Category Archives: Patience

If you really want the fruit of patience to ripen in your life, give yourself a break!

If we want the fruit of patience to truly ripen in our lives, we must squarely face this question:”Why do we repeatedly give other people the benefit of the doubt but regularly beat ourselves up for making mistakes?”There is no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus, says Paul in Romans 8.  And Jesus himself squarelyContinueContinue reading “If you really want the fruit of patience to ripen in your life, give yourself a break!”

Coming up with what works, at least until I change my mind

So here’s a very short explanation of how I approach Bible study.  I’ve done some version of this since about 1985.  Obviously, I’ve put it to the test.  It works for me.  It may not for you.  And yes, I constantly am tweaking it and no, not worrying if I deviate from it.  It servesContinueContinue reading “Coming up with what works, at least until I change my mind”

There is a road that leads to true peace … prayer

“A peacemaker,” writes Henri Nouwen in The Road to Peace, “prays. Peace is a gift we receive in prayer. … Prayer is the beginning and the end, the source and the fruit, the core and the content, the basis and the goal for all peacemaking. I say this without apology, because it allows me toContinueContinue reading “There is a road that leads to true peace … prayer”

Surrender … total surrender … it’s right there in the Lord’s Prayer

One of the most vital lines to pray — ever! — is “… your will be done.”  In fact, Jesus tells us that if we want to learn to pray, this is one issue that is nonnegotiable.  Here’s a little practice exercise that will create some good tension for you.  It will let you struggleContinueContinue reading “Surrender … total surrender … it’s right there in the Lord’s Prayer”

The heart of confession

Confess your sins to each other, James 5:16 says.  There’s healing if we do, according to the verse.  This is not easy, friends.  Not for me anyway.  Putting words on what I did makes confession painful, but it also helps bring healing.  Who wants to accept his own guilt?  Who wants to face what is mean or cowardly or cruel inside ofContinueContinue reading “The heart of confession”

God is patient

Today at the jail service my ministry colleague – Z.B. – was really on. He ministered to an 18-year-old young man who said he was feeling oppressed. Z.B., who spent several years in prison about 15 years ago, was sensitive and ministered to this young fellow while about 12 other guys looked on. The 18-year-old said heContinueContinue reading “God is patient”