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Self-Control: Let the Holy Spirit Push My Buttons

Like a city whose walls are broken through is a person who lacks self control.- Proverbs 25:28.

A hot tempered man stirs up dissension, but a patient man calms a quarrel.- Proverbs 15:18.

It is to a man’s honour to avoid stife, but every fool is quick to quarrel.-Proverbs 20:30.

“A 25-year-old allegedly smashed a glass in another man’s face at a Mandurah pub last night, causing him serious facial injuries.

The 27-year-old Dudley Park man suffered a 15cm gash to his cheek and neck and was taken to Mandurah Hospital before being transferred to Royal Perth Hospital for plastic surgery.

Police will allege the incident started with a verbal argument between the two men at the Brighton Hotel about 10pm. The 25-year-old man is accused of smashing his beer glass on a table and then allegedly using it to stab the 27-year-old several times in his face.

The 25-year-old man has been charged with grievous bodily harm and been remanded in custody to appear in the Perth’s magistrates Office tomorrow.” 27/03/2011- GABRIELLE KNOWLES, The West Australian

News reports and headlines are filled with such true stories as this, not only in Western Australia but all over the world. It seems that it has become so easy for us to push other’s buttons and so easy to become aggressive over the smallest issues. News reports on the aggressive way that men and women deal with conflict in our culture is increasing. I am appalled at what innocent (and not so innocent) people get punched, glasses and stabbed for. What has happened to the virtues of self control and patience?

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.” Galatians 5:22.

In our disposable society, we are treating humans as disposable. How sad! Life needs to be valued.

Media violence, alcohol, drugs, illness, pain and disappointment can all contribute to the state of aggression. That is why we must watch what we feed our bodies and our minds. 

We must ask ourselves, what is making us angry and aggressive?  And then find constructive ways to deal with it. We must ask ourselves, do we need to occasionally stop in the fast lane of life and rest in Jesus?  Are our busy and hectic lifestyles sending us crazy? Do we need to do wholesome things in some of  those good old fashioned ways? Do we value our lives and others?

Aggression is also fueled when life has no purpose.

Reading about Jesus’s life in the Bible, always sets me straight. He is someone who leads by example.

When was the last time you read the Gospels?   Why not read Matthew, Mark, Luke or John in the New Testament today?

As you read, you may find that aggression falls away with each verse you read.

Jesus knows my personality and  the right buttons to push to make me whole. 

 

Quality Assurance- Jesus is mine!

"In manufacturing, a measure of excellence or a state of being free from defects,  deficiencies, and significant variations, brought about by the strict and consistent adherence to measurable and verifiable standards to achieve uniformity  of  output that satisfies specific customer or user requirements. " 
- Definition of "Quality": Business Dictionary.Com.


These days you hear a lot about quality assurance, quality control,  and quality of life. We often hear the term, "quality is better than quantity". It is better to have something that will last and be useful than a lot of something that is useless, breakable, and perhaps has less value.

Over the last year, many of the things that I have bought do not have the quality that I expected, or do not reach the quality of this type of product purchased in the past. First, there was the washing machine that made our clothes stained, full of lint and dust, after a wash. This was, as I found out later... to be in the design. It had no filter. The way the bowl was designed and the number of holes in the bowl also had an impact on the way it washed. Then there was the lawn mower which I was told was one of the best and even a female with limited strength could pull the chord. Not so. Next, was the toaster that doesn't seem to stay regulated on the setting to produce golden toast but varies even if the dial is not moved.

These have been products from what we would deem as good and worthy brand names or companies.

Buying things that last and the quality of them, makes me think of  "religions" and "cults". Don't always trust or take for granted everything they declare. Remember, choice should always be yours. Just as we get brainwashed by the media to buy certain products,or get talked into things by salesmen, don't let yourself be brainwashed by cults and religions. You do the soul searching and the research. Do they really measure up to their claims?

All religions come at a cost of  your time, your soul and some even require money (and lots of it). It is important that we know what we are investing in especially when it comes to what we believe and follow. 

