A man's wisdom gives him patience; it is to his glory to overlook an offense. Proverbs 19:11 NIV

Sometimes we may let the actions of another cause us to lose control of our temper.  Before we do, it is important to remember that;  An angry man stirs up dissension, and
a hot-tempered one commits many sins (Proverbs 29:22).  For as churning the milk produces butter, and as twisting the nose produces blood, so stirring up anger
produces strife.  Proverbs 30:33

Understand [this], my beloved brethren.  Let every man be quick to hear [a ready listener], slow to speak, slow to take offense and to get angry.  For man's anger does not promote the righteousness God [wishes and requires].  James 1:19-20 AMP

So the next time that someone treats you wrongly turn it over to God to handle, and do   not lose your temper or try to get even with them.  For we know him who said, "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," and again, "The Lord will judge His people." Hebrews 10:30

Therefore, try your best to keep your words soft and sweet.  For we never know from day to day which words we will have to eat!  Also remember; Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.  1 Peter 4:8

For his name's sake. Psalm 23:3

Have you ever asked, 'How could God use someone like me?'  The Psalmist answers, 'For his name's sake'! Only one name counts and it's not yours!  With the same intensity that God hates pride, He loves humility.  His Word says, 'God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble' (James 4:6 NIV).  So here are a few tips on staying humble.

First, evaluate yourself honestly.  Don't be like the beaver who told the rabbit as they stared up at the immense wall of Hoover Dam, 'No, I didn't actually build it myself.  But it was based on an idea of mine.'  The Bible says, 'Don't cherish exaggerated ideas of yourself,  but try to have a sane estimate of your capabilities' (Romans 12:3-4 PHPS).

Second, learn to celebrate others.  Paul writes, 'don't try to impress others.  Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves' (Philippians 2:3 NLT).  Every goal scored in life is usually a team effort.  Be like the little boy who came home from the auditions for the school play and announced, 'Mommy, I got the part.  I have been chosen to sit in the audience and cheer.'  When you can do that, your head finally fits your hat size.

Finally, don't announce your success before it occurs. 'One who puts on his armour should not boast like one who takes it off' (1 Kings 20:11 NIV).  When one of Charles Spurgeon's students proudly stepped up to preach, but came back down having failed miserably, Spurgeon supposedly said something like, 'If you had gone up the way you came down, you would have come down the way you went up.'

God blesses our efforts only when they are done 'for his name's sake'.

You will keep him in perfect peace. Isaiah 26:3 NKJV

We lose our peace of mind for four reasons:

(1) We try to change the people in our lives.  As you grow wiser you begin to realize that you can't change other people, only God can!  And He does, when you back off, and love them as they are.  This doesn't mean agreeing with everything they do.  It means committing to love them regardless, claiming God's promises on their behalf and allowing Him to deal with them His way, in His time and for His glory.  The reason you are stressed out may be because you keep trying to do something-about something you can't do anything about!

(2) We try to make things happen when it's not the right time.  'There is a time for everything' (Ecclesiastes 3:1 NIV).  If you have raised children you know that one of their chief characteristics is impatience; they can't wait for anything.  God wants us to outgrow our childishness so He makes us wait, trust, and mature!

(3) We get upset because we are not progressing fast enough.  You can slow down your spiritual growth through neglect, but ultimately, 'We all are being changed [by] the Spirit' (2 Corinthians 3:18 NCV).  So learn to enjoy your life while God works on your problems, for you will always have problems!

(4) We push ourselves harder and harder.  We do what we think God wants without consulting Him as to what He actually wants, when He wants it, or how He wants it done. As a result we wear ourselves out.  What is the solution?  'You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is [focused] on You, because he trusts in You.'

I have never seen the righteous forsaken. Psalm 37:25 NIV

For many who have lost their jobs or who don't earn enough to live on, debt has become a harsh reality.  So much so, that they are afraid to even think about their situation.  But burying your head in the sand isn't the answer.  With God's help and some common-sense suggestions you can start moving towards financial freedom.  A respected financial consultant offers these suggestions.

