Wednesday, October 22, 2014

Anger 3

Anger...


I want to also focus on what we as parent's teach our children when we are angry with them. And by angry with them I don't mean frustrated with them after a bad behavior. Every Parent has that.

But I also have seen.. Go find a seat in a local mall.. And just watch the parents with their kids. 


I have never seen people so ANGRY at children.. and it isn't a one time thing... it is as if our anger is on a low boil looking for a time and a place to erupt.

Children learn what they live.. 

If your angry with them.. frequently
Then why would you assume they will have good relationships with others?
Ex..
Classmates
Teachers
Doctors
Sports team coaches


I mean if the person supposed to love them doesn't.. and is constantly angry with them.. over some imagined.. or worse yet REAL... Slight that has happened... 

How can they be happy with themselves?

How can they learn how to improve their own choices..?
I think the one thing that has been the most impressing thought on my mind recently is that many times I would tell my sons to do x,y or z...



Joshua do the dishes, I would at one point or another have stood there showing him how to put soap on the washcloth

I would have shown him how to draw the water.. Even how I expected the dishes to be done.. But did I show him how to check that it was properly cleaned... Nope.. I would come in check a few dishes and then slap all the dirty ones back into the sink and call him to re-wash them.  


And he'd be frustrated and I'd be frustrated.. 


But it wasn't till one day during a sermon at church that I realized there is a huge difference between telling someone to do something..and training them how to do it.. In that particular surmon the preacher had pointed out that JESUS had spent 3 years teaching the disciples how to be disciples.. and even then after 3 years with the savior... they hadn't "gotten the point" till they went out to practice what they had been taught after Pentecost..

I mean Jeez.. they had JESUS CHRIST as their teacher.. 
If he wasn't any more successful than that.. well I think I am asking too much for me to have my son taught in one day..

I think a big part of the Anger epidemic in america is we have UNREALISTIC expectations..

Tuesday, October 21, 2014

Anger 2

Anger...

11A fool uttereth all his mind: but a wise man keepeth it in till afterwards.
Proverbs 29:11



So what is God's words for us today going to tell us?

Well lets look at Proverbs 29:11 first..
A FOOL.... Yepper it said it.. If you say everything that comes to your mind.. Your a fool.

As my pastor will often tell us.. "People now a days are so quickly giving away pieces of their mind that they often don't realize when they no longer have any left..."

And I won't lie I have been very guilty of this. And as this proverb tells us in the second half of the verse we could often save ourselves from reproach and shame if we would just mull over what has been said and what has been done till "afterwards"

Let me give you all an example of a thing that I was guilty of..

This last year's VBS I was really frustrated with one of the women who were running the vbs. She had chosen the theme without ever asking or having a vote done about the upcoming themes.. Assumed so many of us would dedicate hours to getting it ready.. and apparently she had been right because we all did come do just that. 

But then she didn't even bring her kids to the vbs.. and for 4 of the 5 nights hadn't even showed up herself... I was HOT!

And had no reason been offered.. Until last weekend.. 

Last weekend me and everyone at our church learned the real reason she hadn't made it most of the time for the last 2 months.. 

She has cancer.. she had been going through chemo..
And she didn't want to bother us.. 

I had unfairly judged her. 
I had gossiped about how if she didn't want the job why had she bothered..
She had wanted the job.. she was however fighting for her life.. 



But I had failed.. I had failed to show my faith.. I had failed to go to her and find out..
Nope I had assumed evil of her.. and tried, tarred and feathered her and had I been allowed in my assumed righteous anger.. I would have stripped her of a much loved position..



I WAS WRONG!
I HAD NO RIGHT!
And I am deeply ashamed of myself. 

And what's more God had known all along.. 
Had I shut my mouth.. I would have kept myself from much shame.

Lord God.. Help us all to learn to not let Anger give us permission to say, think and do things to one another that is EVIL in your sight!








Monday, October 20, 2014

Anger 1


Anger..

What is the purpose of Anger?

19Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. Romans 12:19

26Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:
 27Neither give place to the devil. Ephesians 4:26-27










19Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:
 20For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God. James 1:19-20




So what does God say about Anger?

Avenge not yourselves.. Could it be that God knows we would.. 

Could it be that we are prone to wanting revenge? 

Just look around our society.. The answer is very blatantly obvious

Being angry seems to be the "pet sin" of Modern America

All I hear all the time is "I am so mad" or "Did you see what they did... Makes me mad enough to...."

We seem to be delighting in the mental imaginings of our minds about what ever injustices we think have been laden onto us..


I guess that makes me wonder.. What can a person who claims salvation have happen to them.. that is UNJUST??

If you are a person who claims that Jesus Christ Died for you..



1 You have at one time said you were so dirty and full of sin that JUSTIFIABLY God could have and should have sent you to HELL!

2 You have admitted by GOD'S GRACE.. You have been pardoned from the sure and just consequences of YOUR SIN.. and given you not only Jesus's righteousness.. but TOTAL FORGIVENESS..

3 So you already have been forgiven everything.. even those things which you really should be swimming in hell because you did such evil in the sight of God.. that you had to come and cling to the base of that blood soaked cross begging A Holy God not to give you what YOU REALLY DESERVED..

So what is it that a christian can honestly say they are angry about.. ?

Their own forgiveness? Well that surely has merit for others to be angry.. you sinned against God and hurt those others and your sins are now forgiven never going to be given retribution for those things done.. I'd says someone is probably pretty upset about that.. But you want to keep your forgiveness right? But you think someone else isn't entitled to your forgiveness??


We want justice for others.. but Forgiveness for ourselves??






