As some of us know through summa theologiae by St. Thomas Aquina. God as a spiritual being can't act directly. He is the first cause. Therefore, He acts through second causes which can be people or certain events.
This principle of philosophy (which I can't remember if it was also treated by Plato or Aristotle) also applies to the devil because after all the devil is also a spiritual being.
I recognize that my biggest flaw is my lack of patience and how easy I get angry. The devil knows that well. So in his constant attack he uses certain individuals to provoke me in that in which I'm so weak.
I have to recognize with a lot of pain that the son of gun is doing a good job.
However, as a counterposition God also uses other individuals to make me realize what is hapenning (thank you my brother).
I have always identified with Peter he was a very zealous man, he loved his Lord with all of his heart, but Peter was a violent man and a coward man as well.
If we remember when Jesus was being arrested Peter cut the guard's ear, but that is not the answer that is precisely what satan wants. Most of the times I yield to my anger and violence in the same manner Peter did for love to my Lord.
However, that is exactly my biggest mistake the greatest love is not the one which kills for the person being loved. The greatest love is the one which dies for the person being loved.
Peter when had to really show love for his Lord, he didn't. He denied his Lord three times.
In the same manner I deny my Lord several times everytime when I let anger govern my behavior.
I just have the hope that the same as Peter I can learn with age and maturity that the answer is not anger or hate, but love.
After all the same God forgives all those who speak against Him because simply they don't know what they are doing.
Who am I to not forgive those who don't know what they are doing or saying?

TLW

Love your brother TLW, rock on!

Tolerance...

not everyone is where you are... in knowledge...

everyone is unique and has had a totally unique experience here on this plane...

I asked the Lord one time whey He didn't come back & stop all the BS & deliver us from this... & He told me b/c there are still too many that aren't ready yet... & said that that is my job - to help them get ready...

I'm not a preacher or minister, but, I have had some pretty interesting spiritual experiences that have reinforced my faith...

Even Christ got angry.... sometimes anger is justified... however, it it just from impatience it probably isn't...

Try to remember that their experience has not been the same as yours & they need to learn... You really have no idea sometimes what things have led them to be how they are... Even your best friends sometimes have issues you are not aware of...

r

Need a new hobby? GO TO EBAY! Joy.

We all have our weaknesses......and satan surely knows them. I'm not blaming satan for my actions by no means........but I know that he'd love for me to fall and fail as a christian, and thus my testimony be hindered.

If I keep looking daily to God for strength and wisdom to make the right choices....then my actions portray that.

Now just to wake up every day and despite my circumstances make the time to stop and to ask HIm to guide me today......... to help me make the right choices, teach my students the best I can, let my actions honor HIM.

Have a great day everyone. Torey

My mom always tells me just to pray for people that I have trouble dealing with. My spiritual program tells me but for the grace of God there goes I. I hope everyone is having a good day.

and Jesus said.....

"I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted."

My brother, humility is only hard to swallow until I chew on it well, and then it comes forth. You wear it well and all see your sincerity and that glorifies our Lord.

It is also evidence of the Love of God that dwells in our heart and of His wisdom given so freely to us to express our joy in full.

I can relate to passion stirring emotion and zeal unbridling iself at times.

How sweet to know that which constrains us to bridle that which is so easily stirred and be given a better way to share our Love of God with others.

It always amazes me to be counted among others that are also led to humility by God's grace. We are fortunate indeed to have such a blessing bestowed upon our hearts to keep us centered on the goodness and mercy that dwells within our hearts and seeks our good by reminding us of the easy yoke and light burden in the Lord.


Your words are a testimony to me of God's goodness and I am comforted by your witness of such humility. I wear the same constraint and that is the same comfort that , as one of many facets of being in Christ, is encouraging to recognize as in others like yourself walking by the faith of Him that sustains us.

peace.

I pray to a poster of Mel Gibson everyday.

The entire range of emotions are for a good reason, including anger.

Here is some information I took from "Ask and it is Given" by Esther and Jerry Hicks.

Anger gives you a feeling of relief from revenge.
Revenge gives you a feeling of relief from rage.
Rage gives you a feeling of relief from depression, grief, despair, fear, guilt, or powerlessness.

Here is a range of emotions, good to bad. You must climb the ladder of these emotions, sometimes gradually.

1. Joy
2. Passion
3. Enthusiasm /Eagerness/Happiness
4. Positive Expectation/Belief
5. Optimism
6. Hopefulness
7. Contentment
8. Boredom
9. Pessimism
10. Frustration
11. "Overwhelment"
12. Disappointment
13. Doubt
14. Worry
15. Blame
16. Discouragement
17. Anger
18. Revenge
19. Hatred/Rage
20. Jealousy
21. Insecurity/Guilt/Unworthiness
22. Fear/Grief/ Depression/ Powerlessness
24. Hopelessness

JMO from personal experience...I don't believe there is good or bad emotions...it's what you do with them that makes it good or bad

Example: Dr Martin Luther King. I can only imagine the emotions he was feeling during the protests. but he used the anger, hurt, whatever he felt to do something positive instead of negative

I define a "bad" emotion as one that does not serve you in a positive direction. (Anger is better than hopelessness, so you would be better off being angry about a situation than to feel hopeless about it.) The reason is that anger will move you to do something, while hopelessness will not.

You want to climb the ladder until you reach JOY! That's my favorite.

JB

When I am full of anger
I think in anger's terms
Part of my existing life
Is full of anger's germs

Nothing seems a perfect right
Most of things gone wrong
I get such vengeful feelings
When I carry anger along

When I think of forgiveness
I think in forgiveness' terms
My life is held in gentle hands
Softly in those twists and turns

Very few are perfect wrongs
So many things are right
Show me God forgiveness' face
So I can live in light


Proverbs 15:1 A gentle answer turns away wrath,
but a harsh word stirs up anger.

Proverbs 29:8 Mockers stir up a city,
but wise men turn away anger.

Proverbs 29:11 A fool gives full vent to his anger, but a wise man keeps himself under control.

Proverbs 30:33
For as churning the milk produces butter, and as twisting the nose produces blood, so stirring up anger produces strife.

peace

true but ponder on this...could the feeling of hopelessness make you motivated to pull yourself up??? things that make ya go hmmmmmmmmmm

There's anger and there's righteous indignation, LW, both have their place occasionally, but you're right, often they are things to be avoided.

Peter did deny Christ, however he repented, too. When Christ reappeared to him, he dove from the boat and swam directly to Jesus instead of hiding from him. He worked to restore his fellowship with the Lord.

I liked your quote from the Summa Theologica and your ciataion of philosophers. That's pretty cool. You have a good philosophical bent, apparently.

Bless you in your struggles. The Lord loves you, very much. Keep walking with him, keep in his word, and he will walk with you, too.

Geo.

And I don't pray to MY poster of Mel Gibson.