Anger

MONDAY

This is the week for Anger. We all have been angry at one point or another in our lives. And that includes being angry with or at God. May this week serve as a blessing to us all.

“Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe.” – John 20:27

The Apostle Thomas doubted the resurrection of Jesus. Brief note. Thomas was a late addition to the Team. Thomas was not on site when Jesus performed many miracles, so Thomas did not have the first-hand witness of all that Jesus had done. So why did Jesus pick Thomas. I have a theory,

Thomas Doubted. Let’s think about the conditions that surrounded Thomas. Jesus was Dead. One disciple betrayed Jesus. Another denied Jesus three times. The rest scattered, not exactly willing to claim that they were Disciples. The Roman government was on the trail of believers who preached against Roman authority. Remember, even the crowds voted to free a murderer so that there would be room to crucify Jesus.

Thomas had doubts. Tell the truth, how many of us, in the face of painfully mounting circumstances and tragedy, doubt?

Then, look at what Jesus said… “Thomas, come here and touch me for the proof you need. And now that you did, doubt no more, but believe.”

In our times of anger and afraid we are reminded that as humans, Jesus allows room for us to be angry and afraid. Then, Jesus sees our anger and fear, and says, “come to me, touch me. Feel my love for you, feel my grace and mercy, for you, feel my sacrifice for you.”

No, we are not going to know why we have to go through what we go through. The weight of life’s circumstances may feel like they are too heavy, may even feel like that Jesus is nowhere to be found. It’s okay.

Admit it to Jesus. When we do, Jesus will return to show us how the miracle that He is in our Lives.

Be Blessed, Beloved.

Rev. Damon

www.faithfirst.me

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TUESDAY

“I have said this to you, so that in me you may have peace. In the world you face persecution. But take courage; I have conquered the world!” – John 16-33

In the world we face persecution. From family. From friends. From strangers. From sexists. From racists. From oppressive systems.

We face persecution. The result is a trip that travels between anger and hurt. We are thrown about, plotting revenge, cursing in our spirits, want to ball up our fists and throw them at something or someone.

Jesus was telling us that He knew what happened, what is happening, and what will happen when He leaves this physical world. Believing in Jesus does not stop persecution from happening. People choose how evil they are going to be… with their words and in their deeds.

But then Jesus says something, “Take Courage”. Not, “take cover”. Not, “take low”. Not “take it”. Simply, “Take Courage”.

Jesus is telling us to remember that, “He has conquered the world”.

Yep, when we are persecuted (which is almost all the time), Live in COURAGE. Take Courage! Do not wilt, do not let the world destroy your peace. Why?

Because JESUS has already defeated what persecutes us. Take courage, and resist evil. Take courage, and resist temptation. Take courage and share the Gospel. Take courage and live in joy. Take courage and be who God made you to be.

TAKE COURAGE! TAKE COURAGE! TAKE COURAGE!

Be Blessed, Beloved.

Rev. Damon

www.faithfirst.me

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WEDNESDAY

“But who indeed are you, a human being, to argue with God? Will what is molded say to the one who molds it, ‘Why have you made me like this?’” – Romans 9:20

A pitcher. A pitcher that holds water before it is poured out. A pitcher that sees a fire pit that provides light in the darkness, heat to keep the family warm and heat to cook food for the family. A pot that sees chairs that provides for people to sit and relax, maybe used as a stool to reach objects. A pot that sees a table where people gather around to break bread, gather around to discuss the days’ events, make plans, workspace to count rations, maybe play games to entertain the children and learning spaces to listen to oral traditions.

Just a pot. Surrounded by these other items and feels angry. They do not get cracks and leaks. If one bad thing happens to the pitcher, it is discarded because its brokenness can cause more damage. All it does is hold something else. It is not even important on its own.

Life can make us feel that way. Especially when we start comparing our lives to others. “They seem to have it made”. Then we get angry and wonder, “what is wrong with us?”, “why did this happen to me?”

