Scripture Go ahead and be angry. You do well to be angry—but don’t use your anger as fuel for revenge. And don’t stay angry. Don’t go to bed angry. Don’t give the Devil that kind of foothold in your life. Ephesians 4:26-27 MSG Comment I was rather relieved when a wise friend told me that it was OK to be angry,...
What this adds up to, then, is this: no more lies, no more pretense. Tell your neighbor the truth. In Christ’s body we’re all connected to each other, after all. When you lie to others, you end up lying to yourself. Eph 4:25 (MSG) Comment Continuing our walk through The Message’s paraphrasing of Ephesians we come to this encouragement to...
17-19 And so I insist—and God backs me up on this—that there be no going along with the crowd, the empty-headed, mindless crowd. They’ve refused for so long to deal with God that they’ve lost touch not only with God but with reality itself. They can’t think straight anymore. Feeling no pain, they let themselves go in sexual obsession, addicted to...
In light of all this, here’s what I want you to do. While I’m locked up here, a prisoner for the Master, I want you to get out there and walk—better yet, run!—on the road God called you to travel. I don’t want any of you sitting around on your hands. I don’t want anyone strolling off, down some path...
God is building a home. He’s using us all—irrespective of how we got here—in what he is building. He used the apostles and prophets for the foundation. Now he’s using you, fitting you in brick by brick, stone by stone, with Christ Jesus as the cornerstone that holds all the parts together. We see it taking shape day after day—a...
My lover speaks to me. Come then, my love; my darling, come with me. The winter is over; the rains have stopped; in the countryside the flowers are in bloom. This is the time for singing; the song of doves is heard in the fields. Figs are beginning to ripen; the air is fragrant with blossoming vines. Come then, my...
Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Ephesians 4:32 Comment We often think about the need for forgiveness when there’s been a significant conflict and of course it’s vital to forgive in those circumstances so we can reconnect and restore closeness. However, I’ve found that it’s also important to forgive...
As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another. Proverbs 27:17 Comment Today is the Fourth of a series of five prayers leading up to Marriage Week (10-16 May). The theme of this year’s Marriage Week is Naked Marriage and we’re looking at the bare essentials of marriage. I love the fact that my husband is such friendly, spontaneous person....
May your fountain be blessed, and may you rejoice in the wife of your youth. A loving doe, a graceful deer – may her breasts satisfy you always, may you ever be captivated by her love. Proverbs 5: 18-19 Comment Today is the third of a series of five prayers leading up to Marriage Week (10-16 May). The theme of...
“Don’t sin by letting anger control you.” Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, for anger gives a foothold to the devil. Ephesians 4:26,27 (NLT) Comment Today is the second of a series of five prayers leading up to Marriage Week 6-10 May. I rarely explode with anger. I tend to internalise my feelings and anger...
