrelated, what is happening today cannot be ignored.
     You may be thinking, Okay, his does this relate to me?" Youmay be worried but you have to remember that when you are God's child, no matter what the economic situation in our world is. He will provide for you.
    God is must as concerned about the little things (which may seem large) in your life as He is with the larger ones. No problem is beyond His grasp, know that today's needs are as important to Him as they are to you.

Trusting in God Alone

Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help, and rely on horses, who trust in chariots because they are many, and in horsemen because they are very strong.
Isaiah 31:1a

Isaiah declared that the Jews were not allowed to make any alliance with the Egyptians, He emphasized this for two reasons. First, to trust in anything other than God for their salvation was to despise the power and goodness of their Lord. Second, God had said in Deuteronomy 17:16 that they were not allowed to make alliances with the Egyptian. But the Jews stubbornly resolved to provide for their own safety despising God and disobeying His will.
  Though it might seen that God was being too hard on the Jews for trusting in Egypt, He had very good reason for being angry. He wanted to keep them forgetting that He had redeemed them from Egypt, and He wanted to protect them from being corrupted by the superstitious and idolatry of the Egyptians. But the Jews didn't heed His commands and turned to Egypt anyway.
   Isaiah proclaimed to the Jewish nation that this was an extremely foolish thing to do, because the power of men cannot be compared to God's. John Calvin wrote that men have no power in themselves except what God has granted to them, so to look to men for comfort and help is foolish and irrational: "If we were reasoning about the nature and excellence of man, we might bring forward the singular gifts which he has received from God; but when he is contrasted with God, he must be reduced to nothing; for nothing can be ascribed to man without taking it from God."
  This is why it is such an offence to the Lord when we trust in our own works instead of relying solely on His grace in our salvation. To say we trust in the righteousness of Christ, but then to add our own works to His, is to rob God of His glory in redemption. Our salvation rests solely on the grace and power of God, not our own decisions choices, or experiences. Good works." Those who believe that they can do faith by their own will do not realize how sinful they are being in robbing God of the glory that is His due.
  God was the one who delivered the Jews from their bondage in Egypt. It was by His power alone and not by their choice. For them to turn back to Egypt, to look to man for their salvation, was an affront to the grace of God. May we not do the same. May we give God the g!ory by relying solely on His power and trusting in Him alone.
Read Ephesian 2:1-10. Are you trusting in your works or in the grace of God alone for your salvation? Do you really believe that God is the one who can protect you or do you seek the shelter of the world? Spend some time today confessing to the Lord those ways in which you trust in things others than Him. Repent of your sin

"Let Him Pray"

When Hezekiah heard this, he turned his face to the wall and prayed to the Lord, "Remember, O Lord, how I have walked before you in truth and a loyal heart"
Isaiah 38:2-3a

There is a verse in the book of James that we often take for granted because it is so simple. It says, "Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray" That's  simple and straightforward; no hidden, no mind teasers. If you're suffering pray. And yet, some of us find this very hard to do. We want solutions. We want the pain to go away. We want to do something that will make our situation better. We try every means necessary, and yet when the day is done we have failed to do the one thing Scripture tells us time and again to do: pray,
   This was what Hezekiah did. He was suffering. He was dying a horrible death. He had no heiur to take his throne after him, and he still had worries about enemies storming the gates. When Isaiah come to him and told him that he was going to die, Hezekiah"s heart was heavy, but he didn't allow his grief and fear to keep him from doing the one thing what would really help. He went into private (the text say he turned his face to the wall) and prayed to the Lord. Like David, he spoke of his faithfulness and love for the Lord, and his desire to continue living in the resence of the Lord. Then, after praying Hezekiah "wept bitterly." He was in pain, he was afraid,and he was suffering greatly. Would his Father in heaven hear him and give him the comfort he so sorely needed?
    The Lord answered him through the prophet Isaiah: "I have heard your prayer, i have seen your tears; I will add to your day fifteen years." What a tender interchange between God and His beloved child, one of His chosen servants who was filled with pain and grief. God reached out to Hezekiah in response to his humble and sincere prayer, and He promised to heal him.
   In the years following this incident, Hezekiah had a son named Manasseh. The king would noe have an heir to his throne, and when Hezekiah  died (his son was 12 years old at the time), he died content, for he knew   kingdom would go to his son in keeping with the line of David, and he knee he himself would be with God.
   Hezekiah didn't allow his doubts to get in the way of turning to his Father in heaven. May we follow this godly king's example and go to the Lord when we are in pain, or frightened, or grieved. May we do as James said pray.
Are you suffering? Pray. Are you downcast? Pray. Do you worry about future, about your parents, about your children, about your husband or wife? Pray. Do you worry about the
Church of Christ and how it will fare in the days ahead? Pray, Do you have financial trouble? Pray. Whatever your situation, pray to the Lord.

