The Focus of 2018 - The Real, Nitty-Gritty, Bloody Sacrificial Love of God

by Barbara Latta

John 3:16 is plastered on billboards, posters, signs at ballgames and quoted in Sunday School. The verse has become a mantra of sorts and has been heard so many times we have become numb to the meaning. The world doesn’t know what it means, but sadly, much of the Christian world doesn’t know the depth of this scripture’s meaning.

For years, I read verses about God’s love and I knew He loved me, but the depth of that intimacy sometimes evaded me. I saw myself as one of the masses of the billions of people on earth, but I didn’t always feel the personal-ness of it.

Last week this blog was about a baby whose purpose in being born was to die. That's hard to absorb. If I knew the baby I had given birth to was going to grow up to die so mean, filthy, evil people could live, would I still want to give him to that world? I have to admit, not me.

Jesus is the only baby born whose destiny was to die

by Barbara Latta

Jesus was born to die.

The incarnate Christ was forever changed when the Word of God became flesh. The second person of the Trinity laid aside the benefits of His deity to subject Himself to the creation He had made so He could redeem that same creation from sin. When Jesus was resurrected, He had an immortal body with scars He will have forever. …Reach here with your finger, and see My hands; and reach here your hand and put it into my side…(John 20:27).

God’s plan for the ages was redemption for His creation.

For He was foreknown before the foundation of the world, but has appeared in these last times for the sake of you (1 Peter 1:20 NKJV).

And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed; He shall bruise you on the head, and you shall bruise him on the heel (Genesis 3: 15).

But we speak God’s wisdom in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God predestined before the ages to our glory; the wisdom which none of the rulers of this age has understood; for if they had understood it they would not have crucified the Lord of glory (1 Corinthians 2:7-8).

In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the

propitiation for our sins (1 John 4:10).

Jesus really is the REASON we have the SEASON, for without Him not only would we not have Christmas, but we wouldn’t have Resurrection Day. And Resurrection Day is the reason He was born.

May your Christmas be blessed and happy!

Feel free to share your joy in the comments section below.

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The True Light of the World

by Barbara Iliff

Today's guest post is by Barbara Iliff, a fellow writer and Word Weavers International member. Get your hot chocolate and enjoy memories and the meaning of Christmas lights.

I love lights. 
Since I was a little girl the brilliance of Christmas has been one of my favorite

Favorite parts of the holidays are hot chocolate
by the Christmas tree.

parts of the Holidays. My parents wove strings of colorful bulbs into the branches as my anticipation grew until finally the magic moment arrived. With our tree proudly dressed in the colors of Christmas, my parents plugged the lights in. My eyes shined and I crossed them just to have double lights!

My love for lights has not dimmed over the years. I took my own children riding around to see the shining glow on houses, light displays and even a snowflake street of white twinkling lights overhead. I sit in my living room near my Christmas tree and savor hot apple cider or hot chocolate while my soul feasts on the sparkle of Christmas.

But my favorite lights of all come alive just before Christmas at our church’s Candlelight Communion. 

The Significance of the Genealogy of Jesus Christ

by Barbara Latta

Babies are born every day all over the world. In America, we record the details of the birth

The Significance of the Genealogy of Jesus Christ.

on a legal document to certify the parents and vital information about the child. This is then recorded at the proper entity for the state where the birth occurred, and the child is legally a part of the family.

Family ancestry searches have become a popular pastime and profitable business. Information revealed about past relatives can be fun and informative and in some cases, may be a way to make claims to property.

Jesus’ Birth Certificate

In biblical times, genealogies were an important part of Jewish custom. The kingly lines were kept intact in precise detail by scribes to preserve the heritage. Jesus’ earthly ancestry is recorded both in Matthew and Luke with some differences. Scholars have debated over the reasons for the discrepancies, but the most popular theory is that Matthew traces Jesus’ line back to Abraham thus showing Jesus as the promised Messiah. Luke’s line traces through Mary’s ancestry back to Adam’s son Seth to reveal Him as the Son of Man and the second Adam. Even though Jesus did not inherit Mary’s fallen bloodline, He had to come as human to complete the work of defeating Satan the way Adam was supposed to. (Read the Genealogy of Jesus in Matthew 1: 1-17 and Luke 3:23-38).

