Overcoming Resentment

"So get rid of your feelings of hatred [anger/ resentment]. Don't just pretend to be good! Be done with dishonesty."1

Also, "If you are angry [resentful], don't sin by nursing your grudge. Don't let the sun go down with you still angry—get over it quickly; for when you are angry, you give a mighty foothold to the Devil."2

A Daily Encounter reader asks, "How do you find release from resentment?"

First, admit exactly how you feel. Realize, too, that feelings are amoral; that is in and of themselves they are neither right nor wrong, they just are. It's what we do with them (and the cause of them) that is either right or wrong—creative or destructive.

Second, also realize that resentment is often a result of jealousy and anger. For instance, a jealous person is very often angry at either the person who received a promotion or some gift, recognition, or benefit he or she felt they were more deserving of and angry at the one who did the giving or gave the promotion.

Third, recognize that jealousy is often a byproduct of one's insecurity and poor self-image.

Fourth, to resolve resentment it is imperative that one resolves his or her anger. For help to do this read, "Taming Your Anger" at: http://tinyurl.com/b439f

Finally, one needs to fully forgive the one they feel has hurt them—whether the hurt is justified or not (often it isn't). However, without resolving one's hurt and anger, it is virtually impossible to forgive the one you feel has hurt you. After the hurt and anger are resolved, forgiveness becomes a simple choice—we either choose to forgive or choose to hang on to our hurt, anger and resentment.

As Loren Fischer so wisely said, "The difference between holding on to a hurt [resentment] or releasing it with forgiveness is the difference between laying your head at night on a pillow filled with thorns or a pillow filled with rose petals." And as another put it, "Failing to forgive is like drinking poison and waiting for the other person to die."

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, whenever I am feeling resentful, please help me to see the causes behind my resentment—be it insecurity, jealousy, hurt and/or anger—and find the help I need to deal with and resolve these issues so I will always freely forgive all who have hurt me as you have freely forgiven me for all of my sins. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus' name, amen."

For further help read "Forgiveness: The Power That Heals" at: http://tinyurl.com/3bw3q3 and for resolving anger read, "Taming Your Anger" at: Taming Your Anger at: http://tinyurl.com/b439f

1. 1 Peter 2:1 (TLB).
2. Ephesians 4:26-27 (TLB).

Credit: Daily Encounter

Successful Failures

"For a righteous man may fall seven times and rise again."1

Chances are you've read about all of the following failures who ended up making a great impact in their chosen field of endeavor.

For example, as a young man Abraham Lincoln went to war as a captain and returned as a private.

Winston Churchill failed sixth grade.

Thomas Edison's teachers said he was "too stupid to learn anything."

Albert Einstein didn't speak until he was 4-years-old and didn't read until he was 7.

Louis Pasteur was only a mediocre pupil in undergraduate studies and ranked 15th out of 22 students in chemistry.

Henry Ford failed and went broke five times before he succeeded.

F. W. Woolworth was not allowed to wait on customers when he worked in a dry goods store.

When Bell telephone was struggling to get started, its owners offered all their rights to Western Union for $100,000. The offer was disdainfully rejected with the pronouncement, "What use could this company make of an electrical toy."

An expert said of Vince Lombardi: "He possesses minimal football knowledge and lacks motivation."

Michael Jordan was cut from his high school basketball team.

Babe Ruth is famous for his past home-run record, but for decades he also held the record for strikeouts.

Walt Disney was fired by a newspaper editor because "he lacked imagination and had no good ideas."

Charles Schultz of "Peanuts" fame had every cartoon he submitted rejected by his high school yearbook staff—and Walt Disney wouldn't hire him.

After his first audition, Sidney Poitier was told by the casting director, "Why don't you stop wasting people's time and go out and become a dishwasher or something?"

When Lucille Ball began studying to be actress in 1927, she was told by the head instructor of the John Murray Anderson Drama School, "Try any other profession."2

And so the stories go on. For a more detailed and intriguing list visit: http://tinyurl.com/2bxktg.

What we learn from these people is that none of these people gained instant success. They suffered rejection, setbacks and failures—but they had a passion for what they wanted to do and stuck with it until they made it.

And for those of us who believe God has a purpose for our life we need to do the same, and in the words of Winston Churchill: "Never give in, never give in, never, never, never, never—in nothing, great or small, large or petty—never give in except to convictions of honor and good sense. Never, Never, Never, Never give up."

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, please help me to discover my God-given life purpose and with your help pursue it with great enthusiasm and never, never, never, never give up. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus' name, amen."

1. Proverbs 24:16 (NKJV).
2. Source: Self-Efficacy Site, http://tinyurl.com/2bxktg

Credit: Daily Encounter

I'd Give My Life

"You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us."1

In the October 2000 issue of Decision magazine, an anonymous young man wrote in with the story of how he became a follower of Jesus. Years before he was caught in a downward spiral of drugs and alcohol abuse. His older brother, Terry, had once participated in this lifestyle, too, but Terry had recently become a Christian and that brought about an immediate change in his lifestyle. He enthusiastically shared his faith with anyone he came across.