Tuesday, September 30, 2014

Some bible studies I found and my family is using!

The H.E.A.R.T. Ministry logo
Attributes of the Godly 1&2









LESSON 1: Having a Fruitful Ministry
LESSON 2: What Ought We to Do
LESSON 3: Being Upright in Psalms & Proverbs I
LESSON 4: Being Upright in Psalms & Proverbs II
LESSON 5: A Continuing Walk with God (Old Testament) 
LESSON 6: A Continuing Walk with God (New Testament)
LESSON 7: Being a Yielded Vessel (Old Testament) 
LESSON 8: Who’s Who in the New Testament


LESSON 1: Thankfulness of the Godly
LESSON 2: Desire of the Godly
LESSON 3: Godly Comfort
LESSON 4: Songs of the Godly
LESSON 5: Godly Receiving 
LESSON 6: Hope for the Godly 
LESSON 7: Strength for the Godly 
LESSON 8: Precious Things of the Godly

I won't lie.. If this truely doesn't change the way you think.. NOTHING will!

Halloween isn't "Harmless fun!"



I don't think after watching this video series.. anyone can just claim that Halloween is currently harmless... Nor was it ever!



Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord,
and the cup of devils:
ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table,
and of the table of devils.
1 Corinthians 10:21 KJV

Regardless of the version you use..
Regardless of the rationalizations you have...
God is not stupid!
God has told us what he expects of us.. and If we will not comply.. Then we will suffer the consequences of our choices..

Sadly when it comes to Halloween we will reap the rewards of Children who really are the ones who will pay the price!

Bow down to God.. Don't think you can stand on your own


And Can It Be.. 
That I should Gain an interest in the savior's blood!

Why is it we have such a hard time trusting God?
Why is it we turn to ourselves when the going gets tough?

We know that everything we have ever done on our own has been nothing but sinful and hurting others..

Why is it we still want to rely on our own ways..

1My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments:
 2For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee.
 3Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart:
 4So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man.
 5Trust in theLord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
 6In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
 7Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil.
 8It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.
 9Honour the Lord with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase:
 10So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine. Proverbs 3:1-10


Why do we think we can do things to bring peace, favor with God and Man, have direction to our path's and health...

Isn't it God alone who makes a man great?

Or have we American Christians forgotten that it isn't us who pull ourselves up by our own boot straps and that we can't bring ourselves into a place of Greatness.

It is God who makes kings and nations rise and fall..
How much more our own lives?

We all.. Myself included have become too big for our proverbial britches!




Monday, September 15, 2014

How to read your bible..

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The Bible is meant to be read
Daily
In small or large doses..

Hebrews 4:12 - For the word of God [is] quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and [is] a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

Colossians 3:16 - Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

KEY WORDS HERE **Let it**
Meaning you can stop the word of God from dwelling in you richly.



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Proverbs 4:20-22

Remember it tells you that you have to attend to the words... Littarally.. ATTEND the reading of it..
Incline your ear to his sayings(what are sayings but words..?)
And they will bring LIFE... HEALTH and will KEEP YOUR HEART!

*Spending time in Gods word will bring LIFE, HEALTH AND PEACE OF HEART... (why wouldn't you do that??)
*God's word is POWERFUL... And can literally discern your thoughts..And if that isn't enough for you..
*God's word gives you GRACE! Teaches you how to live with music and love and peace and joy and HOPE in your heart... 

Seriously.. What better offer have you got??
Satan isn't offering that?
Mohammad isn't offering that..
Confucius isn't offering that...
Buddha isn't offering that...
ONLY JESUS CHRIST OFFERS THAT! And then Heaven afterwards!

Sunday, September 14, 2014

When to read your bible...


Like I said yesterday..

Morning is the best time for bible reading..
Now later on if you want to do bible study in addition.. 

That is totally fine..

Why do I advocate for reading your bible early in the day..?

When I read the bible... God talks to me..
When I Study..... I prepare myself to talk to others..
~Dwight L Moody~





Saturday, September 13, 2014

Reasons to read your bible...

Today we are going to look at WHY should you read your bible..

I know, I know you think you know the answers to this... And maybe you do..

But I know I have always found reviewing my Motivations... Educational..

So here are my top 5 reasons to read your bible...

1) First thing it does is it elevates your thinking.
What does that mean?? 
Well instead of starting your day (Yes I believe starting your day with bible is very important..)
But if you open your mind first thing in the morning and you add into it GOD'S thoughts, God's ways, Gods directions for your life.. It makes you more mindful of your direction for the day..

2)Second thing reading your bible does is it gives you PEACE...  
Starting your day with God's mind and God's direction starts you off with peace. It gives you direction. It makes you have diving guidance.. 
How many times have you heard people saying.. 
"I just wish there was an instruction Manuel"

There is.. It is called The Bible!

3) When times are hard... And they so often are!!
God's word gives us a Refuge.. 
A place to run to .. A place to find solace.. and HOPE!

Jesus Saves

4) When you read your bible frequently.. It starts to change you... FOR THE BETTER...
Some would get all freaked out by this statement..
But it's true..
God's word when you read it gets into your heart and mind.. And it tells you it won't come back void.. 

It's full desire is to bring you into a closer relationship with the ALMIGHTY GOD. 
And in all honesty... WHO can't use some personal improvements?


Is there anyone who has such perfect character or such a sterling personality that they need no help??

5) God is God.. So often in our world we allow men to make and determine what is right and wrong.. 
Let God be right.. 
Scarcely does a day go by when we don't see the things of MAN...
 Check out this great site

I will be honest.. I think it really is a dying art.. Learning and Leaning On GOD!