Hope

Psalm 25:5  "Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long."

Psalm 33:20  "We wait in hope for the Lord; he is our help and our shield."

Psalm 42:5  "Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God."

Psalm 71:14  "As for me, I will always have hope; I will praise you more and more."

Romans 12:12  "Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer."

Romans 15:13  "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."



         According to Wikipedia, Hope is an optimistic state of mind that is based on an expectation of positive outcomes with respect to events and circumstances in one's life.  According to the Bible, hope is a promise to believers that our bodies will be redeemed by the grace of God and given eternal life.
         Romans 8:23-25  "Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit,groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies.  For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have?  But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently."
         We can cling to hope as believers because we know that our hope is not limited to what happens in this life.  Hope makes our trials easier to bear, because we have won the victory over death through Jesus Christ. Romans 5:3-5  " Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance;  perseverance, character; and character, hope.  And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us."
      We also have hope that our trial will work out and not call us Home yet.  We glorify God when He uses us as an example in suffering.  Hope is displayed in our prayers, in our service to the suffering, and in our trust of God's faithfulness.  "He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus."
        Have you heard about the guy who was terminally ill, but still bought green bananas?  Why wouldn't he buy yellow bananas that are ready to eat without a wait?  Because, he still had hope in his heart that God would see him through a few more days to see them ripen.  As for myself, my green bananas are the Alan Jackson concert tickets for Jan. 20th that I'm going to buy soon.  I have hope that whether I see Alan or God in the coming days, it's going to be a great time.

When trouble seeks to rob your very breath, When tragedy hits hard and steals your days, Recall that Christ endured the sting of death; He gives us hope, and merits all our praise. —Gustafson


4 Ways To Help Yourself During a Trial [intouch.org]

1. Believe and trust God. Only by viewing life from a biblical perspective can we understand His purposes in our trials and trust His wisdom in allowing them.

2. Accept the situation as coming from the Lord. If we truly believe He’s working for our good, we can choose to receive each difficulty as from His loving hand, whether it was directly sent or permissively allowed. Then we can say “Thank You.”

3. Submit to God in the circumstance. Although we may not like the situation, knowing that God is good and does good allows us to confidently place our life under His authority. 

4. Draw from Him the strength to endure. No one has the ability within himself to endure hardships with gratefulness. Only by relying on the Lord can believers go through adversity with an appreciative heart.


Tenth Avenue North song w/lyrics  "I Have This Hope"   

Watch It

     How many times have we thought 'I wish I hadn't said that' but it's too late.  Once it is out there, it can't be retracted.  We often don't think before we speak.
     My friend went to a new doctor that was on-call and whatever he said was taken both harshly and rudely.  Her and her mother thought 'I can't believe he just said that.'  Are your words ever taken like that?
     Proverbs 18:21  ''The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.''  We can do both harm or good by what we say.  Our words can both condemn or intercede for another.  The power of the tongue should not be underestimated.
     Our tongue is a voluntary muscle so we can control it, if we want to.  James 3; 10  ''Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be.''
   
     Here are 10 truths on taming your tongue......

1. And my tongue shall talk of your righteousness and of your praise all the day long. ~ Psalms 35:28
2. The mouth of the righteous talk of wisdom, And his tongue speaketh justice.
~ Psalms 37:30
3. My tongue also shall talk of thy righteousness all the daylong. ~ Psalms 71:24.
4. The tongue of the wise utters knowledge aright; but the mouths of fools pour out folly. ~ Proverbs 15:2
5. A gentle tongue is a tree of life; but perverseness therein is a breaking of the spirit. ~ Proverbs 15:4
6. Whoso keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps his soul from troubles. ~ Proverbs 21:23
7. By long forbearing is a ruler persuaded, And a soft tongue breaks the bone.
~ Proverbs 25:15
8. The north wind brings forth rain: So doth backbiting tongue an angry countenance. ~ Proverbs 25:23
9. Keep your tongue from evil, and your lips from speaking guile. ~ Psalms 34:13
10. Death and life are in the power of the tongue; and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof. ~ Proverbs 18:21

   

Trust, Faithfulness and Mercy

Joshua 1:9:  "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”


         This blog is going to be a little different than my normal, because I need this message as a reminder to myself right now.  This blog is broken down into 3 areas that we should consider during all times, but especially in a personal crisis: Trusting God, God's Faithfulness, and The Mercy of God.  I, personally, am dealing with the struggle of deciding which path of treatment to take for my 2cm [20mm] size kidney stone.

