I hope you had a great weekend. Mine kind of went like this. Bought a new car last week. Other car broke down on Friday. By Saturday, the pain in my neck and back(think there is a connection?) had begun to take its toll. We worked on the building on Saturday and pray for more laborers, but by Sunday, I was feeling pretty tired. So, rest, was the key.

Today, as I type, I have numbness in my fingers and feet, so, there may be more errors than usual!!!

But, God is our Great Physician. Either we can trust Him or we can't. I choose to believe we can.

Over the weekend, we had a bird get trapped in our chimney. Now this is a big chimney, but it was obvious to us it was going nowhere fast. The cats sat at the fireplace thinking "this is better than Santa Claus!!!"

Why did it get trapped? The opening is not that big, but it had to be ominous and dark. A lot like sin. We know it is there at our door, but we still go against the Word of the Lord and enter into it.

Over the last few weeks I have been watching people closer than normal, as there seems to be something "going on", if you will. Little words that become great battles...between family and the brethren.

May I share this scripture?

Jas 3:16* For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.

That word strife really means striving as in a political battle(BIG surprise!).

I share the lexicon's definition:

1) electioneering or intriguing for office

1a) apparently, in the NT a courting distinction, a desire to put one's self forward, a partisan and fractious spirit which does not disdain low arts

1b) partisanship, fractiousness

And while that in itself is eyeopening, look at the scripture.

"there is confusion and every evil work."

If your family or church has been undergoing "every evil work", you know where to look!!!

What is going on in that place, is this, as the preceding verses point out.

14* But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.

15* This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. So look around. Is there problems in your home because of this? Are there factions in your church (and before you go running to the pastor pointing a finger-look to yourself. Have you brought strife and contention?) which should not be.

As I look at situations in Christian homes and families, may I humbly submit, this is a large answer to destroying the works of the enemy. I spoke of denominational walls, but if we look at the smaller parts of the church makeup, we will find that much of it can end here, by removing strife and jealousy.

And please remove the pride, that says, "not us". My heart and I truly believe each one of ours, is that we would see God's Kingdom come. If we can look at our lives and deal with the strife and contention that we employ, we can break the back of the enemy.

Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!