One word can change everything . . . THANKS. (2)

I was so happy and very thankful to my sister for doing all the best she can, to care my mom. I took a deep breath, and then I said to my sister, “Ate Ester, thanks for taking such a good care for mom; I know she will be very happy for what you are doing.”

I walked back towards my mom. I kissed her on her cheek and I started to cry again because I can’t control my feelings. My sister pulled my shoulder and led me to the door and told me that I should stop crying because she might also get faint when I continued on crying.

The following day, I visited again my mom in the hospital. I want to know her condition. Again when I saw her, I didn’t control my tears. It dropped again. I remember that moment that my mom used to said to my sister that if she will be admitted to the hospital for some illness, never put any machine on her. My sister told me that she was fainted that time when another doctor put that respirator machine on her mouth.

After that one week stayed in the ICU, some of my relatives talked to us and told us that we should have to decide whether to pull out the respirator or not. They explained to us the practicality of the situation, as they knew that we are not rich to support the stay of my mom in the ICU. And also they are aware that my mom was having a hard time with that condition. I knew even that if my mom can speak, she would told us that she was in hard pain and she might just told us also that it should be better to pull out the respirator so that all the pain will be gone. That costs much. My relatives, also wants my mom to live longer. But with her condition like that, it’s really impossible. Only miracle can do, to make my mom well. My dad and my two other sisters talked about it. We knew that our relatives were somewhat right. But we can’t sign any paper just to let the doctor pull the respirator. Because when that will happen, my mom will stop breathing. So we have a unanimous decision. We will not pull the respirator of my mom, even if we are aware that we will have a huge hospital bill.

One word can change everything . . . THANKS. (1)

I glanced at the bulletin board in my mom’s hospital room before I entered there. At first I was hesitant to enter the room as I don’t want to see what my mom looks like when she is lying on her bed. She got a heart stroke. I was praying that time before I enter, and that time I wish that she will be in good condition. Because I know the condition of a person who had a heart stroke.

I opened the door a little as there is this fear in me that she was not looking ok. But I told myself that I have to fight for that feeling because I might not see her alive when I get coward to see her real condition. So I enter the room, I saw my mom lying, I am not aware, but my tears fall that time. I saw my mom with a machine on her mouth . . . It was a respirator. I cried a so much when I saw her. I knew the will be result of having respirator. It means my mom can’t breath on her own. I came near to her and hug her very tight. Whispering to her ears . . . “Mom open your eyes and talk to me, I am here.” That was the words that came into my mouth. My sister was there looking at me and also crying. I didn’t expect that my mom will look like that. I just thought the she was just only lying there and sleeping. It’s very painful for me that I almost wanted to faint.

I sit on the chair for sometime there. Remembering all what my mom felt when she was still in her mild stroke. My mom never complained of any pain as she had a tough years. She was just sitting in one corner of the bed, looking far. My sister came to me and accompany me outside the room as she feels that I should stop crying. My sister is the one who was taking care of my mom while she was in the ICU section of the hospital. My sister is a doctor. She gave her all the care to my mom.

Rules for handling anger (5)

Let each one of you speak truth... - Ephesians 4:25 NKJV
Rule 5: Keep it in the laundry room. 'Don't treat each other with malice' [ill will, spite] (Ephesians 4: 31 NIV). When you're angry, spreading gossip is hard to resist. But malicious talk is like wildfire; it consumes those who spread it and those who listen to it. Don't display your dirty wash; keep it in the laundry room. Dirty laundry gets aired in two ways: 1) Open embarrassment. You say it where you know others are going to hear it. 2) Subtlety. You make jokes about their figure, family members and friends, etc., in order to belittle them. This results in embarrassment for the person you're angry at, widens the gap between you and makes reconciliation impossible. Solomon writes: '... He that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter' (Proverbs 11:13), and '... Love covereth all sins' (Proverbs 10:12). Paul writes: '... In malice be babes, but in understanding be mature' (1Corinthians 14:20 NKJV).

