He steadied himself and looking down into the elephant's right eye he said: "Mr Elephant it has come to my attention that we are incarcerated in this room together for the night and the caretaker has departed for home. It appears that we are going to be sharing this room. If that is the case, we need to have some rules to help us get through the night without incident. May I suggest that the first rule should be: Let's don't have any stepping on one another. OK?
It seems that no matter how hard we try, we are bound to step on one another at some time. It may be from an old-fashioned mean streak or it may be an unintended remark that just slips out and goes to the bone. The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity; but a wounded spirit who can bear? (Pro 18:14)
The greatest cost of living the Christian life may be handling anger and forgiving another person of some wrong done to us. Anger is power. If I give up my anger I also give up my right to put Clorox in my brother's hair tonic (which I did but he smelled it). Anger is power. What I cannot do in actual life, I can do to you many times in my mind.
God gave us the gift of anger that focuses our energy against another person or cause. But anger is like fire. It works well in the stove but fire is a bad thing in the living room floor. We read: Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: (Eph 4:26). We have permission to be angry for just a little while but when the sun goes down, it's time to pour some water on the anger. Not only so, but while we are angry we are not to sin because of the anger. That can be tough. We are likely to pour out wounding words while we are angry that will last a lifetime. Then what? A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city: and their contentions are like the bars of a castle. (Pro 18:19)
The Hatfield-McCoy feud (1878-1891) really happened and took seven lives. Grudges can be expensive. We are warned: Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled; (Heb 12:15). We are told by our top military leaders that one of the hardest things to deal with in Iraq are the conflicts between Sunni and Shiite tribes that go back to the succession to Mohammad.
It seems so appropriate to teach small children: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you. (Eph 4:32). We usually begin by teaching: …be ye kind one to another The difficult part of this verse is that the Lord actually expects us to do it. I want God to forgive me because I've done some stuff that needs forgiveness. But I don't want to forgive until I get my pound of flesh. That is NOT good Christianity.
It's easier to sing Amazing Grace than it is to forgive someone an insult or injustice. Jesus set the example of forgiving from the cross in praying: Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do…. (Luk 23:34)
He took it further than that. Jesus said: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. (Mat 6:15) That's really tough if you love to hold grudges. God does not play around with this command. I believe He meant what He said. We can go to an all-night singing and sing the roof off the church, but if we are holding a grudge and singing praises to God, we are actually mocking God.
Sometimes there's an offense against someone that requires restitution to be made. The Bible teaches restitution as well as forgiveness and sometimes restitution can be expensive. And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken anything from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold. (Luk 19:8). Controlling anger and forgiving someone who has wronged you may be the greatest cost of being a Christian.Ω
—Barbara Carr
With the economy like it is, the rising unemployment and daily drastic drop of the stock market and massive loss of retirement funds, we are having legitimate fears and worries. The current experiment of dumping unheard-of sums of borrowed money into the economy is sure to generate crippling inflation.
The rice field shown here in the Philippines reminds us of the rice riots in 2008 at which time 33 countries were gripped by food shortage. With that in mind our subject is "Be not afraid."
"The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?" (Psa 27:1)
This may be just the beginning. Every time we turn on the radio or TV, pull up the news on the computer or listen to sermons, we hear bad news. Our president is telling us to be patient. We also know that within a short time Christians may be persecuted in this country as we see open hostility growing toward Bible-believing Christians and open arms extended toward Islam. We have lived in the years of prosperity and peace on our shores. We haven't had a war on American soil since the Civil War.
I have an encouraging story to tell you. My Dad was born in 1909—my Mom in 1915. They were married February 11, 1931. The depression of 1929 was in full swing. Living in the country was wonderful, because they could have a garden, a cow, chickens and a couple of hogs to kill in the winter. They had no money to speak of. Daddy worked at anything he could find; mostly at a saw mill. They had no horses, so they walked. It was about two miles to the store. Mama would take a dozen eggs, walk to the store and trade them for a few groceries. I think the eggs were a penny each, so she had 12 cents to spend for sugar, flour, coffee-- maybe a can of salmon (which cost about a nickel). Daddy took corn to the gristmill and had it ground into meal. What clothes they had were home made. Shoes were a different matter. You had them half- soled if possible, and if not, you cut out a piece of cardboard and put that in the bottom of your shoe.
I'm telling you this because while they were going through these things they were so blessed. They were never hungry; never naked and never without shelter. By the time I was born, the economy was improving, but I was taught to be thrifty with everything, even water. I think one big difference in 1929 and 2009 is prayer. During the Depression people turned to God; not away from Him. Mainstream America today doesn't know about real need. Most Americans wouldn't know how to handle it.
With all the money being dumped into the economy, inflation is almost certain. It would be a good idea for us to store a 30-day supply of food and toiletries, because grocery shelves may be stripped bare as the coming adjustment settles in. Preparing is not a lack of trust in God. It's using the wisdom God has given us. Remember Joseph in Egypt who ordered the building of warehouses to store grain for seven years?
Things may get really tough, but we can make it because God's help is available to those who want Him. Abraham Lincoln once said, "I'm not as much concerned about God being on our side, as I am about our being on God's side." God is abundantly able to protect us and we can confidently trust in Him. "What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?" (Rom 8:31)
The Lord is our strength. He is our life support—our very breath. We are sometimes overwhelmed by troubles and sorrows but during these times God is our strength. We can only survive tough times with His presence, His comfort and His love. "When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet." (Pro 3:24)
Look up all the references on "afraid" and "fear." In e-Sword, fear has 385 listings and afraid has185. I had never looked up these references until the first time Dan had to go on a trip after we were married. I knew he would be gone when I got home from work and I dreaded entering an empty house. There was a Bible verse on the front door. "What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee." (Psa 56:3)
He had printed Bible verses on fear and not being afraid on 3x5 cards and placed them all over the house—on the front and back door, on the mirror, on my pillow, all over. I memorized some of these verses and they still help me. He has had to be away many times and I have stayed home and God has taken care of me.
Fear is a natural reaction in the time of danger. In the Bible David admitted that there were times when he was afraid. A capacity for fear has been implanted in us to make us alert and careful. Fear causes us to trust God. Fear leads us to Him when we realize that we have no power to save ourselves. The three Hebrew children went through the fire, but there was a fourth man in the fire with them. Daniel was thrown into a den of lions, but God sent an angel to close the mouths of the lions.
God has the power to deliver us from all tragedy and sorrow. When we are not delivered, it is not because He is not listening or doesn't care. He has allowed it for a reason and more than likely we will be a better person for having gone through it. He will be with us during these difficult times and His Word will bring us great comfort.
We read in Psa 56:11 "In God have I put my trust: I will not be afraid what man can do unto me."
Recently I read on the internet three reasons that we, as children of our God should have confidence to face the hardships of life.
1. We know that Jesus faced trials just as we do, and He is with us in all of our hard times. (Heb 4:15) "For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin."
2 Scripture tells us that when we walk in step with Him, He allows only challenges that will strengthen and mature us. So, we can help others with similar trials. (2Cor 1:4) Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.
3 We are assured that He will provide everything we need—(Php 4:19) "But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus."
With God's help, the coming trials will not be more than we can handle.Ω
