Contrasts

Your yearly reminder:
Why do good things happen to bad people? Why do the wicked prosper?

Reason One: Their desires are an appetite. When is an appetite satisfied? Yep, never. The worse thing God can do for the wicked is give them everything they want. They'll still be starving for more. Talk about misery.

Reason Two: In God's world you reap what you sow. Everything they do to others to get what they want--one day it will be harvest time. God is just allowing them to pass judgment on themselves.

Reason Three: Their god is their own strength, their own abilities, their own wisdom. How much help will that god be when the crisis of their own making occurs?

The godly man on the other hand:
He who hungers and thirsts after righteousness will be filled.

Sow good seed. What kind of harvest do you think you'll reap?

Trust in the Lord with all your heart. Lean not on your own understanding, and He will make your paths straight. Jesus never fails.

Baskets

There is only one miracle recorded in all four Gospels: the feeding of the 5000.
Some simple lessons to meditate on from that day by the Sea of Galilee:

When the problem is too large and the resources are too small, God is simply reminding us that it doesn't depend on us, it depends on Him. If we will just give Him the resources that we have, He will fill the baskets--and fill more of them then we could fill on our own--even if we had more resources.
Nothing is more necessary for victorious living than those little words "having given thanks."
You can't meet physical needs with spiritual "stuff." And meeting people's physical needs can make them receptive to spiritual truths.
You can't meet spiritual needs with physical stuff. When their hearts have been touched by love, feed them the Bread of Life too.
Jesus did not come to pursue political power but to build a compassionate spiritual kingdom dedicated to meeting both the physical and spiritual needs of people.
The faithful sacrifice of a teenager once it is placed in Jesus' hands can bring great blessing to many. Don't despise small gifts. Don't despise the young person eager to give what little he may have to the Master.

Grace's Function

"For the grace of God, which can save every man, has now become known, and it teaches us--disciplines us--to have no more to do with godlessness or the desires of this world but to live, here and now, responsible, honorable, and God-fearing lives. And while we live this life we hope and wait for the glorious denouement of the great God and of Jesus Christ our Savior. For He gave Himself for us, that He might rescue us from all our evil ways and make for Himself a people of His own, clean and pure, with our hearts set upon living a life that is good."

Too often we get it backwards when we think of God's grace. The whole function of grace is not to encourage us to live life as we please knowing that we've been forgiven, but in actuality, grace's purpose is the exact opposite. God's grace teaches us and disciplines us so that we live godly lives more and more immune to the temptations of the world's desires, more and more committed to purity, and more and more energized to do good for others. The man who teaches that grace is a license to sin has no idea what grace is--zero. If I have truly been a recipient of God's grace, my heart's desire is to be more and more like Him, living in anticipation of His coming to earth again to end evil and godlessness among men. Grace's work is to "rescue us from all our evil ways."

The Difference

Saving faith produces good works. Good works do not produce saving faith.

Despair

"I would have despaired unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; yes, wait for the Lord."

One of the reasons I struggle at times with fear and anxiety is that I don't have the courage--and integrity--to admit that I'm afraid, that I have real fears. Like the psalmist when I look around me, there are plenty of "natural" reasons to teeter on the edge of despair. I don't have any trouble making a list of real fears that I have about my own situation, about my children's lives, about the direction of the church, about the judgment that I believe is inevitable for my country. Fearful is an easy mode to slip into. I have fears. Lots of them.
But when I am willing to admit those fears, I am then able to release those fears into the goodness of God's care. And the exciting thing, the uplifting truth, is that God's goodness is for the here and now--not just the Later On. God is good. It's not just God will be good. He can and does bring goodness out of all things--even deliberate evil. Ask Joseph. Resting in that truth brings the joy that makes one strong, and the joy that allows one to not just wait, but to soar while waiting on wings of faith. Until I can honestly and humbly come before God and cry out, "I am afraid," I will never find the release that enables me to wait eagerly for the day I will see His goodness. And I will never be able to allow His Spirit to develop within my soul a strong, courageous heart. There is no room for despair in a heart filled with love for God--the God who is so good to me. The God who loves me so.

