The Anger Danger, How to Close the Door on Your Enemy

The danger of anger.

We have an enemy. His goal is to lead your heart away from God and godliness.

This master of subtlety and conniving, knows your areas of weakness and mine. He often uses our pride and our selfishness to prompt us to action. In the first generation of mankind, our adversary was already using anger and resentment as a lure. Notice the warning God gave to Cain.

“Abel, on his part also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of their fat portions. And the LORD had regard for Abel and for his offering; but for Cain and for his offering He had no regard. So Cain became very angry and his countenance fell. Then the LORD said to Cain, “Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? “If you do well, will not your countenance be lifted up? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door; and its desire is for you, but you must master it.” Cain told Abel his brother. And it came about when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother and killed him.” Genesis 4:4-6

Anger becomes a problem when we allow it to remain in us. “BE ANGRY, AND yet DO NOT SIN; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do not give the devil an opportunity (or place). Ephesians 4:26, 27. Like Cain, when we allow anger to stay, we also allow Satan a place in our heart. Cain allowed his anger to fester and grow and overtake him. His anger opened the door for Satan (who was crouching just outside the door) to work in him.

What is the remedy for injustice and our anger because of wicked schemes? How do we respond? Not in anger…

“Commit your way to the LORD,

Trust also in Him, and He will do it.

He will bring forth your righteousness as the light

And your judgment as the noonday.

Rest in the LORD and

wait patiently for Him;

Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way,

Because of the man who carries out wicked schemes.

Cease from anger and

forsake wrath;

Do not fret;

it leads only to evildoing.”

 Psalm 37:5-8

This you know, my beloved brethren.

But everyone must be quick to hear,

slow to speak and

slow to anger;

for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God.

James 1:19, 20

My enemy wants to infiltrate my mind and my actions. How do I close the door on this adversary who is crouching just outside the door?  

•  Commit my actions to Him
• Trust Him to take care of it
• Rest and wait patiently while He works
• Do not be angry or fret over it
• Listen with mouth closed
• Do not act in anger.

Father in Heaven,

You know the injustices, accusations, and wickedness around us today. I pray that I will respond without anger and resentment. I pray that I will respond with total trust in You to bring judgment and not take judgment into my own hands. I pray that You will give me the strength and courage to look to You and rest in You when all around me is turmoil, strife and anger of men.

May I never fall for Satan’s lie and act in my anger and distress. I pray I will behave in a manner pleasing to You, no matter the circumstance surround me. 

I pray for those in distress today. I pray that You will surround them and they will look to You instead of the enemy.

I pray these things in Jesus’ most holy and righteous name, Who is my example of not returning insult for insult, and when reviled, did not revile in return.

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Introducing Oscar The Extraordinary Hummingbird

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This little book is a collection of stories which includes the chronicle of a tiny hummingbird and the unlikely friendship he and I shared. Through the time we spent together, God used Oscar to teach me many things about

life,

suffering, and

joy in the midst of it all.

I remain amazed that He chose this itty bitty bird and so many precious, yet seemingly insignificant, things within His Creation to demonstrate such profound spiritual truths to me, and I am delighted to share these simple stories with you.

May you always take time to see God

 in the little things.

They may become your

biggest treasures!

All the tales within this book are true. The simple parable-type lessons offered here about life in my Father’s world have touched my soul, and I pray that your heart will likewise be enriched by reading them. Inside you will become acquainted with Oscar, the sweetest little hummingbird you ever could meet, along with some fishy characters, and you will stroll with me through the beauty and splendor of the garden. Together we will explore patterns and truths found in Creation which point us to a deeper understanding of our Creator. 

Chapter 1 - A Tiny Treasure

When I first spotted the mysterious wad, immediately I had grand hopes of discovering some sort of little treasure. I am familiar with the ending of the curious cat but was compelled to investigate nonetheless. By the size and shape it could have been an owl pellet! Because owls have no teeth with which to chew their meals, they swallow them whole. They also–uhm–“release” the undigested portion whole, in a pellet form, just about the size of this suspicious little gem. I drew closer to the twisted glob and realized it wasn’t what I hoped for at all.  