Rule 6: Be part of the clean-up crew. We say, 'They brought it on themselves. Let them get over it.' They may have deserved it, but we can't walk away and leave open wounds to become infected. We '... forgive, even as Christ... has forgiven' us (Ephesians 4: 32). How did Christ forgive us? After we'd acknowledged, confessed and repented of our sins? No. '... When we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son... ' (Romans 5:10). God took the initiative, so forgive, before the other person asks for forgiveness. And should they remain your enemy for life, forgive them anyhow. That's mopping up after the war. Only then are you yourself forgiven, the wounds you inflicted healed, and your record before God expunged!

SoulFood Bible Readings: 2 Kings 18:17-20:21, Luke 1:57-66, Ps 139:13-24, Pr 13:25 Source: "The Word for Today", brought to you by Rhema Broadcasting Group in association with The Vine - www.thevine.co.nz™

Rules for handling anger (4)

Let each one of you speak truth... - Ephesians 4:25 NKJV Rule 4: Keep it solution-focused. Someone has said that fellowship is like two fellows in a ship: one can't sink the other without sinking himself. By seeking to gain the upper hand you both lose. By seeking to save and strengthen the relationship you both win. So when you speak, be sure it's '... helpful for building others up according to their needs... ' (Ephesians 4:29 NIV). Try to understand what the other person needs. Don't bring up previously confessed offenses; don't drag in other people; don't use wisecracks about people's weight, height, colour, IQ, physical, mental and emotional limitations; don't bring up unrelated things that cloud the issue and keep you from finding a solution. And don't raise the volume in order to intimidate and manipulate. God made you with a capacity for anger because when handled the right way it's the fuel that brings needed change and the medicine that heals. So: a) Seek a solution, not a 'victory.' Name-calling and 'diagnosing' others only makes things worse. Your focus should not be on what they did, but on what you can do together to resolve it b) admit your own flaws and ask for forgiveness. Since it takes two to tango, acknowledging your own imperfections makes it easier for someone else to acknowledge theirs c) every time you take a 'swing' at someone, offer them a positive 'stroke.' '... If there be any virtue... think on these things' (Philippians 4:8). For each of the difficulties you address, give a compliment. 'I'm sure this wasn't easy for you to hear. Thanks for listening to me so graciously.' Being solution-focused gives people something positive to live up to, not down to! SoulFood Bible Readings: 2 Kings 16:1-18:16, Luke 1:39-56, Ps 139:7-12, Pr 13:
Source: "The Word for Today", brought to you by Rhema Broadcasting Group in association with The Vine - www.thevine.co.nz™

Rules For Handling Anger (3)

Let each one of you speak truth... - Ephesians 4:25 NKJV

Rule 3: Keep it current. Storing anger in your hard drive only hurts you. When you download old resentments you start to rehearse them and grow bitter. 'The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks' (Luke 6:45 NIV).

When you're angry deal with it quickly. Don't passively allow time to decide your options, or sit around hoping the other person will see the light and apologise. 'If your brother sins against you, go [to] him... ' (Matthew 18:15 NIV). Try to resolve it and restore the relationship. When you repress it you add one more skeleton to your closet. Sooner or later, doctors say, it'll be at your stomach lining, attack your immune system, predispose you to heart problems, cancers and other physical, social and emotional disorders. Meantime, it'll preoccupy you, dissipate your energy, cripple your creativity, hinder your fellowship with God, your friends and fellow believers; not to mention that it denies the offender the opportunity to clear their conscience, repent and get right with God and you. Stop dragging up the past, trying to blackmail the guilty by hauling skeletons out of closets at 'auspicious' moments, plotting revenge, and passing down resentments for the next generation to carry. Ask God for the humility and courage to deal with today's problems - today. When your head hits the pillow tonight, know that your issues are current, up to date with God and everyone else, and sleep well!