By having these details recorded in scripture, no one could debate the line Jesus came from. He was the Seed promised in the Garden of Eden to crush Satan’s head. He was from the royal line of David to rule as King.

Our Inheritance

We are written in the Book of Life through the
blood of Christ.

We become a part of God's kingdom through the blood of Christ. When we believe on His name and accept His sacrifice we are welcomed into the family of God. We are written in the Book of Life and our born-again birth certificate is final. No one can erase or take our names out of His book. We are certified in heaven and we are now children of God.

But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name (John 1: 12).

An heir to a royal throne will have a different demeanor than ordinary citizens. When we realize we are a part of the royal family of God, we will walk in our royal right and know what belongs to us; not in arrogance, but in the humility of Christ as servants of His on this earth. We are here to minister to others the love and grace of God, but also to walk in our authority to crush the work of the devil as he tries to spread lies and deception.

Walk in your royal inheritance by knowing who you belong to.

Just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will (Ephesians 1:4-5).

How does knowing you belong to the family of God change your life?

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The Birth of Jesus Changes a Life

Today's post is by Maria Johnson, a fellow writer and member of Word Weavers International. I know you will be blessed by reading her insight of how Jesus changed her life.

 by Maria Johnson

Just the Right Amount of Jesus

 “The reason for the season” is a marketing success story.  It’s an effective sound bite for

The birth of Jesus changes a life

those of us who “get it” to let everyone else know that we “get it” and that they should “get it”, too. 

I realize the heart behind the message is sincere.  I’m saying the exact same thing when I encourage people to look to God’s Word for hope in mental illness. 

But we humans are flawed, and we have taken this valid encouragement and turned it into yet another requirement for doing Christmas “the right way.”  For those of us with anxiety issues, this can be yet another trigger during the holidays. 

What I try to do is think about what God did outside of the popular nativity story in Luke (Luke 2:1-20).  And I specifically try to think about not just what God did, but how what God did has changed my life.

God Became a Man

The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.

God has always wanted a relationship with man.  But once man sinned, we were cut off from Him because He is so holy.

He knew all along that we couldn’t make it all the way to Him.  So He came to us.  He came to me.

John 1:14 – “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.”

There have been many times when I didn’t have the strength to do one more thing to be a “better Christian.”  I was in the pit of depression and saw no hope of ever getting out.

Jesus came to me.

The baby born in that manger, the one immortalized in plastic on so many front lawns, grew up and offered me compassion.

Matthew 11:28 - “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”

When Jesus was born a human child, He brought God to the earth to meet me where I was.

Jesus Cleared a Path to God

Jesus cleared a path to the heart of God.

When God designed the tabernacle in the wilderness, two curtains separated the mercy seat, where God’s presence was, from the people.  The first curtain led into the holy place, where only the priests could come. 

Hebrews 9:3,7 – “Behind the second curtain was a room called the Most Holy Place … But only the high priest entered the inner room, and that only once a year, and never without blood, which he offered for himself and for the sins the people had committed in ignorance.”

God had made a way to be in the midst of His people, but He still had to keep His distance because our sin could not exist in His holy presence.

When Jesus died on the cross and paid the price for our sins, that distance was no longer necessary.

Mark 15:37-38 – “With a loud cry, Jesus breathed his last. The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.”

I don’t have to go through a priest to get to God.  I don’t have to complete a checklist of tasks perfectly just to be able to talk with Him.  The only requirement now is accepting His sacrifice and His Lordship.

Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem provided hope that I could come into God’s presence.