Trusting God
        It's a lot easier to trust God when things are going as you might expect, right?  Then there are moments that are like life's sucker punches.  They are unexpected, cause fear and hurt, usually require a decision, and make your immediate [not eternal] future unknown.  Trusting God is a measure of your faith in His 'total' control over you and all situations you will face in this life.  John 16:33  "In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."  John Piper's following quote comforts me, as I have felt guilty for being scared and doubtful in my current struggle...
       "When anxiety strikes and blurs our vision of God’s glory and the greatness of the future that he plans for us, this does not mean that we are faithless, or that we will not make it to heaven. It means our faith is being attacked.  At first blow, our belief in God’s promises may sputter and swerve. But whether we stay on track and make it to the finish line depends on whether, by grace, we set in motion a process of resistance — whether we fight back against the unbelief of anxiety.  Psalm 56:3 says, “When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.”  Notice: it does not say, “I never struggle with fear.” Fear strikes, and the battle begins. So the Bible does not assume that true believers will have no anxieties. Instead, the Bible tells us how to fight when they strike."

         When we put our trust in God alone... we are secure in His presence with us, His protection over us, His completion of the work He started in us, and His knowing what is best for us ultimately.

There’s so much now I cannot see,
My eyesight’s far too dim;
But come what may, I’ll simply trust
And leave it all to Him. —Overton

God's Faithfulness

Daniel 9:4  “Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and keep his commandments."

      Unless we are struggling with a threat of illness or danger, we usually trust God when we go to sleep to wake us up without much or any thought.  We trust Him because He has been faithful every day.  So when we face a crisis, we need to remind ourselves of God's faithful track record thus far--100% of the time He has carried me through every struggle I have encountered.

      "Most churchgoers easily claim, “I’ve yielded my life to Christ.” To actually live out those words, however, is more difficult. We want to cling to a measure of control in case God doesn’t work events to our satisfaction. Too many Christians are content merely to dip their toes into faith because they fear life might not turn out according to their plan. But how much greater their loss will be if life doesn’t turn out according to God’s plan. He can do much more with a surrendered existence than a sheltered one." [intouch.org]

        As for myself, I love the 'On this Day' feature of Facebook.  It shows me my posts, which are my thoughts, during previous hard times and the faithfulness of God time after time.  I'm not saying God did exactly what I wanted but He provided for all my needs.  He was with me always and never forsake me, just as He promised.

The Grace and Mercy of God

Though danger lurks on every side,
In Christ our Lord we will abide;
Our God is strong, our hope is sure—
In Him alone we are secure! —Fitzhugh

Hebrews 4:15-16  " For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need."

      Sometimes we do our best to make the right decisions, but things don't play out as we had hoped.  The grace and mercy of God can trump our plans, according to God's will, for our ultimate, eternal benefit.

      As for myself, I want to be wise yet humble in my decision making.  I know that my eternal destination is waiting for me and only God knows if He will use me here or there, sooner or later.  I pray for His will to be done, here on earth as it is in Heaven.  Amen! 

      

, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and keep his commandments,

Daniel 9:4

Go With the Flow

Phil.3:6-7:  Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God which passes all understanding will guard your heart and mind in Christ Jesus." 

Isaiah 40:31:  "Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you; yes, I will help you; yes, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." 

Isaiah 41:10:  "They that wait upon the Lord will renew their strength.  They will mount up with wings like eagles.  They will run and not be weary; they will walk and not faint."

