anger and our words

Stop being angry!
Turn from your rage!
Do not lose your temper—
it only leads to harm.
Psalm 37:8 
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A gentle answer deflects anger, but harsh words make tempers flare. Proverbs 15:1
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Gentle words are a tree of life; a deceitful/perverse tongue crushes the spirit. Proverbs 15:5
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A hot-tempered person starts fights;  but he who is slow to anger stops them. Proverbs 15:8
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Fools vent their anger/feelings, but the wise quietly hold it back. Proverbs 29:11
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As dead flies cause a bottle of perfume to stink, so a little foolishness spoils great wisdom and honor. Ecclesiastes 10:1
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But now is the time to get rid of anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander, and dirty language. Colossians 3:8
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With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so. James 3:9-10
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Convicted and challenged by these verses. May our anger be controlled by the Spirit of God and our words be well pleasing to Him. Here are a few more that never fail to keep me in check and encourage me. 

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Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips. Psalm 141:3
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Whoever guards his mouth and tongue keeps his soul from troubles. Proverbs 21:23
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Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit. Proverbs 18:21
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A person without self-control is like a city with broken-down walls (aka vulnerable). Proverbs 25:28
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Do not be rash with your mouth, and let not your heart utter anything hastily before God. For God is in heaven, and you on earth; therefore let your words be few. Ecclesiastes 5:2
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Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer. Psalm 19:14
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Worry weighs a person down; an encouraging word cheers a person up. Proverbs 12:25
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The Sovereign Lord has given me his words of wisdom, so that I know how to comfort the weary. Morning by morning he wakens me and opens my understanding to his will. Isaiah 50:4

Sentence Tuesday

Only the Gospel can set you free from living in a constant state of comparison; grace spells the end of score-keeping. 

-Tullian Tchividjian 

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Lyrical Friday - Liberty

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I care very little if I am judged by you or by any human court; 
indeed, I do not even judge myself. 1 Corinthians 4:3 
If the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed. John 8:36 
There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,  
who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit. Romans 8:1 
Even if we feel guilty, God is greater than our feelings, and he knows everything. 1 John 3:20 (nlt) 
For if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all  things. 1 John 3:20 (nkjv) 

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Liberty defined: "Freedom from external or foreign rule; independence. Freedom from control, interference, obligation, restriction,hampering conditions, etc.; power or right of doing, thinking,speaking, etc., according to choice. Freedom from captivity, confinement, or physical restraint." There is one thing that I know to be true after reading the definition of liberty, and that is that liberty is what the Lord desires for us. Jesus died so that we could be set free from the grip of Hell and sin. He yearns to set us free from our death sentence, the accusations of Satan, the disapproval of people, and the judgments towards ourselves. In His death, He took upon Himself our faults, our failures, our chains, our bondage our penalty. He didn't remain there. Death could not restrain Him for He is mightier than death. In His resurrection we have liberty from all that enslaves us. 

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If we have been set free, why are so many Christians still living as though they are still confined, condemned, chained and bound? I believe we have been captives for so long, that our very identity has been lost and forgotten. When Jesus died and resurrected He did so to save our souls but also to redeem our identity. You are not junk. You are not a mistake. You are not the remains of your past. You are not your faults and failures. You are not a byproduct of society or upbringing. You are not the abuse you experienced. You are not damaged. You are not a lost case. You are not who you say you are. You are not what the world says you are. You are who God created you to be. You have been made with purpose. You are known by God from before the foundations of the earth. Your days have been fashioned before you. You are a child of God. You have a Father who loves you. You are the apple of His eye. You will be made whole because you have already been made new. You have been set free by the love of God, the life of Jesus and the work of the Holy Spirit. This is your identity. You no longer have to live as a prisoner, condemned and guilt stricken, but set free (even from your own judgement) by His Spirit. I pray that as you listen to and meditate on the lyrics of Liberty by Shane and Shane, that a new work would happen in your heart and mind. He rewrote your name (identity) and unshackled your shame (free to live). Allow Him to open your eyes to these truths. Go on, sing. 

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Liberty, Shane and Shane (with Phil Wickham)

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The Lord is the Spirit 
Where the Spirit of the Lord is, now 
There is liberty 
And the Spirit lives inside of me 
Where the Spirit of the Lord is, now 
There is liberty, there is liberty, 
There is liberty 
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For freedom You set me free 
And yes, I am free indeed 
You rewrote my name 
And shackled my shame 
You opened my eyes to see 
I am free 
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When the spirit of the world 
Comes to kill me and enslave me I will say 
There is liberty 
For the chains of sin that once entangled me 
Have been broken, now I'm singing 'cause I'm free 
There is liberty, there is liberty, 
There is liberty 
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The storm rolled in 
It was dark in the land 
As the Son of Man 
Was crucified 
You don't take His life 
He laid it down 
He paid the price 
And shed His blood 
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It is done! 
The veil is torn 
He has won 
And I am free 
And I am free 
And I am free 
I am free 

Sentence Tuesday

Your relationship with God 

is based on the revelation of scripture in your life. 

