Anger

Dealing with Anger Over Lemonade! {Ephesians 4:17-32}

8:30 PM


 ~ Ephesians 4:17-32

Aaaaaaah done!! I looked up at the clock just as I finished washing the kitchen floor and saw that I still had a few minutes to get everything ready for my guests that were due to arrive in about 10 minutes or so.

I immediately started to put the last finishing touches on the luncheon I was hosting when my children, seizing the moment, ran into the kitchen looking for refreshments! (They knew that at this moment I’d consent to just about anything just to get them to cooperate while I was busy with friends)

JD was thirsty so I told him he could have a glass of the lemonade I had just made that was still sitting in the pitcher on the counter. Too busy to pour it myself, I went ahead and allowed him to pour it. My daughter was also looking around for something to snack on. We were lighthearted and laughing about something when suddenly I turned around only to catch JD continuing to pour lemonade from the pitcher into an overflowing cup that was now not only running all over the counter, but down onto the floor! The FLOOR I HAD JUST CLEANED!! And it was the syrupy sticky kind of lemonade from concentrate!!  

For a moment I stood there in shocked silence! I stood there motionless and stared at all the lemonade running onto my floor while JD sat there laughing at his sister and not even paying any attention to what he was doing!!

Until finally something from waaaay down within me came spewing out, “JD!!! WHAT ARE YOU DOING!!!?” He finally turned his attention back to his cup and stopped pouring, but it was too late!

I read him the riot act! Up one side and down the other! I chopped him down to peanut size until finally he stood there trying desperately to hold back his tears and said quietly, “I’m going to my room.”

And I lifted my arm with my pointer finger erect, just in case he had forgotten in which direction his bedroom was, and shouted, “GOOOOOOOOOOOO!”

JD slowly turned and walked out of the kitchen heading for the stairs and his sister silently followed right behind him. I guess she feared my wrath at that moment too and wanted to make a quick, silent exit.

I instantly felt convicted by the Holy Spirit. I not only broke my son’s heart, I’d ripped it out and crushed it to pieces!! I felt a moment of remorse, but my eyes quickly glanced back to the clock and to the sticky mess all over my clean kitchen and I immediately set to work cleaning everything up, for my guests would be arriving any minute now.

 And when they did, I slapped on my best hostess smile and went along as if nothing had happened!

Except I felt like a crumb on the inside. The Lord wasn’t going to allow me to get away with it that easily. My little ones remained quiet as little mice. I doubt my company even knew they were home, but my heart and ears were tuned into the silence coming from upstairs, and I couldn’t wait for my company to leave so I could climb those stairs and wrap my babies in my arms and beg them to forgive me.

I honestly can’t remember who came over that day, but as soon as I read, “Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil… Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.  And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.  Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.  Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.”  (Ephesians 4:26-27, 29-32) my mind instantly flashes a picture of those minutes in my kitchen when I crushed my son’s heart to bits. It will always be available for me to press "instant replay" in my brain.

Both of my children now have children of their own; some even older than what they were at the time. I believe they are both far better parents than I was while they were growing up! They would make any momma proud. I don’t know if they even remember that day or that incident, but I know I will never forget it; especially now after almost 30 years!

What I wonder most is:
  • What if I hadn’t run up the stairs after my last guest departed? 
  • What if I hadn’t scooped them up and begged their forgiveness? (Little ones always seem to forgive more readily than us, adults). 
  • What if I had allowed the enemy to indulge my pride and self-righteous anger and never did ask forgiveness? 
  • What if I allowed my little ones to think my guests and what they thought of me was far more important than they were and what they thought of their momma?

Our actions have rippling effects. What if I had allowed a root of bitterness to begin to form in my children? These kind of things happen, and the Bible assume that there will be times when we grow angry, (Be angry and do not sin) but it’s what we do with our anger that can make all the difference. And when and if we do become angry, we need to go as quickly as possible to make it right.

Though I don’t believe it’s ever too late. If your conscience still bothers you about something... if you have a scenario that still plays in your mind at times, stop what you’re doing and go and make it right, for it still matters to God.

Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you,  leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. (Matthew 5:23-24)




2 Chronicles

The Power in Praise {2 Chronicles 20}

12:00 AM


Yikes! In this passage Jehoshaphat learns, “A vast army is coming against you from Edom, from the other side of the Dead Sea.” They are the Moabites and Ammonites, the two nations born to Lot through incestuous relations with his two daughters. The same nations that would not allow Israel to pass through their boarders on their way to Canaan! The very same nations that hired Balaam to curse Israel as it journeyed toward the Promised Land and were thus forbidden to enter the Lord's assembly (Deut. 23:3–4). They have been like a reoccurring cancer towards Israel since returning from Egypt, and they have assembled a vast army to destroy Israel once and for all! Jehoshaphat, hearing this news, finds himself ill equipped to defend Israel against them! 

 Have you ever been there; facing down an enemy you feel helpless and ill equipped to battle?

