Ray Of Hope 4 U: 10/04/10

Monday, 4 October 2010

Trash Your Wrath

Busy day today, heading to mentor youth at local high school then of to Bible Study

Trash Your Wrath

“Trash your wrath, cool your pipes—it only makes things worse.” (excerpt from Psalm 37:1-9The Message)

As one sage put it, “Holding on to anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else; you are the one who gets burned.”

“Trash it”! Get rid of anger because it’s a sin. How can we do that? And what about many of the Psalms, where outrage includes wrathful prayers that an entire population be wiped out? What of our own faith up against “enemies” closer to home: friends who won’t tell us the truth, colleagues who talk behind our back, partners who betray us, politicians who insult our credulity, injustice and evil in much of the world and right here, too?

What needs trashing is not anger itself, but anger that ignores God. The same Psalm that tells us to “cool your pipes” first says, “Open up before God, keep nothing back; God will do whatever needs to be done.” That doesn’t mean we do nothing more and disregard our own feelings. It means there’s a power greater than ours working to direct and, when need be, correct us. As the psalmist says, to “make your vindication shine like the light, and the justice of your cause like the noonday.” In God’s hands, adapting something Martin Luther King said: The arc of our anger may be long, but it bends toward justice.

Ever-present Father, keep me from withholding anger. May I share it counting on your guidance and justice. Amen.

Today’s Promise

For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." -- Romans 8:38-39

1. West Coast Prayerline - 712-451-6000. Access code 281432#. Meeting times daily@ 6am Mon – Sun and 9pm Mon – Fri. (Facilitated by Elder Michael Blue & Elder Wanda Flowers.)

2. East Coast Prayerline - 605-990-0700. Access code 503942#. Meeting times @ 6am and 9pm weekdays and 6:30am weekends. (Facilitated by Chris Brooks). You can also visit www.gracefam.org.

3. San Francisco Prayerline - 641 297 4600. Access code is 7792#. Meeting times daily @ 6:30am Mon – Sun (Facilitated by Sis. Grant and Elder Wanda Flowers)

4. CPR Prayerline - - 218 862 1000. Access

code is 259188#. Meeting times @ 9pm Sunday to Friday (Times are EST: Facilitated by Yvette Stoute.)

5. Urgent Prayer Request +0208 202 4863(London number) or text +7940443879

6. Emergency Prayer -1 888 820 8627 or visit www.pray4meinc.com .

RAY OF HOPE 4 U

61 Selborne gardens

London NW4 4SH

England, UK

+447940443879 (London)

rayofhope4u@hotmail.com

www.rayofhope4u.co.uk

http://rayofhope4u.blogspot.com

http://www.squidoo.com/rayofhope4u

http://www.mission2zimbabwe2010.vpweb.co.uk

prayerline +44208 202 4863 or text +447940443879

Your Church Is Amazing

Hope you had a great weekend and you gave God all your praise and worship. I want to thank God for the opportunity to serve the homeless This weekend

Your Church Is Amazing

“I know your deeds, your love and faith, your service and perseverance, and that you are now doing more than you did at first.” Revelation 2:12-29

These aren’t easy times to be in the church business. The financial bottom-line is nipping at your heels. Some group in the congregation is complaining of this or that. And you have to contend with headline-grabbers who attach the name of Christ and the church to their sorry and stupid schemes.

I bring you a word of encouragement and appreciation for you and your church. “I know your deeds, your love and faith, your service and perseverance . . .” God is watching and God sees that you are amazing. Really.

I get to work with all sorts of congregations all across the world. I am regularly shocked. Shocked at their incredible faithfulness, at the love I see, at the acts of service and the amazing perseverance of the church and people of the church. The media are blind to this. Worse, we too are often blind to the goodness and faithfulness unfolding week by week in our own congregation.

But in most congregations I visit I see love and faith, service and perseverance. I see the poor fed, the children taught, adults seeking deeper lives, strangers welcomed, love lived and God praised. Church, you’re amazing.

Its time to get busy for God. Plug yourself in to a church program. If your church isn’t amazing you make it that way, lift it up in prayer, find people with like mind and reach those in need. God sees your works and he will reward you.

Remember U R the church (ch-ur-ch). The two middle letters of the word church is…

Father, give us eyes to see the faithfulness and goodness right in our midst, and to praise you for it. Amen.

Today’s Promise

" Peace I leave with you, my peace I give you. I do not give as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." John 14:27