Processing Your Anger

All anger, regardless of its cause, has the same effect on our lives. It upsets us, causing us to feel pressure. Keeping anger locked inside and pretending it doesn't exist can even be dangerous to our health. Most of the time we’re only hurting ourselves, and the person who angered us isn’t even aware of it. I struggled with terrible anger until God grabbed my attention. I eventually had to find a positive way to process my anger. That was a place of new beginnings for me. When you face your anger and decide to deal with it God's way, you can overcome it. The Holy Spirit gives us the power to be stable and walk in the fruit of the Spirit. We have the power to forgive those who do injustices in our lives and to love the unlovely. So we must take responsibility for our anger and learn to deal with it. Instead of keeping it all bottled up inside, seek the Lord and ask Him to help you release it. Process it and bring closure to it, and that will relieve the pressure.

Prayer Starter: Lord, I don’t want to keep my anger inside of me because that will only damage me and it’s not pleasing to You. I ask for Your help. Help me to relieve the pressure of anger in my life.

Developing an Attitude of Prayer in the Midst of Worry

When you're under pressure, it's always best to pray about it instead of talk about it. Prayer is the blueprint for a successful life. During His time on earth, Jesus prayed. He entrusted everything to God through prayer—even His reputation and life. We can do the same. We don't have to explain all the problems to Him; we can just give them to Him and ask Him to take care of everything. You don’t have to complicate prayer. I think a lot of times people wait until they get to their quiet time or church before they really pray, without realizing that they can pray at any time. Just have confidence in simple, believing prayer. Look at Paul's instructions in Philippians 4:6-7. Instead of worrying, simply pray and ask God for help when you find yourself in a difficult situation. The Bible tells us that God is faithful—that's one of His major characteristics. He can be counted on to come through for us when we pray to Him for help, so we should trust Him totally and completely. When we do, we'll be ready for anything that may come our way. 

Philippians 4:6-7; Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. 

Prayer Starter: God, I don’t want to live my life worrying. Instead, I decide today to get in the habit of praying to You at all times.

God Gives Grace to the Humble

First Peter 5:5 tells us that God "sets Himself against the proud…but gives grace (favor, blessing) to the humble." And anyone who thinks they're a self-made man or woman has a rude awakening coming because Jesus said, "...Apart from Me [cut off from vital union with Me] you can do nothing" (John 15:5) When we live in pride, trying to succeed without God’s help, we’re left open to so many attacks of the enemy. But humility is a covering that draws the help of God into our lives to protect us. When we humble ourselves by saying, "God, I don't know what to do, and I'm trusting You," God will help us. God won't allow us to succeed at anything unless we're leaning and relying on Him. But when we humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God, in due time, He will exalt us (see 1 Peter 5:6). "Due time" is God's time, when God knows we're ready, not when we think we're ready. The sooner we understand and accept that, the sooner God can work out His plan in our lives.

Prayer Starter: God, I humble myself before You, knowing that You will exalt me in due time. I can’t succeed on my own. I need Your help.

Be a God Pleaser, Not a Man Pleaser

Are you the person God created you to be or are you living “to please men”? According to this scripture, God’s will is for us to please Him and be what He wants us to be. When we choose to be the person God created us to be unique and different than everybody else we have to expect some criticism. But you won’t like yourself very much if you go against your own convictions. See, going along with the crowd, when you know in your heart that God's leading you a different way, is one reason people don't succeed at being themselves. I want to encourage you to step out and be the person God made you to be. Don't let the way another person treats you or responds to you determine your worth. Have the courage to be different and deal with criticism. Remember that God accepts you and loves you. He made you the way you are for a reason, and you have something special to offer.

Galatians 1:10; For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ. 

Prayer Starter: God, I don’t want to live trying to please men. I dare to be different. I want to win Your favor and be the person You made me to be.

The Lifter of Our Heads

God has good plans for you and He wants you to enjoy your life. He doesn’t want you to live with a spirit of heaviness, despair, depression or discouragement. The good news is, your attitude and outlook can change when you look to God and let Him lift you up. The psalmist said that God "is a shield for me, my glory, and the lifter of my head." Think about that phrase “the lifter of my head.” When someone walks around with their head hanging down, we assume that they’re sad or depressed. If that’s the way you feel, know today that God can lift your head and your spirits. Remember, God has a good plan with a future and a hope for each of us. Because He is with us, we can think and speak in agreement with His will. We can practice being positive in every situation that arises. And when our circumstances are challenging and difficult, we can expect God to bring good out of them as He has promised in His Word. 

