Anger and Rage, Hurts Us Most Of All

Good Morning!! Anger has always been one of my biggest obstacles to overcome. After digging deep down in my soul, I can usually discover the irritant that is causing my anger. Anger is energy,...we can't simply ignore it. We must learn to channel it in a positive direction,...or it becomes destructive. If we work to forgive the source of the irritation, and take that irritant to God in prayer, we can start first to feel acceptance, and then forgiveness.

Be angry but do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger.—Ephesians 4:26 (NRSV)

Praying and turning it all over to God, doesn't mean that the irritations and anger won't return. And when they do, we may even feel guilty, unchristian,...like failures. Left unchecked, we can even sink into depression,...the "frozen rage" that is our anger will eventually be turned inward, upon the ourselves. But with God's help, this energy can become power that gives us passion for life.

Even Jesus felt anger, but he did not use it to destroy others.
He used all the energy of his life to bring the redeeming message of God's love to us.

O ever-loving God, help us to forgive, but don't to stop there. Help us to use all our energy to serve You and others better. In Jesus' name Amen.

"At the heart of the Christian message is God Himself,
...waiting for His redeemed children."

Dump The Junk, And Get In The Race

Good Morning!! Paul compares our journey of faith, with running. He also prods us to get rid of the things that hinder us in our spiritual lives. The two go together.

For [Christ's] sake I have thrown everything away; I consider it all as mere garbage, so that I may gain Christ and be completely united with him.—Philippians 3:8-9 (TEV)

As we seek a good relationship with God, we find that there are obstacles to our faith,...fear, arrogance, resentment, prejudice, bitterness, negative attitudes, and so on. These and more, get in the way. As we get rid of them, we can move on and grow in our faith.

Whatever obstacles to our growing in faith, that may encounter,
...can and should be taken to God in prayer.

Our Lord, our God, when we feel that we are not making progress in knowing You more fully, help us to recognize the obstacles that block our way and then to ask Your help in removing them. Amen.

"At the heart of the Christian message is God Himself,
...waiting for His redeemed children."

Lost? You Don't Have To Be.

Good Morning!! We all have to make choices,...but how often do we make the decision we think is right, without stopping to pray and ask God which choice is best for us? Too often we discover that our choice was wrong,...and we have to start over. the wiser choice is to stop and ask for directions.

In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.—Proverbs 3:6 (NRSV)

When we're faced with choices in life, we can stop, read our Bible, and pray, asking God which way to go. Jeremiah 29:11 tells us that God has plans to give us "a future with hope." God already knows which way we should go; God even gave us a map,...the Bible. When we face decisions in life.

God will speak to us and guide us,
...all we have to do is ask.

Father God, show us the way to go when we have questions and doughst. We know you'll never lead us down the wrong path. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.

"At the heart of the Christian message is God Himself,
...waiting for His redeemed children."

Try To See Things God's Way

Good Morning!! Many times, when anxieties arise in our lives, and when difficulties are looming, it seems as if there is only one possible view of them,...and that is not a positive one. But what determines your perspective? It often comes from how you have educated your mind and your spirit. Feeding your mind habitually on television and other world-oriented sources will determine the point of view from which you see life. God, on the other hand, has laid out the proper perspective for us in His Word. Learning to take advantage of this provision through reading and meditation alters the way we see things; it alters our focus.

And do not be conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.—Romans 12:2 (KJV)

There is power in being able to see circumstances in relation to the overall eternal picture. If we will view our situations the way God intended,...we would not see lack, we would not see hopelessness or dead ends. We have the ability to change our minds, from going our own way or the way of the world, to turning to follow Jesus. If you don't like what you are seeing,...change the perspective, form which you see your circumstances.

Faith is not the belief that God will do what you want,...
Faith is the belief that God will do what is right.

Our Father which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil; For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

"At the heart of the Christian message is God Himself,
...waiting for His redeemed children."

Seeds In Time Become Fruit

Good Morning!! How does a crocus bulb know when to shoot up its foliage, and bloom while snow still covers the ground? How does a tiny acorn become a tall oak tree? I don't understand how any of these processes work. But I know that digging in the dirt helps to aerate the soil, and adding fertilizer and water aids the growth of the plants. And since I have repeatedly experienced the patterns of seedtime and harvest, I trust they will happen again.

"I pray that . . . Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, as you are being rooted and grounded in love."—Ephesians 3:16-17 (NRSV)

There is much in our own lives that we don't understand,...but if we dig deep into scripture, we can become rooted and grounded in the word of God,...spiritually nurtured in the love of Christ. The more we experience this divine presence, the stronger our faith grows and the more assurance we feel that Christ does indeed dwell in our hearts, and is present to meet our every need.

We must work to continually nourish the growing faith in ourselves,...and others.

Father God, thank You for showing us over and over again the cycle of seedtime and harvest, that displays Your faithfulness. Strengthen the roots of our faith so that we may bear good fruit for You. Amen.

"Obedience is the key to having the presence of God in our lives,
...if we're not obeying, we aren't really walking with Him."

Loving Arms To Trust

Good Morning!! When I smile down at my grand kids, and open my arms, they leap into my arms. They never think twice about whether PaPa's arms would catch them. They simply trust me. The Bible mentions the arms of God. Since God is spirit, the Bible writers use the term "arms of God" to symbolize the love, strength, dependability, power, and protection God shows toward us.

The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms.—Deuteronomy 33:27 (NIV)

We leap into God's arms through prayer. We trust God even more than we trust any others. Whether we're falling, from despair, being pushed by temptation, or leaping for joy, God has never failed to encircle us with strong,...and loving arms.

We learn to trust when we experience promises kept,...by people, and by God.

O God, thank You for all earthly fathers who model Your loving faithfulness, In Jesus' name. Amen.

"Obedience is the key to having the presence of God in our lives,
...if we're not obeying, we aren't really walking with Him."

Don't Just Look For Hope, Be Hope

Good Morning!! Broken hearted and bitter, Naomi left Moab where her husband and two sons were buried. She and her faithful daughter-in-law Ruth went to Judah. To support the two women, Ruth began to glean in the fields for food. She came to the field of Boaz, a kinsman of her dead father-in-law. When he heard of her faithfulness to Naomi, Boaz invited Ruth to eat with him and the workers and made sure she took home plenty of grain.

The women said to Naomi: "Praise be to the LORD, who this day has not left you without a kinsman-redeemer."—Ruth 4:14 (NIV)

God used Ruth, to bring healing to Naomi's broken and bitter heart. As believers, we have hope based on the work of Christ, our kinsman-redeemer,...who paid the price for us. And Christ continues to care for those who come to Him. When we share this hope, we too can become instruments of healing, turning bitterness into new life,...and new hope.

Yeild to the Spirit,
...the answer to someones prayers, may very well be, connected to your obedience to Christ.

Father God, use us as messengers of hope in the lives of those who are discouraged. Amen.

"Obedience is the key to having the presence of God in our lives,
...if we're not obeying, we aren't really walking with Him."