Following God ( the Trinity) has given me quality and assurance. I have quality of life here on earth because I have a God that I can have a personal relationship with. One that I can talk to about anything, one that I can trust and one that takes a personal interest in me and wants the very best for me. One that answers prayers. 
I have quality  here and now because He gives me strength for today, wisdom and a peace that surpasses all understanding. I have quality assurance because Jesus died for my sins. He died and rose again, and when I accepted Him into my life, I was (and am) guaranteed eternal life with Him. I have that assurance.
"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."- John 3:16.


"Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!
Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine!
Heir of salvation, purchase of God,
Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood."
- Famous classic hymn by Frances.J.Crosby 1873.


Like the products we buy, Christianity comes with an instruction manual (the Holy Bible), that if we read for ourselves and follow - will result in quality of life. Our Christian morals and values impact on society in a positive way.

Do you know that there is an irony in this? Because while we expect quality in the things we buy and in what we choose to believe ... God doesn't expect us to be perfect. He accepts us with our defects and blemishes, but unlike the "world", He doesn't discard us ... He fixes us and makes us useful.

"More than that, I now regard all things as liabilities compared to the far greater value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things – indeed, I regard them as dung! – that I may gain Christ,  and be found in him, not because I have my own righteousness derived from the law, but because I have the righteousness that comes by way of Christ’s faithfulness – a righteousness from God that is in fact based on Christ’s faithfulness." - Philippians 3:8,9.

For a quality life... one that lasts... now and forever, choose Jesus!

A good site to go to, to read up on the assurance of your salvation is http://bible.org/seriespage/assurance-salvation.

Jenteelability.  http://devotionalchristiancafe.blogspot.com.

Tsunami in Japan - 2011 Tragedies.

As you watch the above footage, you will eventually see the waves and water move in and take everything in its path. On March 11, 2011, Japan was devastated by an 8.9 magnitude earthquake, which unleashed a 13 foot tsunami. At the time of writing this devotional, it is estimated that 1,000 people have died. (Later addition: We now know the numbers of deceased are now over 10,000).

In New Zealand, a recent earthquake took lives and traumatised others.

In Australia, Cyclones hit Queensland and massive floods took lives and homes.

Just when Queenslanders thought they could try and get their lives back together again, there are now more floods.

It is so sad to see and hear of all the losses experienced in these tragedies. Loss of homes, loss of goods, loss of family photos and heirlooms, loss of everything you have or have ever had ...and then the loss of life. Losing life in such a way, seems so cruel and so meaningless. It reminds me of how vulnerable we all are. While man feels he is the ultimate being, he cannot control nature and the elements.

 “Meaningless! Meaningless!”
   says the Teacher.
“Utterly meaningless!
   Everything is meaningless.”
What do people gain from all their labors
   at which they toil under the sun? - Ecclesiastes 1:2,3.


At times, the word "meaningless" comes into my mind as well as this bible verse.We work hard and strive to have all these things, and then in moments... it can be gone!

These tragedies remind me:-

Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.- Matthew 6:19,20.

What is also upsetting in these circumstances is the fact that people would steal during another's darkest hour, when their victims are at their lowest. 

"Ten people have been arrested in Queensland after allegedly being caught looting from flood-affected homes, boats and businesses."   Read more: http://www.news.com.au/breaking-news/ten-arrested-for-looting-during-floods-in-queensland/story-e6frfku0-1225987851162#ixzz1GOrF9AdW  

One would like to think that we would all help each other out. And there are fantastic stories of people assisting, donating time and money, and even giving up their own lives. 

This is the "hope" amongst all the devastation. There is still a lot of good in the world and a lot of good people.

On ending my devotional, I must confess that I do not know why God allows these things to happen. Sometimes I battle with this, and it depresses me at times. I do not have the answer ... but I do know that we need not be surprised that tragedies occur, even though we don't understand it.

Jesus said:“Watch out that no one deceives you.  For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and will deceive many.  You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come.  Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains.- Matthew 24:4-8.

There are a lot of religious groups saying that it is the end times.

 It might be... but the Bible says:-

“But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. " - Matthew 24:36. 

I don't believe that God wants us to live in fear but I do believe that God wants us to be aware.

"Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. ... So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him."- Matthew 24:42,44.

Whether it is the last days or not, is not the message here. The message is ...to have your life right with God because personal tragedy can occur at any time. We are also reminded of how much people matter over things.We are reminded of the vulnerabilities of the human condition and how we need to pray, love and help each other ... and with God's help, be a hope and a future.

