Patience

"Love is patient, love is kind..." 1 Corinthians 13:4

We live in a culture of impatience. When we want something, we want it now. Most people today don't want to wait. Everyone seems in a hurry to get what they want. While riding in my car recently, I decided to look for examples of impatient drivers. It didn't take long. Drivers were going too fast,  cutting off other drivers and honking their horns. Following too close for safety, with little regard for the other drivers. On the highway I saw another driver pass me and weave in and out of traffic. We see it every day. People getting angry while waiting in line for the cashier, etc. 

There is a reason why the Apostle Paul wrote that "Love is patient," and in Galatians in the Bible he wrote that "the fruit of the Spirit is patience..." The Holy Spirit of God teaches us patience. It is a virtue that is present when the Holy Spirit is at work in our lives, and is an essential ingredient for happiness. God wants us to be kind, loving, and patient with others and with ourselves. We learn patience when we practice being kind and loving and thoughtful of those around us. With God's help we can have a happy and peaceful life, the abundant life that Jesus promised, the life that God has planned for us.

Prayer for today:

Dear Lord, help us to have the patience we need for a happy and peaceful life, a life filled with love, peace, and hope for the future. May we be truly grateful for all the blessings you give us each day. And may we enjoy the abundant life you have planned for us through Jesus Christ, amen.

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Humility and Love

"What does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God" (Micah 6:8).

Humility is the character trait that means having a modest view of one's importance. Being humble means knowing that God is the source of our life and our strength. As the Bible teaches us in the Psalm 100:3, "It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves." When we realize that God is our strength, we rely on him and trust in his word. We come to him in prayer each day, thanking him for life and all of life's blessings. It is God who owns everything, not us. He created the universe and all that is in it. We are here on earth because of his love and grace. Our homes, families, and all that we have, are ours to take care of while we are here. When we are gone, they become the stewardship of others. Knowing that, how can we not be humble and full of love for God and his amazing generosity. A Native American proverb says, "Walk softly on the earth." It is a wise saying.

Prayer for today: Father in heaven, thank you for life and for all the blessings we enjoy. May we walk softly on the earth, and take good care of the people and possessions you have placed before us. Teach us to live each day according to the words of the Bible that say, "to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with our God." We pray all this in the holy and precious name of our Lord Jesus, amen.

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Try a Little Kindness

"Kindness is the language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see" (Mark Twain).

Kindness is being caring, loving, and considerate. A kind person shows concern for others and is helpful and generous. A kind person does good deeds and expects nothing in return. I learned in the Boy Scouts to practice at least one act of kindness every day. With a little practice we can see the many opportunities to show kindness to others. Something as simple as opening a door for someone or saying "thank you" or offering a sincere compliment for a job well done. It can make a big difference to them and to you. The Bible tells us that kindness is a gift of the Holy Spirit, and we know that Jesus went out of his way to show kindness to everyone. May we too be helping, giving, caring, encouraging, and compassionate to those around us.

Prayer for today: "Dear Lord, we thank you for your loving-kindness. Teach us to be kind to others and to help make the world a better place for everyone. In Jesus' name, amen." 

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Now is the Time

One of the earliest ways of telling time is the sundial. A sundial consists of a flat plate, or dial, with numbers inscribed on it, similar to a clock or a watch. Attached to the dial is a gnomon, a pointer that casts a shadow on the dial according to the movement of the sun in the sky. The maker of the sundial often inscribes his own personal motto, to identify the sentiments of its maker. 

I have seen a sundial with the Latin inscription SUUS POSTEA QUAM PUTAS. It is translated in English as IT'S LATER THAN YOU THINK. As I think about that motto, I realize that my life on earth may have more years behind me than in front of me. In reality, we can never know for sure just how much time we have left. It is important to live each day as if it were our last, and to make the very best use of our time. Ask yourself these questions: "Am I living today as if it were my last? Did I help someone when I had the opportunity, without asking anything in return? Did I hug my spouse and children and tell them how much I love them? Have I given my will and my life to Jesus Christ, so that if it is my last day my salvation is assured?"

If you cannot answer these important questions with a positive "yes" then start your day over again right now. Don't wait until another day to do it. There may not be another day. Now is the time.

Prayer for today: "Heavenly Father, thank you for giving me this day. Give me the courage and the strength to do the right thing and make a positive difference in the lives of others. Help me to see the opportunities to help someone else, and to show my family how much I love them. And if I have any sins that I have not confessed to you, please forgive me. I accept Jesus as my Lord and Savior, and offer this prayer in his precious name, amen."

