All Things Are Possible With God

Are you pressed on every side? Are you perplexed? Are you persecuted? Are you struck down?

What images come to mind when you think about God being the answer to all your needs? The flesh of me needs to see visual things at times to draw near to God. He plants reminders everywhere because He too, is everywhere!

I was feeling pressed and perplexed so I turned to the comfort of God's Word and was reminded ever so gently:

But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. ~ 2 Corinthians 4:7-8 TNIV

Jesus looked at them and said, "With human beings this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God." ~ Mark 10:27 TNIV

How have you seen God today? What is He revealing to you? Click this link:  I Saw God Today ~ His fingerprints are everywhere. Don't miss out on seeing God today! ~ Kim

For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. ~ 2 Corinthians 4:17 TNIV

Yes, I Get Angry!

I’m a Christian and yes, I get angry. I’d be lying if I said, “I didn’t.” Anger by definition is to experience displeasure or hostility. What you do with the anger is key. Anger is a healthy emotion. When you feel it, own it! This means you can admit it’s about me not you. For example, if I did house work all day (to my chagrin) with no help from my spouse I could respond with the following:  “I was upset you did not help with the housework today.” What I choose NOT to say:  “You should have helped with the housework.” Notice the placement of I and you. When I start the sentence with you, I give up my ownership. Feel it, own it and move on!

In Week 24 of my self-published book, 52-Weeks of Resolve the focus for the week is:  Keep your anger in check. Bear in the mind, Scripture gives us this healthy tip more than once:

Be angry, and do not sin. Meditate with your heart on your bed, and be still. ~ Psalm 4:4 NJKV

“Be angry, and do not sin”: do not let the sun go down on your wrath, nor give peace to the devil.” ~ Ephesians 4:36-27 NJKV

Anger is permissible but sadly, it travels with bad company, a really rather wicked group:

But now you must rid yourself of all such things as these:  anger, rage, malice, slander and filthy language from your lips. ~ Colossians 3:8 NIV

When you can, avoid anger; when you can’t be cautious not to take the path that leads to other things that can go hand-in-hand with it. There are numerous references to God’s anger. God was angry because He was displeased with people. God doesn’t just storm around being angry for no reason. Jesus was angry at the moneychangers in the temple; yes, He too was displeased but He did not sin!

“For every minute you remain angry, you give up sixty seconds of peace of mind.” ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

Generally speaking, when you feel anger this is your indicator that you have needs that are not being met. Address the issue in a healthy manner. This means you let the other person know you are not okay with whatever is going on. When dealing with emotions, we can be thrown off balance. I encourage you to find your balance by utilizing the gift of the Holy Spirit with God on one side and Jesus on the other. Peace to you! ~ Kim

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Q. Pride?

We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves. When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise. ~ 2 Corinthians 10:12 TNIV 

Why do we compare?

• Let’s compare notes.
• How does this compare to our competitors?
• Compared to thus and such…
• The two don’t even begin to compare…

Comparison can be both good and bad. Take taste and smell. We generally know how certain food items taste and smell, if either of these is off, we know there is danger. This could be called a healthy comparison. However, we tend to hear ourselves and others comparing one another’s looks, manners and abilities and this is not wise.

Many comparisons stem out of pride and this too, can be good and bad. Pride by definition is an inordinate state of self esteem; it is also, a reasonable or justifiable state of self-respect. Compare, if you will, these two examples:

1. The latest movie release is about a character consumed with pride and vanity.
2. As parents of the valedictorian, they showed great pride in their child’s accomplishment.

Whatever we do must be to the glory of God. The apostle Paul reminds us:

If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness. ~ 2 Corinthians 11:30 TNIV

God, Himself spoke on boasting.

This is what the Lord says:  “Let not the wise boast of their wisdom or the strong boast of their strength or the rich boast of their riches, but let those who boast, boast about this; that they understand and know Me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,” declares the Lord. ~ Jeremiah 9:23-24 TNIV

For it is not those who commend themselves who are approved, but those whom the Lord commends. ~ 2 Corinthians 10:18 TNIV

If pride is the question, humility is the answer! ~ Kim

p.s. "Humility will relieve you of the obligation to promote your own self interests, thereby eliminating the need to strive to prove yourself to others." ~ Unknown