ONE MORE NIGHT WITH THE FROGS

ONE MORE NIGHT WITH THE FROGS

By Pastor Mark Taylor

“And Moses said unto Pharaoh.. When shall I ask God for you, and for your servants, and for your people, to destroy the frogs from you and your houses...And he said Tomorrow” (Exodus 8:9-10)

How many people know in their heart what they should do, and have good intentions but they keep putting it off? One of the greatest challenges we face is procrastination. The interesting thing about procrastination is that it is so easy to justify. We may say:  One day… 

 I’ll get serious about my relationship with God.

 I’m going to forgive that person who hurt me.

 I’m going to get back in shape.

 I’m going to get my finances in order.

 I’ll find a ministry and start serving God.

What is your…

“One day I’ll __________________”? 

“Tomorrow”- Are you serious? When given the opportunity to get rid of millions of nasty, stinky, diseased ridden frogs at any moment,  Pharaoh said, “Tomorrow”.  He could have gotten rid of them at that very moment. When given the opportunity to rid yourselves of all of the nasty, stinky, diseased things within your life; why do you tell God, “Later”?

Pharaoh’s procrastination not only affected him, but his family, servants, and the whole nation of Egypt with the exception of where God’s people were living.  When we delay “getting right with God”, it affects everyone that is in our sphere of influence.

Procrastination is dangerous because it robs us of that which can never be regained.  An opportunity unused is indeed an opportunity lost. Let us resolve to take advantage of the opportunities presented unto us. “Redeem your time, because the days are evil.” (Ephesians 5:16)

It is a bad decision to put off obeying the gospel and spend one more night with the frogs.  It is true that God is very patient.  The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is long-suffering towards us, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.  But the day could come when God would give up 

on you.  “And the Lord said, My Spirit shall not always strive with man...” (Genesis 6:3).

The people of Noah’s time lived lives in which the thoughts of men were continually evil.  God gave them 120 years to turn to Him, and then he sealed the door of the ark and no man could open it.   They had spent one night too many with the frogs and lost the opportunity to have a relationship with God. 

It is a bad decision to spend one more night with the frogs because the conscience may become hardened.  “Today, if you will heart His voice, harden not your hearts.” (Hebrews 3:15).  

God does not easily give up on people.  He is a God of mercy and love.  But there are times when people choose to give up on God and reject the Holy Spirit speaking to them.  When their hearts becomes so depraved by repeated rebellion to God that their conscience is no longer open to the Word of God, they are risking the salvation and forgiveness He offers.  “And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not right.  Became filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness, full of envy murder, debate, deceit,   malignity (malice, meanness, nastiness, spitefulness), whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, implacable (hardheaded, hard-nosed, headstrong, immovable, obstinate), unmerciful: Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.”  (Romans 1:28-32).

It is a bad decision to spend one more night with the frogs because of the uncertainty of death.  “You do not know what shall happen tomorrow.  For what is your life?  It is even as a vapor, that appears for a little time, and then vanishes away...Therefore to him that knows to do good, and does it not, to him it is sin.”  (James 4: 14, 17).  What is is that God is telling you today?  God is the Creator of time. God’s great gift to you is #1-Jesus and #2-Time. The Lord has given us time to work, time to play, time to laugh, time to labor, etc... We need to learn to see that every day is a gift from God. Did you know that every morning a gracious God, who loves you, deposits into your bank of time 1,440 minutes?

Identify the priorities of your day.  Motivate yourself to do it now.  Energize yourself with God’s power, not your own.  “Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” Psalm 90:12.   Wisdom is the art of spending time wisely. 

What frogs are you letting stay in your life until later? Will you spend one more day or night with the frogs and risk your heart becoming harden?  Recognize that God wants to deliver you today from the sins that are keeping you from another day of peace and happiness that He has to offer you.

“Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.”        (James 4:17)

GOD IS ON YOUR SIDE

GOD IS ON YOUR SIDE

By Pastor Mark Taylor

“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.  For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.  Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?  He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?  Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies.” (Romans 8:28-33)

If you’re a child of God, God is for you! He’s on your side. God is for us, not against us!

He loves you very much .  Since God is for us, who can be against us. The passage  above implies that only those who continually love God are the ones for whom this promise is for.   “Whoever knows and obeys my commandments is the person who loves me. Those who love me will have my Father’s love, and I, too, will love them and show myself to them.” (John 14:21)

Salvation is about accepting God’s invitation to let Him love you. Salvation is the ultimate expression of love.  You might feel rejected by the world, but that’s okay, you’ve got a heavenly cheering section that’s rooting you on.  If something isn’t working right in your relationship with God, then you better check your side because nothing’s wrong with His side. 

