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;

…

 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…

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…

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

…

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