Brotherly love is patient – 1 Thessalonians 4:9-10; 5:11, 14, 27, Part 4

Editor’s Note: I once again welcome Molly Stouffer as guest blogger. Molly is from Hagerstown, MD, studying Pastoral Ministries at Lancaster Bible College. When you’re watching TV and a commercial comes on, do you change the channel or wait for the show to come back on? When you’re watching a YouTube video and there isContinue reading “Brotherly love is patient – 1 Thessalonians 4:9-10; 5:11, 14, 27, Part 4”

David’s example of waiting the right way – 2 Samuel 4—5, Part 2

The twelve tribes of Israel are embroiled in civil war. It is one tribe versus the other eleven. David is king of the one tribe, Judah. Ish-Bosheth is king of the other eleven. We learned in the previous post that assasins take Ish-Bosheth’s life, cut off his head and bring it to David, claiming thatContinue reading “David’s example of waiting the right way – 2 Samuel 4—5, Part 2”

When waiting seems to have no end – 2 Samuel 4—5, Part 1

What are you waiting for? On the blog we have been studying the life of ancient Israel’s great king, David, through the Hebrew Bible’s books of 1st and 2nd Samuel. We met David is 1st Samuel chapter 16 when God sent the prophet Samuel on a secret mission to anoint David to be the nextContinue reading “When waiting seems to have no end – 2 Samuel 4—5, Part 1”

What are you waiting for? – 2 Samuel 4—5, Preview

When I was fifteen years old, like most of my peers, I wanted my driver’s license so badly.  It seemed like it took forever to turn sixteen.  When my wife Michelle and I got engaged, our wedding day was about nine months away, an impossibly long time. When we discovered that Michelle was pregnant withContinue reading “What are you waiting for? – 2 Samuel 4—5, Preview”

Three steps for avoiding spiritual panic – 1st Samuel 28-30, Part 5

As a pastor for many years, I’ve had the opportunity to interacted with people in spiritual panics, some funny, some sad, some tragic.  People come to me as their pastor, or I’ve found out about their situation, and they just don’t know what to do. They feel that God’s not answering them.  They’re praying. They’reContinue reading “Three steps for avoiding spiritual panic – 1st Samuel 28-30, Part 5”

Why King Saul was wrong for sacrificing to God – 1st Samuel 13 & 14, Part 2

Have you ever been caught doing the wrong thing, but just that quickly your mind is spinning a rationale to make yourself appear as thought you were doing the right thing?  It’s human nature.  We hate getting caught!  In the previous post, we learned in 1st Samuel 13 that King Saul didn’t wait for theContinue reading “Why King Saul was wrong for sacrificing to God – 1st Samuel 13 & 14, Part 2”

It’s healthy “heart” week on the blog – 1st Samuel 13 & 14, Part 1

In my family over the past few months, we’ve talked a lot about the heart.  Our granddaughter has had two open heart surgeries.  Here in Lancaster we have The Heart Group. The Heart Group website lists 55 practitioners who are all there to evaluate your heart.  My guess is that you have a medical practiceContinue reading “It’s healthy “heart” week on the blog – 1st Samuel 13 & 14, Part 1″

Forgiveness as necessary for patience – Fruit of the Spirit: Patience, Part 5

As we walk in step with the Spirit, we will have the Spirit’s empowerment to live patiently.  That means we will be patient with others. In 1 Thessalonians 5:14 Paul writes, “[W]e urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone.” Wait, Paul…everyone? What Paul isContinue reading “Forgiveness as necessary for patience – Fruit of the Spirit: Patience, Part 5”

Growing patience through thankfulness – Fruit of the Spirit: Patience, Part 4

In Colossians 1:11 Paul writes a prayer that includes an important teaching about how to become more patient. Paul prayed that the people would be “strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father.”  Now that’s interesting.  Thankfulness andContinue reading “Growing patience through thankfulness – Fruit of the Spirit: Patience, Part 4”

How to grow patience – Fruit of the Spirit: Patience, Part 3

What does growing patience look like? In Proverbs 19:11 we read that “A man’s wisdom gives him patience; it is to his glory to overlook an offense.”  Patience is rooted in wisdom.  Proverbs are illustrations of what is a wise course of action almost all the time.  There will be exceptions to the rule whenContinue reading “How to grow patience – Fruit of the Spirit: Patience, Part 3”