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The Love of God

The most important fact of my life is the love of God. I know that he loves me and he loves you. I know that God loves all of his creation, just as he loves you and me. He wants the very best for each one of us, and he sent his son Jesus to save us and to show us how much he loves us.

I was sewing up a tear in the lining of my jacket this morning, and I realized that my old jacket will never be new again. The best I can hope for is to stabilize it's condition so the tear won't unravel and get worse. That way I can continue to use the jacket for a few more years. As I was sewing the tear I realized that life is like that jacket.  We experience tears and sometimes life seems to come unraveled. But the love of God is always with us, and if we trust him and move forward in faith we will be victorious. One day we will die, but life doesn't end when we die. We will be given a new life.

 The Bible promises us that one day everything will be made new. When Christ returns there will be a new heaven and a new earth, and we will live in peace and happiness forevermore. Revelation 21 in the Bible tells us: "And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away...and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away." 

Prayer for today: Father in heaven, we are so very thankful for your love and the gift of your son Jesus. May we live each day in the hope of a brighter future--a future filled with love and peace. Please accept our humble gratitude for your wonderful plan of salvation. In Jesus' name, amen.  

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I'm Sorry

We have all done or said things we wish we could take back. I know I have. But once it is out there, it is impossible to take it back. Feelings can get hurt, and our pride sometimes gets in the way of apologizing. A sincere apology can make a difference and it can lead to forgiveness, the subject of my last two messages. Here are some of the excellent reasons for saying the words "I'm Sorry" and really meaning it.

1. When you sincerely say I'm Sorry it helps the relationship by showing the other person that you respect them and you care about their feelings. 

2. Saying I'm Sorry helps soften and ease the anger and hurt feelings of both parties. Pretending something didn't happen just harbors the ill feelings, and makes it difficult to move forward in the relationship. Relationships can actually be strengthened by admitting one's mistake and apologizing.

3. Saying I'm Sorry demonstrates integrity. It shows both you and the other person that you are sincerely trying to do the right thing. And doing the right thing is an act of integrity and good character.

4. When we apologize to our children or a close family member, it sets a positive example for our children. We want our children to have good relationships with each other and with the other members of our family. When we make a mistake, as all humans do from time to time, saying I'm Sorry shows our children compassion and love for them and for others. It is a valuable lesson that we want our children to learn and practice. 

5. Saying I'm Sorry is not a sign of weakness. Quite the contrary: it shows strength of character.

Showing respect for others, improving relationships, demonstrating integrity and compassion, and teaching our children good character are all excellent reasons for saying I'm Sorry and really meaning it. The more we practice this spiritual discipline, the better off we will all be, and God will be pleased with our effort, I am quite sure.

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Father, Forgive Them...

As I thought about yesterday's post on forgiveness, my mind took me back to the crucifixion of Our Lord. It is impossible to imagine all that Jesus went through during that last week of his life on earth. Betrayed and abandoned by his closest friends, arrested and beaten, tortured and humiliated before his family and countrymen, and nailed to a Roman cross to bleed and suffer until his last breath. And yet he did not hate his tormentors. Instead he prayed for them, and asked God to forgive them "for they know not what they do." Why did he say those last words? His tormentors were responsible for his suffering. Of course they knew what they were doing, didn't they?

What did he mean by the words "they know not...?" Perhaps it was because they didn't know the full story, or how many lives would be affected by their actions. Perhaps it was because they had no way of knowing how they themselves would suffer and have to pay for their actions that week. We don't know for sure what he was thinking, but we do know what he was praying--"Father forgive them."

I remember only a few times in my life when I have felt betrayed and persecuted, and how difficult it was to find forgiveness in my heart for those who hurt me. But I found a way that has worked for me, and it might work for you if you find yourself in that situation. When someone at work or school or church of family has hurt your feelings, pray for them every day for two weeks, and in that prayer ask God to bless them with all the same blessings that you want for yourself. It isn't easy at first, but it gets better the more you try it. It is difficult to be angry and resentful for someone you are praying for each and every day. 

Maybe I really don't want to forgive them. Maybe I would rather see them suffer as I have. Those are natural feelings. But as I continue to pray for God to bless them with happiness and peace and good health--all the things I want for myself--my attitude toward them begins to change. I can't pray for them in that way for very many days without my attitude being altered. Over time, as I continue to pray for them, God's forgiveness enters my heart.  