A few months after Terry's conversion, the supermarket where he worked was robbed. One of the robbers shot Terry in the back. As Terry hung between life and death in the hospital, his younger brother finally turned to God and began to pray. He finally gave his life to Christ. He was able to tell Terry of his decision just a few days before Terry's death.

A few months later, Terry's brother got a job at the same supermarket where Terry had been shot. He began telling a colleague about his faith in Christ. This colleague told him that his older brother, Terry, had done the same thing. Then he added, "Your brother said that he would give his life if you could come to know the Lord Jesus."2

NOTE: To be sure you know Jesus as your Savior read, "How to Be Sure You're a real Christian Without Having to Be Religious" at: http://tinyurl.com/8glq9.

Suggested prayer: "Gracious God, how can I ever thank you enough for the gift of your Son, Jesus, who gave his life on the cross so that I might have all my sins forgiven and spend forever in Heaven with you. And Jesus, because you gave your life freely for me, please help me to live my life fully for you and your Kingdom. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus' name, amen."

1. Romans 5:6-8 (NIV).
2. "My Brother's Love," Decision, October, 2000, p. 30.

Credit: Daily Encounter

Danger of Setting Dates for Christ's Return

Jesus said, "Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man [Jesus Christ] will come at an hour when you do not expect him."1

It is amazing how intensely some people get caught up in the setting of dates regarding Christ's return and the end of this age. Jesus said that only God, the Father, knew the exact time his return would be. And yet whenever predictions are made with a specific date for Christ's return, there are gullible people who believe it and give up all they have in preparation for that day.

Over the centuries there have been various theories as to when and how the world might end. If you google "date setters" on the web, you will learn that over the past 2000 years there have been many who have claimed that the world would end or that Christ would return on a certain date. Obviously they were all wrong. Following are just two of the many.
German mathematician, Michael Stifel, based on his study of Revelation, calculated that God's Day of Judgment would be on October 19, 1533.2

Charles Taze Russell, founder of the Jehovah's Witnesses, calculated 1874 to be the year of Christ's return. It was then changed to 1878, 1881, 1910, 1914 with later dates.3
Unfortunately, because of these and modern-day fanatics, many people, including Christians, ignore or even shy away from the biblical teaching about Christ's coming again and the end of this age as we now know it.

However, Jesus himself promised that he would come again.4 The angels of God assured the astounded followers of Jesus on the day of his ascension into heaven following his death, burial and resurrection saying, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven."5 According to Jesus' words (when he was on earth) only God the Father knew the date and time of his return to earth.6

The fact is that Jesus is coming again. We just don't know when. It may not be for a hundred, or a thousand years, or it may be today. The important thing is to be sure that you are ready, for when we least expect it, Jesus will come again. As Theodore Epp said, we need to "live as though Christ died yesterday, rose from the grave today, and is coming back tomorrow."

To be sure you are ready for Christ's return read, "How to Be Sure You're a real Christian Without Having to Be Religious" at: http://tinyurl.com/8glq9.

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, thank you for the wonderful hope that Christians have in that Jesus is coming again to take all his true followers to be with him forever in Heaven. Please help me to live as if he were coming back today so I will always be ready for Jesus' return. Above all, please use me to tell as many people as possible about your wonderful life-saving gospel message. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus' name, amen."

1. Matthew 24:42-44 (NIV).

2. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Stifel

3. http://www.preservedwords.com/rapture.htm

4. John 14:1.5. Acts 1:11 (NIV).6. Mathew 24:35-36.

NOTE: ACTS does not necessarily endorse the websites listed in 2 and 3 above.

Credit: Daily Encounter

Six Powerful Words

"But the tax collector stood at a distance and dared not even lift his eyes to heaven as he prayed. Instead, he beat his chest in sorrow, saying, 'O God, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner.'"1

I have read how a parts manager for a small electronics shop had occasion to order part No. 669 from the factory. But when he received it he noticed that someone had sent part No. 699 instead.

Furious at the factory's incompetence, he promptly sent the part back along with a letter giving them a piece of his mind. Less than a week later, he received the same part back with a letter containing just four words: "TURN THE PART OVER."2

Sadly, too many of us are a too quick to blame others for our "mistrakes" and too slow to apologize for them.

When it comes to relationships, blaming others for our problems can be disastrous. Tell me ... I've taught in divorce recovery classes for years and I'd say about 90 percent of the divorcees I've worked with primarily blame their former spouse for the break up of their marriage—without even considering that every one of us contributes something to a failed relationship.