First, be truthful.  Before you can change anything you need to know where your money is going.  There is nothing to be ashamed of; like an alcoholic entering recovery, the first step is admitting you have a problem.  On a card jot down every amount you spend for 30 days. It adds up quickly, 'all those little foxes ruin the vineyard' (Song of Songs 2:15 NLT).  By looking at the big picture, you will see areas you can cut back.

Second, learn from your past experiences.  If you don't learn from the past you will keep repeating it.  For example, if you didn't receive many Christmas gifts as a child, it can be tempting to overcompensate with your own kids and end up maxing out your credit cards. Or, growing up in an atmosphere of financial turmoil can make it difficult to talk about money with your spouse.

Third, value yourself more than your pay check.  Jesus said the important things in life aren't 'things' (Matthew 6:25).  Beating yourself up won't help you earn more; it will just blind you to the real blessings in life.

Remember, no matter how tough it gets, God is faithful.  David said, 'I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging', and you won't either!

Having gifts let us use them. Romans 12:6 NKJV

The Bible says, 'Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them' (Romans 12:6 NKJV).  God has 'graced' you to do certain things well.  Now, that doesn't mean doors will automatically open, and, like cream, you will just rise to the top. Indeed, what you get overnight you can lose overnight.  You must first discern your gifts, use every opportunity to sharpen them, learn from your mistakes, and be tenacious about what God's called you to do.

In high school 'Sparky' flunked Latin, algebra, English and physics.  He made the golf team but promptly lost the only match of the season, then he lost the consolation match.  He was awkward socially-more shy than disliked.  He never once asked a girl out on a date in high school.  One thing, however, was important to Sparky, drawing.  He was proud of his artwork even though nobody else appreciated it.  He submitted cartoons to the editors of his high school yearbook but they were rejected.  Even so, he aspired to be an artist.  After high school he sent samples of his work to The Walt Disney Studios.  Again he was rejected.  But Sparky didn't quit.  He decided to write his autobiography in cartoons.  The popularity of his cartoon strip eventually led to countless books and television shows.  You see, Sparky was Charles Schulz, creator of the Peanuts comic strip, the most famous cartoonist of all time.  Like his main character, Charlie Brown, Schulz seemed unable to succeed at many things.  But he made the most of his God-given talent, refused to quit, and ended up winning.

So, use your gift.

It was not you who sent me here, but God. Genesis 45:8 NIV

Are you in the dark about the direction God seems to be leading you?  The choice to do His will before we know the specifics, develops trust of His character.  This is where many people get into a battle of wills, wanting Him to reveal His plan first.  That is not how He works.  God wants you to decide in advance to trust Him, believing that His will is best for your life.  He knows your hesitancy.  He won't be surprised if you say, "I don't know that I am willing to step out in faith without knowing everything that is going to happen, but I am willing to be made willing."  One reason God doesn't give you the full picture is you may be overwhelmed, it may appear impossible but that's the point, there is no way you can fulfil your mission without Him.'

When Joseph was reunited with his brothers in Egypt, he told them, 'do not be angry with yourselves, it was not you who sent me here, but God' (vv. 5-8).

Joseph's brothers sold him out, 'but God' used it to preserve the Jewish race.

The Israelites were in slavery, 'but God' sent Moses to lead them to the Promised Land.

Jesus died on the cross, 'but God' used His death to save a lost world.

Oswald Chambers calls God 'The Great Engineer, creating circumstances to bring about moments of divine importance, leading us to divine appointments'.

Think back, can't you recall some 'but God' moments of your own where you had reached the end of your rope and He came through for you?