I have no way of knowing how my prayers affect the other person. I only know how they affect me. And I believe that Jesus was showing us the way God wants us to behave toward others who hurt us. Pray for them. Ask God to forgive them. And in the process we will find forgiveness in our heart as well.

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The Key to Forgiveness

Do You find it difficult to forgive others who have hurt or offended you? Or loved ones who have disappointed you? Do you need forgiveness for yourself? These are important questions that many of us have struggled with. There are no easy answers, but we can find the answers in the Bible if we look for them. The Bible holds the key to forgiveness.

The first key to forgiveness is what Jesus said. He told us that we must forgive others in order for God to forgive us. We find this recorded in the Gospel of Matthew:

“For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins” (Matthew 6:14-15).

The second key is found in the Book of Luke. It has to do with how we view other people. We all have the human tendency to judge others by their appearance or the way they speak. First impressions are important, but they are not always correct. Ask yourself this question: Do I want others to judge me before they get to know me? I know I don’t.

Jesus put it this way: “Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven” (Luke 6:37).

The third key is prayer. No matter how much I have tried, I have never been able to completely forgive others or myself without praying about it. Prayer softens the heart and connects me to the source of forgiveness, our Father in heaven. Prayer not only enables me to forgive others, but just as importantly helps me to forgive myself, and sometimes that is the most difficult. Jesus taught us the best way to pray. It is found in Matthew 6:9-13, and we call it The Lord’s Prayer:

“Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever, amen.”

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Stewardship

In the beginning, God created the heavens, the earth, and the seas. After he made all the plants and animals, he created man, both male and female, and he gave them dominion over all God's creation. In other words, God told them to take care of all his creation, to be his stewards. Stewardship means taking care of everything over which mankind has dominion. God expects mankind to take care of his creation, not to corrupt and pollute, but to conserve and preserve. I wonder what God thinks about how we've done so far. Are we taking care of planet earth, its heavens and seas and animal life? What kind of job do you think we have done? Can we do better? Are we being good stewards of God's creation?

I think of these questions every day. When we recycle plastic and aluminum, we are being good stewards. When we pick up trash we find on the ground, we are being good stewards. When we care for the plants and animals in our domain, we are being good stewards. I believe God wants us to clean up our messes and leave the world a cleaner, better place than we found it, don't you? Let us pray:

"Our Father in heaven, we thank you for the gift of life. We are so grateful for the gift of earth and sea and sky. Thank you for providing the plants and animals we enjoy, and for giving us everything we need in our daily lives. May we be good stewards over your creation. And at the end of our days, may we hear your voice saying "Well done thou good and faithful steward. Enter into the joy of heaven." We pray these things in the name of Jesus, amen."

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Do Not Look At the Outward Appearance

The story of David in the Bible is one of the greatest stories ever told.

David was a humble shepherd boy in the hills of Bethlehem. The Bible

tells of his triumph over the giant Goliath, and his rise to become the

greatest King of Israel, uniting the 12 tribes from the northern and the southern 

kingdoms into the greatest nation on earth. Here is an excerpt from my book, 

From Shepherd to King, now available on Amazon Books.

"And he invited Jesse and his sons to the service.

When they came, he looked at the sons of Jesse

very closely. The oldest was named Eliab, and

he was so tall and noble-looking that Samuel

thought: Surely this must be the one God has

chosen.

But the Lord said to Samuel:

"Do not look on his face, nor on the height of his

body, for I have not chosen him. Man judges by

the outward looks, but God looks at the heart."

Here is the first important lesson from the story

of David. Do not look upon another for their

outward appearance, rather seek to know what

is in their heart, for that will tell you their

character, what is important to them, and who

they look to for guidance and direction in their

life.  God looks at the inside of a person, not the

outside appearance—we should do no less than

our heavenly Father. That way we are sure to

following in the footsteps of our Lord, Jesus

Christ.

Then Jesse's second son, named Abinadab,

passed by. And the Lord said: "I have not

chosen this one." Seven young men came and

Samuel said:

"None of these is the man whom God has

chosen. Are these all your children?"

There is one more," said Jesse. "The youngest

of all. He is a boy, in the field caring for the

sheep."

And Samuel said:

"Send for him; for we will not sit down until he

comes." So after a time the youngest son was

brought in. His name was David, a word that

means "darling," and he was a beautiful boy,

perhaps fifteen years old, with fresh cheeks and

bright eyes.

