[Membersandfriends] Saturday, August 28, 2004

Fri Aug 27 22:02:49 PDT 2004

The Upper Room Daily Devotional -- E-mail Edition
Brought to You by Upper Room Ministries
Saturday, August 28, 2004

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HAZARDOUS LOAD
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Mark 11:24-25 (NRSV)

So I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. 

"Whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone; so that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses."

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The measure you give will be the measure you get, and still more will be given you.
- Mark 4:24 (NRSV)
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IT took me a long time to understand that God's commandments and Jesus' teachings were given to us for our own good.  For many years I regarded them as burdensome rules and obligations.  But I have gradually come to see that each one is a liberating gift of love, sent to us to enrich our lives and to enable us to live equitably and justly with one another.

Take, for instance, Jesus' words in the Gospel of Mark that we should forgive those who offend us.  That is a hard teaching.  When someone says or does something to hurt us, we are angry.  The anger feels good and righteous.  To forgive is to let go of that anger.

But the point we often miss is that forgiveness is a gift we give to ourselves.  The anger and sadness that can accompany unforgiveness are like poison.  If left un-treated, unforgiveness can destroy us physically, spiritually, and emotionally.  So Jesus says to us, in effect, "Forgive those who offend you, so you can be healthy and whole.  For your own good, forgive one another."

Prayer:  Gracious God, who is ever willing to forgive us, grant us a gentle spirit and a forgiving heart, that we may extend to others the mercy you show us.  Amen.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
Old anger is a hazardous load to carry.

-- Dick Ryley (Pennsylvania, U.S.A.)

PRAYER FOCUS: Those carrying the burden of anger

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RELATED READING ...

In Flora Wuellner's sensitive and compassionate book, RELEASE: HEALING FROM WOUNDS OF FAMILY, CHURCH, AND COMMUNITY, she addresses the emotional burdens and the psychic wounds we inherit from our families and communities. This book offers guided meditations that help us overcome our anger and find God's healing presence.
http://www.upperroom.org/bookstore/desc.asp?ep_id=30&item_id=12473

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The scripture quotation is from the NEW REVISED STANDARD VERSION of the Bible, copyright (c) 1989, by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the U.S.A.  Used by permission.  All rights reserved.