Psalms 3:3; But You, O Lord, are a shield for me, My glory and the One who lifts up my head. 

Prayer Starter: God, You are my glory and the lifter of my head. I choose to look to You. Help me to keep my focus on You and trust You to bring Your good plans to pass in my life today.

Vengeance Is God’s

When someone makes us angry, Satan likes to attack us and keep us upset. Responding in a positive way is the direct opposite of what the enemy wants you to do, defeating his plan to keep you upset. It doesn't come naturally, and it isn't always easy, but when we do what we can do, God will do what we can't do. When someone angers and offends you, a natural response for many of us is to try and pay them back. But if you really pay them back, what will you gain? You’ll only make them angrier and then they might try and pay you back again. The cycle never ends! If we hang on to anger, we're just being foolish. We must turn the anger and the people who caused it over to God and let Him take care of it. ..Vengeance is Mine, I will repay (requite), says the Lord. Trust God and He will take care of you and protect you. You can't change what happened, but when you give it to God, He’ll use it to bring you a better future. 

Romans 12:19; Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. 

Prayer Starter: God, I believe that vengeance is Yours and that paying people back in anger is not something You want me to do. I give my anger to You and trust that You will take care of me.

Understanding Guilt!!!

Think about how you feel when doing something you know you shouldn't. Most likely a stinging conscience makes you realize that you feel guilty. What is guilt? Perhaps you think of it as a nagging sense that the Lord is out to get you. Or you might feel isolated from God or others because of some dark cloud of regret. Obviously, there are different ways to interpret guilt; identifying exactly what it is will allow us to move ahead on the road to spiritual maturity. When our behavior is in conflict with guidance from the Spirit of God residing in us, we will experience an emotional response. That’s all guilt is: emotional pain caused by something we have done. Put another way, guilt describes our taking responsibility for doing wrong, whether it be a thought, action, careless word, or something else. While it is good to have this inner alarm, we have to guard against the inclination to wallow in shame. At times we behave so badly that we’re completely overcome with remorse, and we refuse to let the waves of regret pass by. We might punish ourselves by wading in those troubled waters for a while. When these times come, we must remember that Jesus Christ has paid the debt for all our sin. This means that He has already paid the price of our wrongdoing, and we have been found “not guilty.” As our sin lies dead at the cross, so does our guilt. While we must always take responsibility for our actions, we have the freedom in Christ to do so without the burden of unhealthy regret.

James 2:10; For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.

Open your Spiritual Eyes!!!

When the things we are facing in our lives loom so big in our eyes that our mind goes “tilt,” we need to think in the spirit. In the natural, many things are impossible. But in the supernatural, spiritual realm, with God nothing is impossible. God wants us to believe for great things, make big plans, and expect Him to do things so great it leaves us with our mouths hanging open in awe. James 4:2 tells us we have not because we ask not! We can be bold in our asking. Sometimes in my meetings people will approach the altar for prayer and sheepishly ask if they can request two things. I tell them they can ask God for all they want to, as long as they trust Him to do it His way, in His timing. When you pray, do it standing up on the inside. What I mean is, do it respectfully, yet aggressively and boldly. Recall that God said He is the Almighty God (Genesis 17:1); in other words, “more than enough.”

Say this prayer out loud: Lord, open my spiritual eyes to see what it means to pray to the Almighty God who is “more than enough.” I come humbly and boldly with expectancy of great things. Amen.

Ephesians 3:20; Now to Him Who, by (in consequence of) the [action of His] power that is at work within us, is able to [carry out His purpose and] do super abundantly, far over and above all that we [dare] ask or think [infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes, or dreams].

The Planter!!!