As soon as the young David came, the Lord said

to Samuel:

"Arise, anoint him, for this is the one whom I

have chosen."

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Look for the Beautiful

As we think of the tragic events of this past week, our thoughts and prayers go out to the individuals and families who are suffering so much pain and sorrow. It is only natural to feel sorrow and despair for a world that seems at times to be controlled by the forces of evil. It is all around us. 

I woke up early this morning thinking about some of these things, but as these thoughts were rolling around in my mind, another thought came to me. It was a remembrance of an earlier time, and the lines of a hymn written by F. E. Belden and published in 1908. It now appears in many hymnals throughout the Western world. I remember singing it when I was a boy growing up in Marshall, Missouri. It has always lifted my spirits and made me feel better when I was sad. Let me share some of it with you now:

"Look for the beautiful, look for the true; sunshine and shadow are all around you. Looking at evil we grope in the night; looking at Jesus we walk in the light. Look for the beautiful, honor the right.

Live for the beautiful, love for the true; lifting the fallen as Christ lifted you... Live for the beautiful, keep love within."

As I thought about the words of this hymn, I realized that the world today has both good and evil. I suppose it has always been that way. But if I dwell too long on the things that are wrong in the world, I will miss all the things that are right. So I pray for those who are hurting, and at the same time I look around me at all the good things that are happening. The sun will soon come up and new life will begin. I am alive. I have a place to live, food to eat, and clean water to drink. Health, family, friends, and a future to look forward to. I see people all around me who are helping others. There is love.  Like the song that says "when I am worried and I can't sleep, I count my blessings instead of sheep; and I fall asleep, counting my blessings." 

One of these days the Lord will come again. Then there will be no more tears and no more pain. All things will be made new again. Peace on earth will become a reality as it was in the beginning. The Bible tells us so, and in my heart of hearts I know it is true.

Prayer for Peace

I have always felt a great love and respect for the Native Americans, and I cannot explain why that is so. I have a good friend who is Cherokee, I have attended Pow Wows and worked alongside Native Americans in Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska. I created a Medicine Wheel from rocks near the stream by our house; and when I had my DNA analyzed by Ancestry.com I was surprised to find no Native American heritage to explain my feelings, only a small percentage of  "other." Perhaps it is in the "other" where my feelings lie. I will never know for sure until I arrive on the other side of life, but I continue to experience peace and satisfaction with my Native American spirituality. I recently wrote a book titled Native American Prayers, Poems, and Legends. It is from this book I offer the following Prayer for Peace:

Hopi Prayer for Peace

  

"Great Spirit and all unseen, this day we pray and ask You for guidance,

humbly we ask You to help us and fellow men to have recourse to peaceful

ways of life, because of uncontrolled deceitfulness by human- kind. Help

us all to love, not hate one another.

We ask you to be seen in an image of Love and Peace. Let us be seen in

beauty, the colors of the rainbow. We respect our Mother, the planet,

with our loving care, for from Her breast we receive our nourishment.

Let us not listen to the voices of the two-hearted, the destroyers of mind,

the haters and self-made leaders, whose lusts for power and wealth will

lead us into confusion and darkness.

Seek visions always of world beauty, not violence nor battlefields.

It is our duty to pray always for harmony between man and earth, so that

the earth will bloom once more. Let us show our emblem of love and goodwill

for all life and land.

Pray for the House of Glass, for within it are minds clear and pure as ice

and mountain streams. Pray for the great leaders of nations in the House of

Mica who in their own quiet ways help the earth in balance.

We pray the Great Spirit that one day our Mother Earth will be purified

into a healthy peaceful one. Let us sing for strength of wisdom with all

nations for the good of all people. Our hope is not yet lost,

  

purification

must be to restore the health of our Mother Earth for lasting peace and

happiness.

Techqua Ikachi - for Land and Life!"

Loving You

Buck O'Neil was a baseball hero. He was a first baseman and manager of the Kansas City Monarchs, which later became the Kansas City Royals. His contributions to baseball spanned eight decades. The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum honored his legacy in 2008 with the creation of the Buck O'Neil Lifetime Achievement Award. On June 30, 2006 he gave the Induction Ceremony speech at the Baseball Hall of Fame. It is a speech I will never forget. You can still view and hear it on YouTube. At the close of his seven-minute speech, he sang this simple song: "The greatest thing in all my life is loving you. The greatest thing in all my life is loving you. The greatest thing in all my life is loving you. The greatest thing in all my life is loving you." Everyone listening was touched by his humor, his graciousness, his humility, and his genuine love for all people. 