One of the purposes behind God’s plan was to see those who love Him be conformed to the image of Jesus.

“Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will know what God wants you to do, and you will know how good and pleasing and perfect His will really is.”  Romans 12:2 

God is bigger than our problems. His plans are bigger than our problems.  When we are suffering through difficult times, we can know that God will cause the bad situation to work together for good.

Satan can be Against Us.  Have you ever felt like nothing good ever happens to you?  That somebody else is getting the blessing you need.  Have you ever said to yourself, why can’t God bless me?

There’s a covenant between you and your God that is in force and there’s no devil big enough to break the blood covenant between you and God.   The feelings of isolation, loneliness, and abandonment that you have faced are nothing more than the enemy trying to bring you down. God is own your side.

Life situations can be against us.  You know life can be awfully hard and bad at times.

There are diseases, distresses, sorrows & sadnesses.  Mix in a few sinful mistakes, and life can seem heavy.  But God is on your side.  He is for you and help you overcome what ever is against you. “The Lord is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid?  When the wicked came against me To eat up my flesh, My enemies and foes, They stumbled and fell. Though an army may encamp against me, My heart shall not fear; Though war may rise against me, In this I will be confident.”  Psalm 27:1-3

We can be against ourselves.  It’s a constant tug of war between the Spirit and the flesh.   “Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Matthew 26:41

Since God is for us, who can be against us. Since He’s given His own precious dear son, “how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things”. Remember, this isn’t a blanket of selfish ambition for us, but the desire to have what God wants us to have - Peace, patience, kindness, goodness… help, hope, encouragement!  “For the Lord God is a sun and shield; The Lord will give grace and glory; No good thing will He withhold From those who walk uprightly.”  Psalm 84:11

Jesus said “And whatsoever you shall ask in My name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you shall ask any thing in My name, I will do it” 

John 14:13-13

God is ready to help you when you call upon Him.   “casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:7

IS THIS YOUR SEASON AND TIME?

Video links to This Sermon

IS THIS YOUR SEASON - PART ONE

IS THIS YOUR SEASON - PART TWO

IS THIS YOUR SEASON - PART THREE

“Is This Your Season and Time?”

by Pastor Mark Taylor

“To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:  A time to be born and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to harvest that which is planted”  

(Ecclesiastes 3:1)

There are so many demands on our time, so many good things that need to be done. We see 12 months, 52 weeks, 365 days, 8,760 hours, 525,600 minutes, 31,536,000 seconds. And all is a gift from God. We have done nothing to deserve it, earn it, or purchased it. Like the air we breathe, time comes to us as a part of life.  Like receiving a brand new calendar, the slate is clean and ready for us to post our appointments, meetings, dates, anniversaries and celebrations. So let us pencil this in, more time for loving our families, more time to take care of ourselves, more time to do what we really want to do, more time to follow our dreams and more time with the Author of time and the Author of all things, our Lord Jesus Christ.  Will you use your time wisely this year?  This could be that year that God wants you start planting seed that will grow into a great harvest for you.

Now what do you think God’s will is for you in this new year? Do you think He wants your mind so saturated with worries & anxieties that you can’t think spiritual thoughts? Do you think He wants your calendar so crowded that you don’t have time for the important things? What do you think God’s will is for you this year? 

This could be the year that you start that project God has put in your mind to begin months and years ago.  This could be the season when you begin to sow the seeds that will bring you accomplishments and happiness that you have been praying about.

As the Lord Jesus desires for you to have a harvest of blessings this year, your enemy, Satan wants to delay you another year.  Jesus said that Satan is a robber and a thief. (John 10:10).  One of the things he tries to rob from us is our time, because time is a very precious possession.

The two greatest enemies of time are regrets for things we did in the past, and anxiety about what will happen to us in the future. Many of us are living either in the past or in the future.

"Show me, O Lord, my life’s end and the number of my days; let me know how fleeting is my life" (Psalm 39:4).  "The length of our days is 70 years or 80, if we have the strength...they quickly pass, and we fly away" (Psalm 90:10).  

What you do with your time, with your friends, and with your attitudes will determine what will come at your harvest time.

Time is all about choices.  Every day, in every moment, you get to exercise choices that will determine whether or not you will have a good harvest, no harvest, or a bad harvest.  Is this your time and season to start making good decisions? 

