February 20, 2019

Blindness by Gary Rose


Some time ago, I posted about the concept of “Cognitive Dissonance.” As you will remember, this is what human beings do when they see something that just doesn’t fit into their world view, their basic core of beliefs – so, unwilling to change, they twist reality to still believe in something that has just been proven WRONG. When people do this, they place their ideas above the plain instruction of God and disobey HIM. This is as old as the famous episode of Adam and Eve’s rebellion against the Almighty. And- make no mistake, Satan is right there, blinding them from the truth.
The apostle Paul said...


2 Corinthians 4 ( World English Bible )
1 Therefore seeing we have this ministry, even as we obtained mercy, we don’t faint.  2 But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by the manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.  3 Even if our Good News is veiled, it is veiled in those who perish;  4 in whom the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving, that the light of the Good News of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should not dawn on them.  5 For we don’t preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake;  6 seeing it is God who said, “Light will shine out of darkness,”*who has shone in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 

When people just believe what they want to believe and ignore God, they have hardened their hearts to the truth. If they persist in this, they will be lost, period. God wants everyone to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth. Stay away from every form of sin, it WILL KILL YOU.

But, what is sin?

The Bible describes it very plainly. Here is a sample of the difference between sinful attitudes and actions and those that please God...


Galatians 5 ( WEB )
16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you won’t fulfill the lust of the flesh.  17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, that you may not do the things that you desire.  18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.  19 Now the works of the flesh are obvious, which are: adultery, sexual immorality, uncleanness, lustfulness,  20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, strife, jealousies, outbursts of anger, rivalries, divisions, heresies, 21 envyings, murders, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these; of which I forewarn you, even as I also forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the Kingdom of God. 

  22  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith,  23 gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.  24 Those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and lusts.  25 If we live by the Spirit, let’s also walk by the Spirit. 26 Let’s not become conceited, provoking one another, and envying one another. 



Do yourself a favor, choose God’s way, the end result will be eternal bliss in heaven. Choose the way of Satan and you will regret it forever in hell. Just that simple. I pray that you will make the godly choice!

Bible Reading February 20, 21 by Gary Rose


Bible Reading February 20, 21

World English Bible

Feb. 20
Exodus 1

Exo 1:1 Now these are the names of the sons of Israel, who came into Egypt (every man and his household came with Jacob):
Exo 1:2 Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah,
Exo 1:3 Issachar, Zebulun, and Benjamin,
Exo 1:4 Dan and Naphtali, Gad and Asher.
Exo 1:5 All the souls who came out of Jacob's body were seventy souls, and Joseph was in Egypt already.
Exo 1:6 Joseph died, as did all his brothers, and all that generation.
Exo 1:7 The children of Israel were fruitful, and increased abundantly, and multiplied, and grew exceedingly mighty; and the land was filled with them.
Exo 1:8 Now there arose a new king over Egypt, who didn't know Joseph.
Exo 1:9 He said to his people, "Behold, the people of the children of Israel are more and mightier than we.
Exo 1:10 Come, let us deal wisely with them, lest they multiply, and it happen that when any war breaks out, they also join themselves to our enemies, and fight against us, and escape out of the land."
Exo 1:11 Therefore they set taskmasters over them to afflict them with their burdens. They built storage cities for Pharaoh: Pithom and Raamses.
Exo 1:12 But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and the more they spread out. They were grieved because of the children of Israel.
Exo 1:13 The Egyptians ruthlessly made the children of Israel serve,
Exo 1:14 and they made their lives bitter with hard service, in mortar and in brick, and in all manner of service in the field, all their service, in which they ruthlessly made them serve.
Exo 1:15 The king of Egypt spoke to the Hebrew midwives, of whom the name of the one was Shiphrah, and the name of the other Puah,
Exo 1:16 and he said, "When you perform the duty of a midwife to the Hebrew women, and see them on the birth stool; if it is a son, then you shall kill him; but if it is a daughter, then she shall live."
Exo 1:17 But the midwives feared God, and didn't do what the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the baby boys alive.
Exo 1:18 The king of Egypt called for the midwives, and said to them, "Why have you done this thing, and have saved the boys alive?"
Exo 1:19 The midwives said to Pharaoh, "Because the Hebrew women aren't like the Egyptian women; for they are vigorous, and give birth before the midwife comes to them."
Exo 1:20 God dealt well with the midwives, and the people multiplied, and grew very mighty.
Exo 1:21 It happened, because the midwives feared God, that he gave them families.
Exo 1:22 Pharaoh commanded all his people, saying, "You shall cast every son who is born into the river, and every daughter you shall save alive."

