Power Words
P
is for Peace – the normal, non-warring
condition of a nation, group of nations or the world.
is for Peace – the normal, non-warring
condition of a nation, group of nations or the world.
Synonyms – Accord, friendship, love, reconciliation, truce, unity, armistice,
order, pacification, treaty
order, pacification, treaty
P is for Patience – provocation, annoyance, misfortune or pain, without complaint, loss of temper or
irritation.
irritation.
Synonyms – Composure, diligence, endurance, fortitude, grit, humility,
moderation, persistence, poise, self-control, tolerance. forbearance
moderation, persistence, poise, self-control, tolerance. forbearance
P
is for Perseverance – a
steady course of action, a purpose,
a state, even in spite of difficulties, discouragement and obstacles.
is for Perseverance – a
steady course of action, a purpose,
a state, even in spite of difficulties, discouragement and obstacles.
Synonyms
– Dedication, determination,
endurance, grit, moxie, persistence, spunk, stamina, steadfastness, tenacity
– Dedication, determination,
endurance, grit, moxie, persistence, spunk, stamina, steadfastness, tenacity
The more I think of these
three words, Peace, Patience and
Perseverance, the more I realized how important these qualities are in our
lives. The picture in my mind of each
quality returns me to memories of my parents and grandparents. My parents grew up on farms a state a way from
each other. Both worked in the field
where perseverance and patience grew as they guided the plow, row by row, to
plant crops. A straight row is achieved
by watching the fence post in the distance.
When a row needed to be re-plowed to straighten it, patience grows. How many times did their minds wander as they
watched a rabbit or a mouse scurry away.
What did they think about as they watched the sun traverse the sky? Did they dream dreams of their adult life? Did they ever encounter peaceful moments like
those in the field when they were young?
three words, Peace, Patience and
Perseverance, the more I realized how important these qualities are in our
lives. The picture in my mind of each
quality returns me to memories of my parents and grandparents. My parents grew up on farms a state a way from
each other. Both worked in the field
where perseverance and patience grew as they guided the plow, row by row, to
plant crops. A straight row is achieved
by watching the fence post in the distance.
When a row needed to be re-plowed to straighten it, patience grows. How many times did their minds wander as they
watched a rabbit or a mouse scurry away.
What did they think about as they watched the sun traverse the sky? Did they dream dreams of their adult life? Did they ever encounter peaceful moments like
those in the field when they were young?
Did they consider the
hardships their grandparents and parents encountered to come to this
country? Did my parents compare their
lives of relative peace to the persecution
their grandparents endured because of their faith in God? Did they understand the blessedness of
worship of the One True God each Lord’s Day and enjoy the freedom of
worship?
hardships their grandparents and parents encountered to come to this
country? Did my parents compare their
lives of relative peace to the persecution
their grandparents endured because of their faith in God? Did they understand the blessedness of
worship of the One True God each Lord’s Day and enjoy the freedom of
worship?
Life is filled with so many every
day trials that require patience and perseverance. As a young wife, the unending chore of
washing dishes was a matter of perseverance.
Diapers – not disposable – but cloth diapers were constantly in need of
changing and washing. The joy of the
smiles and giggles from my babies gave me pleasure and compensation for the
patience and perseverance are needed.
day trials that require patience and perseverance. As a young wife, the unending chore of
washing dishes was a matter of perseverance.
Diapers – not disposable – but cloth diapers were constantly in need of
changing and washing. The joy of the
smiles and giggles from my babies gave me pleasure and compensation for the
patience and perseverance are needed.
The inter-relatedness of these
three words is fascinating. The first
two are part of the fruit of spirit, the characteristics of our Lord God….PEACE
and PATIENCE. You might say that through
Patience comes Peace. Or is it that from
the peace of God in our hearts that patience is born?
three words is fascinating. The first
two are part of the fruit of spirit, the characteristics of our Lord God….PEACE
and PATIENCE. You might say that through
Patience comes Peace. Or is it that from
the peace of God in our hearts that patience is born?
Turn away from evil and
do good. Search for peace,
and work to maintain it. Psalm 34:14. There is a relationship ship between
good and peace. Shun evil. For it is the opposite of good. Work to maintain peace. It doesn’t just happen.
do good. Search for peace,
and work to maintain it. Psalm 34:14. There is a relationship ship between
good and peace. Shun evil. For it is the opposite of good. Work to maintain peace. It doesn’t just happen.
