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For I know the plans I have for you,declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jer 29:11 |
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| Archived Manna: | |
Dear
Friend,
If you do not already have a habit of gathering daily manna the first thing in the morning (we can look at the example given to us in Exodus 16 and find the pattern for make it a habit. Establish your life and your schedule to allow you the necessary time to do your daily collection first thing every morning to give you the strength to make it through the day. And remember that today’s manna will not be sufficient for tomorrow; tomorrow’s manna must be collected tomorrow morning. Monday, August 9, 2021
Today's Passage : Today's Passage :Anger Bible Verse:James 1:19-26 (ESV) "Anger M y dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires. Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you. Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it, he will be blessed in what he does. If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless. Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world." Message:
We included a quote from Buddha today. Of all the non-Christian religions, Buddhism seems to be the closest to Christianity in its teachings about daily life and behavior. As Christians, we must reject some of its fundamental tenets — most basically, its failure to grasp the concept of salvation through God’s grace. And the quote from Buddha is wrong; we will be punished for our anger, lacking the forgiveness available only in Christ. But many of Buddha’s teachings lend a practical aspect to behavior that is also taught by Christ and the disciples.
Both Buddha and James tell us to avoid anger. Like so many Christian teachings, following a path for spiritual reasons gives us benefit in our earthly life.
Dove and Cross|dove of peace
As Christians, we must avoid anger because it is usually sinful in itself; but even worse, it often leads to terrible things. It is called one of the “seven deadly sins” for good reason. It is like a “gateway drug”. Not only is it harmful in itself, but it deprives us of our judgment and our love. How many murders have been committed, how many wars started, how many friendships, marriages and jobs ruined, because of anger? James goes so far as to call it “moral filth.”
Taming our anger helps us live better and longer lives on earth. Scientific studies have proven that a person’s hostility ratings (how hostile and irritable they tend to act towards others) predict heart disease — the number one cause of death — more accurately than other known risk factors including cholesterol, alcohol intake, cigarette smoking, and being overweight. Have you never lost sleep because you were seething over some petty matter? I sure have!
It is in this respect that Buddha’s sayings ring so true. To become angry, to act out of hatred, harms the person who has the anger. We may do even more harm to someone else, but have no doubt, by acting on your anger you hurt yourself in the physical world as well as in the world of the spirit. People who give free reign to their anger live short and miserable lives. People who internalize anger get along better with others, but the damage to one’s health is enormous.
The answer is prayer. Both in spiritual terms and physical terms, this start with a prayer to recognize anger in our lives. That is when we Christians enjoy an advantage, because the best way to deal with the anger is to forgive the person who caused it — which we are commanded to do, anyway! And if we find it difficult, we have the Holy Spirit to call upon, for He has promised to help.
We also have another resource, which could be called “the peace of God.” Did someone steal something from us? It is only money. Christ Himself had “nowhere to lay His head.” Did someone humiliate us? Humility is a major virtue. Well, these are hard lessons, because our examples — pride and avarice — are endemic to our humanity. We cannot overcome them permanently, but must start again every day. The blessings we bring to ourselves in our lives, by praying away our anger, are only a taste of the blessings to come.
Meditation : Prayer : And now, as a little child, let me abide in you this night, oh Christ, so that when you appear I may have confidence and not shrink from you in shame at your coming. For I know that you are righteous, and I am sure that I will be made righteous only by my life in you.....Amen |
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