Feb. 21
Exodus 2

Exo 2:1 A man of the house of Levi went and took a daughter of Levi as his wife.
Exo 2:2 The woman conceived, and bore a son. When she saw that he was a fine child, she hid him three months.
Exo 2:3 When she could no longer hide him, she took a papyrus basket for him, and coated it with tar and with pitch. She put the child in it, and laid it in the reeds by the river's bank.
Exo 2:4 His sister stood far off, to see what would be done to him.
Exo 2:5 Pharaoh's daughter came down to bathe at the river. Her maidens walked along by the riverside. She saw the basket among the reeds, and sent her handmaid to get it.
Exo 2:6 She opened it, and saw the child, and behold, the baby cried. She had compassion on him, and said, "This is one of the Hebrews' children."
Exo 2:7 Then his sister said to Pharaoh's daughter, "Should I go and call a nurse for you from the Hebrew women, that she may nurse the child for you?"
Exo 2:8 Pharaoh's daughter said to her, "Go." The maiden went and called the child's mother.
Exo 2:9 Pharaoh's daughter said to her, "Take this child away, and nurse him for me, and I will give you your wages." The woman took the child, and nursed it.
Exo 2:10 The child grew, and she brought him to Pharaoh's daughter, and he became her son. She named him Moses, and said, "Because I drew him out of the water."
Exo 2:11 It happened in those days, when Moses had grown up, that he went out to his brothers, and looked at their burdens. He saw an Egyptian striking a Hebrew, one of his brothers.
Exo 2:12 He looked this way and that way, and when he saw that there was no one, he killed the Egyptian, and hid him in the sand.
Exo 2:13 He went out the second day, and behold, two men of the Hebrews were fighting with each other. He said to him who did the wrong, "Why do you strike your fellow?"
Exo 2:14 He said, "Who made you a prince and a judge over us? Do you plan to kill me, as you killed the Egyptian?" Moses was afraid, and said, "Surely this thing is known."
Exo 2:15 Now when Pharaoh heard this thing, he sought to kill Moses. But Moses fled from the face of Pharaoh, and lived in the land of Midian, and he sat down by a well.
Exo 2:16 Now the priest of Midian had seven daughters. They came and drew water, and filled the troughs to water their father's flock.
Exo 2:17 The shepherds came and drove them away; but Moses stood up and helped them, and watered their flock.
Exo 2:18 When they came to Reuel, their father, he said, "How is it that you have returned so early today?"
Exo 2:19 They said, "An Egyptian delivered us out of the hand of the shepherds, and moreover he drew water for us, and watered the flock."
Exo 2:20 He said to his daughters, "Where is he? Why is it that you have left the man? Call him, that he may eat bread."
Exo 2:21 Moses was content to dwell with the man. He gave Moses Zipporah, his daughter.
Exo 2:22 She bore a son, and he named him Gershom, for he said, "I have lived as a foreigner in a foreign land."
Exo 2:23 It happened in the course of those many days, that the king of Egypt died, and the children of Israel sighed because of the bondage, and they cried, and their cry came up to God because of the bondage.
Exo 2:24 God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob.
Exo 2:25 God saw the children of Israel, and God was concerned about them.