Peace On Earth

Jesus didn’t come to earth to remove conflict. He couldn’t do that without removing free will. In the end, He will remove conflict, and those of us who used our free will to choose Him, will enjoy that eternal peace.

I have to be honest, though. The hope of eternal peace in the sweet by and by offers little comfort when I’m trapped by insomnia and all my worst fears are ravaging what little sanity I have left.

It’s then I have to remember that Jesus didn’t just come to set up a retirement plan.

What He brought instead, was a way to find peace in spite of conflict – whether that conflict is internal or external.

John 16:33 - “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

When Jesus was born into the chaos of a stable, peace was born. That’s not just a baby in that nativity painting; it’s peace.

When I remind myself that I’m celebrating the birth of peace, it’s easier to let go of the need to “get Christmas right.” I can look back in thanks that He came, but then live my life today filled with all the benefits of why He came.

How is today better for you as a result of Jesus being born? Join the conversation.

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The birth of Jesus changes a life (click to tweet)

Maria spent most of her life focused on the theatre, while also dealing with depression and bipolar disorder.  Through Celebrate Recovery, she has come to a place of stability and peace and is now serving as a mental health advocate.  Recently, God called her to focus on writing as her main priority and she started a Bible study blog,  God’s Word for Mental Health.

She lives in Covington, GA with her husband, son, dog, and cat.  A proud geek, she enjoys fantasy and sci-fi stories, super hero movies, and spreadsheets.

Giving Thanks in the Middle of War

by Barbara Latta

In the middle of the Civil War when brother was killing brother, the country was torn apart by

Giving thanks in the middle of war

hatred and most felt there was little to be thankful for, Abraham Lincoln made this Thanksgiving proclamation across the land.

The year that is drawing towards its close, has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature, that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever watchful providence of Almighty God.

No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy. It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and one voice by the whole American People. I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens.

Have a happy and blessed Thanksgiving!

Despite the strife and problems our country is facing now, we do not have the tragedy the Civil War brought to the land. We have much to be thankful for and as we come together with our friends and families this week, may we give honor and praise to God from whom all blessings flow.

Have a happy and blessed Thanksgiving!

Feel free to share your thoughts.

He Trains My Hands for War

by Barbara Latta

If Christ be captain, no fear of defeat.

War is not a beautiful thing, but in our fallen world truth and justice demand defense.

God prepares selected men with a gift for war, for without it nations would crumble under the attack of evil and the gospel would not have a pulpit from which to be preached.

Blessed be the Lord, my rock, who trains my hands for war, and my fingers for battle (Psalm 144:1 NASB).

In 1745, the Reverend George Whitefield preached a sermon to troops during King George’s War. He addressed the soldiers from 1 Samuel 22:2 and based on this scripture encouraged the men to act like the soldiers of David. This great preacher is credited with the military motto: “If Christ be captain, no fear of defeat.”

The Authenticity of the Bible - Truth of Fable?

by Barbara Latta

According to Newsweek magazine, an article in a left-leaning Israeli newspaper has stated

Fewer Americans than ever before are trusting scripture as gospel.

that the Bible is not true because physical evidence cannot be traced back to Adam and Eve. The Newsweek feature quoted statistics about the Bible from an American viewpoint:

“The mounting evidence against the Bible means fewer Americans than ever before are trusting scripture as gospel. Only 35 percent of Americans read the holy book at least once a week, while 45 percent seldom or never do, a Pew Research Center report in April found. About 36 percent of Christians said the Bible should not be taken literally, while 40 percent say it is the word of God. In all, only 24 percent of Americans said the holy book was ‘the actual word of God, and is to be taken literally, word for word,’ a Gallup poll conducted in May concluded.”

Taking Inventory of Life's Goals - Using Fall Harvest to Plan Ahead

by Barbara Latta

Taking inventory of life's goals - using fall harvest
to plan ahead.

