(NLT) Eph.4:31-32Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.
We are hearing much – in the news - about ‘days’ or ‘weekends of rage’ – in a word, protests. Both scientific and spiritual understanding agree that rage is detrimental to the body, soul, and spirit. Raging against injustice may be the right reaction, however, how it is expressed, and what actions are taken to correct the injustice, is what seems to be eluding us.
Injustice is rampant in our world today. Human trafficking, heroin addiction, sexual abuse, and genocide cause varying degrees of rage in each of us. Our reaction is dependent on how it personally affects us or those we care about. Our socialization and geography are factors in our response. Sadly, these tend to divide rather than unite us. We begin to place ourselves in one category or another, and vocalize our feelings or reactions readily, especially on social media.
Personally I have laid in my bed and heard gunshots, heard a man beating his wife to death as family and villagers attempted to intervene, or had my bag packed r had to sleep fully clothed and ready to run. Violence causes wide spread pain and suffering. No one recovers wholly, or is ever the same, after having their senses assaulted by such horror.
We who have experienced the dark forces at work personally, know that to combat violence with more rage and violence, only adds fuel to the fire. We know the true deflecting or deflating of such things must be proactive - in the opposite spirit.
Opposites or antonyms of rage are calm, happiness, love, peace, harmony, kindness, pleasure, sweetness, or glee. Rage does not take any self control or effort. Expending or expressing rage exhausts you, and focus is lost. The fruit of Holy Spirit is self-control – we do not allow rage, malice, or anger to assume control.
All of the opposites - or antonyms – require this self-control, and a conscious effort to dwell in and move as Jesus would move. I pray we that call ourselves people of the most HIGH GOD will choose to rise up in HIS fruit. Gal.5:22.
When you step out of your door, may there be encounters where you need to choose in which spirit you will operate. Remember - all the rage and hatred JESUS encountered, HE did not answer or react to. HE kept HIS voice silent, and kept HIS focus and ears tuned to HIS HEAVENLY FATHER.
May we call out to each other’s spirits in love. May we never see skin color and geographical location but see each person as GOD sees them. Each are precious to HIM.
This is not about race, or skin color, even though the enemy wants us to focus on that. Since my heart and assignment is in Kenya and east Africa, I watch the news from there. There is such rage and violence. Police come in and rape and burn and bomb. Tribe on tribe, religion on religion, and competition for power and control! Jesus did tell us that in these end days ‘ethnos would rise against ethnos’ and we see it enacted on the world stage."Then said he unto them, Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom." Luke 21:10The more accurate word for nation is ‘ethnos’ or tribe, faction, or people group.Let us lift our eyes from what we think we are seeing and truly gain HIS wisdom of what is behind all of this rage and violence. Race rage, or ‘authority versus the common man’ is not the issue. Our common enemy would love us to hate each other. He seeks to divide us by whatever means: our prejudices or our misunderstandings.
‘Blessed are the peacemakers’ [Matt.5:9] who think, and therefore act, in the opposite spirit. True peacemakers confront what is wrong and unjust. We need wisdom and understanding into what is really happening. We can then bring true peace – shalom:peace, harmony, wholeness, completeness, prosperity, welfare and tranquility - to the place and situations where GOD has assigned us. There is a promise for peacemakers:“Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called the sons of GOD. I am praying that in the days ahead we will pause, seek HIS face, and speak slowly in each situation so we can be called sons and daughters of GOD.
I pulled this out of my archives. “Even now my beloved Kenya is torn apart in the midst of re-elections. Police are killing civilians for protesting injustice. Spiritual leaders are working hard and storming heaven to keep this from forming forces by tribe, but instead to call forth a time where we join forces as children of the most HIGH GOD.” This truth is a relevant here in the USA as it is in the current run-up to the Kenyan re-election.
Matt. 5:9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
II Chronicles 7:14-1614 Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land. 15 My eyes will be open and my ears attentive to every prayer made in this place. 16 For I have chosen this Temple and set it apart to be holy—a place where my name will be honored forever. I will always watch over it, for it is dear to my heart.
Peaceful Protest
7/6/2020 9:55:00 AM by: Hannah S. Hunter
Piercings
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Unshareable Glory
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Ancient Roots
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Perfect Love
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Mountains Tossed into the Sea
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Genesis of Nations
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Torchbearers
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Trilling and Aflutter
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Mchungaji
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Mountain Top to Mountain Top in Lockdown
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He Called It! His Fast!