One Day

One of the questions I ask my students--did I really just say "my students"--on the first day of class (we do a journal) is "If you could trade places with one person from the Bible for one day which person would it be, on what day, and why?" Yep. As you know I love imagination; makes things real. Anyway, when I think what my answer would be . . .

Well, Enoch comes to mind. On that last day when God says, "Enoch, why don't you just come home with me today." I wonder how long it took for that idea to sink in, and then, in an instant, to be standing in glory. Whew. That would be a good day--an eternal day.
Or, in a similar vein, what about Elijah? How did he feel when he looked up and saw that "taxi" coming? "Chariot arriving at gate number one . . ."
And what was that trip like? "Goodbye Elisha. Oh, hello Gabriel."
And wouldn't you have loved to be one of the servants at the wedding in Canaan? First, to watch Jesus celebrating the wedding. Interacting with His mom and the disciples. Enjoying Himself. Immensely, I'm sure. And I wonder how well He danced? You do know they always dance at Jewish weddings. And then to be told to fill up those huge pots with water because they were out of wine. Say what? Fill up these big old things? With water? And then to pour it out--wine. Could you imagine the look on their faces? And then to hear the guest say, "Best wine ever!" I'll bet they tried it, too.
But I think if I were to actually answer the question, I would choose to be Adam on his first day of creation. I cannot imagine how beautiful a world it must have been. And the wonder of seeing it all for the first time; seeing everything for the first time. And continually looking up into our Savior's face (I"m sure it was the pre-incarnate Christ) as He walked beside you enjoying your pleasure and amazement.

"What's that? Whoa, what's that big monstrosity with the tusky things?"

"I'll tell you what Adam. Tomorrow, I'll let you give each of them a name. And then, I want you to think about turning the whole world into a garden."

"Wait, there's more?"

Now, that would be a day! And you know there were iris everywhere!

Yep, I choose to be Adam on his first day--though you know, it would be kinda "cool" to see Jesus enjoying Himself at that wedding.

And one of these days--in an instant--I'll get to go to His place myself.

Attitudes

Right from the beginning Jesus told His disciples that there were certain attitudes they needed to have--not just wanted to have.
He told them that they needed to be poor in spirit, beggars in spirit. Recognizing that they were not in the least bit worthy to stand in His presence, that they were totally dependent on His great mercy and grace, they should daily come to the throne of mercy and grace crying out for His help for each day. And they should remember that every cry for help, God forever keeps around His throne--a sweet smelling incense that brings joy to His heart.
They should be a people who mourn, men and women of sorrow. Seeing the effect of sin on humanity and His creation should break their hearts. It should be a sadness that moves them to compassion for the needs of all those around them. And even a sadness that causes them to groan with His creation as it waits for the day of final redemption. And until then, they should do all they can to bring redemption to men and to work for the welfare of His created world.
They should be gentle people--genuinely humble, unpretentious. Spite and malice and the desire to repay evil with evil should find not even the smallest corner in their hearts to hide where it might fester and grow into harshness and a vengeful spirit.
They should be righteous, have an unquenchable teachable spirit. Their deepest desire should be to be in lock step with the will of God, trusting that He is behind the scene orchestrating their circumstances into a symphony of His glory and of His love visible and undeniable to those around them. They should desire personal holiness. They should live lives that resonate their confidence that the infinite God of love and wisdom always acts in perfect righteousness and perfect justice. And so they will obey His every command, leaving the outcome to Him.
They should be merciful. Recognizing their own sinfulness, they should be men and women of compassion, of unhesitating forgiveness, of a deep faith in God's willingness to save to the uttermost all who will come to Him for His mercy. Their daily lives and their daily witness should undeniably affirm that "if God could save me, He can save anyone." And that He wants to.
They should be pure in heart. Their daily prayer should be "search me, O God and know my heart today; try me O Savior, know my thoughts, I pray. See if their be some wicked way in me; cleanse me from every sin, and set me free." And knowing that His Spirit will always find a heart in need of daily cleansing, they will live a life of daily confession. They will yearn for a life free of the hypocrisy of doing the right things for the wrong reasons.
They will be peacemakers. Knowing that peace can only come to men when men come to God, they will walk in the gospel of peace wherever they go. They will introduce whomever they interact with to the One who promises "My peace I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled. Believe in Me, the God of all peace--the eternal Prince of Peace."