Oh, no! I thought. Horrified, I instantly reached down to him. We have hosted many hummingbirds throughout the spring and summer, and this appeared to be one that met an untimely demise. His little body was twisted in an unnatural position. His poor, tiny head had been stripped of all feathers on top and on one side, revealing only raw, purple and blue skin. There appeared to be fishing line tangled all around his mouth. His condition suggested he might have been run over by a lawn mower. I gingerly lifted up the bruised and limp little bird and cradled him in the palm of my hand, amazed at the beauty of the tiny creature and sorry for the suffering he must have endured. 

Against all hope, I became aware of a faint, rapid thumping of a little heartbeat against my hand. Thankful for the opportunity to comfort him in his final moments of life, I ever so gently stroked his broken little body and brought him close to my face while whispering, God knows when a sparrow falls[i], and He knows all about little hummingbirds, too. Realistically, it was more a prayer to comfort me than an expectation that he actually understood what I had said to him. Fighting back tears, I blew softly into his face to let him know he was not alone.  He blinked his eye - the one that wasn’t swollen shut. Yes, he heard me, and he knew I was there with him and perhaps he understood that God was as well. 

I don’t know how much animals understand. I do know my responsibility, according to the Word of God in the book of Genesis, is to “rule[ii] over (or have dominion over) the creatures of the earth.” Surely this would include taking care of one who has fallen. God spared him long enough for me to comfort him a bit, and for that, I was grateful. I just absolutely love the way God works and have found that His timing is perfect, always.

Continuing to bathe him with my warm breath, I slowly and as tenderly as possible, began to untangle him from the fishing line in and around his mouth. My desire was to give him as much comfort as possible. He blinked again and tried to lift his poor, bruised, and bald little head.  

As the untangling progressed, it became apparent that the “line” was his tongue! Poor little fellow! Bless his sweet little heart! He must have wondered, Why is this woman pulling on my tongue?  He was having a bad enough day already without me tugging on his tongue, of all things.  I chuckled at the absurdity and apologized, Sorry about that, little guy!

Gradually, he regained consciousness and his tongue retracted into its proper place. He looked at me, with his one good eye - not with fear but rather with curiosity.  I continued to examine him for injuries and found that one wing was not in the correct position, and a tiny spot of blood was on the front of his neck. So, still holding him in one hand, I took a paper towel with the other hand and dampened one corner, folding it over to make a swab to lightly sponge his wounds. I stroked and tucked the tiny wing back into the proper position. 

By now, he was more conscious than not but still too weak to resist my “mothering.” He didn’t have the strength to fly, but he did seem content to rest in the warmth of my hand. 

Because most acquaintances begin with an exchange of names, I, not knowing his hummingbird name, decided to call him Oscar.  You know, the Grouch.  Both are green, a mess, and more than a little grumpy.  It seemed to fit.

Because of the severity of his injuries, I feared he would perish before I could document this precious moment so, while he was still alive I took a few pictures of Oscar in my hand. I marveled at the opportunity to hold such a small, magnificent creature. I continued to assure him of my intention to help him to the very best of my ability. He was truly a pitiful sight - tiny, helpless, bruised, and bald - but alive!

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[i] Matthew 10:29

[ii] Genesis 1:26, Psalm 8:6-8 

Chickadee Challenge

Chickadee babies.

The famous chickadees (see blog posts Chickadee Choices and Chickadee Conflict) who have been living in our yard (or their yard depending on your perspective) have been challenged. You may remember the sparrows from earlier in the year that tried to take advantage of the chickadee’s nest building. The intruding sparrows thought they could move into a furnished luxury apartment, until my husband stepped in and made the door chickadee-sized. The sparrows could no longer gain entrance and finally the chickadees were able to finish their home and start their family.

This week, just as the babies were coming out of their shells the sparrows returned. Even though they knew they could not enter and use the nest themselves, they were determined to wreak havoc on the chickadee family. They did.

