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Tuesday, November 15, 2016
The large oak in front of our home is at its peak in autumn color
"Victory Over Bitterness"
Message Summary: Praise God for the redeeming, reconciling, regenerative and restorative work of Christ! Today I urge any of you dealing with bitterness to nip it at its root. Bitterness is nipped when we practice forgiveness. Certainly, you've been hurt; some of you in horrendously painful ways. But Christ continues to redeem, reconcile, regenerate and restore! Today please turn to Him.
Listen to this
message on your
audio player.
"Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice" (Ephesians 4:31). "See to it that …no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many" (Hebrews 12:15).
Last
week I mentioned that the persimmon is my least favorite fruit. I have
a faint memory of it having a bad taste when I was
young. I rarely see persimmons and was not even sure what they looked
like before Jesse gave me a couple of them last week. I told him about
my unpleasant memory of the persimmon. "The
key is that they must be very ripe", Jesse explained. Now in his
nineties,
Jesse advised me that they must be really, really ripe to avoid the bad
taste many describe as bitter and sour, even creating a puffiness in
their mouths. Before
ripening, persimmons usually have a "chalky" or bitter taste.
Have you eaten something and said, "It left a bitter taste in my mouth" such as I experienced with the taste of an underripened persimmon. Well, today let us consider an even worse experience; having a bitter attitude in our hearts.
I recall an interaction I had with a man many years ago. I sensed his hard, grizzled face had a story but he was not very talkative. Over months of brief greetings I tried to break through the hard shell. He told me he was a Vietnam vet but little else. One week I was passing out small witness cards with this message, along with the daily Scripture verse, "When you harbor bitterness, happiness will dock elsewhere" (attributed to Andy Rooney).
For some reason, likely prompted by the Holy Spirit, I handed him the card and said, "I sense this message is for you". I hadn't planned to say that, it just came out as I greeted him. Although my comment could have offended him he studied the quote and quietly nodded in agreement. I continued to see the man for some time and he seemed a bit more open but our paths stopped crossing and I really don't know the outcome. Prayerfully a seed was planted.
Bitterness
can result from an unrelenting hostility or resentment you hold on to
when you are hurt, offended or even disappointed by someone or
by a tragic event. Sometimes bitterness can even be directed toward
God. The
hurt germinates in our heart and is characterized by an unforgiving
spirit and generally negative, critical attitude. Bitterness and
resentment are sinful attitudes that are self-defeating. Bitterness
will impact your
conscious and unconscious thoughts and actions. As one writer states,
"Bitterness is unforgiveness fermented." Allowed to fester, it
will destroy and kill.
But so many people deal with bitterness, even Christians. In fact the daily
Scripture portions are addressed to believers. Bitterness indeed
"causes trouble and defiles many", primarily to the one harboring
it but many others as well. Consider how one bitter family member can affect others.
Chuck Swindoll writes, "Self-pity…. cuddle and nurse it as an infant and you'll have on your hands in a brief period of time a beast, a monster, a raging, coarse brute that will spread the poison of bitterness and paranoia throughout your system."
I am so thankful for the redeeming, reconciling, regenerative and restorative work of Christ! Today I urge any of you dealing with bitterness to nip it at its root. Bitterness is nipped when we practice forgiveness. Certainly, you've been hurt; some of you in horrendously painful ways. But Christ continues to redeem, reconcile, regenerate and restore! Today please turn to Him.
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily
prayer: Father,
help me to realize that bitterness results from my accommodation to
deep seated anger for unfortunate circumstances usually beyond my
control. When
I choose to harbor anger and an unforgiving spirit I do the greatest
harm to myself rather than my offender. The pain and grief
related to my heartache grows into a poisonous vine that begins to
entwine itself around my heart. Instead of seeing the abundant
blessings that You shower upon me daily and the countless times You've
forgiven me for my sinful behavior, I focus on the raging storms
that have left destruction and debris along my path. Father, You want me to
turn away from my bitter rage and choose to safely abide under Your
wings of protection.
Help me to find refuge in You instead of cultivating my pain. Only You
can bring healing and restoration for my soul. Help me to release my
bitterness and embrace Your balm of healing. In the name of Jesus I pray. Amen.
Persimmons: I, Brooksyne, finally coerced Stephen and a co-worker to try the ripened persimmon that I had cut up. All three of us agree that it is an excellent fruit. It's a reminder that some experiences in the past that leave a lingering negative thought due to a bad first impression is often worth revisiting since a different impression or outcome may come about. This can be true of relationships as well.
"Forgiveness" Video Matthew West
"The Root of Bitterness" Video A sermon by A. W. Tozer
Finally today:
The last several days we have seen some progress on our summer deck project which had been stalled due to lack of labor. Although I have been trying to do as much as I can as a DIY project I have needed some help. I met Brian Conrad in one of the companies we serve as chaplains and he is presently between jobs so he's come over to assist me. Brian has an interesting background. He was in prison for 10 years and was released this last January. While in prison he was involved in the prison chapel services and worked with a chaplain friend of mine, Frank Lewis. Brian is now seeking to stay on the "straight and narrow".
Send a message to Stephen & Brooksyne
The large oak in front of our home is at its peak in autumn color
"Victory Over Bitterness"
Message Summary: Praise God for the redeeming, reconciling, regenerative and restorative work of Christ! Today I urge any of you dealing with bitterness to nip it at its root. Bitterness is nipped when we practice forgiveness. Certainly, you've been hurt; some of you in horrendously painful ways. But Christ continues to redeem, reconcile, regenerate and restore! Today please turn to Him.