Feb. 20, 21
Matthew 26

Mat 26:1 It happened, when Jesus had finished all these words, that he said to his disciples,
Mat 26:2 "You know that after two days the Passover is coming, and the Son of Man will be delivered up to be crucified."
Mat 26:3 Then the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders of the people were gathered together in the court of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas.
Mat 26:4 They took counsel together that they might take Jesus by deceit, and kill him.
Mat 26:5 But they said, "Not during the feast, lest a riot occur among the people."
Mat 26:6 Now when Jesus was in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper,
Mat 26:7 a woman came to him having an alabaster jar of very expensive ointment, and she poured it on his head as he sat at the table.
Mat 26:8 But when his disciples saw this, they were indignant, saying, "Why this waste?
Mat 26:9 For this ointment might have been sold for much, and given to the poor."
Mat 26:10 However, knowing this, Jesus said to them, "Why do you trouble the woman? Because she has done a good work for me.
Mat 26:11 For you always have the poor with you; but you don't always have me.
Mat 26:12 For in pouring this ointment on my body, she did it to prepare me for burial.
Mat 26:13 Most certainly I tell you, wherever this Good News is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be spoken of as a memorial of her."
Mat 26:14 Then one of the twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests,
Mat 26:15 and said, "What are you willing to give me, that I should deliver him to you?" They weighed out for him thirty pieces of silver.
Mat 26:16 From that time he sought opportunity to betray him.
Mat 26:17 Now on the first day of unleavened bread, the disciples came to Jesus, saying to him, "Where do you want us to prepare for you to eat the Passover?"
Mat 26:18 He said, "Go into the city to a certain person, and tell him, 'The Teacher says, "My time is at hand. I will keep the Passover at your house with my disciples." ' "
Mat 26:19 The disciples did as Jesus commanded them, and they prepared the Passover.
Mat 26:20 Now when evening had come, he was reclining at the table with the twelve disciples.
Mat 26:21 As they were eating, he said, "Most certainly I tell you that one of you will betray me."
Mat 26:22 They were exceedingly sorrowful, and each began to ask him, "It isn't me, is it, Lord?"
Mat 26:23 He answered, "He who dipped his hand with me in the dish, the same will betray me.
Mat 26:24 The Son of Man goes, even as it is written of him, but woe to that man through whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would be better for that man if he had not been born."
Mat 26:25 Judas, who betrayed him, answered, "It isn't me, is it, Rabbi?" He said to him, "You said it."
Mat 26:26 As they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks for it, and broke it. He gave to the disciples, and said, "Take, eat; this is my body."
Mat 26:27 He took the cup, gave thanks, and gave to them, saying, "All of you drink it,
Mat 26:28 for this is my blood of the new covenant, which is poured out for many for the remission of sins.
Mat 26:29 But I tell you that I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on, until that day when I drink it anew with you in my Father's Kingdom."
Mat 26:30 When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
Mat 26:31 Then Jesus said to them, "All of you will be made to stumble because of me tonight, for it is written, 'I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.'
Mat 26:32 But after I am raised up, I will go before you into Galilee."
Mat 26:33 But Peter answered him, "Even if all will be made to stumble because of you, I will never be made to stumble."
Mat 26:34 Jesus said to him, "Most certainly I tell you that tonight, before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times."
Mat 26:35 Peter said to him, "Even if I must die with you, I will not deny you." All of the disciples also said likewise.
Mat 26:36 Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to his disciples, "Sit here, while I go there and pray."
Mat 26:37 He took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and severely troubled.
Mat 26:38 Then he said to them, "My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here, and watch with me."
Mat 26:39 He went forward a little, fell on his face, and prayed, saying, "My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass away from me; nevertheless, not what I desire, but what you desire."