They travel in a herd, or maybe a flock. Their stampede certainly seemed like a raging herd of bulls. Through sheer intimidation, numbers, and persistence they bullied the chickadees until out of fear, the chickadees fled. With the naked little ones unprotected, the sparrows were able to grab one and pull it out of its home. When I heard the commotion I went out to help and found the babe sprawled out on the ground. Because he was still moving I carefully placed the tiny fuzzy-headed body back in the nest with his brother and scolded the sparrows. They almost seemed to laugh at me as they flew off.

We checked on the status of the siblings throughout the rest of the day and saw no sign of Mr. and Mrs. C. The next day, still no parents had come back to rescue their children. They were now beyond hope. Gone. Lifeless and alone in a box that was so full of hope.

The chickadees were given a great opportunity. They had a wonderful nesting box. They had the perfect size entrance hole so no intruders could trespass.  They even had our pond for bathing, and lots of worms for snacks. The one thing they didn’t have was courage to stand.  All they had to do was to stand firm in the knowledge of the security of the box, yet their fear got the best of them. They gave up when it got hard, and their fear cost them the lives of their chicks.

I must confess I am tempted to give up at times. I KNOW without a doubt that God has a plan, yet wonder sometimes how He could possibly work out certain circumstances that seem so impossible. I KNOW that His love is greater than any other and yet I still wonder if He really could love me.  I KNOW He created me for a purpose, and still wonder if He can use me flaws and all. Fears and doubt, all of them. Weaknesses that plague many of us, maybe even you.

The GREAT NEWS is, He knows and has given us exactly what we need to get through it.

• Christians have Him living within us and have assurance that He will never leave or forsake us! Matt 28:20 http://blb.sc/1QE5 We can stand firm with Him alongside us!

• Stand firm in Who He is - Creator of the universe. Almighty God. Limitless in ability. He can never be overwhelmed by any situation. Job 11;7-10 http://blb.sc/EXDs

• Stand firm in His Word. It is unchanging. It will never fail. It will build you up in greater knowledge of Him which makes you stronger. The life built on it, will not fall. Matt 7:24-27 http://blb.sc/EqZ1

• Stand firm against the enemy. Our adversary roams about looking for weakness and pounces at just the right time. Like the chickadees and sparrows, our enemy strikes us in our weak points. Many times that is fear. So many, many times we are told “Do not be afraid.” Heb 13:6 http://blb.sc/4WBp It is a common weakness among us and the chickadees, but we serve the God of Peace. 2 Thess 3:16 http://blb.sc/4UAx

• Stand firm in His promises. If He has given you a mission (He has) He will provide a way for you to accomplish it, no matter the odds, or circumstance, or situation. He WILL close the mouths of the lions. He WILL provide an ark in the flood. He WILL be with you in the furnace and loose your ropes and bring you through without even the smell of smoke on your clothes. Be strong and courageous when He directs your path. Joshua 1:6-9 http://blb.sc/EJYX

• Stand with other Christians. It may feel like you are outnumbered, but working together with other like-minded believers helps. Phil 1:27-28 http://blb.sc/4T3r 

• Stand firm when it seems like the enemy is winning. You may be injured by the enemy, but Satan loses the war. 2 Thess 1:6-10 http://blb.sc/F2Vc

• Don’t give up! You may be outnumbered, but they are just sparrows and they do not have access to your home.  Be STRONG! 1 Cor 16:13 http://blb.sc/4Qsb

Father, we seem to have enemies all around us and yet with You within us we KNOW we are safe. Thank You for Your true and steady Word to strengthen and direct us. Help us to be an encouragement to others who are at a weak point, so they will remain strong in Your strength. Help us to look to You when fear besets us so that we will be faithful to do what You would have us to do. Thank You for defeating our adversary.

Have you experienced fear and the hand of God that overcame it? Share your story in the comment section to encourage someone. Let's create some happy endings!

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Empty bird nest v. full life

Empty nest.