Fall is a time of harvesting fruits and vegetables that were planted during the late summer months. Apple trees blush with red-ripened fruit and pansies bloom among pumpkins, cabbages, broccoli. Farmers are cutting hay and binding it into bales to support their animals in the winter season.

The produce filling barns and baskets is a result of planting seeds. Without seeds there would be no abundance and our fall and winter tables would suffer.

As the year comes to a close, we will soon begin holiday preparations and our minds turn to baking cookies, buying gifts and roasting turkey. With all these schedule fillers, our thoughts don’t think about spiritual matters the way we should.

But this is a good time to scrutinize life’s harvest for the past months. If the output is not what we want, the yield can change by starting now to plant new seeds.

Taking inventory can be done by answering these questions about the past year:

Did I reach the goals I made at the beginning of 2017? If not, it’s not too late to start the list over. Setting goals doesn’t have to be done at the start of the year. Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ (Philippians 1:6 NKJV).

Do I like the attitudes I am harboring now? Inspect thoughts and find out where any bad seeds have been planted and root them out. Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy-meditate on these things (Philippians 4:8).

Introspection now can bloom with
ideas for next year.

Did I influence as many people as I wanted to this year for the kingdom of God? Then he said to His disciples, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send our laborers into His harvest” (Matthew 9:37-38).

I have to answer all three of these questions with no. I don’t have the harvest I want, but introspection now can bloom with new goals and dreams when I am ready to start a new list.

My harvest now can be fertile ground for next year’s planting if I rip out the bad seeds that have started to grow before they take root.

And above all, if goals have not been met and the fruit of attitudes is not what you want, don’t succumb to guilt. God doesn’t beat us up over failures. He just gives us a new day to start again. Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; Great is your faithfulness (Lamentations 3:22-23).

How do you handle your harvest? Please share your thoughts and plant a seed in another person’s life with your ideas.

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Taking inventory of life's goals (click to tweet)

Using fall harvest to plan ahead for next year (click totweet)

Resting in the Middle of Chaos - Learning from the Cattle in the Field

by Barbara Latta

Cows know how to rest. Living in a rural area, I have plenty of opportunities to pass fields full of cattle. One thing I have noticed is that cows are either lying down chewing their cud or they are standing up with their noses in the grass grabbing more food with their teeth.

They are not distracted by passing cars or planes overhead. They don’t care if the wind blows or rain pours down upon their backs. They continue feeding on the nourishment of the land because feeding is the most important aspect of their lives. They rest in the middle of the chaos going on around them.

We can learn from the cattle in the field

We are bombarded night and day with negative information pouring down upon us like the rain that hits the back of the cattle in the fields. Distractions pass us on the highway of daily living and the winds of terror blow against our faith when fearful events occur.

How can we keep our thoughts from straying into the waves of doubt and negativity with so much evil around us?

Creation Declares The Glory of God

by Barbara Latta

In His hand is the life of every creature and the breath
of all mankind. Job 12:10

With so much bad news blaring from every device we have, it’s important to take a break from the stories of tragedies, catastrophes, violence and offense and focus on God. Despite what we hear and see in person or through media, God is the Lord and He is good.

You will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on You (Isaiah 26:3 NASB).

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change and though the mountains slip into the heart of the sea; though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains quake at its swelling pride. (Psalm 46:1-4).

O clap your hands, all peoples; shout to God with the voice of joy. For the Lord Most High is to be feared, a great King over all the earth (Psalm 47:1-2).

The lesser light to govern the night. Genesis 1:16b

Be gracious to me, O God, be gracious to me, for my soul takes refuge in You; and in the shadow of Your wings I will take refuge until destruction passes by (Psalm 57:1).

My soul waits in silence for God only; from Him is my salvation He only is my rock and my salvation, my stronghold; I shall not be greatly shaken (Psalm 62:2).

God made the two great lights, the greater light to govern the day, and the lesser light to govern the night (Genesis 1:16).

