It’s OK To Get Mad…But Not To Act Bad

"Be angry, and do not sin."

(Ephesians 4:26)

As humans we are all born with something called emotions. Sometimes our emotions are the catalysts that propel us forward to very positive behavior. At other times, if we are not on guard they can push us to negative or even sinful behavior. Anger is one such emotion. Even the mildest mannered person has within them an innate ability to become angry. We think of anger as blowing our top, yelling, or totally losing control. Anger can also be a sense of inward agitation, or a sense of being unsettled or ill at ease.

Often times we wonder why God created us with these kinds of emotions. We try to hide them or downplay them because we have come to believe that to be angry is a sin. If something provokes feelings of anger in me then surely we must be in trouble with God. Or so I may think.
It may come as a shock, but the Bible actually gives us permission to get angry. If we were never angry then we would never right the wrongs of this world. If we never got mad injustice would rule and the Kingdom of God would not advance. If we never got angry we could not kick sin out of our lives. We would become passive and purposeless.

We can and will get mad. But we as believers must remember the rest of what God has said. "Do not sin." That is the hard part isn’t it, especially if we react in the flesh. Fleshly anger is ugly. It destroys, demolishes and totally deviates from the Word of God.

So, how can we do it? How can we be angry and not sin? The answer is simpler than we might think. We do it first of all by hiding God’s Word in our heart. "Your Word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You." (Psalm 119:11) This is not something we do on occasion. We dedicate our lives to hiding His Word in our hearts, knowing it will take time and commitment on our parts. Then we do it secondly by walking out His Word daily in our lives. We can consult Him about every circumstance and situation. He is the Living Word and He left us a teacher, The Holy Spirit Who can guide and instruct us when we do not understand.

Yes, there are times when we will fail and perhaps even fall flat on our faces. Thank God the Word says that the "righteous falls down but He picks them up." All we can do is repent, get up, and move on. I believe that as we grow and mature in the ways of the Lord we will exhibit more and more of His characteristics. As that begins to happen we may still get mad…but we will not act bad!

This, Too, Shall Pass

I'm slowly but surely recovering from reaction to new medication which came in the form of "Hives". For the past week, I have itched, cried, prayed and generally agonized as I've sought to learn the cause of the problem. Visits to Urgent Care, two doctors.....prescription of two different medications to control the itching (both of which contributed their own unique side effects)....and different creams to soothe the rash...resulted in the firm diagnosis that it was systemic in origin...probably the result of a new medication I had begun taking in early June. I've been out of work for 4 days this week....couldn't bear clothing to touch my skin....and thought it unwise to venture to the office without it! Went by the doctor's office on the way to the office this morning for him to take another look at the rash and shared with him that the only real relief I've had was reclining in a tub of warm water to which had been added plain old baking soda! He chuckled a bit and said, "Well, that is certainly an old, time-tested treatment. Keep doing it as long as the itching persists."

Got to thinking as I drove on to the office.....maybe that's what's wrong with the world today. We've come so far in the field of technology that we tend to view it as a panacea for all the problems in the world today......including those in our churches and our tendency to view God's Word as "old fashioned" and irrelevant in the Age of Technology. Could it be that we need to "toss" our PowerPoint presentations, our "upbeat" music, and "posturing"....oops, I mean "dancing" before the Lord. Would it perhaps be better to acknowledge our error in substituting "frantic activity" with quiet listening as we "soak" in the healing, soothing, comfort of His Word.

"......Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the LORD. And, behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the LORD was not in the earthquake: And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice." (I Kings 19:11-12)

MARANATHA

I recently read a speech by Chris Hedge, given at Furman University's Younts Conference Center. The address was part of protests by faculty and students over the South Carolina college's decision to invite George W. Bush to give the May 31 commencement address.
The speech can be read at: http://educationforum.ipbhost.com/index.php?s=c06bee5791fddcd9a95e46ac354c2e61&showtopic=12885&st=0&p=146577&#entry146577

Thank God for freedom of speech....It's so easy to cast blame when you're on the outside looking in. Simply an example of what's in store for America...and the entire world. Whether you choose to believe it or not, Biblical prophecy is being fulfilled each day, and we are drawing ever closer to the prophesied return of our Lord Jesus Christ. I, for one, am excited at the prospect!

It really doesn't matter who is elected president this fall....There is absolutely NO WAY to change the course of history, and our downward spiral.....EXCEPT to fall on our faces in repentance, EXAMINE OURSELVES, and turn to the only One who can help us.

"If MY people who are called by MY name will humble themselves and pray and
seek MY face, and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven,
and will forgive their sin and will heal their land." (II Chronicles 7:14).

Yet, as a Christian (not simply a "Believer" but a "Follower" of Jesus Christ), I am assured of safety in the midst of turmoil. (Read Psalm 37.)

Two great quotes from Alexis de Tocqueville came to mind as I read the "discourse" by Chris Hedge:
"America is great because she is good. If America ceases to be good,
America will cease to be great."

"The American Republic will endure until the day Congress discovers
that it can bribe the public with the public's money."

This "bribery" has been done through welfare, social security, "no child left behind", and the 1001 other "programs" which have undermined the work ethic which built this nation....making a living by working for it.)