Written sincerely with respect to all victims of the mentioned tragedies. My heart goes out to all those in Japan, NZ and Queensland ... also those who suffered loss in the recent fires in Western Australia. I can only guess at the agony you must feel.


Jenteelability.  http://devotionalchristiancafe.blogspot.com

Stones, pebbles, and sin.

Now very early in the morning, he came again into the temple, and all the people came to him. He sat down, and taught them. The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman taken in adultery. Having set her in the midst, they told him, "Teacher, we found this woman in adultery, in the very act. Now in our law, Moses commanded us to stone such. What then do you say about her?"
They said this testing him, that they might have something to accuse him of. But Jesus stooped down, and wrote on the ground with his finger.  But when they continued asking him, he looked up and said to them,
"He who is without sin among you, let him throw the first stone at her."
Again he stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground.  They, when they heard it, being convicted by their conscience, went out one by one, beginning from the oldest, even to the last. Jesus was left alone with the woman where she was, in the middle. Jesus, standing up, saw her and said, "Woman, where are your accusers? Did no one condemn you?"
She said, "No one, Lord." Jesus said,
"Neither do I condemn you. Go your way. From now on, sin no more." - John 8:1-30.

It is drawing closer to Easter. Today, I went to an Ash Wednesday service. As part of the service, we all had to choose a stone. That stone represented a sin that we still have in our lives, one that at this point of time we really feel we need to deal with. We didn't tell others what that stone represented, but we all had turns ditching our particular stone into water and seeing it sink to the bottom. While we did this, silently and in prayer, we asked Jesus to forgive us and to release us from that sin.

The service was a very moving one. For some reason, that stone that I had in my hand reminded me of the above bible verse. It also reminded me of God's love, and how much Jesus gave up and suffered for me ... for me!

When I released that stone, I felt, ... as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. -Psalm 103:12.

My particular sin while casting my pebble into the water, wasn't adultery, but never the less still sin. The sin that my stone represented was anger and resentment, not in the form of yelling at people or abusing them, but a subtle, bubbling anger. One that brews quietly on the inside without most people knowing ... but robs you of inner joy. This anger dwells under the name of "justice", which is alright as long as it remains righteous anger. But as we know, any anger that is not dealt with in a constructive way will turn into a problem. 

I, at times, get very angry about what goes on in the world ... moral decline in our society, the lack of justice, racism, lack of care for the environment, the way people treat each other, selfishness, disrespect, etc. I get angry, then resentful, then bitter about injustices done to myself, others and within society.  I struggle with idealism of what the world should be like, even though I know we live in a fallen world. Sometimes, I even get angry at God for the stuff that happens in the world.

The above emotions are not healthy if carried for long periods of time. Where there is anger, resentment or bitterness, there is no forgiveness. Compassion can start to flounder and you find yourself being hardened. This hardness of heart is the human way of dealing with and protecting self from being further hurt or disappointed. Ironically, you start to take on some of the characteristics of what you are casting the stone at. You become, no better than what you disagree with or dislike. 

This condition - "hardness of heart",  inflicts me, every once in a while. Even in it's slightest form, it makes me want to be in charge instead of letting God be control.

Then God has his way with me, and the Holy Spirit touches my inner most being. Healing begins, causing that hardened exterior to fall to the ground like shattered glass. Next ... Jesus melts all those negative, destructive feelings with his love ... and I have peace.

The symbolic gesture of the sinking of pebbles at church, plus the true account of what Jesus said to the Pharisees when they wanted to brutally stone the adulterous woman, are milestones in our growth as Christians. This doesn't mean that sin is overlooked and accepted, but gives us guidance on how to deal with sin. Jesus forgave the woman and then said, "sin no more". We forgive others but do not condone sin.

Forgiving others is part of the key in freeing ourselves and learning to live in God's grace.

Matthew 18:21-22: Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?"

Jesus answered, "I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times."

Jenteelability.   http://devotionalchristiancafe.blogspot.com

Autumn leaves - Jesus the vine in God's garden.

I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener.- John 15:1a.                           


Now the leaves are falling, bronze and brown and yellow.- Andrew Downing (Poet).

It is now early March, and the start of Autumn in Australia, although we are still getting temperatures of 36-40 degrees celsius. Theoreticially the season is here but the weather patterns haven't caught up yet.