'Let the beauty of Jesus be seen in me. All my spirit refine, 'til the beauty of Jesus be seen in me." This Lord I need above all else.

Harmonious

Christ calls us in our relationships--at home, at work, at church--to be harmonious, sympathetic, brotherly, kindhearted, humble in spirit. He calls us to give blessing for insult and even blessing for evil. He pleads with us to be diligent in each of these areas for the good of those we love and the good of the body of believers in which we serve. He calls us to do our duty even in the drudgery that sometimes exists in what He has called us to do. His prayer for us is that we might be as united in spirit and in purpose as He and the Father are united in spirit and purpose. The importance of such unity, such oneness, is that when the world sees believers so committed to such a rich, practical, daily love for one another in every aspect of their lives, no matter the circumstances, that they will be unable to deny the love of Jesus.
The question I must ask myself is am I an agent of harmony? Am I sympathetic to those around me showering them with brotherly, Christ-like love? Am I known for my kindness, my humility? Do others see me responding to hurt or insult with blessings in word and deed? Do others see me diligent in these things no matter the challenges of each day?

What if every Christian was just like me?

Girded

In the book of Ephesians, chapter six, the first part of God's armor we are told to put on is the truth. It is illustrated as the girdle or belt of truth on our spiritual armor. It enables us to walk or to run freely. No one would go to battle in Paul's day without girding up his garment. It would be a fatal mistake to so encumber one's ability to move, to respond quickly to commands, and to defend against attacks from the enemy. And the same is true of us in our spiritual warfare. We need to be made free--set at liberty--by God's truth in order to follow in His footsteps, obey His commands, resist the enemy. It is truth that removes the chains of sin, enlightens the eyes to understanding, and direct us as we "walk in the light as He is in the light." It is the guide on the path to Christian victory.
What is the truth? Jesus said, "I am the truth." He was "full of grace and truth." He prayed that His Father would sanctify His disciples through the Word, the Word of Truth. The Holy Spirit was given "to guide us into all truth." Truth, then, is a patterning of our lives after the life of Jesus, the Living Word, as revealed to us in the written Word--the Bible--by the Holy Spirit. We must walk in the will of the Father doing only those things that please Him. And we must be delighted in the doing of them. We must have the compassion, holiness, and humility of Christ evident in our lives. We must never waver from the truth or we will stumble and fall--discouraged and defeated. We must by the enabling power of the Holy Spirit put on Jesus Christ so that through the strength of the God who is never weary, we can celebrate Christian victory in all its freedom. Truth enables us to stand confidently in the midst of the spiritual battle, victory assured.

The Ten Rules

The Ten Rules for a Successful Ministry to the 100

1. Remember you're not the real Shepherd. You're just leading them to follow Him. Keep reminding them, "Be followers of me but ONLY as I am following Him."
2. Remember that sheep are easily led. And thus, easily misled. Be oh so diligent to watch your steps. Each step.
3. Don't get so wrapped up in the joy of ministering to the faithful 99, that you forget the divine command to actively pursue the recalcitrant 1 with extravagant love.
4. Don't forget, "It takes one to know one." There's a reason all that sheep foolishness seems so familiar.
5. Start each day by prayerfully feasting on a huge slice of humble pie.
6. Constantly remind the 100 Who their real strength is, their Shield, their Defender. As someone has said, " 'Baa' has never yet intimidated a wolf."
7. Encourage them to trust in the truth that the sheep can lie down and rest with the Lion of the Tribe of Judah anytime, anywhere. And be totally unafraid.
8. Remind the sheep that they are a flock. Solo sheep have no chance of survival.
9. Don't forget God assigned your flock. Especially for you.
10. End each day rejoicing in the promises: "The Lord is my Shepherd, I . . ."