Mat 26:40 He came to the disciples, and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, "What, couldn't you watch with me for one hour?
Mat 26:41 Watch and pray, that you don't enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak."
Mat 26:42 Again, a second time he went away, and prayed, saying, "My Father, if this cup can't pass away from me unless I drink it, your desire be done."
Mat 26:43 He came again and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy.
Mat 26:44 He left them again, went away, and prayed a third time, saying the same words.
Mat 26:45 Then he came to his disciples, and said to them, "Sleep on now, and take your rest. Behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.
Mat 26:46 Arise, let's be going. Behold, he who betrays me is at hand."
Mat 26:47 While he was still speaking, behold, Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with him a great multitude with swords and clubs, from the chief priest and elders of the people.
Mat 26:48 Now he who betrayed him gave them a sign, saying, "Whoever I kiss, he is the one. Seize him."
Mat 26:49 Immediately he came to Jesus, and said, "Hail, Rabbi!" and kissed him.
Mat 26:50 Jesus said to him, "Friend, why are you here?" Then they came and laid hands on Jesus, and took him.
Mat 26:51 Behold, one of those who were with Jesus stretched out his hand, and drew his sword, and struck the servant of the high priest, and struck off his ear.
Mat 26:52 Then Jesus said to him, "Put your sword back into its place, for all those who take the sword will die by the sword.
Mat 26:53 Or do you think that I couldn't ask my Father, and he would even now send me more than twelve legions of angels?
Mat 26:54 How then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that it must be so?"
Mat 26:55 In that hour Jesus said to the multitudes, "Have you come out as against a robber with swords and clubs to seize me? I sat daily in the temple teaching, and you didn't arrest me.
Mat 26:56 But all this has happened, that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled." Then all the disciples left him, and fled.
Mat 26:57 Those who had taken Jesus led him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were gathered together.
Mat 26:58 But Peter followed him from a distance, to the court of the high priest, and entered in and sat with the officers, to see the end.
Mat 26:59 Now the chief priests, the elders, and the whole council sought false testimony against Jesus, that they might put him to death;
Mat 26:60 and they found none. Even though many false witnesses came forward, they found none. But at last two false witnesses came forward,
Mat 26:61 and said, "This man said, 'I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three days.' "
Mat 26:62 The high priest stood up, and said to him, "Have you no answer? What is this that these testify against you?"
Mat 26:63 But Jesus held his peace. The high priest answered him, "I adjure you by the living God, that you tell us whether you are the Christ, the Son of God."
Mat 26:64 Jesus said to him, "You have said it. Nevertheless, I tell you, after this you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power, and coming on the clouds of the sky."
Mat 26:65 Then the high priest tore his clothing, saying, "He has spoken blasphemy! Why do we need any more witnesses? Behold, now you have heard his blasphemy.
Mat 26:66 What do you think?" They answered, "He is worthy of death!"
Mat 26:67 Then they spit in his face and beat him with their fists, and some slapped him,
Mat 26:68 saying, "Prophesy to us, you Christ! Who hit you?"
Mat 26:69 Now Peter was sitting outside in the court, and a maid came to him, saying, "You were also with Jesus, the Galilean!"
Mat 26:70 But he denied it before them all, saying, "I don't know what you are talking about."
Mat 26:71 When he had gone out onto the porch, someone else saw him, and said to those who were there, "This man also was with Jesus of Nazareth."
Mat 26:72 Again he denied it with an oath, "I don't know the man."
Mat 26:73 After a little while those who stood by came and said to Peter, "Surely you are also one of them, for your speech makes you known."
Mat 26:74 Then he began to curse and to swear, "I don't know the man!" Immediately the rooster crowed.
Mat 26:75 Peter remembered the word which Jesus had said to him, "Before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times." He went out and wept bitterly.

