Crazy Times

Today's culture. Media. Does it excite you? Make you cringe? Anxious? Mad? Scared? Tempted to spew your view?

Have you stopped to think how we are to react in these times? (It's not so different from Paul's day.)

“Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.... Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone... Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” - Romans 12:14-15, 17-18, 21 NIV 

"For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses.” - 2 Corinthians 10:3-4 NASB

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.” - Galatians 5:22-23 NASB

“Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation,” - 2 Corinthians 5:18 NASB (See verses 19-20 also)

Love.           Reconcile.            Prayer.            Share Jesus.            Help the weak.            Humble yourselves.           Love your enemy.            Forgive.            Pray for their salvation.           Trust God.

Father God, thank You for unmerited favor!!!! Give us wisdom & humility so we can be shrewd & gentle in these crazy days. Convict us if we have any unhealthy attitude or sin in us. Help us develop a grateful mindset, focused on what's good. Help us believe that prayer is powerful. Grow Your fruit in us! Love boldly through us! Father, speak truth and grace through us to people in our networks. Give us opportunities & compel us to share Jesus. How will they know if we don't share? Don't let us forget who we were before Jesus saved us. Don't let us get sucked into emotional bondage or verbal wars that aren't beneficial. There is much work to be done! Show me what You want me to do to spread the hope and promise of Jesus - for all who believe & follow Him. In Jesus' name! 

Confession: I get mad at God sometimes.

It's true. I'm not proud of it, but it's reality.

Usually, when I'm angry with God, it's because I don't understand... and I've forgotten some important facts.

Such as:
God's given me everything good that I have in life - and I don't deserve anything good.
He's put abundant care into the details of my life.
He's a God of order and sovereign, yet He still bends down to hear and answer my prayers.
He's constantly in love with me & always pouring out His love to me - it never stops. Even when I'm throwing a tantrum.
His love is pure, and not like any human's love.
He gives me hope, and hope does not disappoint.
He gives me a way out of temptation.
His perfect love casts out fear.
He gives me peace, not like the world gives.

Abba God, Thank You for being so patient with me, for listening to me, and for loving me in spite of how I act. Forgive me for not trusting You with everything I face. When I don't understand, please help me to trust You anyway. You've given me so much; help me specifically remember how much You've done for me each morning. In Jesus' name... 

Anger or peace?

You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You. Isaiah 26:3

Thanks be to God!

I feel alone. BUT He is with me.

I feel conquered, BUT He is for me and makes me victorious.

I feel weak, unable to endure, BUT He strengthens me to do the very thing I thought I couldn’t do.

I feel angry because of hurts or disappointments. BUT He has shown ME grace for my transgressions against Him. He is holy, when I was sinful. He regarded me in my lowly state. 

The blood of Christ Jesus gives me the right to be God's child AND the right to citizenship in His great kingdom. I will not walk in disappointment or anger, for God is love and He lives me in. I choose to put to death fleshly desires to proclaim my rights. For I must boast only of Christ Jesus. My life is in Him alone. HE is my everything. All else must die. 

Abba, thank you for saving me, for paving a way for me to live rightly before you. Thank you for promises of peace, scattered throughout your holy word. Give me courage to stand firm in your ways and to forsake all that's not of you. No matter what. For your glory. Always. Every day. In Jesus' name... 

Identifying with a murderer, part 2

Anger

•          caused Moses to kill a man.
•          caused Moses to disobey God. He struck a rock twice instead of speaking to it. (Numbers 20)

There are many strong warnings about anger throughout God’s Word. In Ephesians 4:26-27, we’re taught that staying angry gives the devil a foothold. James has strong warnings about the tongue, and Proverbs is clear that anger than destroy a family.

Anger shows a lack of faith in God and a desire to control circumstances or people. It can result from frustration (repeatedly facing obstacles to a goal), or hurt. 

Abba, give me wisdom to see why I’m angry when it happens. Convict me to turn away quickly from anger. Give me faith and courage to trust YOU in all situations. Enable me to show love when I’m treated wrongly.  In Jesus’ name…  

(There is a righteous anger, when injustice occurs to others. That's for another post someday... )