Jesus said we must love one another as he loves us, and that others would know we are his disciples by our love. If you ever wonder about your purpose for being here on this earth, know this: We are here to learn to receive the love of God and to share his love with those he places in our path. Those who learn this lesson and practice it daily in their lives will be filled with joy and live forever in the Kingdom of Heaven. Remember, "the greatest thing in all my life is loving you."

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Good and Evil

Good and evil are in constant battle for control of our lives. The one we allow to rule our emotions will ultimately determine our destiny. God's plan for all people is to have eternal life with him in the Kingdom of Heaven. God sent his son Jesus to preach the Good News of the Kingdom of Heaven, and to show us the way. He gave his life for us, so that we might be saved from the forces of evil, and saved for the Kingdom of Heaven. Jesus said, "I have come that you may have life, and have it more abundantly" (John 10:10). God's plan for your life is to give you a life full of joy in the Kingdom of Heaven. And you can receive it today, by the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. My prayer for you today is that you will choose good over evil and receive all the fullness of joy that God has prepared for those who love him.

The Promise of Heaven

Most people shy away from reading the last book of the Bible, the Book of Revelation. The imagery is difficult to understand, and we don't want to imagine the wars and devastation and famine and death that will come before the end. But the last chapter of Revelation is one that everybody will want to become familiar with, because in it we find the hope of eternity and the promise of heaven for all who love the Lord. Listen to these words of joy, hope, love, and peace:

The River of Life

22 Then the angel1 showed me xthe river of ythe water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb 2 through the middle of zthe street of the city; aalso, on either side of the river, bthe tree of life2 with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were cfor the healing of the nations. 3 dNo longer will there be anything accursed, but ethe throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and fhis servants will worship him. 4 gThey will see his face, and hhis name will be on their foreheads. 5 And inight will be no more. They will need no light of lamp jor sun, for kthe Lord God will be their light, and lthey will reign forever and ever.

Jesus Is Coming

6 And he said to me, m“These words are trustworthy and true. And the Lord, the God of nthe spirits of the prophets, ohas sent his angel to show his servants what must soon take place.”

7 “And behold, pI am coming soon. qBlessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.”

8 I, rJohn, am the one who heard and saw these things. And when I heard and saw them, sI fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who showed them to me, 9 sbut he said to me, “You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers the prophets, and with those mwho keep the words of this book. Worship God.”

10 And he said to me, t“Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is near. 11 uLet the evildoer still do evil, and the filthy still be filthy, and the righteous still do right, and the holy still be holy.”

12 “Behold, vI am coming soon, wbringing my recompense with me, xto repay each one for what he has done. 13 yI am the Alpha and the Omega, zthe first and the last, athe beginning and the end.”

14 Blessed are those who bwash their robes,5 so that they may have the right to cthe tree of life and that dthey may enter the city by the gates. 15 eOutside are fthe dogs gand sorcerers and the sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.

16 h“I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you about these things ifor the churches. I am jthe root and kthe descendant of David, lthe bright morning star.”

17 The Spirit and mthe Bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And nlet the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the owater of life without price.

18 I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: pif anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book, 19 and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share in qthe tree of life and in rthe holy city, which are described in this book.

20 He who testifies to these things says, “Surely sI am coming soon.” Amen. tCome, Lord Jesus!

21 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all.6 Amen.

Jesus Loves the Little Children

When I was a young boy, I loved singing this song: "Jesus loves the little children, all the children of the world. Red and yellow, black and white, they are precious in his sight, Jesus loves the little children of the world." When I felt sad or lonely I sang this little song, and then I didn't feel so bad. Even today it has the same effect on me. I think I will go on You-Tube after I write this and listen to the song again. It's a great way to start the day. There is nothing in the world like the love of Jesus. My prayer for you today is that he will be with you and give you peace and happiness. Blessings, Gene.

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The Love of God

The love of God is for every person on earth, and his deepest desire is that everyone will be saved--saved from the destructive forces of evil, and saved for eternal life with God in the Kingdom of 

Heaven. As written in the Bible:  "For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus" (Timothy 2:3-5 NKJV). geneallengroner@gmail.com 

" For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.  Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.  You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart " (Jeremiah 29:11-14)*

*from Journey of a Disciple, by Gene Allen Groner. geneallengroner@gmail.com