The “Secret of Time” is about the little things you do each day that doesn’t look dramatic, or do not look like they matter, or make a difference.  But successful Christians do what others are not willing to do.  They read their Bible, they pray, they attend Church several times a week, they give to God, and they show their love in their actions toward others.

Many people get frustrated and quit planting good seed when they don’t see immediate results..  You have to stay in the process long enough to reap a harvest of blessings from the Lord for your good actions.  “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not”  (Galatians 6:9).

A positive philosophy of life based on Biblical principles will turn into a positive attitude, which turns into positive actions, which turns into positive results. which turns into receiving the blessings from your Heavenly Father.

A simple positive action repeated over time can cause you to have a life full of God’s blessings.

You start with a prayer today, or a kind deed, or read one chapter from a book of the Bible.  At the end of the year you will have prayed 365 prayers, done 365 kind deeds, and read 365 chapters.  There are only 260 chapters in the New Testament, so you could read it through almost twice in one year.

Are you waiting for a special day to get started.  “Some day” doesn’t exist.  There are no 

“big breaks” in your future.  Your “ship is not coming in”.  Your ship is already here, docked and waiting.  You already have everything you need to achieve everything you want.  You just can’t see it with your human eyes.  “I can do all things through Christ which gives me strength.”  (Philippians 4:13).  You have to start looking through your eyes of faith and plant the right seeds.

Planting good seeds is an act of faith.  If you make the right choices and take the right actions, over time you will have success.  If you plant the wrong seeds, your harvest will be one of disappointment and hurt to you, to those you love, and to those who love you.  You have to choose what kind of seed you want to plant.

"Be very careful, then, how you live not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is."  (Ephesians 5:15-17)

Today is a good time to start planting seeds that will bring you blessings from the God who loves you very much.    The sooner you plant your good seeds, the sooner you will start harvesting.   But He cannot help you without you helping Him.  There is a spiritual law that says: “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a person sows, that shall they also reap.” (Galatians: 6:7).  This law also involves how much you sow. “But this I say, He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.” (2 Corinthians 9:6).

When you plant good seed you will not see the results immediately. No success is immediate, nor is any failure.  it is determined by the seeds you plant.In simple words - “Don’t quit!”

  

Some people today are reaping a harvest of difficulty and pain because of seeds planted a long time ago.  For those people it is time to change the seeds you are planting or you will continue to get the same harvest, not the harvest God wants you to have.

Don’t judge your harvest by the evidence of your eyes, you won’t see the results over night.  This is where faith comes in. “The just shall live by faith” (Romans 1:17).  You live right, you treat other people like Jesus would treat them, and wait for the harvest of good things.    

There is a time to plant, and that time is today.  Today is the time to give your heart and mind to the God that loves you.  “For He says: In an acceptable time I have heard you.  And in the day of salvation  I have helped you.  Behold, now is the accepted time, behold, now is the day of salvation.” (2 Corinthians 6:2).

IT IS MERRY CHRISTMAS - NOT HAPPY HOLIDAYS

IT IS “MERRY CHRISTMAS” – NOT “HAPPY HOLIDAYS”

by Pastor Mark Taylor

“For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9:6).

Don’t let “political correctness” keep you from using His Wonderful Name.  Do not be ashamed of His Name during this Christmas Season.  The name of the Lord Jesus Christ is the most wonderful name on Earth.  "For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him the Son of Man also will be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels." (Mark 8:38)

THERE IS WONDER IN HIS NAME. “Wonderful”

1. His Birth was wonderful.  “Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them.” (Luke 2:20).

B. His Life was wonderful.  “O LORD, You are my God. I will exalt You, I will praise Your name, For You have done wonderful things; Your counsels of old are faithfulness and truth.” (Isaiah 25:1)

C. His Teaching was wonderful. “And when He had come to His own country, He taught  them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished and said, "Where did this Man get this wisdom and these mighty works?” (Matthew 13:54)

D. His Miracles were wonderful.  “This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, "Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him." (John 3:2)

THERE IS WISDOM IN HIS NAME. “Counselor”

1. As your counselor He is always available. “For He Himself has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." (Hebrews 13:5)

B. As your counselor He gives you His undivided attention.  “'Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.”    (Jeremiah 33:3)

C. As your counselor He comforts you. “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.” (2 Corinthians 1:3-4)

D. As your counselor He guides you in the right way.  “And they were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.”         (Mark 1:22)

THERE IS POWER IN HIS NAME. “Mighty God”

A. Jesus has been given all power in heaven and earth. “And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. (Matthew 28:18)

