BETTER OR BITTER

BETTER OR BITTER

Wednesday, March 5, 2014

                Ephesians [GW] 4:30-32 Don't give God's Holy Spirit any reason to be upset with you. He has put his seal on you for the day you will be set free from the world of sin. 31 Get rid of your bitterness, hot tempers, anger, loud quarreling, cursing, and hatred. 32 Be kind to each other, sympathetic, forgiving each other as God has forgiven you through Christ.

Ephesians [GW] 5:9 Light produces everything that is good, that has God's approval, and that is true.

  May 16, 1996, Street, Maryland. The tragedy followed a wonderful evening out with friends. The Maryland State Police said the 23 old drunk driver was going over 100 mph when he drove head-on into their Oldsmobile. All but one passenger died instantly. Her body terribly crushed, she was hanging on by a thread. Her family was called to her bedside to say farewell.

  Though in a coma, she could hear them speaking as the doctors had said she wouldn’t survive the night. Unable to interrupt their ideas, she thought otherwise, “You watch me!”

  Coma, multiple surgeries, extensive therapy. The first time they sat her up with feet dangling over side of bed, she passed out.

  Determination continued to play a huge part in her recovery. As part of her plan she decided to not be bitter, but better. As soon as able she began taking medical training and continues to serve her community as an EMT, cook, cleaner, errand runner, in the large local Volunteer Fire Department.

  Though the circumstances differ and seldom are so harsh, “Better or Bitter?” is challenge we all face in some degree(s) . . . repeatedly.

  Consider the lives of those we know; better or bitter in reaction to childhood, ill treatment, abuse, deprivation, shunning, bullying, lack of affection, molestation, rape, combat et al.

  Consider our own lives, especially the events planned to keep private until our last breath. Have we allowed them to be bitter baggage, or history to spring forth from?

  Consider the exhortation of the Apostle Paul, a person that was harsh, and then experienced like harshness when he was not: “… one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. All of us, then, who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. Only let us live up to what we have already attained. Join together in following my example, brothers and sisters, and just as you have us as a model, keep your eyes on those who live as we do.” (NLT Phil.3)

EBB4