-Laura Cuevas 

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Lyrical Friday - Joy Comes In

With not much time to write, I leave you with Sarah Macintosh and her song Joy Comes In. May the Spirit of God cause your heart to sing even if your spirit is heavy and discouraged.
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Sing praise to the Lord, you saints of His, and give thanks at the remembrance of His holy name. For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for life; Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning. Psalm 30:4-5  

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And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.”Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12:9-10

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Joy Comes In, Sarah Macintosh 


We will weep and we will cry 
But joy comes in the morning 
Though the tears may flood our eyes 
Joy comes in the morning 
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Though we may feel we’re on the run 
Though life may deal a crushing blow 
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Hold out for hope 
Allelu, Allelu 
Raise up your head 
Allelu, Allelu 
Look to the dawn 
Allelu, Allelu 
Cause joy comes in yes it’s moving in 
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We may kick and we may shout 
But joy comes in the morning 
Though our voice grows weak and sore 
Joy comes in the morning 
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Hallelujah!
Hallelujah!

Sentence Tuesday

A man who wants to lead the orchestra 

Must turn his back on the crowd. -Max Lucado 

Lyrical Friday - I Will Lift My Eyes

Happy Friday 
Back in 2007 I boarded a plane to a far off land. I spent nearly three weeks in Israel. Indeed it was a trip that changed my life completely. All my senses were awakened in that visit. My eyes introduced to new sights: from holy sights and refugee camps, to museums and living rooms, luscious green mountains to desert ground. I saw a people who are so far off from being anything like me yet needing the one thing I constantly cry out for: more of Jesus. My ears awakened to new sounds, languages, voices, and even to the silent cries of a perishing people. My taste buds nearly melted with all the delicious food I ate, breakfast, lunch and dinner were all a delight to experience and I did to my fullest capacity. Who can complain when you wake up to fresh Hummus, pita bread and the world's smallest apples, fresh Falafel for lunch and Kanafeh after dinner? Yet I couldn't shake off the awareness that there remains a people who have not tasted the goodness of the Lord to their fullest capacity, even to overflow. Israel carries the fragrance of Christ, to one is the scent of death and to another it is the scent of life. The scent of Israel is fresh, it's lively, it is still and mysterious. I  touched the ground my Savior walked upon, sat at the Mount of Beatitudes, cried at the Church of Annunciation and floated far, far away at the Dead Sea. There are two cactus' that I remember well, I sat on one and fell on another. I touched Israel, and Israel touched my heart in a way that all these words, no words could ever describe. All these wonderful memories mean nothing in light of the promise God gave me before leaving to Israel:
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I look up to the mountains—

does my help come from there?

My help comes from the Lord,

who made heaven and earth. 

He will not let you stumble;

the one who watches over you will not slumber.

Indeed, he who watches over Israel

never slumbers or sleeps. 

The Lord himself watches over you!

The Lord stands beside you as your protective shade.

The sun will not harm you by day,

nor the moon at night. 

The Lord keeps you from all harm

and watches over your life.

The Lord keeps watch over you as you come and go,

both now and forever.

Psalm 121

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You see, I had prayed for the Lord to give me a scripture that I could take on this trip and take refuge in through out my days in Israel. It sure was a refuge and a great comfort to know that my God is my helper 24/7. I knew through these verses that I could call out to Him any day, any time, any where. He would respond any day, any time, any where because He is 1- watching over me, 2- never sleeps and 3- this was guaranteed to me for both now and forever. This promise never expires. I thoroughly enjoyed my trip to Israel to the max. I did not fear, worry, become anxious or weary. I could have but I did not doubt.
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I wish I could say the same to my experiences here, at home. I have feared terribly, become worried over and over, anxiety has gotten the best of me and boy, have I grown weary. I have exhausted all my resources and knowledge and at the end of it, I fall back to the question, "Where does my help come from?" Forgive me God for all the times that I have not redeemed this promise in your Word. It is my prayer that you would experience this life, your life to the max, to capacity, to overflow and in abundance as you believe and redeem (as in a coupon, lol) the promises of Psalm 121 which never expire. I Will Lift My Eyes by Bebo Norman is just the song to help us get back on our knees and lifting our eyes to our Helper. God bless YOU!
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I Will Lift My Eyes, Bebo Norman 


God, my God, I cry out
Your beloved needs You now
God, be near, calm my fear
And take my doubt
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Your kindness is what pulls me up
Your love is all that draws me in
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I will lift my eyes to the Maker
Of the mountains I can't climb
I will lift my eyes to the Calmer
Of the oceans raging wild
I will lift my eyes to the Healer
Of the hurt I hold inside
I will lift my eyes, lift my eyes to You
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God, my God, let Mercy sing
Her melody over me
God, right here all I bring
Is all of me
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'Cause You are and You were and You will be forever
The Lover I need to save me
'Cause You fashioned the earth and You hold it together, God
So hold me now

Sentence Tuesday

God is a better Savior than you are a sinner. 

-Pedro Garcia