The Baby and the Wash by T. Pierce Brown

http://www.oldpaths.com/Archive/Brown/T/Pierce/1923/baby.html

The Baby and the Wash


Some have coined such expressions as, "Throw the baby out with the wash," "Lean over backwards to stand up straight," and various other ones to describe what is conceived as an over reaction to a situation or philosophy. Perhaps in the church those who practice that phenomenon may be called "ultra-conservative." At any rate, although labels such as "liberal" and "conservative" may be dangerous, deceitful and divisive, there is little doubt that most of us use various labels to identify things and persons in some fashion. Without trying to attach an opprobrious label to anyone, I think it might be helpful to suggest one or more areas where it seems that some brethren have done disservice to "the baby," and perhaps not even eliminated the dirty wash.
Since there has arisen in the church various aspects of the "Pentecostal movement," such as tongue speaking, direct operation of the Holy Spirit in conversion, there are those who have taken the position that if God does anything in answer to prayer, this would be a direct operation of the Holy Spirit and the idea must be condemned as false doctrine. Some attempt to modify that idea by saying, "God may providentially do some things," but they seem unable to explain exactly what they mean by that.
There should be a clear distinction between a miracle that was apparent to all who saw it that it was a miracle, and God acting directly on a situation and causing something to happen that would not otherwise have happened. For example, when I pray for a sick person, I see nothing strange or wrong with praying that God heal the sick person. If God does it, I have no way of knowing that He did, so it is not a miracle in the Bible sense. However, it does not solve the problem to pray that God will bless the doctor, the nurse, the medicine, and all means that are used and still deny that God does anything. It is no more a miracle for God to heal the sick person than it is to bless the doctor's hands that they may do something that they would not have done otherwise.
When God "providentially" got Moses' mother to put him in the ark and got Pharaoh's daughter to come down to the river at the same time Moses drifted to the spot, He was acting, just as surely as He was acting when He turned the river into blood. However, the first was not a miracle as the second was, for no one could tell that God had anything to do with the first situation. How He got Moses down there at the right moment without anyone seeing His hand in it, or without overruling the will of anyone, we do not know. This is why we have used the term, "providence." However, by the use of that term, we do not have to deny that God is still active in the affairs of men. To do so would, in terms of this article, be throwing the baby out with the wash.
There is another area where it is possible that some of us are trying to throw the baby out with the wash. We have a group in the church who see nothing wrong with accepting as a Christian brother anyone who claims to accept Jesus as Lord. It matters not that they have neither understood nor obeyed the gospel. This ungodly, unscriptural practice has led some brethren to so react as to stigmatize and ostracize any who would say a good word about some denominational preacher or practice, or even be courteous to their members. To them, the expression, "Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them" means that you sin even if you play golf with a denominational preacher. If you do not call a specific denomination by name when you point out some false doctrine, you are presumed to be a liberal, compromising the truth.
The baby still needs to be washed, and the dirt eradicated. We just need to be careful that we do not do more harm than good by the way we respond to situations. Jesus was teaching approximately the same thing when he gave the parable of the tares and the wheat. He did not mean that we are to disregard the tares and pretend that they are not there, or that they are as good as the wheat. He did include the idea that we are to be careful that we do not root out or trample down the wheat as we get rid of the tares. We are not to get rid of them in the sense that the Roman church got rid of heretics -- by burning them at stake, or otherwise killing or persecuting them. We are to have no fellowship with them as brothers in Christ, but we are not to take vengeance on them or punish them as God alone has the right to do, and will do in the judgment day.
T. Pierce Brown

Published in The Old Paths Archive
(http://www.oldpaths.com)

