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.

Good News in the Middle of Bad

by Barbara Latta

Here is some soul food for the coming week to counter all the bad news we hear every day.

A quiet conscience makes one strong.

While tragedy and heartache will always be broadcast and situations will continue to escalate, we can turn our minds to better thoughts by focusing on solutions and letting God give answers to how we should respond. 

Faith is daring of the soul to go
farther than it can see.

 Feel free to download or share the photos. I only ask that you keep my watermark intact. 

Don't be pushed around by the fears in your mind.



Join the conversation and share your favorite quote or scripture verse that helps you get away from bad news. 

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Staying positive in a negative world (click to tweet)

Broken Crayons Still Color

by Barbara Latta

Broken crayons still color.

I love the smell of a new box of crayons. It reminds me of the first day of school when everything is new and clean. The waxy points are sharp and the paper around the small cylinders is still intact.

Then a few weeks later the crayon box is dirty and torn, the colors are broken, the wrappers torn away and the sharp points have worn to a rounded nub.

But you know what I have found out?

The Persecuted Church or the Pretentious Church?

by Barbara Latta

“We are going to give customers what that want—which is not God.”

Filling pews is more important than the truth.

An article* circulating about Lifesong Church in North Carolina stated that talking about God would cease from the pulpit to prevent alienating people and boost the congregation’s attendance. A pretentious church is more acceptable than a persecuted church.

The pastor told reporters they had to stay true to their mission statement, “Get butts in the seats and keep them there.” He also made comments to compare their church to a business. Filling pews is more important than the truth.

If that’s their mission statement it is no wonder they are willing to stop mentioning God. Why even call yourself a church? Rename the congregation as a motivational group or join a civic group, but stop saying you are a church if you are ashamed to mention the name of the one you claim to follow. If this were my church, I would be better off staying at home on Sunday morning and leaving that seat empty instead of filling it with my body so the attendance roll could check me off.