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When Being Passed Over is Good
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Alternate New Normal
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3/24/2020 6:00:00 AM by: Hannah S. Hunter
Stillness- the posture of Reshaping and Remolding
3/17/2020 5:00:00 AM by: Hannah S. Hunter
Dwelling in the Everlasting Flow
3/10/2020 5:30:00 AM by: Hannah S. Hunter
Godly Reprimand, Removal of Shame, and Redemptive Restoration
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Essential Oil is Love
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Going Into the Deeper....
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Activating Our Children
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Vigilant Observations
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Commander in Chief
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1/16/2020 7:35:00 AM by: Hannah Hunter
Shepherds Shielding in Storms
12/12/2019 7:00:00 AM by: Hannah Hunter
Shepherds Shielding in Storms
12/12/2019 7:00:00 AM by: Hannah Hunter
How did Jesus Celebrate His Birthday on Earth?
11/27/2019 4:00:00 PM by: Hannah Hunter
Paul and Pauline in this Season
11/19/2019 6:30:00 AM by: Hannah Hunter
A Day in the life of an Expat in Kenya
11/11/2019 2:00:00 PM by: Hannah Hunter
Conquerors in the Nest
10/30/2019 3:00:00 PM by: Hannah Hunter
A Look at Fear
2/22/2019 10:37:00 PM by: Zach Hunter
The Beauty of the Cross
2/15/2019 11:45:00 PM by: Zach Hunter
Turning Disgust into Grace
2/8/2019 11:10:00 PM by: Zach Hunter
Take My Faith
1/12/2019 5:17:00 AM by: Tyler Robertson
Love is really REALLY hard (but totally worth it)
1/5/2019 8:05:00 PM by: Zach Hunter
Is He Lost or Am I?
12/29/2018 6:30:00 AM by: Tyler Robertson
Pointing Fingers
12/22/2018 6:00:00 AM by: Zach Hunter
Sold Out Slaves
12/15/2018 6:30:00 AM by: Tyler Robertson
Stirring Deep Wells
12/1/2018 12:20:00 PM by: Tyler Robertson
Seasonal Suffering
11/24/2018 6:30:00 AM by: Hannah Hunter
God's Play Room
11/17/2018 6:55:00 AM by: Hannah Hunter
Voting Day
11/10/2018 7:00:00 AM by: Hannah Hunter
Homework
11/3/2018 7:00:00 AM by: Tyler Robertson
The Way
10/21/2018 6:50:00 AM by: Tyler Robertson
Battle Fronts
10/6/2018 7:00:00 AM by: Tyler Robertson
True Love
9/22/2018 6:45:00 PM by: Tyler Robertson
Mapacha "The Twins"
9/15/2018 7:00:00 AM by: Hannah Hunter
Venomous Snakes Thwarted
9/10/2018 2:30:00 PM by: Hannah Hunter
In His Arms
9/1/2018 7:00:00 AM by: Hannah Hunter
Follow Love’s Thread
8/25/2018 7:00:00 AM by: Hannah Hunter
Remanded Rest
8/18/2018 8:40:00 AM by: Hannah Hunter
Clueless Obedience
8/11/2018 7:00:00 AM by: Hannah S. Hunter
Same Old Days
8/4/2018 7:00:00 AM by: Tyler Robertson
A Child of Mine
7/29/2018 1:00:00 PM by: Tyler Robertson
He is I Am
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Joy's Calm
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The Dire Hour
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Joyful Warriors for the Kingdom
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Daughters of the Mountain
6/16/2018 7:00:00 AM by: Tyler Robertson
Daniel and Malicious Intent
6/9/2018 12:35:00 PM by: Hannah Hunter
Forge Me
6/2/2018 10:30:00 AM by: Tyler Robertson
Grieving Grace
5/26/2018 7:00:00 AM by: Hannah Hunter
His Revelation
5/19/2018 7:00:00 AM by: Tyler Robertson
Micaiah - I Stand With Him!
5/12/2018 7:00:00 AM by: Hannah Hunter
The Sense of God
5/5/2018 7:00:00 AM by: Tyler Robertson
Removing Junk from your Treasure Chest.
4/28/2018 7:00:00 AM by: Hannah Hunter
To know the pain.
4/21/2018 7:00:00 AM by: Tyler Robertson
Meeting my Maker
4/14/2018 7:00:00 AM by: Tyler Robertson
Stop! In the name of Love!
4/7/2018 7:00:00 AM by: Tyler Robertson
For Such a Time
3/31/2018 7:00:00 AM by: Tyler Robertson
Rejoice in the Fear!
