Normal is deadly.

     Philippi was a normal church.  They struggled with worldliness.  They wrestled with complaining.  Some of them fought with their past coming back to haunt them.  They had difficulty humbling themselves.  They had a couple of women fighting and bickering which caused a ton of problems for everyone else.  Sound familiar?
     We are people; and with people come problems.  I am reminded every day of two powerful truths.  Hurting people, hurt people.  People with problems cause problems.  When people are experiencing emotional pain in their lives, they can end up sharing that pain with others.  They take out their frustration on others.  Probably more common, is the latter.  When someone is continually a source of contention in the church, school, home, or workplace, they normally are dealing with something big in their lives.  Most often, it's a secret sin.  Healthy Christians just don't go around picking fights and tearing others down.
     In the face of all this fun stuff, Paul tells the church to rejoice!  In case they missed it, he tells them again!  They are to be gentle to everyone.  Stop with the fussing and fighting.  The complaining and arguing.  Why?  The Lord is near!  Jesus could come back at any moment.  If Paul felt that it was momentary then, how much more should we be ready 2,000 years later?
     Have you ever let your worry or anxiousness about something effect how you treat others?  When I am stressed I get angry more quickly at my kids.  I tell myself that they are just being worse at a time when I'm overwhelmed but actually it's me being overly sensitive because of my stress.  Paul tells us, let it go!  Pray!!  That's your first resort, not your last one!  What do we pray about?  Everything!  Isn't it too small?  Pray.  Isn't it selfish? Pray!  Isn't it wrong to pray for?  Pray!  Submit your requests and worries to God.  Give them  away to the one who can handle them all.  When you start to worry again, Pray!  Noticing a theme here?  When you truly give your worries and desires over to God, a peace will finally come over you.  One that is beyond belief.  When you get that peace, your brothers and sisters, spouses, kids and neighbors become a little bit easier to tolerate.  Once that happens, look out!  Something big is about to happen!