Are You Mad?

Sometimes as hard as we think we're trying to not let it happen, it happens anyway. Our emotions get the best of us. I'm not typically an overly emotional person. You won't see me happy one minute, then one event or word pushing me over the edge of Tearsandsnot Falls. Rather for me, it is one small thing at a time. Fear works its way in. Anger gets a foot hold. We can be prideful and think "I'm not  a fearful person." We can think we know all about those negative emotions, and that as Christians we know how we are to respond. But when they sneak in slowly, we can be taken by surprise. Anger is an especially sneaky little devil. We can think we have a right to be angry, and there is such a thing as righteous anger. However, even righteous anger needs to be given to God. Someone hurt someone you love. Took advantage of someone's weakness. It is good to be a champion of people. Maybe the condition of our great nation scares or angers you. It's good to be informed and concerned, and to act. But to be obsessed? No. I had to turn off the talk radio because it so negatively affected my emotions. I have found out a lot of my "righteous anger" comes from people I care about behaving foolishly. I worry about them (fear), then become angry at them, out of love, of course. Then the anger can start to take over to the point where I find it hard to love them, to pray for them. The other day, I was praying and asked God "HOW do I love them and not be angry with them?". I was listening to Bethel, and the song that was playing is the spontaneous worship by Brian and Jenn Johnson. The very next thing I heard after asking that question was the line "This is all about You." I thought to myself, "Oh yeah...that's how. I put my focus on You, Lord. It's not about me. It's about You." What a wonderful God that empowers us to love when love is hard.
Today I was out walking and praying, and Psalm 91:1 kept going through my mind, as if on a loop. "Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty." I definitely believe that God protects me physically, but how wonderful that he protects all of me. My mind, body and spirit. He protects me from the effects of negative emotions by teaching me to look to Him. You have to be really close to someone to be in their shadow.  If I willingly place myself in His shelter, living under His protection, then I can rest in His shadow. How awesome to be in the shadow of the Almighty God.

Grace for All

I have been thinking about grace a lot lately. Sometimes I self pityingly think about the lack of grace shown to me by others. Of course, I believe in God's grace. I am saved by grace. But honestly, how much grace do I show others? Maybe to my favorites, to family members and friends that don't mess up all that much (at least in my mind), I show grace. But what about those that need it the most? Those that continually make a mess of things? Those that continually offend others, especially me? Those that continually let others down, and have absolutely nothing to give? Do I show them grace? Love confronts. We are to speak the truth in love. It makes healthier relationships and can turn people away from life's dead ends. However, if we do these things and they aren't seasoned with grace, are we really doing any good? Is there actually any love in it, if there is no grace to be found? What exactly does grace look like? Of course, it doesn't mean that we excuse bad behavior. However, I get the feeling it looks much more like Jesus, than Amber's school of hard knocks and judgment. Just some hard questions I am asking myself.