| In your anger do not sin. Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold. Ephesians 4:26,27
Winter In My Heart
Where we live we boast we're having a dose of winter if the temperature drops down into the fifties, which it did last week. Within a few days we will no doubt be back with our tropical warm winter weather. But recently, I felt as if it were winter in my heart, big time.
I didn't realize I was harboring a resentment. You could not have gotten me to admit I was even a smidgeon angry. However....I began to notice thoughts, and critical remarks on the tip of my tongue, that were less than kind. How subtle these destructive things are. How casually anger and unforgiveness can seep out, like water in a pot that is on a low heat and then boils over.
Fortunately something happened to jar me into reality. I began examining what was going on inside, heart and head. I’d learned about owning and taking responsibility for anger, for making a decision regarding forgiveness of others as well as self, and how critical that is in a spiritual faith walk.
So, even though I didn't really feel like it at the time, I made the decision to forgive; also that I would put a watch on what I said. Before long I began to notice a difference. The sting of anger was missing; there was a change in my attitude. A difference in the way I was seeing things, and then, naturally, in my speech. Spring had sprung, no longer was it winter in my heart.
It’s good to know we are not out on a limb by ourselves trying to do something that’s impossible, such as an attitude adjustment. When we make a decision in line with God’s word the Holy Spirit is more than willing to help us. That’s good news.
Below are a few Bible verses that have been helpful to me; sharing them, below. Be assured, if they work for me, they will for you also:
` Out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. Matthew 12:34
` He who guards his mouth and his tongue keeps himself from calamity. Proverbs 21:23
` Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry. James 1:19
` He who guards his mouth and his tongue keeps himself from calamity. Proverbs 21:23
` I have resolved that my mouth will not sin. Psalm 17:3
` Don’t sin by letting anger control you; Think about it overnight and remain silent . Psalm 4:4
` In your anger do not sin. Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold. Ephesians 4:26,27
` Set a guard over my mouth, O Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips. Psalm 141:3
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| You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed. Psalm 139:16
Captured
The rosy sunset began seeping across the sky. I quickly grabbed the camera, excited for an opportunity to capture and hold onto the glorious sight.
The camera had come with an instruction manual. The section on how to best photograph subjects and landscapes, etc., was spelled out in great detail. The thick booklet described how to capture the moment.
Today, at the grocery store, I saw a pre-schooler in the parking lot. She was bent over, completely fascinated by something on the ground. Maybe a bug, or a leaf, or a rock, or a piece of paper. Whatever it was, she was trying, without success, to get her mother’s attention to come look at it.
The child was oblivious to the fact that Mom wanted to get into the store and get the grocery shopping done, back home, unpacked, and put away. She did not realize Mom had many other things to do today, She was totally captured by the moment.
God is in every moment we have. How awesome to be so enthralled with the moment. There used to be a phrase, “Stop and smell the roses.” Each moment is truly a gift from the Lord.
Today, may I be filled with gratitude, to my Creator, and see the beauty and awe of “the moment”, and capture and savor the gift.
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| You hem me in—behind and before; you have laid your hand upon me. Psalm 139:5
Bird’s Eye View
Don’t you love the feeling of being ‘on top of the world’? Everything seems to be going j-u-s-t right. Gotta love those times.
Yesterday when I parked at the lot on my way into the grocery store I looked up at the extraordinary blue. What a day. One of those chamber-of-commerce afternoons where the spring green of the trees met the deep clear sundrenched sky. On the highest part of a tall streetlight, a mockingbird was comfortably perched. Just checking it out, taking a rest. There he was, on top of the world.
Most days we aren’t on those mountain-peak highs, we live in the valley of life. Everyday life, the normal, the ups, the downs. Often those times are a little harder for me to like. Could be a season where you feel your world is unraveling and you are hanging by a thread, like this butterfly to the leaf. You may be barely holding on, waiting for the tide to turn. I’ve heard people voice questions, “So where was God anyway? Why did He let it happen?”, “God didn’t answer my prayers about that”.
Here is some good news: no matter what it seems like, no matter what is going on, God is still sovereign. He is still in the midst, keeping every one of His promises (something like 7,000 of them in the Bible). He’s not distant, He’s not uncaring nor uninvolved. He is a personal God, wanting the best for His children and a close relationship with them.
The Word of the Lord is truth, and here are a few verses that you can count on to help to gain a ‘bird’s eye view’ perspective:
Psalm 97:9 For you, O Lord, are the Most High over all the earth; you are exalted far above all gods.
1 Chronicles 29:11 Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, O Lord, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all.
Isaiah 37:16 "O Lord Almighty, God of Israel, enthroned between the cherubim, you alone are God over all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth.
Psalm 73:28 But as for me, it is good to be near God.
I have made the Sovereign Lord my refuge; I will tell of all your deeds.
1 Chronicles 16:31 Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad;
let them say among the nations, "The Lord reigns!"
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| For I am the LORD, I do not change. Malachi 3:6
When Reality Changes
It is holiday time, and with more than one friend going through, well, basically - the pits, I’ve had some extra things on my mind, and prayer list. There was something else prepared to send out this week in Irish Thursdays messages, however I felt impressed to say a few words about this instead. Unfortunately, these friends are, no doubt, not the only ones going through a crisis, tragedy, or tough situation right now. Reality has been changed as people, situations, and things out of our control have changed. Just because it is the Christmas season does not mean it is Pollyanna time.
One has a sibling whose unexpected diagnosis is an advanced cancer, another has had both mother and father pass away this past month. A third has recently been served divorce papers, and yet another, with a young family to support, did not get the hoped-for job after being out of work for over nine months. Their feelings, and thoughts, are running the gamut of grief, fear, separation and loss, and rejection, to name a few.
What about the ‘Ho ho ho’ season? Certainly there is never a good time for tragedy or crisis, but if ever there is no good time it is at Christmas. When our reality changes, we can become frozen, and temporarily forget everything we know about God like that He is still faithful, that He still loves and cares about us, that He is in the midst of the situation. Yet, He is in the midst of our situations.
Just as the sun rises and sets, as certain as anything ever could be, so is God who He says He is – faithful, constant, caring, and present with us. Skies get cloudy, we have wind and storms - from mild showers to all out raging hurricanes – but the sun comes up every morning. In the first chapter of the book of James, the Bible says that God who is “the Father of the heavenly lights..does not change like shifting shadows.” That is truth, and a reality you can take to the bank, because ‘the Lord does not lie or change his mind. He is not a human being, he does not change his mind. (1 Samuel 15:29)
No matter what your reality, be encouraged today. GOD is the Reality that never changes. That is good news, at Christmas time or any other time.
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| Give thanks to the Lord for He is good; His love endures forever. Psalm 107:1
Give thanks in all circumstances.. 1 Thessalonians 5:18
Give Thanks
Turkey. Pilgrims. Indians. Cranberry jelly. Don't forget the pumpkin pie! Parents, spouse, children, family, home, things, jobs, clothes, food, stuff, friends, health, life itself. Thanksgiving….a good time to ask, what am I thankful for? Even better, whom should I thank?
Often it looks like it's a person who deserves our thanks. Sometimes we think circumstances get the credit. Yet ultimately, everything we have is a gift from God. Even who we are is a gift from God. God uses people and situations to bring His gifts to us. He alone is the Great Gift-giver. It is good to know to Whom all thanks is due…..
….always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Ephesians 5:20
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