What are you so angry about?

I opened up my e-mail to find a super surprise from Melissa over at Home is where your story begins who donned my blog with a sweet award, more on that tomorrow...

I've been thinking a lot about anger and unforgiveness lately and what it does to the relationships around me. I read a quote yesterday, "the greatest power a person possesses is the power to choose." Each time our brain recognizes or produces a feeling we have a choice to make. In the case of an offense or anger we can choose to deny that feeling. Ephesians 4:26 Be angry and sin not. Do not let the sun go down on your anger. It's okay to get angry, it's okay to have our feelings hurt, it's what we do with those emotions that we need to be careful about. It's a tough thing to decide that when you get angry about something big or small that you'll go to the father with it first and foremost, he is the one we can vent to. Then allow the Holy Spirit to guide our next steps. Often times, we want to go straight to the source and let em' have it! But, the Lord on the other hand will request that we forgive immediately instead. It's acceptable and often times necessary to still discuss the issues you have with the other person but do so carefully and with love. Ask the Holy Spirit to intercede and guide your words and your conversation. Walking in love is not an easy thing to do. It isn't a natural part of our make-up, our character, it takes work. Just like we need to exercise our muscles and bodies, we need to exercise our reactions, forgiveness, and walking in love.

The sad part truly is the stronghold even a small thing can have on a relationship. Lack of communication causes strife and allows to much room for each person to make assumptions. Isn't it so easy for us to always assume the worst of another and make the problem so much larger in our own minds? Be angry and sin not. No matter how small and silly the matter may seem you must communicate with the person(s) involved to resolve issues. Small offenses gradually build on top and they become really super huge issues and graduate to a point where neither party can nor wants to relate to the other's point of view. If you let it go long enough, it becomes too late in some cases. If you let it go long enough, one party or the other might quite, just might get to a point where they can't imagine a peaceful solution and build walls around their heart. Where do you have anger and unforgiveness in your life today? Is it a dad who is angry with a son? A wife who feels taken for granted? A family member who has offended you too many times? A husband that feels neglected. Meditate on that for a while today. Ask the Lord to reveal to you any area of your life where you need to forgive, search your heart, and ask the Lord to reveal to you also who you may need to seek for forgiveness. Ouch! I know.

Acts 10:38 And you know that God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. Then Jesus went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. Jesus went about doing good because the Holy Spirit was with him. We are anointed with the same power and have access to the same Holy Spirit, go about today doing good to all today.