Spreading Love

I Corinthians 13:8-9 Teacher's Edition

Knowing that God promises to spread His love throughout the hearts of His servants, students will come to my class expecting to find love. They will know that no matter how trying and stressful the day, or the week, or the semester, or the year, that God's love has no limit to its endurance. It can outlast anything. Thus, they will find love here. When everything else in their life appears to be self-destructing, falling apart, they will find love here. When others are looking at them suspiciously, looking to see the worst, they will find no end to the trust I have in them as God's beloved child, no fading to the unwavering hope I have for them in God's everlasting arms, no expectations of anything but the best from them, no lessening in the extravagant love God desires to immerse them in through His Spirit's "spreading" work in my heart. They will find a willingness, an eagerness, to cover up past wrongs and to move on with God's help to the next single step of following Him together, forgiven. By God's grace--and only through God's grace and the empowering work of His Spirit--they will know that in my classroom, they will always find love.

Resting in the Confidence

Resting in the confidence that I am ministering where I am by divine appointment, I will always give my students the benefit of the doubt. As I lovingly interact with them I will not be rude in my behavior but treat them with courtesy and respect. Nor will I be rude toward my fellow teachers and school staff members when I interact with them. Even in my conversations about other co-workers and other students, outside of their actual presence, I will demonstrate through my words and my actions a loving respect for all others.
I will be honored to be seen as chivalrous.
My love for my students will keep me from being "touchy," from being over-sensitive to the way they interact with me. They will find that I hold no grudges, keep no records of past wrongs, never put them down with an accusatory "I told you so." They will know that each day is a new day, a clean slate in our relationship.
And because I fervently love the students God has assigned to my care, I will develop within my students the ability to think critically, to recognize the error--the lie--being foisted upon them and the brilliant
subtlety often used to convince them to accept the lie as truth. And together we will rejoice in the beauty of the truth. Together we will develop a deep love for the truth and its importance in our lives as Christ followers--those called to "so love the world" whatever they believe.

They Will Know

I Corinthians 13:4 The Teachers' Version

Because they know that I love them through Him, my students will know I will be patient with them, and that it will be an "everyday patience," not spasmodic. They won't need to worry as they come into my classroom each day whether this day I'll be in a good mood or a bad one. My patience will always be demonstrated through kindness. They will know that everyday I will always seek their good, even at the expense of my own, and that my discipline of them, when necessary, will be constructive, edifying, not personal or humiliating or self-righteous because I feel a need to impress them with my authority or that I feel a need for some kind of vindication. They will never sense a "don't you know who I am" attitude in my responses to their behavior. And they will know that my passion for their well-being--my loving patience and my kindness--is deeply rooted in hope. They will know that when I look at them I see the promise of their future: "He that has begun a good work in them will complete it."

"But have not love"

I Corinthians 13:1-3 Teacher's version

If I excel at communicating my subject matter, if my speech skills are unrivaled, my ability to make things perfectly understandable dynamic, but my students don't know that I love them, they will leave class thinking, "He sounds just like a cymbal solo. I can't stand to listen to him. He just makes a lot of irritating noise."
If I know everything there is to know about my subject matter, if I am a scholar's scholar, the genius of all geniuses, but my students don't know that I love them, my knowledge is worthless.
If I willingly sacrifice everything in order to be able to teach--time, energy, even my resources--but my students don't know that I love them, there will be no "well-done" from the Master Teacher.

