YOU CAN OVERCOME BITTERNESS

A man who had been bitten by a rattlesnake was rushed to the hospital. When he asked the doctor, "Is it life-threatening?" the doctor said, "The bite isn't, but the poison is."

The "bites" you suffer at the hands of others are painful and upsetting, but they're not lethal. What happens to you normally doesn't destroy you, but what happens in you afterwards can. Like venom, bitterness first poisons your mind, then your relationships. It causes you to replay the hurt until it controls you, stealing the future God planned for you.

But it doesn't have to be that way. You can overcome bitterness. God says, "Stop being bitter and angry and mad at others." (Ephesians 4:31) And what God commands, He will give you the grace to do. When Peter asked Jesus, "Should I forgive my brother seven times?" Jesus said, "No, you must forgive him seventy times seven." (Matthew 18:21-22) In other words, "Forgive, and keep on forgiving until it no longer bothers you."

What causes bitterness? Anger that's allowed to take residence in your thought-life. God's purpose for anger is to motivate you to tap into His power for solving problems; otherwise they become permanent. Solving the problem resolves and relieves your anger.

But anger can become long-term bitterness when you fixate on "who did it to me," making you hostile, critical, blaming and punitive. You say, "Can I really stop my anger?" Yes, with God's help you can control your reactions and behaviors, and starve your anger to death. "The fruit of the Spirit is... self-control." Galatians 5:22-23  (Author Unknown)

I UNDERSTAND

by Susanne C. Umlauf

And call upon me in the day of trouble:

I will deliver thee, and thou shalt

glorify me.  Psalm 50:15

~~~~~~~~~~

Hast thou been hungry, child of Mine?

I, too, have needed bread;

For forty days I tasted naught

Till by the angels fed.

Hast thou been thirsty? On the cross

    I suffered thirst for thee;

I’ve promised to supply thy need,

    My child, come unto Me.

 

Perhaps thy way is weary oft,

    Thy feet grow tired and lame;

I wearied when I reached the well,

    I suffered just the same:

And when I bore the heavy cross

    I fainted ‘neath the load;

And so I’ve promised rest to all

    Who walk the weary road.

 

Doth satan sometimes buffet thee,

    And tempt thy soul to sin?

Do faith and hope and love grow weak?

    Are doubts and fears within?

Remember I was tempted thrice

    By this same foe of thine;

But he could not resist the Word,

    Nor conquer power divine.

 

When thou art sad and tears fall fast

    My heart goes out to thee,

For I wept o’er Jerusalem—

    The place so dear to me:

And when I came to Lazarus’ tomb

    I wept—my heart was sore;

I’ll comfort thee when thou dost weep,

    Till sorrows all are o’er.

 

Do hearts prove false when thine is true?

    I know the bitter dart;

I was betrayed by one I loved—

    Who lay close to my heart.

I loved My own, they loved Me not,

    My heart was lonely, too;

I’ll never leave thee, child of Mine,

    My loving heart is true.

 

Have courage, then, My faithful one,

    I suffered all the way,

Thy sensitive and loving heart

    I understand today;

Whate’er thy grief, whate’er thy care

    Just bring it unto Me;

Yea, in thy day of trouble, call,

    I will deliver thee.

~~~~~~~~~~

He shall call upon me, and I will answer him:

I will be with him in trouble;

I will deliver him, and honour him.

Psalm 91:15

PATRIA POTESTAS

'...you received the Spirit of adoption [the Spirit producing son-ship]...' Romans 8:15 NKJV

 