Fruit of the Spirit (Part 4) Patience by Ben Fronczek

http://granvillenychurchofchrist.org/?p=1498


Fruit of the Spirit (Part 4) Patience


Patience
As we come to the fourth fruit of the spirit, I know that many of us really struggle with this one. Many of us are so wired for action we get frustrated with how slow things move sometimes. Whether we realize it or not, many of our sins are linked to a lack of patience.
As you study the fruit of the Spirit, it doesn’t take long before you realize that they are all connected. If you have love, peace, and some self control can be more patient. And patience is a necessary prerequisite for attaining a peace filled spirit. Likewise, all these fruits stem from a humble and loving heart.
Here’s a definition that seems to capture the biblical meaning: “Patience is a calm endurance based on the certainty that God is in control.” Patience is not necessarily the ability to wait, rather it’s how you act while you are waiting. And if you really trust God while you wait, you can even enjoy life while God is working on or solving your problem. What it comes down to is, trusting God so much that we don’t have to know all the answers and why this or that is not happening… we just trust Him to work it out. Proverbs 3:6 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;  in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. Whether you realize it or not, we are not in control, God is. But it’s not easy to be patient, is it?
There are at least 2 reasons why being patient is so difficult & rare today.
1. It goes against our human, fleshly nature. From the moment we’re born we want things taken care of right away. When a baby wakes up in the middle of the night and is hungry, it doesn’t lie there and think, “I know mom and dad are tired so I’ll just wait until breakfast time.” No, the baby cries impatiently until it receives the attention it demands. Many of us haven’t changed much from those days.
#2. It is also contrary to our culture. Those of you who have traveled to other countries recognize that Americans are wound pretty tight. Some of us can’t even take a day off to just to rest once a week like God commanded His people in the Old Testament, to remember the Sabbath. In Ex. 20:9 God said 6 days you shall labor and do your work, but on the 7th day we should not work.
In Psalm 130:1 & 5-6 the psalmist wrote: “From the depths of despair, O Lord, I call for your help. Then in Verse 5 he writes I am counting on the Lord; yes, I am counting on him. I have put my hope in his word. I long for the Lordmore than sentries long for the dawn, yes, more than sentries long for the dawn.
While in the midst of waiting, the psalmist found hope in God and His word. When we put our hope in the Word of God, it encourages us and helps the fruit of patience ripen in our lives. Practically speaking, we develop patience when we believe and claim the promises of God seen in the Bible. So, when you feel like giving up, or when you feel yourself wanting to take things into your own hands, turn to the Scripture. Read it. Memorize it. Write out a verse and meditate on it. Paul wrote to the Romans in 15:4: “the Scriptures give us hope and encouragement as we wait patiently for God’s promises to be fulfilled.”
In vs. 6 the psalmist also said that he was able to wait for the Lord more than the “watchmen (or sentries)” waits for the morning. In biblical times, watchmen vigilantly guarded the city during the night, looking for enemies who might attack. They were ‘on guard’, alert and obedient as they eagerly waited for the morning, because that’s when they could relax and get some sleep. A watchman couldn’t control the rising of the sun. He couldn’t speed up the night, so he just faithfully did his job.. He knew the difference between his job and God’s job. It may be difficult to wait for the Lord, but its worse when we try to take thing in our own hand and wish you hadn’t. (Remember Abraham?)
Patience is a complex word in the Bible. When Miles Coverdale translated the Bible into English in 1535 he had to invent the word ‘longsuffering’ to describe the Greek phrase found in Galatians 5:22. It was such a good rendering that the translators of the King James Version used the same word in 1611. A patient person has the ability to suffer for a long time and wait it out. Proverbs 14:9 says that, “A patient man has great understanding, but a quick-tempered man displays folly.”
It’s wise to be patient but it’s foolish to be hot tempered. The Greek word for patience also implies slow to get angry, or to have a long fuse and a short memory. It also implies “wrath that is put far away.” If we walk in the Spirit and the Spirit controls us, fits of anger and rage will be pushed away. Patient people are hard to provoke. They can absorb, or put up with a lot before they “lose it.”
Fruits of the Spirit are not only a gift from God, they are also something we do. As I mentioned in an earlier lesson, I believe that we are preprogrammed with many of God’s attributes and abilities before we are even born. When a Christian makes a choice to keep in step with the Holy Spirit, the Spirit help the Christian grow and mature and become more God-like in these abilities.
But these Christ-like character qualities won’t grow and develop in us unless we make some important choices and deny self of what we want to happen and deny our self of what we think should happen, and what we feel should happen and put aside our time table, when we think what we want should take place. And what if the flesh doesn’t get it’s own way? It gets angry, and fumes, and sometimes even lashes out or pout like a baby.
Here are some things that you can do to help you develop your patience:
#1. Realize that there are going to be times when you are just going to have to wait (wait on God and wait on people). In Vines Dictionary of the Bible it says that this fruit of the Spirit can only grow and develop in times of trial. You have to practice being patient to become a more patient person. So I say, prepare you self mentally beforehand. This takes a lot of anxiety out of waiting. Realize that God has His own plan and there is a purpose for making you wait. It may be to align certain events up just right, and yes it may even be to groom or prepare you in the process.
