My deepest apologies to you all for not being very timely in returning with something new, but isn’t it always the way that when you have time to do something and so volunteer to do so you get slammed with busyness beyond your norm.

 O.K. that is my apology, so let us move on.

How many of you out there in the last couple of years (or the last couple of minutes) have felt a little edgy or having an uneasy feeling, or feeling a little hostile toward your fellow man?  It’s alright to admit it; this would be a normal reaction to an abnormal action.  Ever since 9/11 we Americans have been a bit more uptight in our lives.  We no longer have that secure feeling, we never know what the gas price is going to be from day to day, or if we will be working or not.  That in itself can put a saint on edge.  Even at my place of employment we have been bought out 3 times in the last 6 years.  I thank God that it has always turned out well for all of us there.  The point I am trying to get to is this; Do you snap at the drop of a hat?  Are you impatient?  Or are you just plain angry?

Let us look at what God says about anger; Psalms 37:8-9 (BBE) “⁸ Put an end to your wrath and be no longer bitter; do not give way to angry feeling which is a cause of sin. ⁹ For the evil-doers will be cut off: but those who have faith in the Lord will have the earth for their heritage.  What God is saying is for us to stop being angry because He considers this to be an act of an evil-doer and He will also cut you off from his fellowship and blessings.  Let’s look at another scripture; Prov 14:17 (BBE) ¹⁷ He who is quickly angry will do what is foolish, but the man of good sense will have quiet.

If you are bitter about something or someone it will cause you to become quick tempered and not of a sound mind and this in turn will cause you to do and say foolish things.  You will also never have the peace that God intended for you to have because you are not able to have fellowship with Him (Note the first scripture above).  Bad things happen to all of us; some really bad and some not so bad, but all bad just the same.  We need to give this pain up to God and move forward in Christ.  The peace that you are looking for is only found with a strong relationship with the King Jesus.  Psalms 34:14 (BBE) ¹⁴ Be turned from evil, and do good; make a search for peace.  Mark 9:50 (BBE) ⁵⁰ Salt is good; but if the taste goes from it, how will you make it salt again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace one with another.  Romans 14:19 (BBE) ¹⁹ So then, let us go after the things which make peace, and the things by which we may be a help to one another.

So, if you are having difficulties getting a handle on anger you might need to look further into God’s word.  Just the few scriptures that I made reference to can speak volumes of instruction to one that would be willing to listen.  God wants us to be at peace with our fellow man, but if we cannot find peace within ourselves we will never be at peace with our brethren. 

 So in a nutshell it may be as simple as refocusing your efforts on Christ instead of being a slave to anger (sin).

Greetings to the brethren,

I.F.O.C. Senior Chaplain, and H.S.M.M Member

Mark Smith