Category: talk

Forgive

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Esdras is in The Apocrapha a section of writings not always included in protestant Bibles but usually found in Catholic texts.
forgive
For our sins have risen higher than our heads, and our mistakes have mounted up to heaven
There is no one who hasn’t made mistakes. If anyone claims that they haven’t they are mistaken. Some mistakes are minor and some of monumental proportions. Some don’t matter and some cause profound hurt. When we think about mistakes we also need to consider forgiveness. Forgiveness can be hard but we are called to forgive no matter what. We may have to work at it and it may take time.
but if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

Call God

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Psalm 18:3-10

3 I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised,
    so I shall be saved from my enemies.

4 The cords of death encompassed me;
    the torrents of perdition assailed me;
5 the cords of Sheol entangled me;
    the snares of death confronted me.

6 In my distress I called upon the Lord;
    to my God I cried for help.
From his temple he heard my voice,
    and my cry to him reached his ears.

7 Then the earth reeled and rocked;
    the foundations also of the mountains trembled
    and quaked, because he was angry.
8 Smoke went up from his nostrils,
    and devouring fire from his mouth;
    glowing coals flamed forth from him.
9 He bowed the heavens, and came down;
    thick darkness was under his feet.
10 He rode on a cherub, and flew;
    he came swiftly upon the wings of the wind.

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I should have printed the whole Psalm as it goes on like this. This Psalm is not for the weak at heart. This is no namby-pamby God but a God of power. Just imagine….God was called by one of his people and he not only answered but came fast as lightening with scary special effects better than any movie. This is SOME GOD!

He will come just as fast to help us… all we have to do is call.

Just talk!

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Psalm 94:2-3
2 Rise up, O judge of the earth;
    give to the proud what they deserve!
3 O Lord, how long shall the wicked,
    how long shall the wicked exult?

How much we would love for God to take out the people who hurt us. Just come with fire and wind and wipe them out. But no matter how much we want that it’s not what God is about.

Talk to God

However, we can learn something from the psalmist. God is not someone that we can’t talk to. He already knows all our secrets. He knows how much we want to have bad people get what they deserve. Tell Him that!

He know that we are angry because someone we love is in pain. Tell Him that. Ask Him why things are not fair. Tell Him how afraid you are of what is going to happen tomorrow. I promise you He can take it! God wants us to speak our minds. He is listening. He feels our pain and wants to dry our tears. Just talk to Him!

It’s not fashionable

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Today it is fashionable to talk about the poor. Unfortunately, it is not fashionable to talk with them. –Mother Teresa

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This is so true! Most of us would prefer to avoid the homeless or those begging on our streets. We see them as “less than” us. It’s as if we are concerned about becoming contaminated by them. We have to begin to look through Jesus’ eyes and see them as children of God just like us. Then we will be willing to talk with them.

Angry words

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“A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” Proverbs 15:1

hold-your-words-when-you-are-angry-because-ifelove-quotesandsayings-com-22569668

My father always told me to not respond in anger to someone who is angry. Good advice but not so easy to follow. When someone is yelling at me about something it is very hard to keep my cool. I can feel my heart racing and my mind gearing up for battle. I’m ready to yell back. Yet very little is solved in anger. Most problems are resolved when everyone calms down.

Prayer:  Gentle Jesus, help us to think of you and respond lovingly to someone who is angry. Amen

 

 

Talk to God

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In California everyone goes to a therapist, is a therapist, or is a therapist going to a therapist. —–——Truman Capote

It seems in earlier generations we needed less therapists. Some might say it was because less people were diagnosed. I have a different idea. Many of us lived in small towns and had more people to talk our problems over with. I think we also depended more on God than on science. We shouldn’t discard the science but more time spent with God may solve some of the things that confront us. God is always there…waiting on us…ready to listen…ready to help. Spend more time with God.

tell god

Loving God, you are the perfect listener for our troubles. AMEN