 Fortunately, Jehoshaphat immediately turns to the only One who can help, “Jehoshaphat resolved to inquire of the Lord, and he proclaimed a fast for all Judah.  The people of Judah came together to seek help from the Lord; indeed, they came from every town in Judah to seek him. O Lord, the God of our fathers . . . Power and might are in Your hand. . . . We are powerless before this great multitude . . . nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are on You. – 2 Chronicles 20:3,4,6,12
And God quickly answers their prayer by telling Jehoshaphat the battle was not Judah’s but His, and sets up an unusual battle plan. Instead of warriors leading the way, God instructed him to place the choir up front to march into battle singing praises to His name. Wouldn’t you have loved to have seen the people’s faces when they heard that plan? They were facing destruction! BUT, regardless of how Jehoshaphat felt, his actions demonstrated that he trusted God as he obeyed the Lord. Before Judah reached the battlefield, God had thrown the enemy into such confusion that they turned on one another. Israel stood still and watched the Lord come to their rescue until not one man was left standing.
Imagine a faith so strong that it's able to face down a battle it cannot win, through praise! Praise lifts our eyes and hearts to the One who is able to conquer any battle we face. Praise will restore that sense of peace within us when anxiety threatens to take over! The story of Jehoshaphat and Israel’s army found here in 2 Chronicles proves praise is a great tool in spiritual warfare!

 I know that the last thing we often think to do when facing another battle, or even more of the same, is to begin to praise God, but when we make the decision to fix our eyes on Him, and daily give Him praise, no matter what's staring us straight in the face, we’ll begin to realize that God has already begun to release the hold our struggles can have over us.

 There’s power in acknowledging that He is worthy of our worship and praise!

  Praise takes our focus off us and our circumstances and puts it back on God! We're all prone to selfishness and selfcenteredness, but He desires our eyes be set firmly on Him, because that's where our true hope is found.  He is worthy of our praise, no matter what we face from day to day.
Who among the gods is like you, Lord? Who is like you— majestic in holiness, awesome in glory working wonders? “You stretch out your right hand, and the earth swallows your enemies. In your unfailing love you will lead the people you have redeemed. In your strength you will guide them to your holy dwelling." Exodus 15:1-13

 Know therefore today, and take it to your heart, that the Lord, He is God in heaven above and on the earth below; there is no other.- Deu 4:39

 Praise humbles us once more.  As we begin to remember God’s attributes we’re also reminded of our dependency on Him, and begin to acknowledge our need for Him.
The Lord is exalted over all the nations, his glory above the heavens. Who is like the Lord our God, the One who sits enthroned on high, who stoops down to look on the heavens and the earth? He raises the poor from the dust, and lifts the needy from the ash heap;"- Psalm 113:4-7

 "For My hand made all these things, Thus all these things came into being," declares the LORD "But to this one I will look, To him who is humble and contrite of spirit, and who trembles at My word.'"- Isaiah 66:2

   Praise invites His presence into our circumstances.  God dwells in the praise of His people!  He lives there.

 “But You are holy, You who inhabit the praises of Your people.”  Ps. 22:3

 “Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound: they shall walk, O LORD, in the light of thy countenance.” -Psalms 89:15

   Praise defeats the enemy and causes him to flee.  It pushes back the darkness, and blocks the attacks and lies whispered to us.  Evil will flee as we draw near to God.  In this passage, we see God miraculously defeat the enemy, because of the people’s obedience.

 “As they began to sing and praise, the Lord set ambushes against the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir who were invading Judah, and they were defeated”  2 Chron. 20:22

Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.  Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.” –Js 4:7-8a

   Praise leaves no room for grumbling and complaining.  Even within our prayers we can find ourselves complain about our problems at times, but though God calls us to “cast all our cares on Him” (1 Peter 5:7) we can do that remembering who He is and that He is able to save us! Praise allows us to focus on Him, and no longer allowing too much attention to be centered around the struggles. Praise helps us to remember what He has already done in our lives and strengthens our faith for the future.

 “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy.” Psa. 103:2-4

"By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name." Heb. 13:15

  Through praise our spirits are refreshed and renewed in His presence.  We're actually strengthened by our praise and refueled by His joy.  As we focus on praising God and worshiping Him, we realize that our situations don’t have to change for our hearts to become light and full of peace and joy!

 “In His presence, there is fullness of joy.”  Psa. 16:11

"Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands." Psa. 63:3-4

 Finally, our praises pave the way for God's power to be displayed; allowing other’s lives to be impacted and changed.  I thought of Paul and Silas sitting in prison, beaten, shackled and chained, but they kept right on praising God. God sent an earthquake that shook the cells and broke the chains, and the jailer and all his family came to know Christ that very night.

 “About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them, and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone's bonds were unfastened.”  Acts 16:25-26

All my bones will say, “Lord, who is like You,
Who rescues the afflicted from him who is too strong for him [to resist alone],
And the afflicted and the needy from him who robs him?” - Ps 35:10

Each day we have to choose whether we will be ruled by the anxieties of the world and busyness of our lives, or to look up to Him, the One who holds it all together, and praise Him throughout our day!