A kingdom that cannot be shaken

Since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be destroyed, let us be thankful and please God by worshiping him with holy fear and awe.
HEBREWS 12 : 28

THERE ARE VERY FEW THINGS in the world that can be describe as unshakable or unmovable. Today we can dynamite or blast almost anything into oblivion. So when somethings is describe as unshakable or unmovable, we pay attention.
   The writer of Hebrews said, "Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptable with reverence and awe" (Hebrews 12:28). What he is talking about is the kingdom of God, the territory in the heart of every one of God's children. The "we" means everyone who has embraced Jesus as Lord. Jesus was of the royal lineage of David, and He fulfilled the prophecy that one of David descendants would role and reign forever.
  Can Christians also be described as unmovable and unshakable? In the first century, Nero demanded to be worshiped as a god. Subject of the Roman Empire were required to go to a pagan temple and offer incense, saying, "Ceasar is Lord." Instead, these sturborn followers of Jesus refused, proclaiming, "Christ is Lord." Their chief weapon was love; they prayed for their enemies, fed the hungry, clothed the naked, and ministered to the sick. No wonder the Roman detested them, crying, " Away with them! Burn them at the stake."
   Nation and kingdom will rise and Fall but the one whose builder and maker is God will never be shaken. Remember, there is an unshakable kingdom in a shaky, uncertain world.

How Much is Enough

She has done what she could and has anointed my body for burial ahead of time.
Mark 14:8

Bible say "The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord and so are his stop!" But if you are a "have a plan and work it" individual, those stops that are interruptions are annoying and unpleasant.
   Do you recall the story of the Good Samaritan who encountered a man lying bruised and bleeding by the roadside near Jericho? Two others who came before him. Looked away and kept moving, but the Samaritan decided to stop and help.
   Yes, his plans for that day were interrupted. He took the poor man to the nearest stayed with him all throughout the night to take Care of him. In the morning, he reached into his purse and took out two pieces of silver to cover the cost if his stay at the inn.
   How do you know when to close the door of your heart? When do you open it, like what the Good Samaritan did--set your agenda aside and get involved? The fact is you can't respond to all of the world's maladies. But when God puts someone's need directly in front of you, listen to that small voice in your heart saying, God won't hold me responsible for what I can do, but He does hold me accountable for what I can do."
   But where do you draw the line and say; "Enough"? The answer to that question is the response Jesus made when a poor woman was criticised for anointing His feet with costly perfume. Some hypocritically criticized her saying, " This could have been sold and the money given to the poor."
"Leave her alone, " said Jesus, "She has done what she could."
   Friend,when you stumble across a need, do what you can! You will make a difference.

