Song of Solomon 5 - 8; Philippians 1

Phil. 1: 9-11 So this is my prayer: that your love will flourish and that you will not only love much but well. Learn to love appropriately. You need to use your head and test your feelings so that your love is sincere and intelligent, not sentimental gush. Live a lover's life, circumspect and exemplary, a life Jesus will be proud of: bountiful in fruits from the soul, making Jesus Christ attractive to all, getting everyone involved in the glory and praise of God.

27-30 Meanwhile, live in such a way that you are a credit to the Message of Christ. Let nothing in your conduct hang on whether I come or not. Your conduct must be the same whether I show up to see things for myself or hear of it from a distance. Stand united, singular in vision, contending for people's trust in the Message, the good news, not flinching or dodging in the slightest before the opposition. Your courage and unity will show them what they're up against: defeat for them, victory for you—and both because of God. There's far more to this life than trusting in Christ. There's also suffering for him. And the suffering is as much a gift as the trusting. You're involved in the same kind of struggle you saw me go through, on which you are now getting an updated report in this letter.

Met with a gal last nite and it was good. It seems more and more the simply listening (trying very hard to learn active listening) becomes easier the more sure I am of what I believe. And what I believe makes me softer instead of more stubborn….makes me softer, that’s all I can think…it’s scary to BE soft, risky BUT I prayed to LIVE RISKY how was I to know what that looked like really?? It seems that it’s not about preaching faith to someone but living it……simply living/walking the tension tightrope that is a life of faith. In the seeing it for what it is, a life wanting what I want crashing against the life He intends, walking that tightrope I believe more and more…I trust more and more…I love a bit easier?? I don’t know it’s so about having a relationship with You that I can’t explain, I don’t need to defend….just living more and more wrestling with YOU and only You…..always LOSING but never feeling beaten…..at least today, that’s what I am thinking.
Besides: Phil 1: 6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.