Listen to this
message on your
audio player."Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice" (Ephesians 4:31). "See to it that …no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many" (Hebrews 12:15).
Last
week I mentioned that the persimmon is my least favorite fruit. I have
a faint memory of it having a bad taste when I was
young. I rarely see persimmons and was not even sure what they looked
like before Jesse gave me a couple of them last week. I told him about
my unpleasant memory of the persimmon. "The
key is that they must be very ripe", Jesse explained. Now in his
nineties,
Jesse advised me that they must be really, really ripe to avoid the bad
taste many describe as bitter and sour, even creating a puffiness in
their mouths. Before
ripening, persimmons usually have a "chalky" or bitter taste.Have you eaten something and said, "It left a bitter taste in my mouth" such as I experienced with the taste of an underripened persimmon. Well, today let us consider an even worse experience; having a bitter attitude in our hearts.
I recall an interaction I had with a man many years ago. I sensed his hard, grizzled face had a story but he was not very talkative. Over months of brief greetings I tried to break through the hard shell. He told me he was a Vietnam vet but little else. One week I was passing out small witness cards with this message, along with the daily Scripture verse, "When you harbor bitterness, happiness will dock elsewhere" (attributed to Andy Rooney).
For some reason, likely prompted by the Holy Spirit, I handed him the card and said, "I sense this message is for you". I hadn't planned to say that, it just came out as I greeted him. Although my comment could have offended him he studied the quote and quietly nodded in agreement. I continued to see the man for some time and he seemed a bit more open but our paths stopped crossing and I really don't know the outcome. Prayerfully a seed was planted.
Bitterness
can result from an unrelenting hostility or resentment you hold on to
when you are hurt, offended or even disappointed by someone or
by a tragic event. Sometimes bitterness can even be directed toward
God. The
hurt germinates in our heart and is characterized by an unforgiving
spirit and generally negative, critical attitude. Bitterness and
resentment are sinful attitudes that are self-defeating. Bitterness
will impact your
conscious and unconscious thoughts and actions. As one writer states,
"Bitterness is unforgiveness fermented." Allowed to fester, it
will destroy and kill. But so many people deal with bitterness, even Christians. In fact the daily
Scripture portions are addressed to believers. Bitterness indeed
"causes trouble and defiles many", primarily to the one harboring
it but many others as well. Consider how one bitter family member can affect others.Chuck Swindoll writes, "Self-pity…. cuddle and nurse it as an infant and you'll have on your hands in a brief period of time a beast, a monster, a raging, coarse brute that will spread the poison of bitterness and paranoia throughout your system."
I am so thankful for the redeeming, reconciling, regenerative and restorative work of Christ! Today I urge any of you dealing with bitterness to nip it at its root. Bitterness is nipped when we practice forgiveness. Certainly, you've been hurt; some of you in horrendously painful ways. But Christ continues to redeem, reconcile, regenerate and restore! Today please turn to Him.
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily
prayer: Father,
help me to realize that bitterness results from my accommodation to
deep seated anger for unfortunate circumstances usually beyond my
control. When
I choose to harbor anger and an unforgiving spirit I do the greatest
harm to myself rather than my offender. The pain and grief
related to my heartache grows into a poisonous vine that begins to
entwine itself around my heart. Instead of seeing the abundant
blessings that You shower upon me daily and the countless times You've
forgiven me for my sinful behavior, I focus on the raging storms
that have left destruction and debris along my path. Father, You want me to
turn away from my bitter rage and choose to safely abide under Your
wings of protection.
Help me to find refuge in You instead of cultivating my pain. Only You
can bring healing and restoration for my soul. Help me to release my
bitterness and embrace Your balm of healing. In the name of Jesus I pray. Amen.- Holding onto bitterness or anger is like drinking poison and expecting your offender to die.
- Forgiveness - Forgiveness is a decision to release yourself from anger, resentment, hate or the urge for revenge despite the injury you suffered.
- Forgiveness is letting go of hope for a different past. Dr. Richard Dobbins
Persimmons: I, Brooksyne, finally coerced Stephen and a co-worker to try the ripened persimmon that I had cut up. All three of us agree that it is an excellent fruit. It's a reminder that some experiences in the past that leave a lingering negative thought due to a bad first impression is often worth revisiting since a different impression or outcome may come about. This can be true of relationships as well.
Today's
Suggested
Music and Supplemental Resources
"Forgiveness" Video Matthew West
"The Root of Bitterness" Video A sermon by A. W. Tozer
Finally today:
The last several days we have seen some progress on our summer deck project which had been stalled due to lack of labor. Although I have been trying to do as much as I can as a DIY project I have needed some help. I met Brian Conrad in one of the companies we serve as chaplains and he is presently between jobs so he's come over to assist me. Brian has an interesting background. He was in prison for 10 years and was released this last January. While in prison he was involved in the prison chapel services and worked with a chaplain friend of mine, Frank Lewis. Brian is now seeking to stay on the "straight and narrow".
Send a message to Stephen & Brooksyne
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Scripture references are from The Holy Bible: New International Version. © 1984 by International Bible Society; NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. and the King James Version.
Personal Mission Statement: "I am created by God to bring Him glory. Through God's Son Jesus Christ I have been redeemed and make it my life's goal to please the Lord. My mission in life is to honor God through my faith and obedience and prepare myself and all whom I may influence for eternity."
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