A wrathful man stirreth up stife:but he that is slow to anger appeaseth strife.
Proverbs 15:18

Fears of a global flu pandemic have rekindled memories of the terrible 1918 epidemic in which a virulent strain of influenza infected a third of the world’s population and killed an estimated 50 to 100 million people. Some researchers believe the flu spread so quickly that year because of soldiers who, already weakened from fatigue, were traveling across national and geographical boundaries during the waning months of World War I.

Studying the communicable effects of disease teaches us something about spiritual illness, too. Spiritual viruses and emotional maladies spread person to person just like germs and viruses. According to Proverbs 15:18, angry people spread their anger wherever they go. The words influenza and influence, after all, come from the same root word.

But the cure spreads person-to-person, too! We can reverse the anger of those around us by staying cool and calm, gentle and patient. Whatever our emotions–joy, anger, depression, anxiety–they infect those near us.  This is one of the Christian’s great secrets. When we’re filled with the calming strength of the Spirit, we can improve whatever environment we find ourselves in. –Turning Point

Your lifestyle is your most powerful message.
John MacArthur

Home is among the holiest of words. A true home is one of the most sacred of places. It is a sanctuary into which men flee from the world’s perils and alarms. It is a resting-place to which at close of day the weary retire to gather new strength for the battle and toils of tomorrow. It is the place where love learns its lessons, where life is schooled into discipline and strength, where character is molded. Out of the homes of a community comes the life of the community, as a river from the thousand springs that gush out on the hillsides.

We are all concerned in the making of some one home-our own home. One instrument out of tune in an orchestra mars the music which breaks upon the ears of the listeners. One discordant life in a household mars the perfectness of the music of love in the family. We should make sure that our life is not the one that is out of tune. We do not need to worry about the other lives; if each looks to his own, that will do.

When our Lord sent His disciples out to preach, one of His instructions was-“Into whatever house you enter, first say, Peace be to this house.” Peace is a good word. It is more than a salutation; falling from the Master’s lips, it is a divine benediction as well. Peace, too, is a fruit of grace, which includes all that is sweetest and most divine in Christian culture. It is especially suggestive of the harmony of love, which is the perfection of beautiful living. Christ’s peace is a blessing, which comes out of struggle and discipline. Well, therefore, does the salutation “Peace!” befit a Christian home, which ought to be the abode of peace.(J.R.Miller, 1894)

Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen. Ephesians 3:20-21   Many years ago, Ruth Paxson wrote the following in regards to Eph. 3:20. It will do you good to meditate on her comments and the glorious truth found in this scripture:

God has revealed our immeasurable wealth in Christ, and has led us to offer petition after petition for its realization. While the words have fallen from our lips have we been saying secretly in our hearts, “It cannot be done; anyhow, it cannot be done in me”? Whoever looks within at himself for this power, or around at others, however spiritual they may be, may rightly say that it is impossible. But there is another way to look-up to Him who has promised that His own mighty power will work in us for the realization of our riches in Christ.

3:20
Able
Able to do
Able to do what we ask
Able to do what we think
Able to do what we ask or think
Able to do all that we ask or think
Able to do above all that we ask or think
Able to do abundantly above all that we ask or think
Able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think

“Unto him” — The Purposer is the Promiser, who is also the Performer. Look unto Him, our Rich, Resourceful, Reliable Father.

“That is able to do.” Our petition, however great, can never exceed God’s ability to grant. Through God’s power every saint has been lifted from the deepest depths in sin to the highest heights in Christ; he has been incorporated into Christ—- and made the habitation of God. Surely the God who has had power to thus save and sanctify him can now strengthen him with power, that His purpose for the saint may be fully realized. What God has commenced He will surely consummate.

“All that we ask or think.” What petitions have we asked? What desires have flooded our hearts that we dared not voice? Is it possible He has power to do “all” for us? Yes, “above all”; still God’s power has scarcely been tapped: “abundantly above all”; surely the limit of even God’s power has been reached. No, not yet; “exceeding abundantly above all.” And yet God’s power is not exhausted, for He continues to give even after we stop asking and only harbour the unuttered thought; yet still there remains a vast residue of power unused after unbelief has stopped our asking and stifled our thinking, — “above all that we ask or think.”

