Saturday, October 15, 2011

Don\t let the sun go down on your wrath.

Paul gives us a wonderful exhortation when he says that we are not to let the sun go down on our wrath.  Carrying anger, hurts and unforgiveness to the next day just makes the the wall between you and others bigger.
Night time is meant for sleeping but when you go to bed with an issue of anger or hurt, you mind works over time and you go over the issue again and again and it can become justification for a negative response or long term hurt.  Dealing with things right away or as soon as you can is the best method.  It is o.k. to take a time out for think things through but as soon as you can deal with the issue so that forgiveness can flow, healing can start and relationships can be built again.  Phyliss Diller said, "don't let the sun go down on your wrath, stay up and fight."  Not recommended either.  Paul's advice was to stay up until it is resolve if possible.  It will help sleep better at night as well.    

Wednesday, October 5, 2011

Real Love

Tonight I will be sharing on 1 Corinthian 13 which is called the Love Chapter.  What I find so fascinating is in Vs 1-3, that Paul indicates that we could actually live an entire life time, producing, receiving and being of no value.  Paul reminds us in these verses that love is the key and foundation for life.  It protects us from legalism, loveless relationships, selfishness and self absorbing behavior.  I cannot fathom how a person can live a lifetime and make no significant contribution of others but unfortunately I have done many funerals where that has been the case.  Imagine you live 50-100 years and not change lives for eternity.  To many lives are focused on self and not others.  Mark Buntain said once that our lives are called to be lives of influence and this is progress fully in the love of God.  So today my exhortation is love the way God wants you to love and then you will produce, receive and be of real value.