Joshua 1:9:  "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”

     I like order and routine but life is often disrupted by chaos.  How do we handle it and react to it?  Often it is best to just go with the flow.  ''No matter how much structure we create in our lives, no matter how many good habits we build, there will always be things that we cannot control — and if we let them, these things can be a huge source of anger, frustration and stress.''  ''What is going with the flow? It’s rolling with the punches. It’s accepting change without getting angry or frustrated. It’s taking what life gives you, rather than trying to mold life to be exactly as you want it to be.''
     The best way to go with the flow is to recognize Who is in control of your life.  The caption's picture above symbolizes 'surrendering' to me.  Whatever comes my way, I know God brought me to it and will bring me through it.  Does my anxiety, worry, or doubts help me?  No, but the peace of God does.
     May we learn to be calm, relaxed and patient in the bumps that interfere with our smooth flow in life.  Hand it all over to the One in control of it all.

Suffering in Stride

Psalm 119:50  "My comfort in my suffering is this: Your promise preserves my life."

         Suffering is an unpleasant experience with a threat of harm to an individual.  We try to avoid it at all costs, but sometimes it's just part of the plan God has for us.  Acts 14:22 “We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God.”  We do not suffer in vain.  All that we suffer through has a purpose. It is intended to help us to rely on God more and less on ourselves.

        There are two ways to respond to suffering: question, blame, and curse God while you suffer OR praise and thank God for the suffering that drew you closer to Him.  Job 2:9-10 is a good example.."His wife said to him, “Are you still maintaining your integrity? Curse God and die!” He replied, “You are talking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?”  In all this, Job did not sin in what he said."

       Suffering makes our hope in God's promises all the more powerful and meaningful to our hearts, minds and souls.  2 Corinthians 4:17-18  "For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.  So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal."

        Are you going through a tough time? Take heart. The Lord is sovereign and He controls all adversity in our lives. That’s why it’s important to remember how much He loves us. If He allows us to go through pain, suffering, or loss, then He has something good He wants to accomplish in us. [intouch.org]

        As for myself, my personal suffering is God's way of keeping me focused on Him and His promises.  If CMT [Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease] had not been my 'thorn', where would my spiritual state be?  The struggles make you stronger, and the changes make you wise, but to God none of it is a surprise.  God is my all in all, every step of the way.

7 Truths About Suffering [C. Stanley;  intouch.org]

1. Adversity is universal. It’s everywhere and can affect any area of our lives.
2. It’s impartial. Because we live in a fallen world, trouble comes to all of us—even believers, no matter what our financial, social, or educational status.
3. Adversity is painful. The pain can be physical, emotional, or relational, but whatever the source, it hurts.
4. Sometimes adversity comes suddenly. Life could be going on as normal when an accident or a negative report from the doctor leaves us unexpectedly devastated.
5. Times of adversity may be prolonged. Sometimes the emotional or physical pain continues for years.
6. It may be intense. We may hurt so badly that even those who try to bring comfort feel the pain.
7. Adversity is often beyond our control. We may feel helpless and have no answer for why God would allow us to go through it.

What Is Your Mind Set On?

Romans 8:5-8   "Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.  The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so.  Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God."