Anointing Jesus Feet

Then Mary took a twelve-ounce jar of expensive perfume made from essence of nard, and she anointed Jesus' feet with it and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with fragrance.
John12 : 3

Mary seemed drawn to the feet of Jesus,  It is not surprising that of all those who followed Jesus. Mary was the one to anoint His feet. The disciple would have their opportunity to show the same love, but pride would prevent them (John13:12-13). Martha, too, was prone toward act of service, but she had developed a different kind of relationship with Jesus than Mart had  while Martha had labored on Jesus' behalf in the kitchen, Mary had joyfully DAT at Jesus feet and listened to Him teach (Luke 10: 38-42). Because Mary had come to know and love Jesus in this way, she was ready to humble herself and offer this poignant expression of love to Him Such depth and sincerity of love comes only through spending time in close fellowship with Jesus
    The way we express our love for Jesus depends on the kind of relationship we have developed we have developed with Him. Our love for Him will not groiw unless we spend time with Him. Our love for Him will not grow unless we spend time with Him, listen to. His. Voice, and experience His love for us. If we find that our love for Jesus has waned or that we struggle to serve Him, it is a clear sign that we must take time to sit at His feet. We have been involved in Christian activity on His behalf and yet neglected our relationship with Him. After we have spent time in intimate fellowship with our Lord, and after we have heard His voice and received His love, we still be prepared to serve Him, even laying down our life for Him if that is what He asks.

God Rushes to Your Aid

"But in my distress I cried out to the Lord; yes, I prayed to my God for help. He heard me from his sanctuary; my cry reached his ears.Then the earth quaked and trembled; the foundations of the mountains shook; they quaked because of his anger. Smoke poured from his nostrils; fierce flames leaped from his mouth; glowing coals flamed forth from him. He opened the heavens and came down; dark storm clouds were beneath his feet. Mounted on a mighty angel, he flew, soaring on the wings of the wind.
Psalm18:6-10

When you read this psalm, you are struck by fact that God moves heaven and earth to come to your aid when you cry to Him for help. At your heartfelt plea, your Lord thunders from heavens your scatters your enemies. Verses sixteen, seventeen, and nineteen then add, " add, "He reached down from on high and took hold of me; he drew me out of deep waters. He rescued my powerful enemy. He brought me out into a spacious place; he rescued me because he delighted in me."
   Don't ever think that when you pray for God's support, He remains uncaring or unfeeling about your plea. God is not off somewhere on s mountaintop at an arm's length from your cry. When you pray for help, He foes not lean over the wall of His ivory tower to tell you to beg louder.
   God is attentive to your needs as a caring father is to his dearest son. When you send out distress call to the Lord. He parts the heavens to come to your rescue. And if you need to be reminded, read Psalm 18 in its entirely.
No one who let's out a genuine cry of distress in thinking about manipulating God. Impossible! A heartfelt plea for help carries with it no desire to control the way the Lord deals with you. Rather, such a prayers implies that you've cast yourself on the Lord's mercy, with no hint of impure motive. When you pray like that, God immediately recognizes the sincerity of your heart and rushes to your aid.

The fullness of God

And I pray that Christ will be more and more at home in your hearts as you trust in him. May your roots go down deep into the soil of God's marvelous love. And may you have the power to understand, as all God's people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love really is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is so great you will never fully understand it. Then you will be filled with the fullness of life and power that comes from God.
Ephesians 3: 17-19

WHEN I THINK OF GOD THE FATHER'S special gift to us, I think of His plan of salvation. The Father was the one who came up with the idea. That's why I often spend time worshiping Him in reverence and respect.
   Other times in my prayer, I think about God the Son and His special gift to us of grace. Jesus is the one who followed through on the Father's plan of salvation. And my response? gratitude that He's my Savior and obedience to Him ad Lord.
   When I dwell on the Holy Spirit and His gift of strength and encouragement of heart, I remember that He"s the one who gives us assurance and joy. That's why I take care not to grieve, quench,or oppose Him.
   Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. I am foiled to the measure of all the fullness of God as I commune with each member of the Trinity. It's a glorious way to experience a full communion with Lord and thereby discover how wide, long, high, and deep is the love of Christ.
   God desires to fill you to the brim with the fullness of His love. Although Ephesians. 3:17-19 say that such love surpasses knowledge, we can still enjoy His love's fullness as we enter into a complete and well-rounded communion with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Lord, thank you for wanting to fill me with the fullness of all of Your love. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. . . I worship you.