Nature's indication that Autumn has arrived is often displayed with the falling of leaves from deciduous trees. These leaves change from green to orange and then brown. What was once alive has fallen off and is now dead.

I think how wonderful it would be for my sins to just drop off and die so that I can be dormant and restored and then grow anew. Still be the same tree but without sin. Other countries call Autumn - "Fall" which reminds me of the fall of mankind after Adam and Eve ate from the Tree of  Knowledge.

Just as Autumn marks the transition of summer to winter, so Jesus marks the transition from our old carnal self to our spiritual rebirth. It is through Jesus that sin falls from God's judgement ... just as the leaves fall. Our renewal is an ongoing process that needs pruning.

I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener.  He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.  Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.  I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.-John 15:1-5.

Every time that I confess my sins, these spiritually dead leaves fall off the tree and blow back to Calvary, and I can move on in my life anew, not buried in guilt but following Jesus victoriously.

It is not a matter though, of using God's forgiveness as an excuse to repeatedly sin. We must stay rooted and grounded in Jesus so that we can bear good fruit.

Who is doing your pruning and weeding - God, self or the world? We need to be planted daily in Jesus Christ so that we don't fall but bear good fruit. 

Jenteelability.        http://devotionalchristiancafe.blogspot.com

Jesus rose again- What a relief!

The Merriam-Webster online dictionary states relief as:-

1. The removal or lightening of something oppressive, painful or distressing.
2.  One that takes the place of another.

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/relief

It has been a busy week for me with a lot of decision-making in regard to employment opportunities and financial planning. Many forms have been filled in and many phone calls have been made. It is a relief, now that decisions have been made and my life is getting back to some routine and order.

Part of this busy week was applying for a job (outside teaching). I have made it successfully through the initial application process, to completing two online assessments, through to a telephone interview. I have been selected for a face to face interview. I am feeling relief that a lot of the process is over. I have a gut feeling that I will get the job.

My job opportunities are moving away from relief teaching but I know how grateful teachers and school administrators have been while I have been available to take their place when they have been ill or had to attend courses.

Relief - one that takes the place of another! There is one that I am relieved took my place. Jesus died on the cross for my sins and yours. He took our place so that we could be forgiven, have a personal relationship with God, and spend eternity with Him. What a relief ... but it came at a cost!

God paid a high price for you, so don't be enslaved by the world.- 1 Corinthians 7:23. NLT

Jesus was praying with his heart, mind and soul in the garden of Gethsemane. He prayed so intensely that he perspired blood. This is how crucial the situation was, knowing that he had God's will to do ... but it wasn't going to be pleasant sacrificing himself for us. 

"Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done." An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground. Luke 22: 42-44. 

An angel from heaven strengthened him. A little bit of relief!


It would have been a relief if he could have done it another way. But it wasn't possible. So he allowed himself to be handed over, humiliated, whipped, spat upon and hung on a cross.

Before his death at Golgotha:-

Jesus said, "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do".- Luke 23:34. 

Jesus could have demanded our elimination but he chose grace. What a relief for us!

Later, knowing that everything had now been finished, and so that Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I am thirsty.” - John 19:28. 

This reminds me of the relief one gets after the first mouthful of water after being deprived of something to drink. It also reminds me that we need to thirst after righteousness.

He said, It is finished! And He bowed His head and gave up His spirit. - John 19:30. 

Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” When he had said this, he breathed his last.- Luke 23:46. 

At this point, Jesus had physical relief as there was no longer the sensation of pain in his body. But he still had to go through spiritual pain, separation from God until his resurrection.

"Brothers, I can tell you confidently that the patriarch David died and was buried, and his tomb is here to this day. But he was a prophet and knew that God had promised him on oath that he would place one of his descendants on his throne. Seeing what was ahead, he spoke of the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to the grave, nor did his body see decay. God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of the fact." - Act 2:29-31.

Jesus died on a cross, was placed in a tomb and on the third day rose again. What a relief!

For a really good write up about  the garden of Gethsemane, 

go tohttp://www.jesuswalk.com/lessons/22_39-46.htm

Also readers theatre: www.jesuswalk.com/rt/22_39-46.htm

Jenteelability              http://devotionalchristiancafe.blogspot.com