True, we all make mistakes, but the one who wins in the long run is not the one who plays the blame-game but the one who can say and genuinely mean it, "I was wrong. Please forgive me."

Furthermore, the only person God can help is the one who can say from the heart, "O God, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner."

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, thank you for your loving mercy for always forgiving me when I genuinely confess my sins and failures to you—and ask for your forgiveness. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus' name, amen."

Note: For additional help read, "Forgiveness: The Power That Heals" at Forgiveness: The Power That Heals: http://tinyurl.com/3bw3q3

1. Luke 18:13 (NLT).
2. Sunday Funnies Humor, http://www.net153.com/best.htm

Credit: Daily Encounter

1. Dreams: God's Forgotten Language?

"Your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions."1

Dreams not only give valuable personal insights but also have given many creative insights. Some inventors, for example, have received profound ideas from dreams. I recall reading how the inventor, Elias Howe, designed the first sewing machine. He was having great difficulty in conceiving a workable needle. When he was close to running out of money, he had an unusual dream. He dreamt that he was about to be executed because he failed to design a sewing machine for the king of a strange country.

In his dream he was surrounded by guards, all of whom held spears that had been pierced with holes near the tip. Howe woke up and immediately rushed to his workshop. The perfect concept for the sewing machine needle came to him in this dream. Within a few hours the first sewing machine design was well on the way to being completed.

I have heard it said that the theory of relativity came to Einstein in either a dream or a vision. Apparently he saw it on a beam of light. I have also read that the design for the first radio tube came to the inventor in a dream.

Was it time for these discoveries to come into the world and did God give them to the persons who were trained to understand them and put them to use? Or did they just happen by chance? I prefer to think the former.

So whatever we think about dreams, as we said yesterday, they are a God-given gift in that he gave us the ability to dream. Whether we repress them as many do, ignore them as most do, or use them for creative purposes as some do is entirely up to each individual.

If you want to remember your dreams, keep a pen and pad at your bedside and record any dream that makes a strong impression on your mind. Speaking personally, dreams have given me some valuable insights for growth and recovery.

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, thank you for the God-given ability to dream. Whenever I have a dream that is meant to help me grow, resolve an issue, do a good deed, help someone in need, or gain a valuable insight, please help me to interpret it correctly and use it for the purpose for which it was given. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully in Jesus' name, amen."

1. Joel 2:28 (NKJV).

Credit: Daily Encounter

The Rapture and Jesus' Return to Earth

Over the past couple weeks, God has been saying time and time to his people to get ready, prepare ourselves for his eminent return. There is a great urgency in his admonitions. He is coming soon, very soon.

I have purposed in my heart and by the grace of God that when he returns for his bride I am ready to go with him because I really don’t want to be like the foolish virgins, when the bridegroom came, they were found lacking the extra oil and they went to get it but by the time they received this oil, it was too late, the door was shut and the wedding feast began.

(Matthew 25:1-13).

I don’t want to be caught lacking the extra oil.

Further more I don’t want to be left back in the great tribulation or in the millennium. You choose.

"So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man [Jesus] will come [again] at an hour when you do not expect him."1

When one of my nephews was only five, he heard me talking about Christmas being the time when we celebrate Jesus Christ's coming to earth. He wanted to know if Jesus would come back to earth again. I assured him that Jesus promised that he would come back again.2

According to Bible scholars the return of, or second coming of, Jesus Christ is called the Rapture which comes from the Latin word "Rapare" which means to take away or to snatch out.

Following Jesus' crucifixion and resurrection, he was "snatched away" and taken up to heaven. While Jesus' disciples were standing there looking up in amazement, two angels appeared to them and said: "Men of Galilee, why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven."3

Jesus' first coming to earth 2000 years ago is an undeniable fact of history. His second coming is just as certain. The critical issue is to be ready for Christ's return. According to God's Word here's what will take place at the rapture: "For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we [true followers of Jesus] who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever."4

Jesus is coming again just as he went. It could be today. He said that he would come at an hour when we do not expect him.5

To be absolutely sure you are ready for the rapture be sure to accept God's invitation for forgiveness and his gift of eternal life. To do so click on the God's Invitation" button below or for further help click on the "Know God" button or on: http://tinyurl.com/8glq9

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, again I thank you for the promise of Christ's return. Thank you for your great salvation and the promise of a home in Heaven for all who believe in and have accepted you as their Savior. Help me to be sure I am ready today for Christ's return by having repented of my sins, asked for and accepted your forgiveness and received Jesus as my Savior. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus' name, amen."

NOTE: For an interesting depiction of the Rapture click on: http://www.youtube.com/v/SmLhyPjHVes.

We do not endorse any of the other links on this page.

1. Matthew 24:44 (NIV).

2. See John 14:3.

3. Acts 1: 11 (NIV).

4. 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 (NIV).

5. See Matthew 24:44.