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I don't think I'm really the lying type. I've been trying to find instances where I've blatantly lied and I can't really come up with anything...unless I'm lying to myself. I guess my big lies are just not telling the whole truth. Like, leaving out the bad parts. For instance, when something bad happens and people say, "Is anything wrong?" and you say, "Nope. Nothing." I don't want anyone to think anything's wrong at the moment, but there are times when I've done that. I think the person that I lie to the most is God. When I'm like, "Yeah, God, get me out of this and you'll never have to bail me out again." or "I know you're there God, but I'm going to pretend that you're not." That second one usually happens while you're sinning. Kind of like, "If I can't see you, you can't see me" but taken to the next level of "I can see you, but if I fake you out into thinking I can't, maybe you'll blink." That's one instance. And then there's my SUPER LIE that I tell everyone. "I think I'm going to start reading my Bible more." I probably say that once a day and so far I haven't opened the Bible once. So, pray for me that I stop lying and that I can start meaning what I say. Hopefully I can take this lesson to heart. God Bless.
09/22/02 - Today's sermon was about anger. These are what my notes say, if you're confused about anything, I'll try to remember enough to explain it. It was a really great sermon, though. The pastor started out by talking about Jonah. In the four chapters of Jonah we see Jonah do 4 things:
Chapter 1 - Jonah is RUNNING FROM God. (He doesn't want to preach to the Ninevites)
Chapter 2 - Jonah is RUNNING TO God. (He wants to get out of the belly of the whale)
Chapter 3 - Jonah is RUNNING FOR God. (He decides to preach to the Ninevites)
Chapter 4 - Jonah RUNS INTO God. (He doesn't want the Ninevites to have God's grace)
Jonah is angry that the Ninevites will have a chance at redemption, when they did such horrible things to others. This type of anger is the "Spiritual Type". The 4 types of anger are:
1. Shouting Type - These people are like powder kegs and blow up. (Coach Woody Hayes, Cain)
2. Silent Type - These people swallow their anger and keep it inside. (Jeremiah 15:17-18)
3. Self-Punishing Type - These people get angry at themselves. (Sometimes = Depression)
4. Spiritual Type - These people are angry "for" the Lord. (Preachers talking about hell)
It is okay to be angry, but in your anger, do not sin. God and Jesus both were angry, it even says so in the Bible. But, they did not sin in their anger. How can you control your anger?
1. Understand why you get angry. (Proverbs 19:11)
"Are you hurt by others, frustrated with God, or insecure about yourself?"
2. Look to God, not others for your self-worth. (Ecclesiastes 7:21, Proverbs 14:26)
3. Stop & Think before you React. (Proverbs 16:23)
"A sharp tongue is the quickest way to slit your own throat."
"Ask yourself: a)Why am I so angry? b)What do I really want? c)How can I best get it?"
4. Learn to Relax. (Proverbs 14:30)
"Tension & Temper go hand in hand."
So, in closing, if you want to avoid anger: Be aware. Learn to Relax. Have a sense of humor! But, most importantly of all ASK GOD FOR HELP! (Galatians 5:22)