In the shadow of Your wings I will take refuge
Psalm 57:1

And He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away (Revelation 21:4).

He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming quickly.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen (Revelation 22:20-21).

May your week be blessed and full of joy as you meditate on the power and majesty of God.

Feel free to share your thoughts.

TWEETABLES

Creation declares the glory of God (click to tweet)

Does God Allow Tragedy?

By Barbara Latta

Last week’s murderous tirade is only the latest in the spree of tragedies occurring in our

Does God allow tragedy?

country. News anchors and politicians are quick to speculate on the cause of people going on tangents to kill and maim.

The question of “Why?” can be answered simply. Evil.

The person in Las Vegas was consumed with evil no matter what the label. Some say he was psychotic which was passed down to him through his father’s genes. That’s a way to try to excuse his behavior.

Multiple times over the past years, we have faced tragedy at the hands of those who have chosen to kill.

Any many people ask the question, “Why does God allow tragedy if He is so good?”

Can Time Be Redeemed?

by Barbara Latta

Time is a commodity we aren’t aware of as seconds tick by while we go about our business

Redeeming the time because the days
are evil.

every day. As each one slips past, the hands on the clock have moved through a day we will never re-live.

Time can’t be placed in a piggy bank and saved like money. Hours can’t be earned like our salary. Minutes are not retrievable like lost coins. Time passes and disappears. Is it possible to redeem time?

During my last flight experience, I waded through security, lugged bags up escalators, waited in the terminal through flight delays and listened to the non-stop chatter of the canned announcements telling me not to accept bags from anyone else. When I plopped down in my assigned seat, I was ready to sit on the flight and relax with my good Christian book while my selfishness was hoping no one would bother me.

Freedom Sunday - Help End Human Trafficking

 by Barbara Latta

Join the International Justice Mission, Sunday, September 24 to help in the fight

Freedom Sunday September 24, 2017

against human trafficking. Freedom Sunday is a day set aside to bring awareness to the world about this crime against humanity that many people are still not educated about. 

These myths still exist about human trafficking:

What Happens When a Christian Fails?

by Barbara Latta

Jesus is the rock of a Christian’s foundation. But sometimes I stray from the rock and go off

When I stray from the solid foundation I wobble, become anxious
and fall.

on my own and things get shaky. I wobble, become anxious and fall.

But when a Christian falls what happens? A vacation experience to WonderWorks showed me the answer.

Are You Ready to Meet God?

by Barbara Latta

With all the weather and catastrophic events occurring in the last few weeks, we can see

The Lord delivers me from all my fears.

biblical prophecies coming to pass. Some say we are at the beginning of the tribulation period or that God is beginning judgment on this sinful earth.

Predictions of the rapture abound and the pre, mid and post tribulation theorists all have an opinion.

One thing we know for sure is that Jesus will redeem His church and He may be on His way right now to do so.

But if He doesn’t come back for another hundred years, people are still going to die. We will still stand before God and the question is:

What condition will you be in when you do?

Will you stand before Him as a redeemed saint and welcomed into His embrace?

Or will it be at the Great White Throne Judgment where all sinners must be judged?

While living on this earth we still have a choice. God loves people. He made a way for

He gives His angels charge over me.

everyone to be saved from sin and destruction.

Our part is to receive what He gave. (Ephesians 2:8-9)

During times of extreme circumstances people turn to God, such as in the tragedies we are experiencing now. After the events of September 11, 2001, churches were full and the anti-God politicians were even singing “God Bless America” on the Capitol steps. But when life gets better God is forgotten about because there was no real commitment made; it was only an empty promise to get out of a bad situation.

The god of this world has blinded people. (2 Corinthians 4:4). This is nothing new. Noah preached for 120 years and yet no one responded. But God provided a way out of the storm through the ark for Noah and his family because they believed and trusted in Him.

There is another question to ask after we determine we are ready to meet God.

Are you ready to live for Him?