It was an intricately-woven beautiful little thing, made of simple twigs, and blades of grass.  Ordinary cast away and discarded things were used to create something with great mission and purpose, to hold great treasure – new life.    Once full of life, this little nest is now shaken out of its place, turned upside down, and empty.  Just a shell reminding of what once was there, having fulfilled its purpose, now left behind.

Jesus was born with all the human frailties we all have; skin and bones that are easily injured, scarred, wounded; vulnerable to hunger and thirst. Yet, this human was born with great mission and purpose far beyond any other.  He was God born in flesh, to live among us.  More than just live, He showed us how we are to live in a manner pleasing to God.  In a world full of religious leaders who had religion without God, He showed us God.  In a world full of lies built on half-truths and error, He showed us truth.  In a world full of despair and hopelessness, He showed us the true source of hope and peace.

Then came the day He had told His disciples about.  The day He would be tortured, condemned to death by the religious leaders, crucified, and (very importantly) raised up.  They didn’t like hearing that.  They expected His kingdom to begin at that time, and give them some relief from their intense Roman persecution.  Crucified?  How could it be?  Yet it happened, just as He told them. 

While they were experiencing this horrible event, they wondered if they were next, and out of that fear some even denied Him.  Fear had already latched hold of them.  They hid.   

On the day after the Sabbath, the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to the tomb, and found that an angel had rolled away the stone which had sealed the tomb.  The angel’s appearance caused such fear in the guards of the tomb, they shook and fainted.  However, the angel’s words to the women? “Do not be afraid,” and he reminded them of the promise Jesus had made to them. He had risen, just as He said He would.

On their way back to tell the disciples this wonderful news, they were still afraid and full of joy at the same time.  Then, Jesus met them on their way and told them, “Do not be afraid” and told them to tell the disciples they would soon see Him too.

The disciples were behind closed doors when Jesus appeared to them.  His first words to them? “Peace be with you.”  You see the pattern don’t you?  He doesn’t exclude pain from our lives, but He gives us peace to endure.

Things to remember when your life turns upside down;

Your life has value.  He loved you so very much that He paid your sin debt.  He could have let you try to pay your own way and just sat back to watch you fail.  He didn’t.  Before you ever knew Him, He knew you and saw that you were unable to live without sin, or pay the penalty for that sin, so He paid the price for your sins (death) for you.  The King of all creation did that for you.  You are extremely valuable to Him.

Your life has purpose.  Jesus’ purpose was to show us the way to live in eternal heaven.  You have been given both abilities and frailties.  You were born to use those abilities to honor His life and show others the way to eternal life. 

Your life will have pain and suffering.  It happens to us all.  At times it will be physical pain of disease or injury.  Other times it will be the anguish of suffering loss. 

He understands pain and suffering.  He suffered both.  His crucifixion was a most gruesome and physically painful form of torture and death.  He wept with those He loved when they suffered loss, and wept over those He knew were to experience devastation because of their unbelief.  He knows.

He offers peace.  When our lives seem to be turned upside down, and all we have known is emptied out, He offers peace. (Click to read passage from Philippians) Fear may grip us, but He releases its hold, and gives us peace.  He is the God of peace. 

He offers life.  Without Him, we are eligible only for death, and eternal punishment for our sins.  Through Him, we have life.  Without Him, we have none.

He is faithful.  He always stands by His promises.  He WILL come again, He will provide eternal life for those who follow Him.  There will be eternal punishment for those who don’t. 

Father, how thankful we are that You became flesh and became the sacrifice for our sins.  We have read about and seen miracles, and we have heard Your profound words of truth.  When our lives become emptied, shaken, turned upside down, and fear tries to squeeze out our faith, thank You for giving us peace.  Thank You for Your promises of life, and hope. Help us to remember them, hold on to them, and share them with a world so full of hurt and pain.  

We realize that our little nest we call life, will end.  So, we offer it to You, to use as You will, so that more will be drawn into Your love and security.  When we leave our nest, let others say it had great purpose!  The purpose for which YOU designed it!  

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