A third de Tocqueville quote may apply:

"The surface of American society is covered with a layer of democratic
paint, but from time to time one can see the old aristocratic colors
breaking through."

Although I know many vehemently disagree, I see our involvement in Iraq as having been born out of concern for achieving freedom for those living under conditions of tyranny and oppression....not as a means of demonstrating to the world that America is "king of the hill". It takes quite a different caliber of man to desire that all men are guaranteed freedom than it does to wage war to protect Self Interests.

Despite current thought among the majority of our fellow Americans, I believe history will write George W. Bush as one of America's greatest presidents!

Bottom line.....it's up to US....you, me and every individual American citizen...to answer the question Jesus put to His disciples:

"Who do YOU say that I am?"

MARANATHA!

Dealing With Difficulty

Have you ever wondered how life can put such a hurtin'’ on you – when you least expect it? Job was a man who had the world on a string, and people throughout the land in which he lived, knew Job; if not personally, certainly by reputation. He was the richest man in all the east, and when people wanted words of wisdom, Job was one to whom they could turn.

One day God and Lucifer had an encounter in which Hell’s bad boy told God that "he had been walking to and fro across the earth seeking those he might devour."” And when God asked, "Have you considered my servant Job?"” Satan accused God of "putting a hedge around Job",” thus disallowing the Prince of Darkness access to him. "Let me at him, and I will have him cursing You to Your face!” Every man has his price, and Job doesn’t serve You for nothing!"”

That was quite a challenge, but God is always up to the challenge, so he removed the hedge, opened the gate, and let Satan take his best shots. He used every militaristic strategy in his arsenal, but to no avail. Even Job’s wife ran low on patience, asking her beaten and scarred husband, "Do you maintain your integrity? Why don’t you just curse God – and DIE?"”
Job’s friends came calling, and they had a book of reasons committed to memory, as to why Job was suffering. With friends like Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar, a kind-hearted enemy might be a welcome sight! They, no doubt, meant well; but their ‘distress-side’ manor was lacking.
Job’s health in shambles, his ten children dead, his wealth gone, his friends talking nonsense, and his wife suggesting he "curse God and die";” well, who would expect a man to endure such torture? Only God, perhaps, but God knew Job! And when Job finally says, "I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that, in my flesh I shall see God!"” He was well on his way to immortality.
When He took a sword of faith and shook it in the faces of the world, the flesh, and the devil, and shouted with what strength he had left, "Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him,"” there was nothing Satan and his minions could say.

God knows I am not Job. And, were God to name someone today who was like Job, He wouldn’t name me. Still, God has allowed me to fall victim to asthma, diabetes, arthritis and fibromyalgia. And the question arises, ‘How do I cope?’ When the pain is at its worst, when weakness in my hands and legs makes it almost impossible to type, walk, or hold a glass of ice tea, what do you do?

According to Job, the "foolish"” think of "cursing" God.” The wise, on the other hand, ask: "Shall we receive good at the hand of God, and not evil?”" God sends his rain on the just, and the unjust." He also "reproves, rebukes, and chastens";” and, "those who are without chastisement are bastards (illegitimate), and not sons of God."” The Bible is filled with promises of God’s faithfulness. "Lo, I am with you, even to the end of the age."
"Weeping endureth for the night, but joy comes in the morning."”
"Now you know that no chastening seems good for the moment, but painful, but, we know that in due season we shall reap – IF WE DO NOT FAINT!"”

Jesus said, "Let not your heart be troubled, you believe in God, believe also in me …”"
Fear was a part of most every life, so angels were forever saying to God'’s people, "Fear not."”
We must have faith that God is greater than any problem we face. It is necessary to always know that God can, but may not, heal us of every malady we face. He could, though He often does not, keep the devil from attacking us. He has the power to protect us, as if we were in a divinely created care-free, trouble-free, and anxiety-proofed, box. But God allows us to "walk through the valley of the shadow of death",” even though it is not necessarily a pleasant experience.
What He assures us, thankfully, is, He will walk with us through the valley, lead us beside still waters, prepare a table for us in the presence of our enemies, and anoint our head with oil; and, that, goodness and mercy would follow us "all the days of our life".”
Having made such a wonderful promise, we are still to be mindful that, "without faith, it is impossible to please God".

Accept the fact that pain is a part of life, and there will be times when God will give us miraculous, and immediate, deliverance. Those times are wonderful, but not guaranteed. No matter which way the winds blow in our life, however, GOD IS LOVE! He is mindful of our weaknesses. He knows our frame.
- -

KEEP BELIEVING IN YOURSELF.

For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you,

plans to give you hope and a future. (Jeremiah 29:11)

There may be days when you get up in the morning and things aren't the way you had hoped they would be. That's when you have to tell yourself that things will get better. There are times when people disappoint you and let you down, but those are the times when you must remind yourself to trust your own judgments and opinions, to keep your life focused on believing in yourself and all that you are capable of. There will be challenges to face and changes to make in your life, and it is up to you to accept them. Constantly keep yourself headed in the right direction for you. It may not be easy at times, but in those times of struggle you will find a stronger sense of who you are. So when the days come that are filled with frustration and unexpected responsibilities, remember to believe in yourself and all you want your life to be, because the challenges and changes will only help you to find the goals that you know are meant to come true for you.