Bad News First

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.
Romans 3:23-24

PAUL ADDRESSES SIN in the book of Romans. He begins by asserting that God alone is righteous. The word upright is close to its definition but still insufficient to fully describe what it means. But whatever the exact definition of righteousness, humankind doesn't have it. What to do to acquire it or to established a relationship with God is what sets Christianity apart from the religious of the world.
   In his letters Paul fits the whole world on trial before God, just as prosecutor would do in a courtroom. He begins with charging the nature embodied God's power and qualities, yet humankind turned its back on God. Then he examine the moralists, the Jews, who were just as guilty even if God had already revealed Himself through the law.
   Then Paul goes to the bottom line of his argument and concludes, "There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God. All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one." (Romans 3:10-12).
   If we stopped there, it would be a very dismal picture from his pessimistic assessment of human nature and failures. But Paul takes the next step. He explain that God canceis out human failure that He calks "justification." And bit is the result of what did which we accept in simple faith, taking God at His word. Paul put it this way."For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed. A righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: " The righteous will lives by faith"' (Romans 1: 16-17). Righteousness isn't something you can do for yourself because Christ did it all for you.

Keeping Your Focus in a Mad, Mad World

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
MATTHEW 6:33

KEEPING YOUR FOCUS means you a point of reference that gives you guidance in life. In space there is no east or west, north or south. That is why the Hubble space telescope had to have a guidance system that allows it to know where to point. As a remedy, scientists installed four gyroscopes that in turn, provided stability for the powerful telescope. This enabled the scientists to focus on distant, otherwise unobservable object.
    Do our lives have focus as well? For many, three general forces drive them: the passion for money desire for fame or notoriety, and hunger for power and influence, in light of this Jesus is saying, "I want to be first, and when your focus is on me. I'll take care of all your needs in life."
    What Jesus is saying you must do is to prioritize your time, your value system, and your relationships, Having a spiritual dimension to your life doesn't mean you neglect your family go too church every day, or neglect your business or work. What it means is that you consciously decide to let Jesus Christ be the Lord of your life.
When Jesus spoke these words to a crowd of people, some of them got nervous, just as you may have may have felt when you first read then. Forget it friend. He knows the end from the beginning. He sees far beyond the fog that obscure your vision. When you focus God, He sees far beyond the fog that obscure your vision. When you focus in God. He can direct your life, and you will keep your sanity in a mad, mad world.
    Remember that the Hubble telescope in space would be worthless without a gyroscope. In the same way without focus you will wonder in spiritual confusion, knowing neither east nor west, up and down.

Follow Jesus

"Then he said to the crowd, " If any of you wants to be my follower, you must put aside your selfish ambition, shoulder your cross daily, and follow me."
Luke 9:23

Yes, I will follow Jesus! " we'll gladly follow the Lord around the Sea of Galilee and be fed with the five thousand. We will drink wine made from water. We will applaud the blind man who can see and stand amazed at a dead man who rises from his grave. We will follow Jesus everywhere except. . .  the cross.
   Oh, we can handle the burdens, those everyday troubles we all must shoulder. Beside, there are always other to carry our burdens. We can accept the Thorns, inconveniences that can"t be avoided. It's best to accept thorn and get on with living.
   But a cross? No, it is not our inclination to take up a cross. For unlike burdens or thorns from which we can't escape, a cross is a choice. In fact, the cross was a choice for Jesus He did not have to take it up, He could have refused it. But thankfully, He willingly took up His cross so that you and I might have power. Power to carry one another's burdens, gladly accept our thorn, and daily take up our cross and follow Jesus.
To take up your cross involves a daily choices. Perhaps your cross could be a difficult duty, a painful service, an unbelieving partner in marriage. The Lord is asking you to willingly take it on and head up the long path with Him to Calvary where pride and vanity, stubbornness and resentment are crucified.