Make me know Your ways, O LORD ; Teach me Your paths. Lead me in Your truth and teach me, For You are the God of my salvation ; For You I wait all the day. Ps 25:4-5

On life's road, crucial decisions are like intersections that call for a choice of direction. If we barrel through without seeking the mind of Christ, the road we pick may lead to regret and heartache. Although the Lord is ready and willing to offer clear direction, He doesn't always give it quickly. Knowing that He has very good reasons for withholding immediate instruction can help us wait patiently at the intersection for His guidance.
At times God leaves us in our confusion because He wants to get our attention. When everything is running smoothly, we tend to forget the Lord. But uncertainty draws us back to Him like a magnet. By aligning our steps with His and walking in submission to the Spirit, we open our ears to hear His voice.
Our waiting time is God's preparation time. In bringing about His sovereign purposes, He may put us on hold while He coordinates events to line up with His will. Sometimes the Lord has work to accomplish in us before we are ready to handle what He has planned for our future. If we instantly received His direction, we would never grow in faith. Spiritual maturity is evidenced in the ability to wait in peaceful confidence, trusting that in His time, we will know what to do.
If impatience tempts you to jump ahead of God's timing at a crossroad of decision, you risk stepping outside of His will and missing His blessings. But by waiting until He gives clear direction, you will walk in His peace with certainty, instead of stumbling around in anxiety and confusion. 

The Lord has kept me alive. Joshua 14:10 NKJV

At the ripe old age of eighty-five, Caleb said to Joshua, 'the Lord has kept me alive, just as my strength was then, so now is my strength for war, give me this mountain of which the Lord spoke in that day.  And Joshua blessed him, and gave Hebron to Caleb because he wholly followed the Lord' (Joshua 14:10-14 NKJV).  There was nothing half-baked or half-hearted about Caleb.  His dream kept him alive; he got out of bed every morning intent on pursuing it.

When God gives you a dream as big as a mountain, it will keep you going while others around you are giving up.  But be careful who you listen to.  Don't let the critics discourage you by saying, 'You're too old.'  The Bible says that like a palm tree, you can produce your greatest harvest of fruit in your final years (Psalm 92:12-14).  When the sun goes down the stars come out, so you can shine brightest in the closing chapters of your life.

One woman stated: 'My great-great uncle lived to one hundred and six.  He was healthy and spry and took joy in chauffeuring his less able-bodied senior friends around town.  On his hundredth birthday his driver's license came up for renewal.  When he went to the licensing bureau a skeptical clerk said, 'You're a hundred years old!  What do you need a driver's license for?'  My uncle replied, 'Somebody has to drive the old folks around!'  He continued to have a legal driver's licence for the next five years.'

Do it Caleb's way: live till  the moment you die!

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life. Psalm 23:6 NKJV

Let's break this Scripture down: 'Surely goodness and mercy.'  People may disappoint you, but God's goodness and mercy are sure things!  'With [God] there is never the slightest variation or shadow of inconsistency' (James 1:17 PHPS).  Our devotion to God may falter, but His devotion to us never does: 'If we are unfaithful, he remains faithful' (2 Timothy 2:13 NLT).  David didn't say, 'maybe, possibly, I hope so, I have a hunch'.  No, he said, 'Surely' and that's a promise you can stand on.  'Shall follow me.'  That sounds like another promise God made to His people: 'all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee' (Deuteronomy 28:2).  Note the words: 'follow, come on, overtake'.  You can't get away from them!  God's goodness and mercy followed Jonah to the bottom of the sea, Daniel into the lions' den, and John into exile, opening heaven to him.

Stop and look back.  Think of the scrapes God's brought you through, the messes He has helped clean up, the doors He has opened, and what do you see?  Blessings you don't deserve, can't escape, and are new every morning.  With God, it's a sure thing!  'All the days of my life.'  Think of the days ahead and what do you see?  Days at home raising a family?  Days in a dead-end job, struggling to get ahead?  Days of loneliness and poor health?  Days of caring for a sick loved one?  Days of battling disappointment and depression?  'Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life.'  Goodness to provide, and mercy to pardon; you will never have a day without them!

