Another Year Older.

I celebrated another birthday last week (3/13). Every year on my birthday, I always thank God for being able to take another trip around the sun. On my birthday I reflect back on what has happened over the course of the last year. Let me tell you, from March of '18 to March of '19 was kind of a roller coaster year for me. During the course of the year, I went through a really dark season. I don't know why it happened, but it did. I was angry. Angry all the time. Angry at everyone and everything. For no apparent reason. Here I was, a Christian, and a pastor, letting anger get the best of me. Let me tell you, it didn't do well for my Christian witness. People walked on egg shells around me. Afraid to say the wrong thing to me. Or to even speak to me at all. I didn't like it. I didn't like who I was, or what I was doing or whom I had become. I prayed and prayed that God would let me see situations like He sees them. Let me see people through Your eyes Lord. He didn't answer, at first. This went on week after week for almost two months. I was letting the anger consume me. I kept reading this passage from the Bible almost everyday.
James 1:19-20 (NLT)¹⁹ Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. ²⁰ Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires.
I was not being Christ like, at all. I was not doing what He desired me to do. To love everyone.
Then one day it all changed. It was almost like Thanos snapping his fingers in the Avengers movie. Except in my case, all of my anger was gone. God had this to  say.
Colossians 3:8 (NLT)⁸ But now is the time to get rid of anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander, and dirty language.
Thank You Lord! I went to work, and everything was different. No more anger towards my co-workers. No more anger towards my job. God had given me a peace and a comfort that I could not explain. He was telling me that my season of anger was over.
John 16:33 (NLT)³³ I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” 
I give all the glory and praise to The Lord! He answered my prayers, in His time.

This Stage of Life.

Stages of life. Everyone has them and goes through them. You have your baby stage. Then comes your childhood followed by the teenage years. Then your onto young adulthood followed by just being an adult. Hitting the prime stage and finally your last stage. The stage I'm in right now, I don't particularly care for, for this one reason. People are starting to pass away. Parents, friends parents, friends, co-workers, neighbors, classmates. The list goes on and on. Not a day or a week goes by where I don't hear of someone I know passing away. It saddens me. Especially people that I know well, or better than just a "hi, how ya doin'" How I wish I could have talked with them one more time, or paid them another visit, just to say "hi".
James 4:14 (NLT)¹⁴ How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone.
That's right folks. Life is short. You think that you'll have plenty of time with someone and then the next thing you know, they are gone, forever! We all think that we are guaranteed a tomorrow, but we are not guaranteed anything. When you die, people will come from miles around to see your body and give last respects. But where are they when you are alive? To busy to come and visit when you are above ground, but can carve out time to come to your visitation. Doesn't make sense. Life is short! We need to love people while they are here. We need to hug more, kiss more, have more fun together. We need to learn how to forgive others.
Colossians 3:13 (NLT)¹³ Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.
The older we get and people start to pass away, and things aren't like they used to be. I realize that the petty little stuff from life just doesn't matter anymore. It just doesn't! Carrying around a grudge against someone who offended you just isn't worth it. Maybe you had plans of forgiving them, but then something happens and they are gone, forever. Now you have to carry that guilt with you. Of not making things right.
So, in this stage of my life I am going to go out of my way to be kind to people. To be caring, compassionate and forgiving. Life is to short to do otherwise!
Ephesians 4:31-32 (NLT)³¹ Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. ³² Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.
I am going to try my best to model what Jesus showed us to do.