1 Corinthians 10:13  “No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.”


       Being tempted is not a sin, but our acceptance of temptation is.  We are all surrounded by temptation, even Jesus was.  Jesus was the only one who completely resisted temptation on this Earth at all times.  I think it's amazing!  We are tempted without even leaving our home or bed in the morning.  "The process of temptation: Thought > Imagination > Meditation > Will > Choice > Consent > Sin." [intouch.org]  Temptation has a snowball effect that lures us in with temporary satisfaction but also comes with devastating consequences.  "We can blame our failure to resist temptation on others, Satan, or God Himself, but in reality, we are the ones who choose to indulge." [intouch.org]
       Therefore, acceptance of temptation is a choice between a mind of the flesh and a mind of the Spirit.  How do we know what kind of mindset we ourselves have?  A mind of the flesh seeks physical pleasures, worldly gain and honor, and temporary satisfactions.. that are all beyond God-set boundaries.   The mind of the Spirit concerns itself with "the favor of God, the welfare of the soul, the aspects of eternity. The man is as the mind is. " [M.Henry]
        How can we summarize the struggle in our bodies?  Galatians 5:17  "For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want."  You are NOT to do whatever you want!  The mind of the flesh is "death to the soul, an alienation from God and an opposition of the soul against God.  It rebels against his authority, thwarts his design, opposes his interest, spits in his face, spurns at his bowels." [M.Henry]
          As for myself, I am also a temptation recovery story.  I've been led astray by my worldly weaknesses and wants that weren't in a mindset of the Spirit.  God's divine grace transformed my mind into one that has a focus on Christ and an eternity praising Him.
         Can we not all relate to Romans 5:17  " "I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do."  God does not leave us alone to recognize and fight temptation.  He gives believers the Holy Spirit to guide us on the right path, along with His Word to confirm or contradict our thoughts.  Galatians 5:16  "So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh." 


"8 Ways to Combat The Enemy's Attacks of Temptation" [C. Stanley]

1. Take responsibility. You are responsible for what you do with temptations.
2. Focus on the big picture. A temptation offers a small picture of the pleasures and profits of sin, but God wants you to see big consequences.
3. Identify areas of weakness in your life. Recognize which aspects of your life are easy targets for Satan’s attacks.
4. HALT. Never let yourself get too Hungry, Angry, Lonely, or Tired.
5. Visualize yourself doing the right thing. Instead of fantasizing about the pleasures of sin, imagine yourself pleasing God.
6. Make yourself accountable to a friend. Find someone you trust and then contact that person when you are feeling tempted.
7. Read the Word of God. You won’t be able to defend yourself against the enemy’s attacks if you don’t know the Scriptures.
8. Make prayer a vital part of your life. Having fellowship and conversation with the Lord each morning strengthens and alerts you to Satan’s attacks during the day.

Prayer Through It All

Romans 8:26-27  "In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.  And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God."

Ephesians 6:18  "Pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests."

Romans 8:34 " Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us."



         Do you ever feel weak in your prayer life?  I know I do, especially when I hear someone who has a way with words pray out loud.  Many of us have a weakness expressing our hearts desires and praises in our talks with God.  We know how we feel about our afflictions, triumphs and plateaus of life but we just can't come up with the right words.  
       Thankfully, God knew we would have this weakness.  Therefore, God gives believers the power of the Holy Spirit to help us where we fail.  This weakness is not limited to any generation, but it is a human characteristic.  "Paul wrestled with the same thing in Philippians 1:22-24, where he couldn’t decide whether to pray that the Lord would take him home, which was Paul’s desire, or preserve his life for further ministry. Moses entreated the Lord to let him enter the Promised Land, but that was not God’s will (Deut. 3:25-26). Elijah, man of prayer that he was, asked the Lord to take his life (1 Kings 19:4). Even Jesus, in His humanity, prayed that if possible, the Father might allow Him to escape from the cross, if it would be God’s will (Matt. 26:36-46). The point is, we’re all weak in many areas, including prayer. We often don’t know how to pray as we should. But, thankfully, God doesn’t leave us to ourselves." [bible.org]  In Romans, Paul’s overall intent is to encourage us with the fact that God has not left us on our own in our weakness. Rather, His Spirit helps us by praying for us. 
       Prayer is our personal and direct communication with God.  It is a gift that we often take for granted.  We don't have to wait for confessional hour set by someone else to have a talk with God.  I love the truth in these lyrics, "I need Thee every hour, most gracious Lord--No tender voice like Thine can peace afford--I need Thee every hour, stay Thou nearby--Temptations lose their power."  God wants us to call on Him at anytime, anywhere, and for any reason--nothing is trivial to Him.
       As for myself, it is easier for me to pray for others than for my own life.  I pray for strength and courage that I will embrace God's will for me, especially in the rough times.  I pray that my eyes will see the foolishness of this world and to keep my focus on my eternal life ahead.  I am weak too in prayer by distractions, doubt, and frustrations but my prayer life will continue because of my faith in Christ alone.