Do I need to hone my skills as a speaker--communicator? Do I need to be constantly improving my ability to explain my subject matter more effectively? Absolutely!!
Do I need to be a life-long learner, an expert in my field? Yes! Yes! Yes!
Do I need to be willing to make personal sacrifices in order to fulfill my calling to teach? Without a doubt.

But if my classroom is not immersed in the tangible love of God, I am a worthless, useless teacher. To be unloving is the sign of a heart filled with depraved indifference to everyone but myself. It is the most irrational form of idolatry. I must constantly lie to myself in order to practice it. Are there any sadder words than "but have not love"?

Time

A reminder:
The Bible has a lot to say about time. And though there is a time for everything under the sun, the Bible is also clear that we don't get a whole lot of it. Life--time--is compared to a soap bubble, a puff of wind, a breath. It is a fleeting and temporal--fragile--possession. David tells us that if we have our three score and ten, we've had our share--though He may grant us more. (Mom got 29 more!) And Jesus told us that all the concentration, effort, and manipulation we can imagine to use will not enable us to add one step to our life. God has numbered our days--and soberly, Paul warns us that some believers by living lives of continual, deliberate disobedience have had their time shortened, their days reduced. Yes, God has numbered our days, and we don't get an announcement telling us when the bubble will burst, when the puff of wind will die away, when the last breath will become a vapor.
What should be our response? Redeem the time! It's a precious gift! Don't take a moment of it for granted. Whatever God has called you to do, whatever gifts and talents He has graciously given you, pursue excellence. Do the most "mundane" things--even eating and drinking--in such a manner that the glory of His presence will be seen. Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. Enjoy the good things He has lovingly given you to enjoy. Resist the evil that is in the world. Tell--no--show those you love how deeply you care for them, how rich is the time God has given you to share with them. There is no time to waste. Not a second.
For, in a very real sense--as I remind you often--we all actually have the same amount of time--today. Yesterday is gone--joys and heartaches, triumphs and failures. You can't go and live there. Tomorrow is not here and may never come. You can't go and live there. This is it. Today is your life, your time. And you are promised all the grace and strength you need to redeem it--to live your day as He would live it.
Not a Christian? When you stand before God--and you will--you will not be able to say, "I was considering whether I should believe in you, accept your forgiveness, but I ran out of time." He knows better.

Teachers

Paul told Timothy that there were three things he needed to be doing with God's Word:
Reading it out loud publicly.
Exhorting (explaining and applying)
Teaching (systematic instruction)

And he told Timothy that he should be diligent to live out what he taught--to be a living example of God's truth.

And he told Timothy that if his teaching was being effective, it would produce the following in his listeners:
the ability to love from a pure heart.
the ability to stand before men with a good conscience.
the ability to live a life of faith with all sincerity.

And he told Timothy that he was not teaching to make men and women "smarter" spiritually, but that he was entrusting to his listeners truths that they could--and should--eagerly pass on to others.

In some way, whether we recognize it or not, admit it or not, we are all teachers--called by God to share His truth. As parents--moms and dads, as friends, as neighbors, as pastors and teachers--in some capacity we have been called to go and make disciples.

Do you understand the guidelines? Great! Be doers of the Word and not hearers only.

