Oops, I did it again...but hopefully not the next time!!

So…today I was working on a project… silent…listening for that still small voice.  My thoughts ran back to a few recent moments where I was…shall I say…a lot more than a little angry.  In fact, I was completely enraged.  As I worked on this project, my thoughts were, “God, I’m so sorry…it’s no wonder I feel like I’m not gaining any ground.  It’s no wonder I feel like I’ll never be used in the capacity in which I know I was created for.”  I was truly repentant and no, I wasn’t having a pity party.  For a moment, I had let in some bad thinking.  What was happening is...although…or maybe because I am repentant, the enemy wants me to believe that because of my recent meltdown…putting it mildly…I will never get to be all that God created me to be. That is simply not true!!  Guard your mind in situations like this.  Learn to know who is speaking to you.  The enemy condemns.  God convicts.  There is a difference.


Then I heard that still, small voice.  He said, “Even Moses got angry.  He broke the tablets that had the Ten Commandments on them.  You’re only human…which is why you need me.”


I could have just cried in that moment, but I didn’t.  I felt relieved, grateful and loved.  I thanked God for sharing that with me.  I thanked Him for everything.  And, although I don’t see this as a license to continue this behavior in moments of anger at all, I do feel as though I’m in good company. (But, aren’t we all?!  Moses!!  I can’t wait to chat with him some time when I get to heaven.)  


Yes, I had a completely good reason to be angry. But, there is never a good reason for me to sin…which is what I did.  In my anger, I could have reached out to God, but I didn’t.  I was good and angry and I didn’t want to let go of it at that moment.


I think the next time I’ll stop, calm down and call on God to help me out.  Be angry, but don’t sin.


Anger is an emotion that is God given.  Even Jesus got angry.  The difference is that He didn’t sin while he was angry.  I think I better keep that in mind the next time the emotion of anger comes knocking.  Do you ever have this problem…or is it just me?  ;D 

Please let me pass...

Valentine’s Day…the day that is set aside to let our loved ones know just how much we love them.  What a wonderful day it is for so many people.  Love is in the air!

On my way to the gym this morning, I was reminded by an unfriendly driver, that there are so many hurting people who just need to know that they are loved.

Hurting people hurt people…let’s never forget that.  You never know what others may be going through.  Let’s do our best to treat others with compassion.

Enjoy what’s left of your Valentine’s Day and let’s do our best as followers of Christ to show His love to those who are hurting…even those who may have hurt us…not just Valentine’s Day, but everyday.  With the love of Christ Jesus, our world can be changed. 

Let Go and Let God

You cannot genuinely embrace someone who you have not fully forgiven.  ~ Chuck Swindoll

Have you ever crossed paths with someone who has hurt you in some way and you feel like running away from them or you feel anger rising up inside?  More likely than not, that person hasn’t been fully forgiven for an offense that they caused.  Of course, you certainly would not want to embrace that person…not genuinely anyway. I can honestly say that I’ve been in that situation. 

It’s been my experience that I will forgive someone, I’ll be fine for a while and then I’ll see them again and anger, although less than the time before, will rise up again.  So, in this situation I forgave them again…and again…and again…until I could say that I had genuinely forgiven them.  In all truthfulness, then, and only then was I able to genuinely embrace that person.  Of course not all offenses take me that long to get over…but deep hurts have taken time for me to fully forgive.  I believe this is what Jesus meant when He said to forgive seventy times seven. (See Matt 18:22)

In order to forgive others, we have to make a conscious effort to forgive…it is a choice.  Go the extra mile and pray blessings for that person.  I have to tell you, I’ve been in a few situations where the person(s) who hurt me, did so in a massive fashion.  (Unfortunately, I’m sure that’s not unusual for many of us!)  God used this to show me how to overcome.  Although I’m far from perfect in this, it has become easier to forgive others.

If you choose not to forgive, the anger that you feel rise up within you will become like a poison to your life and well being…whether it be emotionally, spiritually or physically.

Give it to God…let Him deal with the person.  We were not created with the capability to deal with it.  We were created to need God to deal with it.  He is Justice.  Let go and let God.