3 Reasons To Encourage You in Prayer [bible.org]

1. Don’t let the fact that you don’t know how to pray as you should discourage you from praying.

2. Don’t let the fact that prayer isn’t easy discourage you from praying.

3.  Don’t let the fact that your prayers don’t seem to be answered keep you from praying. 

Tongue Trust

James 1:19-20  "My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires."


             Have you ever heard 'Sugar coat your words because you might have to eat them'?  We are often too quick in our reactionary speaking and too slow in our thoughtful thinking.  Ecclesiastes 7:9  "Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit, for anger resides in the lap of fools."
         " It is our duty rather to hear God’s word, and apply our minds to understand it, than to speak according to our own fancies or the opinions of men, and to run into heat and passion thereupon.  Whenever matters of difference arise among Christians, each side should be willing to hear the other. People are often stiff in their own opinions because they are not willing to hear what others have to offer against them: whereas we should be swift to hear reason and truth on all sides, and be slow to speak any thing that should prevent this: and, when we do speak, there should be nothing of wrath; for a soft answer turns away wrath." [M. Henry]

             I read in the paper, ''If you have to swallow a frog, don't look at it too long.  If you have to swallow 2, then eat the big one first.  If you have to swallow 3, then consider why you are in the pond.''  I think these are very wise words.

            1 frog..... Instead of admitting our wrong readily, we often spend our time justifying it in our minds.  We think about all the reasons 'they' are wrong, but not our own.  Pride is often the biggest lump or frog in our throats.

             2 frogs... Sometimes we can just 'ribbit' out of control.  Proverbs 15;23 'A person finds joy in giving an apt reply— and how good is a timely word!'  Be the bigger person by covering the broader ground first in your apology and then get specific.

             3 frogs.... Sometimes you have to get out of the circumstances that are drawing you toward negativity.  We must see how our choices and decisions have led us to the pond of bitterness and find our way out.  Don't let your emotions dictate your words.

             FROG..... Fully Rely On God

           "Whereas men often pretend zeal for God and his glory, in their heat and passion, let them know that God needs not the passions of any man; his cause is better served by mildness and meekness than by wrath and fury.”  When I read this, I thought of ministries that speak of condemnation, rather than grace and forgiveness as a source of hope.  We are all sinners, so may our words be a gentle leading to Christ and not a harsh judgement without hope.

Sing Unto The Lord

  

Psalm 47:6  "Sing praises to God, sing praises; sing praises to our King, sing praises." 


          Do you remember the song lyrics by The Carpenters..."Sing, sing a song, sing out loud, sing out strong, sing of good things-not bad, sing of happy-not sad...Sing, sing a song, make it simple to last your whole life long, don't worry that it's not good enough for anyone else to hear, just sing, sing a song."
          If you know me personally, then you know my voice isn't but a whisper.  My voice has been in decline most of my life.  When I was 20, I had vocal cord surgery twice in hopes of improving my voice's volume..it did not and worsened it.  I still have a voice and will use it till my last breath.
          This blog is intended to encourage you to use your God given voice--good or bad.  We have all heard the voice of Creation--trees rustling, birds singing, waves crashing, etc., as it praises God.  I believe God wants to hear from us as well, especially in songs of praise.  "Praising God has power to change our thoughts, our hearts, and our lives."
         When we sing aloud, not just listen, the words make an imprint on our brain.  Lyrics can get stuck in our head and we can recall them later in times of joy or need.  Music is a great way to memorize Scripture too.  Any way we can let go of our inhibitions and praise God is pleasing to Him.  Song lyrics can soothe our soul, uplift our downcast spirit, and change our perspective to a more godly outlook.
        "Singing illustrates unity as we agree on the lyrics, chords, and rhythms. Singing can also promote unity as it binds us together in peace, proclaims God’s power through praise, and demonstrates God’s glory to the world." [odb.org]
         As for myself, I used to ask to sing solo in my church at age 5.  Time changes things so, now you will not 'hear' me sing in church or elsewhere, but you will 'see' me singing with all my heart behind the air mask.  God hears and sees me, so my audience of One is all that matters to me.
        May your voice reach to the heavens as you worship and praise God, above all things and opinions of the world.  Praise God for who He is, Honor God for what He is doing and done, and Thank God for everything.

