Posts Tagged ‘ patience ’

How do you respond to others?

January 28, 2010
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Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry. James 1:19

The Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius once wrote:

I am going to meet people today who talk too much –
People who are selfish, egotistical, ungrateful.
But I won’t be surprised or disturbed
For I can’t imagine a world without such people.

As people living in a fallen world we are battered by outward circumstances that seem bent on our destruction. It is easy to fall victim to the old diabolical adage that we have no control over what happens to us. So we spend our lives blaming others or basting in self-pity.

God is never happy when we fail to take personal responsibility for our thinking, attitudes and actions. “As a man thinks in his heart so is he.” (Proverbs 23:7 KJV)  Through right thinking we can move to godly faith.  When we move to godly faith we can begin to squeeze out of life hidden good that life has to offer.

What do you expect to se in your life?  Most of us are aware that we get out of life more than we expect when we walk withy God. When we walk against God or treat Him with indifference, what could we expect?

What kind of people are you going to meet today?  Will they all be kind and accepting of you? Will they offend you by their rejection?  Will you be angered by others actions and reactions?

Maybe we could learn to listen more and talk less.  We might be able to control our thoughts better and feel less rejected when people don’t do what we expect. What kind of people do you expect to meet today?  Since we don’t always have a choice of what people we might meet in a given day a better question is “How will we respond?”

The Coming New Year

December 27, 2008
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Be patient, therefore, beloved, until the coming of the Lord.

James 5:7

As we approach the New Year it is important for us to “make the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil”. (Ephesians 5:16)  This time of the year we are more likely to evaluate where we are in our relational, financial, physical and spiritual lives.  If things have gone well we can approach the New Year with confidence.  If things have gone sour for us this year we will look at the New Year with some fear and trepidation.

It is a wise man who knows how to be patient.  Many are there who want everything today and don’t give a hoot about tomorrow.  Some want everything yesterday but can’t pay for it tomorrow.

he times are going to put a strain on us and we may find that it is wise to be patient and fugal as we look to 2009.  It probably is wise to live this way in any and every year.  Those who have lived frugally and have been diligent in their approach to life will fine the new year will turn out right.  Those who have overextended themselves will be found scrambling for ways to meet the demands of the New Year.

There is an old saying that goes something like this:  “All things come to those who wait”. But those who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint. (Isaiah 40:31)

The New Year will have many challenges.  We may be faced with tough decisions about life, family, finances, health, jobs, children and homes.  Those who go into the next year with Jesus as their companion and determined to follow His ways have a better chance of making it through with flying colors. Until the coming of the Lord.

How God Solves our Problems

October 17, 2008
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“My grace is sufficient for you, For my power is made perfect in weakness.” 2 Corinthians 12:9

      There is a tendency among many of us that it is the primary commitment of God to solve our problems.  When a problem arises we just turn it over to God and whammy! It is solved.  No more having to wait in line for a big cure all for all my woes.

      Paul reminds us that this may not be the case.  Paul views God’s wonderful grace as the power of God in our lives that is sufficient to help us to face and walk through trials. The goal of God is change in our lives. We need to move to a more intimate life with Christ.  This doesn’t always equate with the removal of our problems. His power is made perfect in weakness.

      Since God is in the people changing business, He can use every ailment to bring about any necessary change in our lives.  He may never remove a thorn in the flesh but His grace is sufficient for you. Change is never easy but God hangs in there for us and will work His power in us as we face the realities of this world and prepare for the world to come.

      God’s goal for our lives is maturity.  Life is not just ailments to be removed or events to be avoided.  He wants us to learn how to better worship Him and serve Him.  He may never remove an illness from us or our loved-one, but He is always there teaching us about Himself.  He may lead through the valley of the shadow of death but His gentle hand will lead us less we fall.

      We need to commit ourselves to embrace what God is doing in our lives.  He is trying to make us into His image and as we can learn to see as He sees. We can look beyond the present problem to the purpose of God for our lives.  His word gives us vision, hope, direction and goals. Our challenge is to look beyond the now and embrace the vision that God has for us. We may have a physical or emotional problem but it is the spirit that needs God’s power.     

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