It is so easy to excuse and rationalize our opinions,
actions and re-actions with, “It’s the
way I am.” “God made me this way!” “I can’t help it.” Then I read in Psalm 29:11 – The Lord gives
his people strength. The Lord blesses
them with peace.
actions and re-actions with, “It’s the
way I am.” “God made me this way!” “I can’t help it.” Then I read in Psalm 29:11 – The Lord gives
his people strength. The Lord blesses
them with peace.
But how do we ‘get’ this
peace? Where does it come from? Is it like the rain that simply falls on
us? No, Psalm 119:165, has the answer. Those
who love your instructions have great peace and do not stumble. Wait a minute, that sounds like
school, that sounds like hard work. No,
way! Are you talking about God’s Word, The Bible? Oh, yes!
Nuggets of wisdom lie there, waiting just for you and for me. Waiting to strengthen, comfort and provide
Peace. Philippians 4:7 – Then you will
experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace
will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.
peace? Where does it come from? Is it like the rain that simply falls on
us? No, Psalm 119:165, has the answer. Those
who love your instructions have great peace and do not stumble. Wait a minute, that sounds like
school, that sounds like hard work. No,
way! Are you talking about God’s Word, The Bible? Oh, yes!
Nuggets of wisdom lie there, waiting just for you and for me. Waiting to strengthen, comfort and provide
Peace. Philippians 4:7 – Then you will
experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace
will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.
We are not born with patience, but must learn this through
many remembered events. We are born
wanting more than we have and always what someone else has. Our culture is
drowning in the lack of patience – and much money changes hands to make sure we
have the latest and the most fashionable clothes, cars, houses, techno-gadgets. It is said to give us stature with our
friends who have not. This negates
humility
many remembered events. We are born
wanting more than we have and always what someone else has. Our culture is
drowning in the lack of patience – and much money changes hands to make sure we
have the latest and the most fashionable clothes, cars, houses, techno-gadgets. It is said to give us stature with our
friends who have not. This negates
humility
James 1:2-3 – tells us the value of hardships and
trouble. Dear brothers and
sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity
for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has
a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed,
you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing. Pain is gain, they say. But soul-hurt is different. It changes us in the most beautiful way. Testing our faith – giving our endurance a
chance to grow – to be perfect and complete.
Needing nothing? For this
gainful-pain gives us satisfaction and fulfillment that doesn’t last until the
next shopping trip, but lasts for an eternity.
trouble. Dear brothers and
sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity
for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has
a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed,
you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing. Pain is gain, they say. But soul-hurt is different. It changes us in the most beautiful way. Testing our faith – giving our endurance a
chance to grow – to be perfect and complete.
Needing nothing? For this
gainful-pain gives us satisfaction and fulfillment that doesn’t last until the
next shopping trip, but lasts for an eternity.
Oh, how often they rebelled against
him in the wilderness and grieved his heart in that dry wasteland. Again and again they tested God’s patience and
provoked the Holy One of Israel. They did not remember his power and how he rescued them from their enemies. Psalm 78:40-42. We have the time from sunrise to sunset and our days
are limited. God’s time is different – But you must not forget this one thing, dear
friends: A day is like
a thousand years to the Lord, and a thousand years is like a day.
2 Peter 3:8. Does God have more
opportunities to be patient? Is it
easier for Him to wait for stiff-necked people to turn to Him?
him in the wilderness and grieved his heart in that dry wasteland. Again and again they tested God’s patience and
provoked the Holy One of Israel. They did not remember his power and how he rescued them from their enemies. Psalm 78:40-42. We have the time from sunrise to sunset and our days
are limited. God’s time is different – But you must not forget this one thing, dear
friends: A day is like
a thousand years to the Lord, and a thousand years is like a day.
2 Peter 3:8. Does God have more
opportunities to be patient? Is it
easier for Him to wait for stiff-necked people to turn to Him?
