Anger is like toothpaste......

I've been investing some time on self-improvement each day and how to grow my walk with God and in that process I've watched many sermons, read many books and study many scriptures. And something that hit me today was how anger is like a tube of toothpaste. What is that ya say? Read on...

Anger is like a tube of toothpaste. When you are pouring out words of anger or hatred or resentment, it's easy to push it out quickly. The harder you push it, the faster it comes. There is pressure being built up inside and it's so easy to spew out. When all the words of anger, or toothpaste is out, it's heavy and it's there and it's exposed. It's hard to clean up, it's sticky and a mess. The hardest part is to push that toothpaste back into the tube. Those words you spoke now lay heavy on the person or people or maybe even yourself after they are out in the open. Anyone can forgive after the fact but it's so hard to forget when you've been wronged or put down or disrespected. It's hard when you've believed lies that you've spoken over yourself or believed lies from someone else.

Instead of pushing so hard to get those words out maybe we can stop our tongue and bring praise forward. We can deny the enemy any power and realize our potential in Christ. We can stop those words from coming out and laying heavy on someone or ourselves. We can be a difference to someone.

Have you been that toothpaste to someone? Ask forgiveness and get rid of the "toothpaste" in your life. Don't allow it to happen again and again because the first time to be forgiven is almost easy, but it gets harder each time it's needed. Let's just be real about that, it is. We are human and we hurt but we must find it in our hearts to forgive and move on...even if it's ourselves that we need to forgive. If we've been the "issue" we have to rise above it, realize our need for Jesus and grow and learn.

The next time you brush your teeth I pray you're reminded about this lil nugget of information. If you've been the one angry with people I pray you see the need for Jesus to change something in your life and you seek that change with your whole heart. If you've been the one getting poured on by someone I pray you see how much your heavenly Father loves you no matter what anyone says and how valuable you are to Him regardless of the words you heard.

Dont Stop, Don't Give Up!

Don't you just love when the Lord wants you to know something and he will stop at nothing to make sure you "get it"? The last few messages I've heard from either church or online have been about not giving up or not stopping. Steven Furticks newest message is called Don't stop on 6 and it's about persevering and seeing things through, even when they seem to be falling apart or not working or not changing. Have you ever been there? Maybe you're there now. Maybe you don't see the light at the end of the tunnel and things look dark or grim. The medical report isn't improving, your marriage is still stagnant, your relationships with others aren't getting any healthier, your kids are far from God and rebelling or maybe you're just lost and tired and everything seems hopeless because you don't see the end. But I have wonderful amazing news.....you can see the end and his name is Jesus! Jesus is the answer. He is the final say, final word, final event, final decision, final everything!

I'm going through things myself and it seems like I'm walking around the same mountain over and over and over again and something that I heard this weekend from a Pastor really spoke to me. He said this: "Sometimes the mountain that you are walking around isn't about getting the promise at the end but about teaching you in the process so that you're ready for the promise when it comes". How great is that??? Maybe the mountain we are walking around waiting for someone else to do something or waiting for something else to happen isn't about them or that thing at all but about us and what we need to improve or change, maybe its to help another person and God needs us to be that person for them, or maybe it's simply just to teach us to trust in Gods timing not ours and trust His plan not ours and believe Him for what His word says He can do. He works all things for good...ALL THINGS.

I've shared this with a few of my closest friends....I feel like for the first time in my life I'm stepping out of the boat and there is no dock and no land in sight..all I see are the hands of Jesus reaching out for me and I'm taking hold and trusting him. And as I do that, daily I get confirmation that the decisions that I've stood in faith for are 100% a part of Gods plan for my life and for my family. There is joy exploding in my home. There is confirmation from other people that I'm making the right decisions. Even when my heart is hurting for that which I'm moving forward from I know God is in control and I just have to keep going and not give up. I have to rest in the mighty work of my Lord to supply all my needs according to HIS riches. I have to rest in the lap of my savior and let him work on my behalf. I have to take him at his word and relax. If ever there is a time that my spirit is unsettled I know the Lord will show me why so until then I will just keep pressing in.

I know there are some big things happening in my life. I'm not going to push them to happen or try to do something on my own to bring it to pass any faster because I know if I step into the situation and try to do it on my own it won't work perfectly. But with God in charge, it will be perfect and that's a good place to rest.

I won't stop on 6. I won't give up early. I won't give in early. I won't stop, I won't give up!

Check out this link below. It was played at church this weekend and I just love it! It's so encouraging!!

http://www.youtube.com/v/dpHjukQowZ0?version=3&autohide=1&autoplay=1&showinfo=1&attribution_tag=vc-H5kXkpEJzzxuPaAdAXg&feature=share&autohide=1