"Containing Anger"

This is the 97^th letter:

Text for the day: Psalm 37:8
Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret—it leads only to evil.

Our Theme for the day: “Containing Anger”

Our Devotional

George Sweeting once wrote, ''I lose my temper, but it's all over in a minute,'' said the student. ''So is the hydrogen bomb,'' I replied. ''But think of the damage it produces! Eleven days after leaving Mount Horeb the Hebrew host encamped at Kadesh, in the wilderness of Paran, which was not far from the borders of the Promised Land. Here it was proposed by the people that spies be sent up to survey the country. The matter was presented before the Lord by Moses, and permission was granted, with the direction that one of the rulers of each tribe should be selected for this purpose. The men were chosen as had been directed, and Moses bade them go and see the country. But it was not God’s plan that they should stop, but keep on walking until He said stop. Why is it that we become so overburden with things that don’t even concern us? God had led His people to Kadesh to trust him and He was going to stand behind every promise in His word to carry them over into the promise land. As the spies came back, the people in the camp started to receive mixed messages. There hope and courage gave place to cowardly despair, and anger.

It is said as the spies uttered the sentiments of their unbelieving hearts; discouragement prompted by Satan started to take root. Through the unbelief of the ten spies, it cast a gloomy shadow over the good report of Caleb and Joshua, and the mighty power of God on behalf of the congregation. Often people become discouraged, covered in a spirit of cowardly despair, and finally got angry because things were not going their way. But should that be the response of the Christian? Why is it that so many people limited the power of God and distrusted the hand that hitherto will safely guide? Notice, just before Israel went into the promise land Satan found a way of deceiving the people and bringing trouble upon them. Caleb comprehending the situation, and, bold to stand in defense of the word of God, he did all in his power to counteract the evil influence of his unfaithful associates. For an instant, the people were stilled to listen to his words of hope and courage respecting the goodly land. He did not contradict what had already been said; the walls were high and the Canaanites strong. But God had promised the land to Israel. "

Let us go up at once and possess it," urged Caleb; "for we are well able to overcome it. (Numbers 13:30) But the ten, interrupting him, pictured the obstacles in darker colors than at first. "We are not able to go up against the people," they declared; "for they are stronger than we, Numbers 13:31. In verse 32 it said, they brought up an evil report of the land which they had searched unto the children of Israel……The Bible helps us see that through the spirit of demons, “these men, having entered upon a wrong course, stubbornly set themselves against Caleb and Joshua, against Moses, and against God. Every advance step rendered them the more determined. They were resolved to discourage all effort to gain possession of Canaan. They distorted the truth in order to sustain their baleful influence. It "is a land that eateth up the inhabitants thereof," they said. This was not only an evil report, but it was also a lying one. It was inconsistent with itself. The spies had declared the country to be fruitful and prosperous, and the people of giant stature, all of which would be impossible if the climate were so unhealthful that the land could be said to "eat up the inhabitants."

But when men yield their hearts to unbelief they place themselves under the control of Satan and none can tell to what lengths he will lead them.” (PP 389.1) And the entire congregation lifted up their voice, and cried; and the people wept that night, Numbers 14:1. What followed were anger, and revolt and open mutiny; for Satan had full sway, and the people seemed bereft of reason. They cursed Moses and Aaron, forgetting that God hearkened to their wicked speeches, and that, enshrouded in the cloudy pillar, the Angel of His presence was witnessing their terrible outburst of wrath. In bitterness they cried out, "Would God that we had died in the land of Egypt! Or would God we had died in this wilderness!" Then their feelings rose against God: "Wherefore hath the Lord brought us unto this land, to fall by the sword, that our wives and our children should be a prey? Was it not better for us to return into Egypt? And they said one to another, Let us make a captain, and let us return into Egypt." Thus they accused not only Moses, but God Himself, of deception, in promising them a land which they were not able to possess. And they went so far as to appoint a captain to lead them back to the land of their suffering and bondage, from which they had been delivered by the strong arm of Omnipotent. Finally we see all this happen because the people did not control their anger. The book of Proverbs says, “A soft answer turneth away wrath, but grievous words stir up anger. (Proverbs 15:1) As you go through your day today, keep these words in your mind, “An angry man is again angry with himself when he returns to reason.” Publilius Syrus

Join us next time for another ray of sunshine from Garden Ministry.

On this Wednesday December 2nd my wife and I will be celebrating our 25th anniversary.Praise God for His faithfulness in keeping us in His love. This week we are also celebrating our 25th week since starting Garden Ministry;it is growing with new people asking to subscribe to it each day. If you are gaining spiritual muscle mass, and strength through Garden Ministry, and would like to help some-one else gain Spiritual muscle mass and strength also. Then send Garden Ministry your Testimony at, http://gardenministry.blogspot.com/ . Garden Ministry would love to share your Testimony with our faithful viewers and readers. So ask yourselves, which letter or message from Garden Ministry helped you to hold on to your faith, or helped someone else hold on to theirs? Look up and push on in the name of Jesus. This week-end let us find someway of which we can unite our communities, and help them find Jesus. Don’t stop preparing yourselves for further service in the Lord. Don’t Give Up. Look Up! Our Prayer for today: Lord, help us your servants to confess our anger and intolerance to thee, that we may have a correct understanding toward others. Prayer Request Pray for a lady of Smith’s Parish Bermuda who is having problems with her anger. Send your prayer request to Garden Ministry: There is much comfort in Jesus in the arms of prayer. Remember, you’re the only Jesus some will ever see. If you are blessed by these “uplifting gems”, share them. These letters are written by Elder Kevin Santucci For further information, or requests, E-mail Garden Ministry: http://gardenministry.blogspot.com/

Garden Ministry would love to thank you today for your prayers and continual faithfulness of sharing these letters with others like your self. Thank you for your insightful comments to Garden Ministry. If you would love to leave a comment, go to our website at http://gardenministry.blogspot.com/ and then comment, follow the directions and then you will be finished. Truly I am encouraged how little can become much when you place it in the master’s hand. To all our faithful readers on behalf of the Garden Ministry team, we wish you Gods riches Blessings.