Consider Moses and Joseph, those men had to wait years before God answered their prayer. Don’t you think that Joseph prayed over and over, and shed a few tears, and maybe even got a little depressed at times as he waited for God to do something? God was not only arranging events in his favor behind the scene, He was grooming and preparing him for what the future held for him. So I say, expect that there is going to be times when you have to wait and rather than getting upset and frustrated choose to make the best of that time…even in small ways. For example, every time I go to a Doctor’s office or go to get my car worked on I take a book, a pen and paper and do some work. I actually prepared some of my best sermons in a waiting room.
#2. Another thing that helps is to look at annoying people through the eyes of Jesus. Philippians 2:3: “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.”                          
If you change your view or perspective many times that will helpYou don’t know what’s going on in another person’s life that making you wait.
A train was filled with tired people. Most of them had spent the day traveling through the hot dusty plains and at last evening had come and they all tried to settle down for a good night’s sleep. However, at one end of the car a man was holding a tiny baby and as night came on the baby became restless and started screaming at the top of its lungs. Unable to take it any longer, a big brawny man spoke for the rest of the group. “Why don’t you take that baby to its mother?”
There was a pause and then came the reply. “I’m sorry. I’m doin’ my best. The baby’s mother is in the casket in the baggage car in front of us.” There was an awkward silence for a couple minutes. Then the big man who asked the cruel question got out of his seat and moved toward the man with the motherless child. He apologized for his impatience and insensitivity. He took the tiny baby in his own arms and told the tired father to get some sleep. Then in loving patience he cared for the little baby all through the night.
We’d be much less impatient and much more tolerant if we decided to treat others like Jesus would if He was in our place
#3. Decide to spend some quality time with patient people. Proverbs 22:24-25 says: “Do not make friends with a hot-tempered man, do not associate with one easily angered, or you may learn his ways and get yourself ensnared.”
If we can learn how to be angry by hanging out with angry people, then why can’t we can learn patience by spending time with those who are long-suffering and gentle.
An author for Reader’s Digest wrote about how he studied Amish people in preparation for an article about them. In his observation at the schoolyard, he noted that the children never screamed or yelled. This amazed him. He asked the principal why Amish kids don’t seem to get angry. The principal replied, “Well, have you ever heard an Amish adult yell?”
James 5:7-11 says: Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains. You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near. Don’t grumble against one another, brothers and sisters, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door!   10 Brothers and sisters, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. 11 As you know, we count as blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.
One way to spend time with patient people and further develop patience is to read about those in scripture who had to wait on the Lord and what He promised them. Learn from their examples. In doing so you will see God’s faithfulness, and learn to trust Him even more as you wait for your answer or your deliverance.
#4. Learn to Release your anger appropriately. Ephesians 4:26 says, “In your anger do not sin.” That means that there are right ways and wrong ways to process frustrations and anger. It’s possible to be angry and not sin. Remember a sinful fleshly response lets you know that you are NOT walking in the Spirit
When you’re angry, admit it to yourself, own up to it before God, and then confess it to the person you’re mad at. Meet with the person and gently say something like this, “I’m hurt and feel myself getting a bit frustrated and angry but I care enough about our relationship to deal with the issues that are bothering me.” The best time to put a fire out is when it starts and still small.
#5. Learn to trust more and rely on God and His timing, and His help. We say that we trust God but what do our actions truly reveal? Patience is at the very heart of God’s own nature. Psalm 145:8: “The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love.”
In 2 Peter 3:15. Peter told those early Christian that God has not destroyed this evil world already because He is patient not wanting anyone to be lost.
Galatians 5:16 challenges us saying, “Live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature.” Determine to ‘stay with Him and move at His pace’. Put patience into practice at every opportunity..
An African woman had become increasingly impatient with her husband. Married life was a strain because she kept blowing up at her spouse. She went to the doctor and asked him for some help. He told her that she must first gather the basic ingredients for such a powerful medicine. The first thing he needed was three hairs from the mane of a live lion.   
The lady left wondering how in the world she was going to get close enough to a lion to get three hairs. She decided to take her largest goat and tie it to a tree, hoping to tempt the lion. Sure enough, the lion came and took the goat. The next day she tied another goat to the tree, and the process went on for several weeks until she had sacrificed her entire flock as bait. Each day she managed to get closer to the lion and on the final day managed to talk to him. “I’m sorry to trouble you, but I wonder if I could have three hairs from your mane?” The lion smiled and said, “Of course, take what you wish. After all, I’ve enjoyed your goats.”
The next day the lady triumphantly took the ingredients to the doctor. The doctor turned to her and said, “You must have been extremely patient to get these hairs from the mane of a live lion. Now go home and put the same amount of patience into your marriage!”
Let’s go home and practice patience today and everyday to the best of our ability. And ask the Spirit to help you when you feel weak and this fruit will grow and ripen in you as each day passes!
(Based on a sermon by Brian Bill)
For more lessons click on the following link: http://granvillenychurchofchrist.org/?page_id=566
All comments can be emailed to: bfronzek@gmail.com

