Rears its head...and it is UGLY!!!

You know what I'm talkin' about?!?!?!?

It's that monster of JEALOUSY!!!

Jealousy is a very complex emotion. God made each of us...and He made us to have our different emotions....and He also gave each of us "free-will".....

(oh, how I wish I didn't have FREE WILL!!!)

The problems arise when our jealousy gets unmanageable and our behaviors get out of control.

Occasionally, I am blessed to have people come to me for advice...or, just to offer them a shoulder to cry on....or just a simple listening ear. Several times in the past while....some of the things that I've heard....some of the problems that have been encountered....goes back to one simple little thing....somebody is jealous....envious....of another person.

Have you ever been jealous of somebody?

Who hasn't, in some way?

But....have you allowed that jealousy to consume you....to make you be so envious of somebody else that you started copying their ways....their actions...how they dress....what they say....what they do? Have you been envious of how some people make friends more easily than others? Maybe they have a better rapport with people.

As I've gotten older and stronger in my faith....I've come to realize more and more that usually a person's actions will be based on an insecurity. They don't want to feel left out....they don't want to be rejected....they want to get along, or fit in...sometimes they want to have the upper hand....be in control. They think they can do it better....their ideas are better....and....so many times....all of these actions are based on the simple.....yet very complex....emotion of jealousy!!

I've learned....that when we are jealous of another person....we seldom see the "whole picture". Maybe we're jealous of a person's financial success....but don't see how in debt they really are. Some people seem to have a "perfect" marriage(and let me remind you....NOTHING is PERFECT)....

....and we have no clue what the relationship is really like when the couple aren't in public. We are envious of those with the perfect figure.....but what do they do to maintain a certain weight? There are so many examples I could name....but I hope you're getting the picture!!!

Long story short....be happy with who you are...and what you have....and make the most of the talents that God has blessed you with....and don't try to copy, or pattern, after anybody else....unless....it's JESUS!!!!

Proverbs 3:5-6 (NLT)
Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.

Trust in the Lord....with all your heart.

Don't try to even begin to understand why others seem to get all the credit....all the praise....all the attention. Just seek God in all that you do...don't do anything out of envy, or out of an insecurity.....pray before you take ANY action!!!

And...HE will show you which path to take!!!!

AMEN...and AMEN!!!

In His Most Precious Love....and with mine!!!

(P.S....please don't begin to think that it looks like I have all the answers!!!

How do you think I can write these things?

Because...."I've been there, done that"!!!

And....only by the grace of God....have I been able to come thru on the other side....and...thru much prayer....and HIS guidance....can I try to help others!!!)