Scripture says “do not argue with God”, it does not say, “do not get angry at God”. Get angry, but then remember how the verse closes, “Why have you made me like this?” Remember, God made YOU! There are reasons why we all have been made and go through what we go through. The water that pitcher holds could put the fire out before it burns the house down, could wash the feet of the anointed, could help wash down the food eaten at the table to prevent choking, could be used to clean the other items in the dwelling…

We are all human beings… MADE BY GOD. So yes, we may get angry at how life treats us, but do not argue, because God knew exactly what God was doing when God made you! Have Faith, First.

Be Blessed, Beloved.

Rev. Damon

www.faithfirst.me

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THURSDAY

“I say to God, my rock, “Why have you forgotten me? Why must I walk about mournfully because the enemy oppresses me?” – Psalms 42:9

Rocks provide support. Rocks can be used as weapons. Rocks provide a place to sit. Racks can provide a place to prepare a meal. Rocks can be used to clog a damn. Rocks can even provide a place to rest your head.

God is YOUR ROCK!

Ask the question is being asked, “why have you forgotten me? Why must I walk about mournfully?” the answer is provided. God is our Rock. As long as God provides a Rock, we have not been forgotten. We do not need to be mournful. A rock can do so many things.

In our living, surviving, and trying to make it, we will have moments that make us angry. But let us not be consumed by the world, but be remember that we have a ROCK!!!

God is YOUR ROCK!

Lean on that Rock. Carry that Rock. Rely on that Rock!

That Rock will always, ALWAYS be with us.

Be Blessed, Beloved.

Rev. Damon

www.faithfirst.me

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FRIDAY

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways, says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” – Isaiah 55:5-9

Anger. We have feelings. We have ambition. We have a moral compass. We have value. We have expectations.

When they are not met, we get angry. The spectrum of anger ranges and changes with each of us and with each instance. Some pray. Others want to take a tank that launches nuclear missiles and scorch the earth of the one(s) or things that have caused us anger.

When we have these moments of anger, I point us to this verse. On first reading, it may appear that God is too big to have time for our individual matters. “My thoughts are not your thoughts, my ways are not your ways”. Really? That’s bogus.

But God. God goes on to say that God and the Heavens are higher than what we are going through. That does not mean we are too small, but that God is so big that God sees all. God sees and knows all that is going on with every single one of us.

Why is that important? Because God is saying that He has to be high so that God can see how to best alleviate what angers us, and how it will impact others. Unlike us, God knows that we are interconnected, our joys and pains, our gladness and sadness. God cares for each of us, as individuals and knows that healing us adds a blessing to others. God sees what hurts us. God sees what angers us. And God wants to comfort us and our neighbors. God does that from seeing from "on high".

Let us rejoice that we worship and serve a God who sits high and looks low on us. Not because we are lowly, but because we are residents of the Kingdom and Kindom of the Heavens.

Because when God looks at you, God sees you, what concerns you. And we know that when sees His children in pain, God will do a mighty good thing for us.

Be Blessed, Beloved.

Rev. Damon

www.faithfirst.me

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SATURDAY

“Be angry but do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do not make room for the devil.” – Ephesians 4:26-27

Paul is writing a church community in Ephesus. There were some things going down that this community was dealing with that was causing many to feel anger, mainly persecution by the occupying Roman Empire.

Think of everything that comes with existing as less than a citizen in a land that was yours and militarized violence is the one thing that is used to keep everyone in check.

You got some anger.

What Paul knew that kind of Anger can become all-consuming and all infecting, even transferred. The Anger at the oppression and forced circumstances become internalized anger that the people would transfer to each other, and minor disagreements became monumental civil wars.

But Paul says, “Be Angry”. He acknowledges that they are all living in a world that makes them Angry! But he goes on, “do not sin”. Do not let our anger cause us to sin (to turn away from God). Even further, “do not let the sun go down on our anger”.

Let us not go to sleep angry at one another. Let us not forget about the power of prayer, the presence of the Holy Spirit, the advocate that is Jesus, and the Father that is God. Do not go to bed without re-establishing our relationship with the provider of perfect peace.

If we don’t, Paul says that we “make room for the devil”.

Let us make room for peace. Let us make room for reconciliation. Let us make room for joy. Let us make room for love. Let us make room for Jesus.

Make Room!

Be Blessed, Beloved.

Rev. Damon