![\"DSC_0493\"](\"https:\/\/fullmeasureofjoy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/DSC_0493.jpg\")
<\/a>I use Evernote at work and one of the features of this program is to create to do lists. I love that I can put little boxes next to the things I need to accomplish and then I love even more that I can put a check mark in the box when I have completed the task.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
When I find lists in the Bible, I get excited. Until I realize that it\u2019s not all that easy to put a check mark next to the items I have mastered. Take a look at this list from 1 Peter 3:8-9 (NIV).<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Live in harmony<\/p>\n
Be sympathetic<\/p>\n
Love as brothers<\/p>\n
Be compassionate<\/p>\n
Be humble<\/p>\n
Do not repay evil with evil<\/p>\n
Do not repay insult with insult<\/p>\n
Inherit a blessing<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Oh I like the last one. I would love to inherit a blessing, but according to this passage, I have been called to live out these first seven items in order to receive the blessing. And not only that, I am to do all of these things while blessing others as well.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
And to top it all off, these items fall under the heading, \u201cSuffering for Doing Good.\u201d In the midst of my suffering, mind you, suffering while I\u2019m following God\u2019s plan for my life, I am to check off the items on this list. Sounds pretty impossible doesn\u2019t it?<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
It is when I try to do it on my own.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
But with God\u2019s Spirit, my heart becomes tender. Discord and strife are replaced by agreement. Evil thoughts and insults are discarded. Hatred removed and selfish ambitions are released to humility.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
God searches for those who do what is right. God listens to the prayers of those who seek His guidance. And in the end, blesses beyond our imagination.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Perhaps today you will come face to face with a foe. If so, the words from 1 Peter 3:8-17 should be part of your daily Bible reading this morning. The encouragement found in these verses will guide your thoughts, your words and your actions.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
You may also find encouragement from Jesus\u2019 words found in Matthew 5:10-12 (NIV). \u201cBlessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n God bless you!<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Grace and peace be yours in abundance,<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Donna<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" You know I love lists. Any list. A grocery list. A to do list. A list of instructions. Why? I love lists because if can check off the things that I\u2019ve done. I use Evernote at work and one of the features of this program is to create to do lists. I love […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_s2mail":"yes","_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[17,18,14],"tags":[3723,3728,3729,3726,593,3730,3731,3732,3725,3727,3724,67],"class_list":["post-4092","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-obeying-god","category-pleasing-god","category-seeking-god","tag-1-peter-38-17","tag-be-compassionate","tag-be-humble","tag-be-sympathetic","tag-blessings","tag-dont-repay-evil-with-evil","tag-dont-repay-insult-with-insult","tag-inherit-a-blessing","tag-live-in-harmony","tag-love-as-brothers","tag-matthew-510-12","tag-suffering"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/fullmeasureofjoy.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4092","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/fullmeasureofjoy.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/fullmeasureofjoy.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fullmeasureofjoy.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fullmeasureofjoy.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=4092"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/fullmeasureofjoy.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4092\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4093,"href":"https:\/\/fullmeasureofjoy.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4092\/revisions\/4093"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/fullmeasureofjoy.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=4092"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fullmeasureofjoy.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=4092"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fullmeasureofjoy.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=4092"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}