B. He created it all.  “For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him.” (Colossians 1:16)

C. Incredible as it may seem: the Child & Son is the Mighty God.  "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End," says the Lord, "who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty." (Revelation 1:8)

D.  Nothing is too hard for Him.  “But Jesus looked at them and said, "With men it is impossible, but not with God; for with God all things are possible." (Mark 10:27)

THERE IS WORSHIP IN HIS NAME. “Everlasting Father”

1. Jesus and the Father are one in substance, in their love for you and me.  "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. "And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. "My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father's hand. "I and My Father are one." (John 10:27-30)
   
2. Even the Angels in Heaven worship Him.  “But when He again brings the firstborn into the world, He says: "Let all the angels of God worship Him." And of the angels He says: "Who makes His angels spirits And His ministers a flame of fire." But to the Son He says: "Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your Kingdom.” (Hebrews 1:6-8).

1. Even those who refuse to worship Him now will publicly worship Him one day.  “Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”               (Philippians 2:9-11)

THERE IS WELCOME IN HIS NAME. “Prince of Peace”

A. He came to give us rest.  "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28)

B. He came to give us peace.  "Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”     (John 14:27)

C.  He wants you to live with peace in your lives.  “And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.” (Colossians 3:15).

While government and civic organizations are trying to take His wonderful name out of the Christmas season, let us remember that He (The Lord Jesus Christ) is the reason for the season.  “HIS NAME IS WONDERFUL”

This World Is Not My Home

“This World Is Not My Home”

by Pastor Mark Taylor

“If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do? (Psalms 11: 3)

I am writing this sermon two weeks before our presidential election, so I don’t know what the results will be.  I do know that 50 percent of Americans are going to be happy with the results and 50 percent are going to be very unhappy.

The purpose of this sermon is to give the men and women who have a relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ to refocus and get a Christian perspective of where we are and what we should do now.  

Hopefully we have all prayed that “God’s Will” would be done.  Let me assure all of us that He is in control.  

“For promotion comes not from the east, nor the west, nor from the south.  But God is the judge: He puts down one, and sets up another.”  Psalms 75:6-7

“The Most High rules in the kingdom of men, Gives it to whomever He wills, and sets over it the lowest of men.”  Daniel 4:17, 25, and 5:21

The question today is:  What do we do?  How should we respond to the results of the election whether our candidate won or lost?

The first thing we need to remember is that No matter who is President, Jesus is still Lord.

The second thing is to remember that as Christians this world is not our final home.

“ Jesus answered:  My kingdom is not of this world.”  (John 18:36)

“For our conversation (citizenship) is in Heaven from where also we look for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.”  (Philippians 3:20).

“Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world.” (John 18:36).

How do we go forward if we are discouraged about the election or anything else?

Our Lord gave us five strategies to live the victorious Christian life regardless of external circumstances.

“Fear Not” - “But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered, Fear not you are more valuable than many sparrows who are not forgotten by God.”  (Luke 12:6-8).

Fear is the opposite of Faith.  It can cause mental and physical diseases.  It can lead to anger and even hate.  Fear has it’s root in be afraid of not having enough or in not being enough.    “Set your affections on things above, and not on things on the Earth.”  (Colossians 3:2).  There are many good Christian books that can help you in overcoming fear.

“Worry Not” - “Therefore I say unto you.  Take no thought for your life, what you shall eat, or what you shall drink, or for your body, what you shall wear…..” Matthew 6:25-34.

The main issue about worry is Do you believe God can take care of you?  Worry is about seeking things of tomorrow.  God wants you to seek Him today.  When you start to worry about tomorrow, begin to participate in God’s kingdom today.  There are things God needs for you to do for others today.

“Sin Not” - “I say unto you that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repents, more than over 99 just persons which need no repentance.” (Luke 15:7).

 Sin will take you farther than you want to go, keep you longer than you want to stay, and cost you more than you want to pay.  If God has shown you things that are wrong in your life, you need to stop.  God will forgive you of your past sins.  “And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn you, go and sin no more.

“Judge Not” - “Judge not, that you will not be judged.”  (Matthew 7:1)

Two reasons that we judge other people are that we are either jealous or self righteous.

When we take the plank out of our eyes, we can see clearly to help others to be better to.

“Doubt Not” - “Have faith in God…and doubt not…” (Mark 11:22-23)  

You will never know what God would have done for and through you if you let doubt take you out.  Doubt asks: “Is it true?” and “Is it worth it?”  Those that know our Lord Jesus as their personal Savior should ask as Peter did: “Lord to whom can we go, You have the Words of Life?”. (John 6:68).

