Self-Centeredness & Anger

Thomas Jefferson once said “If angry, count to ten before you speak; if very angry, count to one hundred.” Where does anger come from? It is a reaction to irritating people and circumstances, you might say. But I believe that the root cause of anger is self-centeredness which is ultimately pride. We live in a world that tells us “It's all about me!” And when something doesn't suit the center of our "me universe" then anger erupts. That's difficult to admit, isn't it?

God has been bringing “self-centeredness” to my attention lately. My husband and I are BIG Komets fans. The coliseum and the games are a good lesson for self-centeredness. First there's the people who run over your toes because they are just focused on something other than you! When you find your seat, someone sits in front of you and reeks of BAD cologne. Another group sits behind you and they don't even watch the game they just talk and talk and talk and talk. AND the refs...well we'll forget the refs...they will continue to be annoying. But, I get so angry when I can't breathe because of someone pouring their entire bottle of perfume on them or talk about how "little George" ran over his big sister with the toy wheel barrow and they had to pretend to take her to the hospital instead of watching the game. I have turned around and told people in back of me to be quiet and watch the game, I've yelled at people to sit down so I can see, I've moved because I couldn't breathe but not until after Ive complained to my husband and whoever else wants to listen.

Rather than using our words in anger or grumbling, we can use our words to be the fragrance of Christ (2 Corinthians 2:15). Have you ever hugged someone and ended up wearing her perfume? We will leave a fragrance, so to speak, by the words we speak. It can be a pleasing fragrance or one that reeks. Instead of speaking words of anger. I should be gracious and with the love of Christ speak words of kindness. Rather than becoming angry, I should exude the fragrance of Christ and have it permeate the entire fan section.

We have a choice. When we choose not to react in self-centered anger, but extend grace, the aroma of Christ is released. Paul writes “My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this; Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because our anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires”

When I speak words of love and grace I emit the fragrance of life. When I speak words of grumbling and anger I smell of death. Hmmmm! Which do we want to smell like?

Grace and peace be with you,
Christie

Gently Radical

The woman written of in the gospels who anointed our Savior was just an ordinary woman. However, her expression of love is legendary.

“When a woman who had lived a sinful life in that town learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee's house, she brought an alabaster jar of perfume, and as she stood behind Him at His feet weeping, she began to wet His feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them.” Luke 7:37-38 This scene painted in Luke 7:37-38 (see also Matthew 26:1-16, Mark 14:1-12 & John 12:1-11) awakens a feeling in me, best described as “gently radical.”

During this time in history women kept their hair pinned up. Paul even goes so far to say in one Epistle that a woman’s glory is her hair. Yet, humbly she departed from the culturally accepted thing, took her hair down and used “her glory” to serve Him tenderly.

The radical offering of pouring out a year’s worth of wages onto the feet of the object of her affection is riveting. Recently, I heard a speaker discuss this passage. He stated that the average annual wage today in his area of the United Sates is about $50,000 -- he asked the audience to imagine the idea of $50,000 being spent in just a few minutes blessing the Lord. Seems absolutely extreme doesn’t it? Yet, His forgiveness compelled her heart to pour out such an amazing gift! Resonating with me, that great forgiveness begets deep gratitude.

I find it irresistible that she preaches without saying a word -- preaching with tender kisses and extravagant fragrance! Over the years as I am brought back to these passages about the woman (or possibly -- women) anointing Jesus I have always focused on how she ministered to me and how she ministered to the people who witnessed the event, and Jesus’ response to her and those around them. Until recently I never really considered how these moments had also ministered to the Lord.

“Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus' feet and wiped His feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. But one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray Him, objected, Why wasn't this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year's wages. He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it. "Leave her alone," Jesus replied. "It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial.” John 12:1:3-7.

This passage finally “clicked” for me. While Christ is hanging on the cross taking in His last breaths -- He is inhaling the scent of the expensive perfume that Mary anointed Him with. In those last breaths what He smells is the fragrance of her love, sacrifice and devotion.

As I take in the aroma of her love, it struck me in a whole new way again… how true it is, that we love because He first loved us. This love of hers is only made possible because of His love, sacrifice, and devotion for her and all of His children. Including you and me.

My heart longs to be the kind of woman who uses all that I have to serve Christ. I am grateful that in Christ this is a possible dream. “In the Messiah, in Christ, God leads us from place to place in one perpetual victory parade. Through us, He brings knowledge of Christ. Everywhere we go, people breathe in the exquisite fragrance. Because of Christ, we give off a sweet scent rising to God, which is recognized by those on the way of salvation—an aroma redolent with life…“ 2Corinthians2:14-15 (Message)

May the air around you fill with the fragrance of love and life everywhere you go.

Hope by Jan Krist

Eyes wide open ... Hope, Trust, Faith, and Love

Rockin' at Riley

Here are a couple of photos of our trip to Riley Children's Hospital. It was Mimi Burns and friends that made all of the arrangements. Steve Tyler and Duane Eby were the motivation and the glue for the effort. The rest of us got to go along for the ride. We had some great and inspiring feedback from some parents about the reactions of their kids. We hopefully made some kids happier than they were before we came. This was certainly an indirect c2g God thing.
... written by Dave Baker