Paul's audience would have understood his use of Roman adoption in teaching the benefits we receive as redeemed members of God's family. A Roman father held absolute right and control, legally entitled 'patria potestas', over his children at any age. Roman adoption was a two-step process that transferred children from one patria potestas to another. (1) Emancipation. This step included a symbolic sale where the natural father twice 'sold' and 'bought back' his child, and a third where he didn't buy them back, ending his paternal rights. (2) Vindication. Here the adoptive father presented his case for adoption to a Roman magistrate, who legally transferred the child to his patria potestas. Likewise, we have been transferred from Satan's grip to our heavenly Father's blessed patria potestas! The benefits of Roman adoption were Paul's chief focus in Romans chapter eight: (a) The adopted person lost all rights in their old family and gained a new father, plus all rights of a legitimate member of their new family. (b) They became heir to their new father's estate. When there were other siblings, they became joint-heirs together. (c) All their debts were completely cancelled, legal records of their history were expunged; the past had no effect on their new life. (d) Seven citizens witnessed all legal adoptions. If the adoptee's legitimacy was ever challenged, each witness could testify to their legitimate standing. Thank God, 'The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children.' (Romans 8:16 NIV) No less than the sevenfold Holy Spirit Himself validates your membership in God's family. Bill & Debby Gass

MY HUSBAND IS A WINNER!

He was selected today as the daily winner for CBSLA's contest on FACEBOOK called, "Like us to win Disneyland Tickets Sweepstakes". He won a family 4-pack, 1-park, admission tickets to Disneyland Park or Disney California Adventures Park.

I was leery about this, so I called the studio myself to verify. The gal was away from her desk, but called me back ... And, YES, he did win. How exciting. The contest is on until August 11th, so if you live in the LA area, hop to it and enter.

TAKE THE PLUNGE (2)

'...Underneath are the everlasting arms...' Deuteronomy 33:27 NKJV

Picture this: A father and his two small children are playing. He's in the swimming pool, and he invites them to run and jump into his arms. One does, the other doesn't. The one who doesn't, watches gleefully, applauds and jumps up and down. But when her dad invites her to do the same she shakes her head and backs away. Is that you? Living on the edge of the pool, never taking the plunge, happy to experience life vicariously through others? Preferring to take no risk, rather than any risk? For fear of the worst, you never enjoy the best. You say, 'But I'm not sure what I'm jumping into!'

Read this: 'Underneath are the everlasting arms.' Foolishness is closing your eyes and jumping before you know there's even water in the pool, or that your father has said, 'Come, I'll catch you.' Faith is knowing that the only way to conquer your fear of the water is to take the leap, because the One who is calling you has been there for you from the moment you became His child. Nothing is more important to Him than your safety, the development of your faith, and your total success in life. God told Joshua, '...arise, go over this Jordan...to the land which I am giving [you] ...Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go.' (Joshua 1:2;7 NKJV) Note the words, 'Arise, go, be strong.' In other words: take the plunge! Bill & Debby Gass

TAKE THE PLUNGE = (1)

'... The prudent [wise] considers well his steps.' Proverbs 14:15 NKJV

After you've prayed, planned and prepared, there comes a point where you've got to take the plunge. Is it scary? Absolutely! There are two kinds of people: Those who leap before they look; they are driven by impulse. Then there are those who look, and look, and look but never leap; they are controlled by fear. Which are you? To get to the Promised Land, Israel had to cross the River Jordan at flood tide. It must have made the strongest heart skip a beat. God had promised that when the feet of the priests carrying the ark stepped into the water it would roll back. Can you imagine their thoughts? 'Couldn't we wait till the tide goes down? Why do I have to go first? What if the waters don't roll back and I drown?' The step between prudence and paranoia is short and steep. Prudence wears a seatbelt; paranoia avoids cars altogether. Prudence washes with soap; paranoia avoids human contact altogether. Prudence saves for old age; paranoia clings to every penny. Prudence prepares and plans; paranoia panics. Prudence calculates the risk and takes the plunge; paranoia never enters the water. To reach your God-ordained destiny you must stop holding back, obey God and step into the water. The moment you do, doors will begin to open and resources will be released, where there now seems to be only shortage. God will provide the means, the method, and the manpower. So stand on His promise: '...I have loved you; therefore I will give men for you, and people for your life. Fear not, for I am with you...' (Isaiah 43:4-5 NKJV) Bill & Debby Gass