Atheist Parenting Book by Eric Lyons, M.Min.

http://apologeticspress.org/APContent.aspx?category=12&article=2223


Atheist Parenting Book

by Eric Lyons, M.Min.


In the July 16, 2007 issue of Newsweek, Lisa Miller informed readers about a new and different parenting book, titled Parenting Beyond Belief. Edited by Dale McGowan, this volume “aims to help folks who are raising their kids without religion deal with the sticky questions that come up about Santa Claus and heaven, and it raises more serious concerns about how to bring up ethical, confident, non-believing kids in a culture saturated with talk about God” (Miller, 2007, p. 10). According to McGowan’s Web site, Parenting Beyond Belief “is the first comprehensive parenting book by a major publisher on raising children without religion” (2007). McGowan added: “We hope it isn’t the last” (2007).
Included in Parenting Beyond Belief is discussion about a new summer camp for children of atheists. Camp Quest: The Secular Summer Camp, which operates in six different locations in North America, claims to be “the first residential summer camp in the history of the United States for the children of Atheists, Freethinkers, Humanists, Brights, or whatever other terms might be applied to those who hold to a naturalistic, not supernatural world view” (Camp Quest, n.d., emp. added).
It seems as if atheists are more determined than ever to indoctrinate children with godless materials and ideologies. In the end, Dale McGowan’s hope of seeing more atheistic materials for families ultimately fails to provide reasonable, not to mention comforting, answers to life’s biggest questions. Imagine the child who ponders his origin for the first time: “Mom, why are we here?” “Ricky,” mom replies, “we’re here because, by chance, billions of years ago a tiny ball of matter exploded. Eventually Earth was formed, life emerged from lifeless matter, and millions of years later humans evolved from lower animals.” “So we’re here by accident?” Ricky asks. “That’s one way of looking at it,” says his mother. Parenting Beyond Belief and Camp Quest no doubt help atheistic parents explain origins and ultimate destinations to their children in a more creative way. However, the bottom line is, children will learn that life ultimately is meaningless because their existence is accidental and there is no life beyond death.
The key to an abundant life, both in the present and in the afterlife, is found only through Christ Jesus (John 10:10). May God help us to teach our children this truth, as well as reach out to those reared by atheists, who may never have heard the answers that Jesus and His Word can provide.

REFERENCES

Camp Quest: The Secular Summer Camp (no date), [On-line], URL: http://www.camp-quest.org/.
McGowan, Dale (2007), “Parenting Beyond Belief,” [On-line], URL: http://www.parentingbeyondbelief.com/.
Miller, Lisa (2007), “BELIEF WATCH: How To,” Newsweek, July 16.