But the fruit of the Spirit is
love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance Gal 5:22-23

The underlying Greek Makrothumia (mak-roth-oo-mee’-ah) is defined as – forebearance, fortitude, longsuffering, patience

James 5:10-11 – James points us to Job for an example of what Longsuffering means and the reward the Lord has in mind

Two reasons we need to be able to withstand situations that test us:

1. Patience leads to perfection leaving us wanting nothing:
   

   James 1:2-4 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
   

2. Patience leads to the hope that is founded on God’s goodness and truth
   

   Romans 5: 3-5 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
   

Let us be those that works our way through life’s challenges for the growth we achieve and the reward God has in store for us!

 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world

–KJV Titus 2:11-12

Belshazzar had a letter, —
He never had but one;
Belshazzar’s correspondent
Concluded and begun
In that immortal copy
The conscience of us all
Can read without its glasses
On revelation’s wall.

 –Emily Dickinson #25 in the First Series

Between stimulus and response, there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and freedom. – As quoted by Stephen R. Covey in First Things First

The Noticer by Andy Andrews

Need a little perspective in your life? Come spend a little time with Jones. With a length of only 156 pages, one might think of The Noticer as a ‘quick read’ – and certainly can be if one so chooses because it is hard to put down – but this story should be read in small doses with time spent savoring and reflecting upon each encounter. This talented writer is able to transport you to this gulf coast town in Alabama in a way that you almost feel personally affected by each of the characters and their situations. You will find yourself pulling for their success; you may even find yourself – and gain a perspective that surprises you too.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255

Being a big tough man might be the single biggest call to action from our peers growing up. It is painful to think what irreversible damage has been done in marriages, friendships and fatherhood by the macho attitudes. The inability to overcome this worldview could be a major roadblock to achieving excellence in life.

What if we told these young men that in order to be a real man, one has but to turn to God’s word and see the plan He has laid out for us? How many would respond positively and turn their lives around in the next few weeks because they sat down with a Bible and learned the truth? All things considered, I would guess the response to be limited to the very exceptional few.

We need a plan then. We need people that men can trust and look up to, to tell their stories. We need to build some new habits.

Living Life in the Zone takes this approach with a forty day exploration into the issues men face. Lots of sports lingo and an informal tone gives the book warmth that feels just right for a men’s devotional group. The layout is structured and easy to follow whether reading alone or in group study. Each day the same structure mostly repeats itself, so we have an easy to follow plan.

The Zone sets the tone for each day’s lesson by following a respected sportsman’s life through a difficult journey or situation and allows the reader to see how they allowed God to take them through the test. Emphasis is placed on consulting God first in difficult times, not as a last resort. Getting a glimpse of some of these men’s lives gives us the examples we need of trusted men.

The Zone uses forty days as its timeframe for change. When God took forty days to do something, it was important and changes of great magnitude happened, and the forty day schedule in this book pays tribute to that. Forty days is a reasonable time to devote to an effort to improve ourselves.

The Zone references lots of Bible passages in the New King James Version and each day points out Scripture that relates to the day’s topic in the form of “God wants you to…” The most excellent part of this book is that it doesn’t attempt to replace the Bible in the reader’s new daily devotional habit but points him towards it to verify what God says. I did not find any out of context use of Scripture. The Scriptures referenced were easily verified to mean what the Bible intended them to mean.

Overall this was an excellent book and I highly recommend its use for new Christians and mature ones alike as a means of centering their lives, developing devotional habits and growing their spirit.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com <http://BookSneeze.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255

1. The other cheek (Matthew 5:39)
2. Your cloak (Matthew 5:40)
3. An extra mile (Matthew 5:41)
4. What he asks for (Matthew 5:42)
5. What he borrows (Matthew 5:42)

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy,
peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance Gal 5:22-23

The underlying Greek word here is eirene defined as peace, quietness or rest.

Sources of Peace

Our Faith:

• Romans 5:1 …since we have been justified in faith, we have peace with God …
• Joshua 1:9  “Have I not commanded you?  Be strong and courageous.  Do not be terrified;  do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.”
  

Our trust:

• Romans 15:13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him,…
  
• 1 Peter 5:7 Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.
  
• Romans 8:31 If God is for us, who can be against us.
  

We are commanded to have Peace

2 Corinthians 13:11 “… Live in Peace….”

Colossians 3:15 “Let the Peace of Christ rule in your hearts…”

Hebrews 12:14 “Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy…”

Our challenge then is to work toward having a peaceful life in a world distracting us from its source, faith and trust in God.

Fools don’t care if they sin,
       but honest people work at being right. – Proverbs 14:9 NCV

If I can stop one heart from breaking,
I shall not live in vain;
If I can ease one life the aching,
Or cool one pain,
Or help one fainting robin
Unto his nest again,
I shall not live in vain.

–Emily Dickinson  #VI from the First Series