I hope this message will encourage you to focus your thoughts on your eternal future instead of the circumstances in our country or society.  We have little or no control over national or global events.  We do have however, control over our relationship with the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.  He is our hope.

“Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart, all you that hope in the Lord”  (Psalm 31:24).

GOING THE SECOND MILE

Going The Second Mile   
by Pastor Mark Taylor

"And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two.”  (Matthew 5:41)

Many left Jesus after this message because it cut across the grain. Roman law required a Jew to carry a soldiers' pack one mile. Jews marked a mile in all directions from their homes and would go not a step further.  Jesus shocked His hearers It was not NORMAL to be so passive when abused or imposed upon.  Jesus said they were to go another mile!

Today in our society, which speeds down the fast lane, there is a real need to understand and practice this principal. Patience, forbearance and forgiveness have little meaning to many today. Our old nature, called the carnal nature, causes us to have a bent to do things that will harm us all the while seeming to set things right. We as Christians are susceptible to losing our testimony for Christ and failing to show the love of Christ to others when something hurts us.

Parents are often so busy making a living and just living in our fast society have little time for raising their children.  Many seem too busy to take time live by biblical principals or teach them to their children. The matter of teaching the children is left to the school or church.  Teaching takes TIME, and many parents are to busy to be bothered with taking the time. It take both the husband and the wife to raise children to honor the Lord and live by the principles of God's word.  Often, we let other things be more important!  Children often need discipline and a sharp rebuke! But with it they need understanding, patience and a show of love. Sometimes we need to go the second mile with our children and grandchildren to give them our time. "Fathers provoke not your children to anger, least they be discouraged." (Col 3:21).  "Fathers, provoke not your children to wrath, But bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord."  (Eph 6:4).

Couples also live nervously and have a shaky relationship in their marriages. That negatively effects the children who need a steady and peaceful home to grow up in. They need an example to follow. It is a fact that most children will grow up and make the same mistakes their parents made. If they grow up in a home where there is little love shown, or where their parents fuss and fight...they will do the same in their families. Many times one partner or the other is ready in a second to express their own "rights".  Real love which is tolerant, and understanding seems to be missing.  Most when they think about it do in fact deeply love their spouse, yet they are irritable, many times they are not happy. We need to go the second mile with those we live with. The husband or wife, who is mistreated is by the Bible is compelled to give patience, and understanding for hurt and rebuff. We are to return good for evil. 

On the job, there are those who are never satisfied and are chronic complainers!  If everything is not just like they want it they, are ready to really bad mouth the company, or fellow employees.  At church, folks sometimes become irritable at other members or even preacher because everything is not done just right or as they think it should be done..  You find folks sometimes being critical of things. This could be done better, or we ought to do it this way.  Basically their not satisfied with anything!  We need to go the second mile with those we work with and worship with.

When we are think we are mistreated, or someone is bothering us, lets ask ourselves whether or not they need our sympathy, our prayers, our understanding, and our patience rather than our cruel and caustic rebuffs. You see this it what Christ is telling us to do....this is godly principle that can bring peace and harmony that everyone wishes they had. This can pave the way for finding solutions to problems and correcting conflicts or difficulties that come up. 

The Lord wants the best for us and He is trying to show us the way to have peace and joy in our lives.   Jesus is saying we need to go the second mile! To show biblical love and have patience, and to slow down and discern really what the situation really is. 

 Our rebuff, or hateful reaction to another, only compounds the problem. Never has a sharp word, brought peace! Never has the letting oneself become frustrated help a situation become better. As a Christians we are to be witness to our mates, children, family, friends, and the world! 

The sharp rebuke to the child alone, never helped teach a child patience. The angry response to the child's irritating us, assures that the problems will happen again. 

 Anyone can lash out and punish and avenge themselves! The fruit of such a response is like what is said about history. Those who ignore the reasons for its failures are sure to repeat them! 

 Christ wants the best for us! It is better to be humble. 

 "By humility and the fear of the Lord are riches, and honour and life." Prov. 22:4 

"The meek shall inherit the earth: and delight themselves in the abundance of peace." Prov. 37:11 

Proverbs 15:1 "A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger." 

 Matt. 23:12. "Whosoever shall exalt himself shall abased and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted." 

"Love (Charity) vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up". I Cor. 13:4 

 "With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love" (Eph. 4:2) 

  "Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of the Lord.”  Eph. 5:21

"Put on therefore as the elect of God, holy and beloved, humbleness of mind, meekness.”        Col 3:12,