SoulFood Bible Readings: 2 Kings 13-15, Luke 1:26-38, Ps 139:1-6, Pr 13:21-23

Source: "The Word for Today", brought to you by Rhema Broadcasting Group in association with The Vine - www.thevine.co.nz ™

Rules For Handling Anger (2)

Let each one of you speak truth... - Ephesians 4:25 NKJV

Rule 2: Keep it non-lethal. Paul writes: 'In your anger do not sin... ' (Ephesians 4:26 NIV). What do Paul's words mean? Don't let your anger escalate to the point of doing damage. Don't use your words as a weapon or a control mechanism. It's okay to express your emotions in a healthy way, but keep them in check. Your goal must be to resolve the problem and strengthen the relationship, not 'sound off' and wound the other person. Is this easy to do? No. You'll need a good strong dose of grace to do it. Words spoken in jest, sarcasm, self-righteousness or 'righteous indignation' wound people, sometimes permanently. '... Perverseness [of the tongue] breaks the spirit.' (Proverbs 15:4 NKJV). '... A crushed spirit who can bear?' (Proverbs 18:14 NIV). 'The tongue can bring death... ' (Proverbs 18:21 NLT). Angry words, once unleashed, can: '... Go down into a man's inmost parts' (Proverbs 26:22 NIV). Your words can live in the heart and memory of a person and go all the way to the grave with them. We say, 'Sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt me,' but it's not true. A person can die of a crushed spirit, and the one who spoke the words can live to regret the damage they inflicted and never get a chance to undo it. On the other hand, anger properly handled never needs to be repented of. So learn to differentiate between the anger you feel and the words you speak. Anger carefully thought through, can reveal important information about needed changes. Focus on that, and ask God to show you what needs changing in the other person; and you!

SoulFood Bible Readings: 2 Kings 10-12, Luke 1:11-25, Ps 73:17-28, Pr 13:20

Source: "The Word for Today", brought to you by Rhema Broadcasting Group in association with The Vine - www.thevine.co.nz ™

Rules For Handling Anger (1)

Good morning friends. The good friend of mine just in the process of healing the wound in her heart. She is doing everything just to mend her broken heart. I think she subscribed a inspirational words and she share me all the good words she received. One of it is about the anger. How you can handle it. It’s inspiring and I also want to share it to you all.

Let each one of you speak truth... - Ephesians 4:25 NKJV

Two forceful personalities in a relationship are like two rivers flowing into one; there's going to be a strong current. Anger can be instant like a flash of lightning, or prolonged like the rumble of thunder. Sometimes we clash painfully, other times we distance and silently abandon the relationship. But anger handled the right way doesn't have to destroy. Here are God's rules for handling your anger.Rule 1: Keep it honest. 'Stop telling lies. Let us tell... the truth... don't sin by letting anger control you... ' (Ephesians 4:25-26 NLT). When you're angry don't deny it. Anger can be constructive. We're right to get angry when people are mistreated and wrongs are not made right. Saying, 'I've been feeling angry and because I value our relationship I'd like to talk about it,' is honest, non-threatening and invites resolution. Observe: a) ignoring, stifling, suppressing, or pretending you're not angry is basically dishonest b) another form of lying when you're angry is exaggeration. 'You never listen to what I say.' 'You always ignore my wishes.' 'Nobody does anything around here except me.' Such generalizations are untrue and serve only to aggravate and polarise, guaranteeing the real problem gets obscured and goes unsolved c) another way to lie when you're angry is blaming. 'If you'd arrive on time I wouldn't have to nag you,' or 'If you'd quit nagging so much, maybe I'd start being on time.' Blaming is a way of evading your own responsibility while pointing the finger at others. It angers others, perpetuates your own anger and never produces the result you want. God's way is, 'Let each one of you speak truth,' and it works when you do it in love.

SoulFood Bible Readings: 2 Kings 7-9, Luke 1:1-10, Ps 73:1-16, Pr 13:17-19 If you've been encouraged by The Word for Today, then your friends will be too.

Source: "The Word for Today", brought to you by Rhema Broadcasting Group in association with The Vine - www.thevine.co.nz ™