History

There is a simple reason why men mock the Creation, the historical "first coming" of Jesus Christ, and the prophetic second coming of the King of Kings. The last thing they want to acknowledge is that God is in control. Heaven forbid. But He is. The Creator God who began history, the Redeeming God who stepped into history, and the Righteous God who will judge evil and unrepentant men while redeeming His people and His creation are one and the same. There is nothing man fears more--and so mocks so vigorously. "Why are the nations in an uproar, and the peoples devising a vain thing? The kings of the earth take their stand, and the rulers take counsel together against the Lord and His Anointed: 'Let us tear their fetters apart, and cast away their cords from us!' He who sits enthroned in the heavens laughs, the Lord scoffs at them."
The key to understanding history is the fact of sin. Who can look at history, as "far back" as yesterday, and not see man as he is: a sinner instinctively, deliberately, arrogantly. Socialist or capitalist, atheist or religious, conservative or liberal, civilized or savage, intellectual or ignorant, his words and actions undeniably declare one thing--man is a sinner. In fact, some, if not most, of the "great" heroes of human history and some of the greatest "cultures" in human history are "real life" definitions of wickedness and depravity.
But thankfully there is a history of redemption as well. From the promised seed of Eve, through Abel, Noah, Abraham, Israel, David, the prophets, our Lord's incarnation, sacrificial death and ascension, through the living stones of His church, God has been seeking sinners, offering them forgiveness, a sure hope, an escape from condemnation, an eternity immersed in His love. Eternal, infinite grace is available to any sinner who will repent, confess, believe, trust in the redemption made available to all through God's Son, Jesus Christ. It is freely offered. And no finite sinner can out sin the infinite grace of God. The offered forgiveness is complete and secure. It rests in His hands, His control.
Yes, deny it all you want, there will be an end, and God will bring it about. Nothing man can devise will stop its coming. No amount of mockery will delay its coming. And no amount of arrogance or hatred or rebellion will keep "every knee from bowing and confessing that He is Lord." He is the Author and Finisher of history.
History. God is in control. Is. Was. Will be. Not His child? "Today is the day of salvation." All your mockery and rebellion He will delightfully and lovingly and eternally forgive. His beloved child? Be steadfast, always abounding in the work of the Lord. Be watching with your lives for His promised return. Beware of the Scripture twisters who would lead you away from the simplicity that is in Christ Jesus.

"He is coming again! He is coming again. In power and great glory, He is coming again!"

"Even so, come Lord Jesus!"

Self-control

Self-control

Self-control loves unconditionally.
Self-control begins with, not self-denial, but the denial of self.
Self-control is content with food, clothing, and shelter.
Self-control does not respond in anger.
Self-control does not respond in self-defense.
Self-control puts himself at the end of the line.
Self-control does not constantly switch lanes.
Self-control rejects the urgings of the flesh through the power of the Spirit.
Self-control thinks "needs" not "wants."
Self-control knows the boundaries of enough.
Self-control understands personal accountability.
Self-control has the right treasures.
Self-control evaluates from a spiritual perspective, not an earthly one.
Self-control seeks excellence, not success.
Self-control is unaffected by human measurement, by acceptance.
Self-control does not try to prove its independence by becoming like everyone else.
Self-control knows its weaknesses--and never underestimates their power.
Self-control knows that giving in enslaves.
Self-control is Spirit-filled.

Self-control is.

My Speech?

How are you using your speech today?

Speaking the truth in love?
Putting away lying?
Singing with grace in your heart unto the Lord?
Laboring fervently for others in your prayers?
Speaking the mystery of Christ's love to others?

"May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer!"

Relationship?

How's your relationship with Him today?

Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord?
Casting all your care on Him?
Looking unto Jesus the Author and Captain of your faith?
Giving thanks to the Father?
Willing to suffer for His sake?
Walking by faith and not by sight?
Rejoicing in the Lord?

Working on those relationships with others today?

Submitting yourself to one another in the fear of the Lord?
Striving together for the faith of the gospel?
Being knit together in love?
Esteeming others better than yourself?

Power Sources

Our Power Sources:

Taking the shield of faith
Strengthened with all might in the inner man
Rooted and build up in Him
Learning to be content
Rejoicing in my weaknesses
Hiding the Word in my heart
Abiding in Him

Ready for the conflict today?

