Resentment is the cocaine of the emotions. It causes our blood to pump and our energy levels to rise.

But, also like cocaine, it demands increasingly larger and more frequent dosages. There is a dangerous point at which anger ceases to be an emotion and becomes a driving force. A person bent on revenge moves unknowingly further and further away from being able to forgive, for to be without the anger is to be without a source of energy.

That explains why the bitter complain to anyone… Continue

By Rev. Cathryn Hughes





What you should know and teach your Church:



Did you know that the NIV Bible takes out the blood, Deity of God, trinity and power of the Holy Spirit? Fact, NIV removes 64,576 words in the Bible.



This includes 17 complete verses of scripture. That equates removing over 30 books, Instead of correct translation to English from Greek and Hebrew,

the contents of many Holy Scriptures were changed. NIV altars the Word of God, denying… Continue

PAIN



Perhaps the wound is old. A parent abused you. A teacher slighted you. A mate betrayed you. A business partner bailed out, leaving you a choice of bills and bankruptcy.

Are we angry.

Or perhaps the wound is fresh. The friend who owes us money just drove by in a new car. The boss who hired us with promises of promotions has forgotten how to pronounce our name. Our circle of friends escaped on a weekend getaway, and we weren't invited. The children we raised seem to have… Continue

WORRY



Worry is the burlap bag of burdens. It's overflowing with "whaddifs" and "howells." "Whaddif it rains at our wedding?" "Howell we know when to discipline our kids?" "Whaddif we marry a person who snores?" "Howell we pay our baby's tuition?" "Whaddif, after all our dieting, we learn that lettuce is fattening and chocolate isn't?"

The burlap bag of worry. Cumbersome. Chunky. Unattractive. Scratchy. Hard to get a handle on. Irritating to carry and impossible to give away. No… Continue

What a glorious day! The people are finally celebrating the completion of their dream...the rebuilding of the wall around Jersualem. Yet, upon hearing the reading of God's laws, the people are cut to the heart, grieved by their sin. Nehemiah tells the people to put away their mourning, "For the joy of the Lord is your strength." How could they have joy in the face of their guilt and sorrow? How could they experience joy even when they had neglected God's ways?

Let's bring this into our own… Continue

OH, HOW WE LOVE TO MEDDLE. We may call it by other names, of course. Motherly concern. Friendly advice. A word to the wise. But when we boil it down and take a good look at what's left in the bottom of the pot, it's just plain, old-fashioned meddling.



Rebekah thought she had good reason to meddle. (But then, don't we always think we have a good reason?) During her pregancy, her twin baby boys had wrestled in her womb for position. That's when God told her that Esau, her older son,… Continue

Strength is an important character quality. However, most of us don't want to be known for their rippling muscles, flexed to iron firmness, not that most of us work to achieve that physical condition.



However, there are other kinds of strength besides physical strength. And old movie called Steel Magnolias honored the power of the inner strength that can be found in women. Emotional strength carries us through painful losses and relationship difficulties. Spiritual strength draws us… Continue