For a thousand tongues to sing
My great Redeemer’s praise,
The glories of my God and King,
The triumphs of His grace. —Wesley

Respect and Honor

Leviticus 19:3  "Each of you must respect your mother and father, and you must observe my Sabbaths. I am the Lord your God."

1 Peter 2:17  "Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor."

Exodus 20:12  "Honor thy father and thy mother, that thy days may be long in the land which Jehovah thy God giveth thee."


        Our relationships with each other are important to God.  He specifically guides us in our relationships in 6 of the Ten Commandments.  Relationships are built upon respect for one another and suffer severely when it is lacking.  
        Exodus 20:12 is not only a commandment, but one with a promise included.  When we show respect to our parents, we honor them and show a godly relationship to others.  As children, we are to obey our parents. "The ruin of young people has often been observed to begin in the contempt of their parents and the disregard of the sabbath day." [M.Henry]   As adults, we are to have value and respect for our parents.  "It's a life-long calling of unconditional love."
        As 1 Peter 2:17 explains how respect is not discriminatory but should be given to all.  Respect can just mean making someone feel of worth. "We are to respect and cherish all human life: the born and those still in the womb; winsome children and weary seniors; the wealthy executive and the financially destitute. All persons are unique productions of our Creator’s genius." [odb.org]
       "We may say that people need to show themselves worthy of respect before we can respect them. But respecting another person is much more about who we are than about who the other person is." [odb.org]  Christians are often ridiculed as being hypocrites because their walk isn't the same as their talk.  When you disrespect others, you are not representing what God has asked of you in His Word.
        May respect always be a given in your own life as you deal with family, friends, acquaintances and strangers.

Eight ways to honor our parents as adults:[A.Howard]

1. Respect and learn from their wisdom.
2. Help to meet their needs.
3. Spend time with them.
4. Remember special events. 
5. Love them unconditionally – being willing to forgive when necessary.
6. Try to always speak highly of them.
7. Understand their value in the eyes of God.
8. Honor their legacy.

You'll gain respect when people see
That you are faithful to God's Word;
There may be some who disagree,
But they will know you love the Lord. —D. De Haan

Keep Going

   
     We all move at our own pace.  If we are hurried, we often are more likely to make mistakes.  If we are slowed down, we are often impatient and snippy.  I've often remarked... 'Don't rush me!'  or  'Good grief, Go already.'  Today, I felt like I was in the fast lane of life and it was not a comfortable feeling.
     'Sometimes your heart needs more time to accept what your mind already knows.'  I think this phrase points to the danger in having people say a quick 'prayer' and telling them they are saved. There are countless people with biblical head knowledge but their heart has turned deaf to it.  Salvation isn't a one-stop shop, but the beginning of sanctification... the transforming of ourselves into Christ's likeness.  God works in mysterious ways sometimes just to get us to see His light in the darkness.
    Sometimes our impatience can influence our witnessing.  We give up on people because their spiritual growth doesn't follow our timeline.  God's timing is the only clock that counts and we don't know what it says.  We give up because we see how far there is to go, instead of how far they've come.  Our witnessing should always have an eternal goal and perspective, rather than a short term gain in focus.

   'Progress has little to do with speed, but much to do with direction.'
   'Our goal should be progress, not perfection.'
   'The way of progress is neither swift nor easy.' 

    May we lead others in the right direction and have them follow in a progressive pace.