The world will never be
in sync with the qualities of peace and patience until Jesus returns. On every side we witness cruelty and hate and
abhorrence. It takes perseverance to
continue to practice patience that enables peace. Every moment of every day we have
opportunities to practice patience and to allow God to work peace in our
hearts. Those
who love your instructions have great peace and do not stumble. Psalm 119:165
in sync with the qualities of peace and patience until Jesus returns. On every side we witness cruelty and hate and
abhorrence. It takes perseverance to
continue to practice patience that enables peace. Every moment of every day we have
opportunities to practice patience and to allow God to work peace in our
hearts. Those
who love your instructions have great peace and do not stumble. Psalm 119:165
Perseverance, the third
‘power word’, encourages when our single-mindedness fails us. Stand firm, do not weary in well-doing
and other scriptures remind us to persevere through adversity.
‘power word’, encourages when our single-mindedness fails us. Stand firm, do not weary in well-doing
and other scriptures remind us to persevere through adversity.
One spring evening, my
task was to plant green onions. One
after another, I tamped down the fragrant earth to hug each onion. A younger neighbor girl came by and watched
me. Her comment held wonder, “You just
keep on keeping on.” That was
perseverance that was expected by my parents who taught me to continue on. Later while practicing piano, sewing,
canning, learning, I kept on keeping on. Sixty-two years of marriage and enjoying
three generations of children….are the result of keep on keeping on.
task was to plant green onions. One
after another, I tamped down the fragrant earth to hug each onion. A younger neighbor girl came by and watched
me. Her comment held wonder, “You just
keep on keeping on.” That was
perseverance that was expected by my parents who taught me to continue on. Later while practicing piano, sewing,
canning, learning, I kept on keeping on. Sixty-two years of marriage and enjoying
three generations of children….are the result of keep on keeping on.
The promise in John 14:3,
When everything is ready, I will come and
get you, so that you will always be with me where I am, is sure. This promise is sure, there is perseverance
in action. John later writes in
Revelation the caution….and promise. I am coming soon. Hold on to what
you have, so that no one
will take away your crown. Revelation 3:11
When everything is ready, I will come and
get you, so that you will always be with me where I am, is sure. This promise is sure, there is perseverance
in action. John later writes in
Revelation the caution….and promise. I am coming soon. Hold on to what
you have, so that no one
will take away your crown. Revelation 3:11
So, I
keep on keeping on, following Jesus,
trusting him, loving him, and knowing He is faithful to keep his promises. I’m still working on patience and desiring
peace that begins with me. Whenever I
see God’s Power Words, I am reminded of the Eternal Life that is ours.
keep on keeping on, following Jesus,
trusting him, loving him, and knowing He is faithful to keep his promises. I’m still working on patience and desiring
peace that begins with me. Whenever I
see God’s Power Words, I am reminded of the Eternal Life that is ours.
Pursue righteousness and a godly life, along with faith, love,
perseverance, and gentleness. Fight the good fight for the true faith.
Hold tightly to the eternal life to which God has called you, which you have
declared so well before many witnesses. I Timothy 6:11b-12
perseverance, and gentleness. Fight the good fight for the true faith.
Hold tightly to the eternal life to which God has called you, which you have
declared so well before many witnesses. I Timothy 6:11b-12
Philippians
4:6-8 – Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God
what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which
exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds
as you live in Christ Jesus. And now, dear brothers and
sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and
right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are
excellent and worthy of praise.
4:6-8 – Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God
what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which
exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds
as you live in Christ Jesus. And now, dear brothers and
sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and
right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are
excellent and worthy of praise.
2 Peter
1:1-3 – I am writing to you who share the same precious faith we have. This
faith was given to you because of the justice and fairness of Jesus Christ, our God and Savior. May God give you more and more grace and
peace as you grow in your knowledge of God and Jesus our Lord. By his divine
power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have
received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by
means of his marvelous glory and excellence.
1:1-3 – I am writing to you who share the same precious faith we have. This
faith was given to you because of the justice and fairness of Jesus Christ, our God and Savior. May God give you more and more grace and
peace as you grow in your knowledge of God and Jesus our Lord. By his divine
power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have
received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by
means of his marvelous glory and excellence.
Ecclesiastes 7:8 – Finishing is better than
starting. Patience is
better than pride.
starting. Patience is
better than pride.
Colossians
3:12 – Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe
yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.
3:12 – Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe
yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.
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