Be angry, and do not sin.

Tonight as I was winding down the evening heading towards bedtime, my little bird was hanging out with me.  She is very social and and is for the most part a well behaved sweet bird, but tonight something must have upset her because she bit me on the ear.

This made me angry and I quickly sought to get her off my shoulder and out of danger of biting me again.

But I thought about this after she was back in her cage.  What if in my anger I had been too rough with her?  She's a little bird after all and should be handled gently.  Even if she upset me for a moment, the fact is I like her and I don't want to hurt her.

The Bible advises us not to sin when we are angry in both Ephesians and Psalms.  I find this a helpful concept. It doesn't say not to ever get angry.  Sometimes things happen that rightfully cause feelings of frustration  It's okay to have a feeling.

The challenge is, what you do with the feeling.   I'm glad I didn't hurt my bird when she upset me.   But like a small bird, people's emotions can be fragile as well.

Psalms 4:4 says, "Be angry, and do not sin.  Meditate within your heart on your bed, and be still."

This is pretty good advice.  Sometimes we need a cooling off period when something has caused a strong negative emotion.  But take a look at the rest of the Psalm.  It ends with peace and sleep.  That's a great promise.

"Be angry, and do not sin.
Meditate within your heart on your bed, and be still.
Offer the sacrifices of righteousness,
And put your trust in the Lord.
There are many who say,
“Who will show us any good?”
Lord, lift up the light of Your countenance upon us.
You have put gladness in my heart,
More than in the season that their grain and wine increased.
I will both lie down in peace, and sleep;
For You alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety." Psalms 4:4-8 


(Biblegateway.com)

Community

This evening I took a walk to enjoy fresh air and cool temperature. While I was on my walk I stopped to talk with a neighbor about her beautiful flower garden.  This led to a conversation about the proper care of a rose bush and then to her visiting my aspiring garden and offering tips.

It's interesting how familiarity and shared interests can cause a neighborhood to feel more like a community.  I've lived here for awhile now but I don't know many people.  But when evenings grow longer and summer's warm breezes call for BBQs and gardening it makes it a little easier to cross paths and maybe even have something to talk about.

Every neighborhood may not feel like Mayberry.  Some people may not wish to live in a little town like that but it is important to have community somewhere.

While individuality is a valued trait in our culture,  there is also great value in connecting with other people and doing it regularly.

I think one of the reasons people think back fondly on high school and college years is their community of friends.  People to eat with, study with, vacation with, camp with, and splurge on TV night and popcorn with.  People who knew the ins and outs of daily life and the feeling of comfort associated with being around them.

Most of us don't stay in the college environment forever.  We grow up, get married, find jobs, have kids and generally become adults.  But the problem for some is that if friend groups change as life changes, do we maintain community?  Do we reach out to neighbors, church members, and/or colleagues to form friendships beyond shallow conversations and into the deep, comfortable zone of community?

Sometimes it takes intentionality to grow your community.  Other times it may be as simple as being present in the moments of your life and noticing the people you share them with.

For My Grandpa

A little boy left his home

Bound for somewhere new

With his Mother and Father

He entered the U.S. with one shoe.

His picture caught a lovely lady's eye

And when she saw him on the street

She introduced herself with a happy smile

Finally they could meet!

The lovely lady and handsome man

Were married 62 years

With 3 kids, 4 grandkids, and one great grandchild

They loved being near

Today we honor a faithful man

Who's resting from the race

Waiting for the trumpet blast

To call them both awake

So eagerly we await that day

When our hope is finally sight

Grandpa we will see you there

Thank you for your life of light.

-Kristen Harmon

April 9 2012

How Deep the Father's Love for Us

How deep the Father's love for us

How blessed beyond all measure

That he should give His only Son

And make a wretch His treasure

How great the pain of seering loss

The Father turns His face away

As wounds that mar the Chosen One

Bring many sons to glory

Behold the man upon a cross

My sin upon his shoulders

Ashamed I hear my mocking voice

Call out among the scoffers

It was my sin that held him there

Until it was accomplished

His dying breath has brought me life

I know that it is finished.

I will not boast in anything

No gifts no power no wisdom

But I will boast in Jesus Christ

His death and resurrection

Why should I gain from his reward?

I cannot give an answer

But this I know with all my heart

His wounds had paid my ransom.

-Words and Music by Stuart Townend

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bk-52Ci68CU&feature=related

The Final Four

March Madness is well underway for college basketball. Happily my husband's team made it into the Final Four this year!

It's an interesting concept to take multiple competing teams and through game after game narrow down all the teams to just four.

I wonder what would happen if we had a season of March Madness in our lives. If we took the things that compete for our time and one by one played them against each other to determine the most important pieces of our days.

What would be your final 4?

Would you have two distinct sets of winners, a weekend version and a work week version? Or would you find they all mesh together to produce 4 clear winners?

Also important to consider is what factors would you use to determine the winners? Would you consider amount of time spent or quality of time spent? Would you look at results gained by spending time in a particular area or perhaps the excitement you feel in those moments?

I know we all can have many different activities and priorities to juggle. It could be hard to focus on just 4 things. But I hope that we don't lose sight of what we hold most important in life no matter how many other distractions come our way.

Paul says, "Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." Philippians 3:13-14

We Judge

Easy to say, easy to do

Compare you to me, compare me to you

My way seems clear, your way a mess

Are we searching for truth, or self righteousness?

Wisdom is good but how is our sight?

Is everything measured as wrong or as right?

Perhaps in the end, much will fade dim

But how we loved and followed Him.

-Kristen Harmon

The Basics of Life

Last week I started thinking about a song I hadn't heard in awhile. You might say it was from back in the day.

The chorus goes something like this:

'We need to get back to the basics of life. A heart that is pure and a love that is right. A faith that is fervently grounded in Christ. A hope that endures for all time. These are the basics. We've got to get back to the basics of life.' (Basics of Life by 4 Him)

As a side note if you youtube this song and then view some of the recommended other videos you can start an enjoyable journey through 90's Contemporary Christian music. Especially noteworthy are the outfits worn by Michael W. Smith.

Anyways. I really like this song. I like the reminder of faith that is fervently grounded in Christ and hope that endures for all time.

Sometimes its helpful to think big and enlarge our perspectives. But there are also times when its important to slow down and regain focus on the basics.

When asked about the greatest commandment Jesus said, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: "Love your neighbor as yourself." Matthew 22:37-39

So as we learn and grow and explore the dreams God plants in our hearts, let's remember to also stay grounded in the basics.