No weapon formed against me will prosper.

We need to do more than just believe there is a God. Even the demons know who He is. (James 2:19)

Living for Christ doesn’t mean doing things for Him.

It means embracing Him and becoming like Him. When we become like Him we then do things for His kingdom—because then it is a fruit of the relationship, not a way to obtain the relationship.

Saints of God don’t need to fear in this world of chaos. When our trust is in Him, we can stand on His Word. We may be living through some calamities but He is there with us every step of the way.

 He dwells within every born-again believer and His Word is our sword.

Here are some weapons based on the Word of God to eliminate fear. Make this personal when confessing them over yourself and your family. These are not exact quotes but confessions based on the verses.

• He gives His angels charge over me to keep me in all my ways. (Psalm 91:11)
• No weapon formed against me shall prosper and every tongue that rises against me in judgment I shall show to be in the wrong for this is the heritage of the saints of the Lord. (Isaiah 54:17)
• He has not given me the spirit of fear, but of power, love and a sound mind. (2 Timothy 1:7)
• The Lord delivers me from all my fears (Psalm 34:4)
• The angel of the Lord encamps around me and delivers me (Psalm 34:7).

You will never regret the decision to live for God.

Are you ready?

TWEETABLES

Are you ready to meet God? (click to tweet)

Are you ready to live for God? (click to tweet)

Are You Ready for A Disaster?

by Barbara Latta

Hurricane Harvey will go down in record books.

Hurricane Harvey will go down in record books for property damage and rainfall. Texas has been devastated and the last few days have seen wide-spread flooding all across the Gulf coast.

No matter where we live disaster can strike at any time. Preparing ahead can ensure food and water and necessary supplies will be available. The first thing we should do when we have advance warning is to evacuate, if possible.

In the event of a disaster that does not require leaving the home, we could be living for days or weeks without electricity. Pre-planning can avoid scarcity and empty shelves.

The following steps can be a start in the preparation process:

• Review insurance policies on homes, vehicles, and personal property.
• Store a supply of bottled water. Calculate how much would be needed for the entire family, including pets, for at least one month. 
• Keep vehicles as full of fuel as possible at all times. If the entire community is evacuating, gas lines require long waits. Also, if there is no power, gas pumps will not work.
• Put a first aid kit in the vehicle along with flashlights, a blanket or two, and a small compressor for low tires.
• Try to keep an amount of cash on hand in a safe, but in easily accessible place. Without power, ATMs will not work.
• Pre-packaged food in sealed containers is available for purchase at many outlets.  These packages only require adding water and could be prepared on an outdoor grill or campfire.
• Keep fuel levels as high as possible for the propane grill. 
• Propane lanterns are safer than candles, last longer and produce brighter light.
• Buy a generator.
• Refill medications as often as possible to have extra supplies available.
• Pack a container such as a large plastic foot locker and keep important papers such as passports, birth certificates and other irreplaceable or hard to replace items inside. Pack extra medications, water, food, flashlights, and medical kits. The entire container could then be picked up and taken when leaving in a hurry.

  

  Keep first aid kits ready for disasters.
  

We never know what awaits us in the future and proper planning can save us a lot of headaches and pain. Most of the time we do not think of having emergency items stored away until it is too late to do so.

What ideas could you add to this list? Are you prepared?

Preparing for disaster (click to tweet)

What is so bad about that "patience" word?

by Barbara Latta

We can become impatient with long lines in busy stores.

Galatians 5:22-23 gives us a list of the fruit of the spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

Oh, wow we embrace the love, joy, peace, goodness, etc. but that patience word…ooh, that’s not so pleasant in most of our minds; along with the self-control, of course.

But I think those two go together—because patience requires restraint.

A few days ago I was a victim of my own impatience in a check-out line at Wal-Mart. The store was busy and the lines were long. Only half the cashiers were open as well as the self-check. I searched for the shortest line and went to the Express line because I only had a few items.