“According to the power that worketh in us.” The Promiser provides the power. The power is a Person-none other than God’s own Spirit, who abides in us to make Christ real and regnant, and thereby ensure to us the realization of our wealth in Christ. The indwelling Spirit is God’s pledge of His limitless power to do.

“That worketh in us.” If God is able to work with such superabundant, limitless power, why does He not do it? Why do we see so few Christians who seem to have drunk of the fountain of the fulness of God? There is but one possible answer. The limitless power of God is limited by the unwillingness to have it work, or by the unbelief that it can. But in the light of this prayer could there be a greater sin in the life of a saint than to live on the lower level of the carnal when God’s provision and power make possible life on the highest plane of the spiritual? Someone has tersely said: “You have your Bible and your knees; use them.” Let us use them so that these treasures in Christ may become in fullest measure current coin in our lives.

The presence of God — abiding

The plenitude of God — abounding

The power of God — achieving

——Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts.–Zechariah 4:6   The Christian life is the life of Christ reproduced in the child of God by the Spirit of God for the glory of God. We become what we ought to be by His power, not our effort. We need to remember that! Human effort is never enough. We need Divine aid. Without God we can do nothing.   Selwyn Hughes wrote: The minister of a large church, when asked what was the outstanding need of his congregation, said: “Faithfulness. Fifty per cent of church members are hangers-on, getting a free ride, contributing nothing from purse or person; twenty-five per cent promise to do something and then, after a few stabs at it, drop out. They lack fidelity. The life of this church is carried on by the remaining twenty-five per cent.” D. L. Moody, the great American preacher, said: “If we could get people who put their hand to the plow and never draw back no matter what the wind or weather, we would have a growing and powerful church.”How many of us, I wonder, have loose ends, broken promises, half-fulfilled tasks cluttering up our lives? Whose fault is it? It cannot be the fault of the Holy Spirit, for He dwells in us to provide the power to see things through — if we let Him. Success in this area of the Christian life, as in all areas, is letting go and letting God — letting go of self-effort and surrendering to the power of the Spirit who is resident in us. As someone once put it — the Christian life is not my responsibility, but my response to His ability. I tell you, never does the Holy Spirit appear more wonderful than when He appears in the fruit of faithfulness.

Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run and not be weary; ans they shall walk, and not faint.
Isaiah 40:30-31

At this time of year, a lot is heading downward.

Leaves are falling. Temperatures are dipping. And with the time change, the sun is setting a little earlier. For many, these changes bring about depression, lethargy, fatigue and other problems. In its most serious form, it adds up to Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD).

But symptoms such as these don’t occur just in the fall or only at times when there is less sunlight. In their lesser form, these feelings can come about quite easily in day-to-day living.

Like when an unkind word from a co-worker crushes your spirit and sets the rest of the work day into a tailspin. Should you be surprised? Or when your best friend is the one who is getting married or having a baby or got a promotion. And you got… nothing.

Or perhaps you’ve said yes to organizing and leading every church committee, every parent-organized school event, the community Bible study and your neighborhood’s monthly block party. Your mind is mush, your body is shutting down and you have nothing left to give.

See? We can quickly sink to the depths of despair in our spirits or become quickly fatigued taking care of everything and everyone else and not ourselves. We’re tired and weary, stumbling and falling. And … we’re human, after all.

But thankfully, when we are feeling weighted down, the Lord will help us to soar. He is the one who raises us up-not any 12-step plan or self-help book or 10-week audio tape series. Now while these are worthy aids-and God can work through systems and processes designed by men-we must look to him and his Word first for direction in how we should live.

David was a man who understood this. Many passages in the book of Psalms read like his personal diary of sorts and record the times when he felt down and sought the Lord.

He had it right when he said in Psalm 62:5-8: “My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him. He only is my rock and my defense; I shall not be moved. In God is my salvation and my glory: the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God. Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah.”

When we focus on our circumstances and what is or isn’t happening in our lives, we will feel down. Like David, we need to go to the One who will lift us up. It is in God alone that we will rise above and find our rest. (By Laura MacCorkle, Crosswalk.com Senior Editor)