Faithfulness

Faithfulness

Faithfulness knows that love and obedience cannot be separated.
Faithfulness endures because of joy.
Faithfulness understands that the walk must be done one step at a time, moment by moment.
Faithfulness is never in a hurry; it is patient.
Faithfulness does not demand reward or recognition.
Faithfulness begins--and ends--each day on its knees.
Faithfulness does not view acts of kindness as a distraction from steadfastness.
Faithfulness needs no followers.
Faithfulness is diligent.
Faithfulness knows that "God is not mocked, whatever a man sows, that will he also reap" is a declaration of God's compassionate love.
Faithfulness runs the race, helps the injured runner, and stays focused on the example of the One who finished His race with joy.
Faithfulness strives for excellence and makes no excuses for failure.
Faithfulness is not too proud or stubborn to accept a helping hand of love.
Faithfulness in deep poverty gives abundantly.
Faithfulness finishes.
Faithfulness is not concerned when it seems everyone else is going in the opposite direction.
Faithfulness is careful to not take even one step to the right hand or to the left.
Faithfulness leaves the consequences in the loving wise hands of his Sovereign Father.
Faithfulness is.

Faithfulness.

Joshua

I was reflecting today on Joshua when God gave him the battle plan for Jericho. Now, I know he was a whole lot better man than I am, but my first thought would have been, "We're going to do what? Walk around the city for six days and don't say a word. Then, on the seventh day, walk around the city seven times so we're really tired, and then, just blow the trumpets and yell. And the walls will fall down flat?" Uh-huh. Sure, they will. Sounds like a great plan.
And can you imagine the ridicule they heard from the Jericho folks standing on the walls? But they did exactly as God said. No explanation was needed. It was not how they won that mattered, but Who was on their side. The presence and help of God was indispensable. "If God be for us, who can stand against us?"
Do God's promises seem unattainable? Do you doubt that being obedient to His commands will cause all things to work out for your good, for the good of God's people, and for His glory? Do you doubt sometimes the promises of God? Ours is not to try to figure out how God will keep His promises, how He will give us the victory, but to accept by faith that as He has said, so will He do. Every time. We just need to trust and obey, to make God indispensable in our lives, day by day.
Why did they shout on that last day? "Shout! for the Lord has given you the victory!" It was a shout of praise--before the walls came down. "Thank you for the victory, Lord!" Followed by a crash. Perhaps God hasn't knocked down some of the walls in your life and mine because we are not yet ready to praise Him? Maybe it's just easier to keep walking around the city going in circles?
God has promised us the victory. God has promised us His goodness in our lives. The omnipotent God has promised. We must trust, obey, and shout. The Lord has given us the victory. The walls will fall.

"Whosoever is born of God, overcomes the world. And this is the victory that overcomes the world--our faith."

"Thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."

"I can do all things through Christ who is my strength."

Patience

Patience

Patience has no timetable. "Hurry" is not in its dictionary. Neither is "now" or "when."
Patience listens--again and again.
Patience speaks with a gentle touch of empathy and love.
Patience is not judgmental.
Patience never says, "I told you so."
Patience never issues demands; it prints no ultimatums.
Patience accepts that the fault may be its own.
Patience is not afraid to be taken advantage of--again and again. By the same person.
Patience emanates love and joy and peace.
Patience never goes into hiding.
Patience always responds with a soft answer.
Patience is not concerned with its reputation.
Patience gives God all the room He needs to accomplish His purpose, His way, in His time.
Patience, though it longs for Home, never dishonors its responsibility as His ambassador. The "recall" is left in the hands of the King.
Patience endures pain and heartache and disappointment. They are part of the "calling." They are the source of dependence, a call to embrace weakness, the only road to strength.
Patience knows it is the doorway to true repentance.
Patience is in love with grace.

Patience is.