The race is not to the swift. Ecclesiastes 9:11 NKJV

In Ancient Greek marathons a torch was handed to each runner at the starting line. To win, they had to cross the finish line with their torch still burning.  What a picture! 'unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required' (Luke 12:48 KJV).  In God's kingdom you are called to run your best race and cross the finish line with the fire in your heart still burning.  The torch race was a tough one that led through mountains and valleys. Doubtless there were times when others would pass you by, when your strength would fail, when you lost your way and had to get back on track, or stumbled and had to get back up. What counted in this race was not style, but staying power!

The Bible says, 'Run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, lest you become weary and discouraged' (Hebrews 12:1-3 NKJV).  How did Jesus run His race? As a boy of 12 He told His parents, 'I must be about my Father's business' (Luke 2:49NKJV).  Later, when the crowd tried to take Him in a different direction and impose their agenda on Him, He said, 'I must work the works of Him that sent Me' (John 9:4 NKJV).  Facing the cross, He announced, 'For this cause I was born' (John 18:37 NKJV).  On the cross, He announced, ''It is finished!" (John 19:30NKJV).  In Revelation we see one of our last recorded glimpses of Christ, and 'His eyes [are] like a flame of fire' (Revelation 1:14 NKJV).  He crossed the finish line with the torch still burning.  And He is your example!

He will purify and refine them like gold. Malachi 3:3 NIV

When gold is refined over extreme heat the first thing to come to the surface is dross. The next thing to be separated from it is silver, a less precious metal that blends with the raw gold ore. There is an important lesson here.  Most of us are unable to separate the good from the best, so Malachi writes, 'He will purify and refine them like gold'.  God does it, because we don't know how!

After committing adultery with Bathsheba, David writes, 'Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me' (Psalm 51:10 NKJV).  David prays for two things: a clean heart and a steadfast desire to walk in purity.

Personal failure is usually the result of a slow, steady build-up, rather than a single act of disobedience.  It happens when we focus on the wrong things and neglect our spiritual life. So God calls us to the place of solitude, a place with no distractions, in order to probe our deepest thoughts and open our eyes to certain issues that need attention.  It is here He makes us aware of what we excuse, or try to hide from others.  It is here the junk we have collected during the busy hours of our day gets filtered out.  With the debris out of the way, we are able to see things more clearly and respond to God's nudgings.  There is no way to have a deeper, more intimate relationship with God without the discipline James talks about: 'Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.  Cleanse your hands and purify your hearts' (James 4:8 NKJV).

Be kindly affectionate to one another. Romans 12:10 NKJV

Sometimes we defend our lack of love, kindness, gentleness, patience, and all those other 'fruits of the spirit,' in the name of productivity and hard work.  But we can't square it with Christ's teachings.  He said, 'whatever you want [others] to do to you, do also to them' (Matthew 7:12 NKJV).

When was the last time you went out of your way to help somebody, expecting nothing in return?  Mother Teresa said, 'A day lived without showing love for others, is a day not worth living.'  Loving people must be a way of life, a fixed attitude, a commitment we make every day.  William Barclay said: 'More people have been brought into the church by the kindness of real Christian love than by all the theological arguments in the world.  And more people have been driven from the church by the hardness and ugliness of so-called Christians than by all the doubts in the world.'

Have you ever stopped to think that all those little irritations which come your way each day, are just God giving you an opportunity to become more Christ-like?  Years ago Chuck Swindoll wrote: 'What does the Lord do to help broaden my horizons and assist me in seeing how selfish I am?  Very simple: He gives me four busy kids who step on toes, wrinkle clothes, spill milk, lick car windows, and drop sticky candy on the carpet.  Being unselfish in attitude strikes at the very core of our being.  It means we are willing to forego our own comfort, our own preferences, our own schedule, our own desires for another's benefit.  And that brings us back to Christ.'

Have a good day knowing that you are loved!