It's so interesting how Jesus would teach something by using stories that we can understand and relate to. It's standard planting procedure. Buy a package of seed, dig a trench or hole to place the seeds in, water well (with a small can of root stimulator maybe), cover them up, and when they have had enough time in the darkness and dampness, those seed begin to put forth little sprouts. The seed itself dies, but in that death, brings forth life.   Paul gets pretty frustrated trying to explain this to the Corinthians. He says, "You fool! That which you sow does not come to life unless it dies!" So it is with Christ. He was "planted" so to speak, but life came out of His death--HIS life--to be lived through us. Sharon, a dear friend, penned this thought: "While Satan thought that he had killed his rival, he had in actuality only multiplied Christ's lordship exponentially!" From that one "Seed", millions have come forth!  Why did that verse grab me? Well, "I have been crucified with Christ" (Galatians 2:20)--I have died--been buried--and now I'm supposed to be "sprouting" new life. I'm supposed to be mentoring others by words, actions, daily living--every facet of my life should be evidence of that death, that resurrection, and the Life that is now mine. Thank You Lord, for teaching me such "heavy" truth with such simple illustrations. You know, Lord, that's the mark of a good teacher. It isn't big words, or important names, or impressing me with conversational skills. The question is, did I understand what You said? Could I apply this to MY life? So, thanks, Lord, for teaching me about how a grain of wheat can be me. 

John 12:24; Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain. 

You are not ALONE!!!

Are there times when you feel like you're being dragged along, you can't get a footing, you have nothing for an anchor, and you desperately need something that would bring stability into your life? Maybe something like a great big rock--with secure hand holds--nothing slippery or sharp--and a flat place where you could sit down or stand and observe the turbulence around you but be completely untouched? How about those times when you wish you could run into an impenetrable fortress, slam the door, drop a heavy beam down that would keep anyone from opening the door, and you could just heave a sigh of relief and collapse? Sounds nice, doesn't it? Perhaps you have longed for something to shield you from the hurts of your world? Something that would keep those ugly words, the rejection, or the tragedies in your life from hitting you and destroying you? "They hurt so badly! Where can I turn? What can I do?" "My great and powerful Savior!" This great and powerful Savior wants to be your Rock, your Fortress, your Deliverer, your Shield, and your High Tower.* As you stand on Him--your Rock--you can shiver as you see the turbulent waters reaching for you, but you're safe! You have an unshakable Foundation and He is right there with you! The door to your Fortress is always open for you and He loves to be your Hero--the One to deliver you from the perils of your world! He will shield you, protect you, and lead you safely to your High Tower. 

Psalms 18:1-3; I will love You, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; My God, my strength, in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised; So shall I be saved from my enemies. 

HOPE!!!

Hope is such a wonderful word! And as long as God is in His Heaven, we have hope. Our circumstances may not come under control as quickly as we would like, one of the cars may have to go and city busses become a part of our life, but there is always hope because there is always God. There is always God! 

Romans 8:24; For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees? 

CHRISTIAN CONDUCT!!!

We believe that the supreme task of every believer is to glorify God in life and conduct and be blameless before the world. Each Christian should be a faithful steward of all possessions and God's Creation and seek to realize in every area of life the full stature of maturity in Christ.

Philippians 1:27; Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel.

THE CHURCH!!!

We believe Christians are people who believe not only in God the Father but in Jesus Christ as His Son and the Way to everlasting life. We believe the church is the people not the place. We believe that the church is the spiritual body of which Christ is the head and is composed of all persons who through saving faith in Jesus Christ have been regenerated by the Holy Spirit. This body expresses itself in local assemblies whose members have been immersed upon a credible confession of faith and have associated themselves for worship, instruction, evangelism, and service. The ordinances of the local church are believers' baptism by immersion and the Lord's Supper. We also believe in the interdependence of local churches and the mutual submission of Christians to each other in love. We believe Christians make a community of people no matter their religious affiliation. We believe in non-denominational Outdoor Ministry as a tool to facilitate people of all ages to experience spiritual discovery, growth and renewal in their personal relationship with the Holy Trinity. We believe Outdoor Ministry provides unique opporutnities for the community of Christ to nurture a deeper love of Christ in love, support and comfort for one another through meaningful relationships, develop Christian leadership and practice stewardship of God's Creation. We believe that local Christian communities help to further knowledge, understanding, and support for spiritual growth and personal relationsips with the Holy Trinity with or without a formal setting. In fact, we believe that God's Creation often times serves as a better cathedral in which to worship.

Romans 12:4-5; 4.For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, 5. so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another.  

THE WORD OF GOD!!!

We believe the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are written by humans inspired by God as the Word of God as the revelation of God's will for salvation, and the supreme and final authority in all matters to which they speak. These writtings are written in ancient language and translated by human men and women to the best of their ability.  

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