Kindness

Kindness

Kindness is not perturbed by the need to be patient.
Kindness is motivated by unconditional love and energized by infinite joy.
Kindness is at peace.
Kindness is never put off by the size of the need. It treasures small and simple deeds as much as grandiose ones--if not more.
Kindness never seeks recognition--would rather be unknown than praised.
Kindness has a tender heart toward those who need forgiveness--knows no enemies.
Kindness is genuine, spontaneous. It can't help itself. Self is never the motivation.
Kindness writes notes of encouragement.
Kindness makes great cookies.
Kindness leaves a generous tip for lousy waitresses.
Kindness holds a hand and listens for as long as it takes.
Kindness holds open doors. Loves the back of the line.
Kindness finds no job beneath him, relishes working behind the scenes.
Kindness remembers what pleases someone the most.
Kindness can be well thought out--or totally random.
Kindness doesn't need a "thank you"--it has no expectations.
Kindness joyfully accepts acts of kindness.
Kindness retaliates with acts of love.
Kindness is crushed when it hurts someone, even if it's accidental.
Kindness is the creator of smiles.

Kindness is.

Peace

Peace

Peace knows there is a battle but is unafraid.
Peace brings overwhelming stillness in the fiercest storm.
Peace is unmoved by the earthquakes of life; peace is unshakeable.
Peace leaves a footprint wherever it has been.
Peace weeps at strife between lovers, between those called to be children of God, called to be peacemakers on the earth.
Peace is full of good cheer.
Peace fights its battles with weapons of love and joy.
Peace whispers, "Forgive, as Christ forgave you."
Peace guards the heart so that one can love right.
Peace guards the mind so that one can think right.
Peace is the foundation for contentment and the impetus for confident faith.
Peace knows that it battles not against flesh and blood but against invisible forces of evil at work in the world.
Peace knows that he no longer resides in the camp of the enemy but has been reconciled and resides now--and forever--as a captive in the kingdom of the Beloved, of the Dear Son.
Peace knows that death is powerless to harm--a wasp without its sting.
Peace knows that when the battle is over a place of eternal rest has been prepared for him--in his Father's house.
Peace, each day, prayerfully puts on the whole armor of God.
Peace knows that in a garden, with every need and want supplied, surrounded by the tamest animals on earth, one can be caught off guard by the enemy. But peace knows that in the wilderness, surrounded by wild animals, physically drained and exhausted, the enemy can be resisted--and he will flee. And peace knows that it is adherence to and the faithful wielding of the Sword of the Spirit--the Word of God--that brings the victory--wherever he may be.
Peace reigns in an untroubled heart.
Peace never loses sight of its Prince--its Captain.
Peace eagerly and joyfully anticipates the final victory. His daily prayer, "Even so, come Lord Jesus!"

The Giver

Thank the Lord daily for His gifts!!! But be careful. Don't let the gifts take priority over the Giver. Since the Garden, Satan has tried to use God's best gifts to us to lead us into disobedience. When the gifts become more important to us than our Lord--He who only gives good gifts--we can turn our gardens into a wilderness. To love and cherish His gifts to us over the loveliness of Him--the irreplaceable gift--is to besmirch His goodness.

Joy

Joy looks at the rubble, rolls up its sleeves, and says, "Let's rebuild!"
Joy is the rainbow in the midst of the storm.
Joy lets go of yesterday.
Joy sings--even if it's off key. And is not the least embarrassed about it.
Joy soars on the slightest puff of wind.
Joy dances in a cloudburst.
Joy embraces sorrow. Joy weeps.
Joy knows it is called to be a comforter--not a complainer.
Joy never ages.
Joy cherishes each day.
Joy has no possessions just resources.
Joy notices the simplest pleasures. Nothing is too small or too insignificant to produce wonder.
Joy is love's strength.
Joy has no ruffled feathers.
Joy never finds fault.
Joy doesn't ask, "Why me?" But rather, "Why not me?"
Joy is honored and humbled to be counted worthy to suffer for His sake.
Joy endures the cross, despises the shame, and completes the work.
Joy in the midst of impenetrable darkness senses the loving presence of the Light of the World.