3/24/2018 7:00:00 AM by: Tyler Robertson
In the Blood
3/17/2018 7:00:00 AM by: Tyler Robertson
Can't Fight the Need
3/10/2018 12:15:00 PM by: Tyler Robertson
In Everything
3/3/2018 7:00:00 AM by: Tyler Robertson
Let Freedom Ring
2/24/2018 7:00:00 AM by: Tyler Robertson
IT'S Coming.
2/17/2018 7:00:00 AM by: Tyler Robertson
Nailed It!
2/10/2018 7:00:00 AM by: Tyler Robertson
Complacency Kills
2/3/2018 7:00:00 AM by: Tyler Robertson
Measure of Faith
1/27/2018 7:00:00 AM by: Tyler Robertson
Darkest of Nights
1/20/2018 7:00:00 AM by: Tyler Robertson
Destination: Church Unknown
1/13/2018 7:00:00 AM by: Hannah Hunter
Peace 2018
1/6/2018 7:00:00 AM by: Hannah Hunter
Blessed Are the Servant Healers
12/30/2017 7:00:00 AM by: Hannah Hunter
Honoring HIS Wishes
12/23/2017 7:00:00 AM by: Hannah S. Hunter
How is Your Shine?
12/16/2017 7:00:00 AM by: Lori Meed
Beatrice-Bringer of Joy
12/9/2017 7:00:00 AM by: Hannah S. Hunter
Smooth Stones
11/18/2017 10:42:00 AM by: Tyler Robertson
Littered Valley
11/11/2017 10:40:00 AM by: Tyler Robertson
What Happened to the Church?
11/4/2017 10:34:00 AM by: Tyler Robertson
Antithesis of Rage
10/28/2017 10:29:00 AM by: Hannah S. Hunter
Truth Prevails
10/21/2017 10:18:00 AM by: Hannah S. Hunter
False Pretenses
10/11/2017 12:43:00 PM by: Hannah S. Hunter
Eye of the Needle
10/11/2017 12:24:00 PM by: Hannah S. Hunter
Wells Every Where
9/11/2017 1:01:00 PM by: Hannah S. Hunter
Underestimated Army
9/11/2017 12:59:00 PM by: Hannah S. Hunter
Third World Eyes
9/11/2017 12:57:00 PM by: Hannah S. Hunter
Songs of Joy in Drudgery
9/11/2017 12:53:00 PM by: Hannah S. Hunter
Spirit of Sanballat
8/11/2017 12:55:00 PM by: Hannah S. Hunter
Guardian in the Night
8/11/2017 12:45:00 PM by: Hannah S. Hunter
Sacredness from Kenya’s Wilderness
7/11/2017 12:49:00 PM by: Hannah S. Hunter
Pause
11/7/2016 1:33:00 PM by: Hannah S. Hunter
Perception, Prayers and Purpose
11/7/2016 1:32:00 PM by: Hannah S. Hunter
Tribes
11/7/2016 1:29:00 PM by: Hannah S. Hunter
Take Courage!
10/21/2016 1:34:00 PM by: Hannah S. Hunter
Kenya Elections 2017
10/12/2016 12:48:00 PM by: Hannah S. Hunter
Define Rest and Refuge
10/11/2016 2:47:00 PM by: Hannah S. Hunter
Soaring or Sailing
10/11/2016 2:46:00 PM by: Hannah S. Hunter
Life Threatening Worms
10/11/2016 2:45:00 PM by: Hannah S. Hunter
Mapacha, The Twins, and Micronutrients
10/11/2016 2:45:00 PM by: Hannah S. Hunter
Angel Awareness
10/10/2016 2:48:00 PM by: Hannah S. Hunter
When Seasons Come Too Early
8/6/2016 2:49:00 PM by: Hannah S. Hunter
RVP (Restoration Village Project) Kilgoris, Kenya
6/15/2016 2:50:00 PM by: Hannah S. Hunter
Kinsman Redeemer
1/23/2016 2:53:00 PM by: Hannah S. Hunter
Free Flow, Clarity, and Airlift
1/16/2016 2:53:00 PM by: Hannah S. Hunter
Synergy
1/9/2016 2:54:00 PM by: Hannah S. Hunter
Wilderness Base Camp
1/2/2016 2:55:00 PM by: Hannah S. Hunter
The General’s Tent – 2015 Posts
12/29/2015 2:56:00 PM by: Hannah S. Hunter
Control Held by None
12/25/2015 2:58:00 PM by: Hannah S. Hunter
Qualifications for Vessels of Honor
12/19/2015 2:59:00 PM by: Hannah S. Hunter
