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“Help me to accomplish the purpose of my journey.” - Genesis 24:12, A Servant’s Prayer



After Your Fuse Has Blown

“Patience is the ability to let your light shine after your fuse has blown.” – Bob Levey


Darts

A young lady named Sally, relates an experience she had in a seminary class taught by her teacher, Dr. Smith. She says Dr. Smith was known for his elaborate object lessons. One particular day, Sally walked into the seminary and knew they were in for a fun day. On the wall was a big target and on a nearby table were many darts.

Dr. Smith told the students to draw a picture of someone they disliked or someone who had made them angry in the past. Then he would allow them to throw darts at the person’s picture.

Sally’s friend drew a picture of a girl who had stolen her boyfriend. Another friend drew a picture of his little brother. Sally drew a picture of a former friend, putting a great deal of detail into her drawing, even drawing pimples on the face. Sally was pleased at the overall effect she had achieved.

The class lined up and began throwing darts. Some of the students threw their darts with such force that their targets were ripping apart. Sally looked forward to her turn, but was filled with disappointment when Dr. Smith, because of time limits, asked the students to return to their seats.

As Sally sat down, thinking about how angry she was because she didn’t have a chance to throw any darts at her target, Dr. Smith began removing the target from the wall. Underneath the target was a picture of Jesus.

A complete hush fell over the room as each student viewed the mangled picture of Jesus; holes and jagged marks covered His face and His eyes were pierced.

Dr. Smith said only these words, “I assure you, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!” (Matthew 25:40)

No other words were necessary – the eyes of each student focused only on the picture of Christ.


The Danger of Anger

“Of the Seven Deadly Sins, anger is possibly the most fun. To lick your wounds, to smack your lips over grievances long past, to roll over your tongue the prospect of bitter confrontations still to come, to savor to the last toothsome morsel both the pain you are given and the pain you are giving back — in many ways it is a feast fit for a king. The chief drawback is that what you are wolfing down is yourself. The skeleton at the feast is you.” – Frederick Buechner


Sharp Words

“Sharp words will upset the stomach, especially if you have to eat them.”


Responding

  • James 1:19-27
  • How do I respond to people?
    • Proverbs 1:5– quick to listen.
    • Proverbs 15:1– slow to speak.
    • Proverbs 29:11– slow to become angry.
    • Anger always shuts the door on abundant living.
    • Numbers 20:10– anger cost Moses a lot.
  • How do I respond to God’s Word?
    • Be doers, not just hearers.
    • Being self sufficient is not the way.
  • How do I respond to the needs of others?
    • Love (Galatians 5:6; James 2:15-16)
    • Talk is cheap.
  • Don’t be polluted by the world.

Swallowing Angry Words

“Swallowing angry words before you say them is better than having to eat them afterwards.”



Thank You!

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