I am coming to the understanding that we must stay rooted in Christ.  Now we all know that life already throws its curve balls at you.  However, one of the things I am learning is that there are people who have no other intentions other than to hurt you or make you miserable.  These also are trials as people persecute you or lie about you.  These things are going to happen wherever you are because Christ is in you.  Their hearts are hardened and the wickedness that comes from their mouths is designed to make you explode.  The devil knows how to poke you and what better way than to show it by reacting the way that person wants you to react.  I know I am in a losing battle because I am in the front-line fires of this World, but after reading the book of James and Christ allowing me to know that I should consider it pure joy whenever you face trials of many kinds.  This allows me to know that God’s hand is on my life and heart.  I will not waiver how I care for all the people in my life and will continue to be myself.  The truth of Christ is knowing that life isn’t always pretty and when people see you are complete and realize they are missing that, they want to see it taken away.  I have forgiven those who have hurt me and left them into the hands of my savior.  I trust he will protect me through whatever fire may come.  I have made a promise to myself to let God carry me through these times as I am walking blindly forward and keeping my eyes focused on him.  I pray that I will continue to become more and more aware of his voice and that he will continue to use me to bring the smiles and laughter as well as the wisdom to all those I care about.  There is a piece of the hurt that stays on your heart and that also is something new for me, because in my past I would have run and tried to numb it through familiar sin, but I am no longer feeding the monster of my flesh, I am feeding the LION of JUDAH!  Thank you Lord for teaching me how to persevere through these trials of character and personal attack.  Thank you for protecting me through the web of lies that have been spread.  I will trust you with all of my heart and regardless of how I feel will stay obedient to your call on my life.  Also, let me take these few moments to thank all of my friends who have been praying for me through these trials.  Though this world is a fire,  the white hot fire of God swallows it with no effort.  His love is true and he provides everything you need.  Thank you Papa! Amen!