WISDOM OF BEING A PEACEMAKER

“If you are wise and understand God’s ways, prove it by living an honorable life, doing good works with the humility that comes from wisdom. But if you are bitterly jealous and there is selfish ambition in your heart, don’t cover up the truth with boasting and lying. For jealousy and selfishness are not God’s kind of wisdom. Such things are earthly, unspiritual, and demonic. For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and evil of every kind. But the wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and the fruit of good deeds. It shows no favoritism and is always sincere. And those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of righteousness.”
‭‭James‬ ‭3:13-18‬ ‭NLT‬‬

James is teaching us that if we say we believe it, we better behave accordingly.  Our affirmation of faith must be fleshed out in our actions.  Verse 13 ask a question: "Who is wise and understanding among you?"
We are living in a time when information is exploding and immediately accessible on our phones, tablets, or computers. With all this knowledge and information, do you think we are wiser?
Wisdom doesn't come just as part of getting older.  You will get wisdom if you go after it.  What price are you willing to pay to get wisdom?  What sacrifices are you willing to make?  "For wisdom is more precious than rubies, and nothing you desire can compare with her " (Prov. 8:11).
Knowledge comes from books, but wisdom comes from the BIBLE / GOD'S WORD.  Knowledge is the accumulation of facts but wisdom is the God-given ability to apply them in every situation. The true test of wisdom is works, not words, not your IQ but your CQ / character quotient.
James says we demonstrate wisdom by the way we live so we must act with humility. Some think humility is a weakness. Humility actually means "strength under control "
There are two kinds of wisdom: wisdom from below and wisdom from above.  James says wisdom from below is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil.  He says wisdom from above comes from heaven, is pure, peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy, and good fruit, impartial and sincere.
Wisdom from below produces drama, disorder, confusion and a state of chaos.
Wisdom from above produces, a harvest of righteousness, peace,quietness and confidence forever.
At one time or another we all have felt anger, bitterness, hurt, and as if we have been miss-treated. There are three ways to deal with conflict:
1. peace-faking - trying to escape the problem
2. Peace-breaking - being in the attack mode
3. Peace-making - trying to reconcile
Jesus pronounces a blessing upon the "peacemakers".  James 3:18 " Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness."  The Good News is: Jesus paid the price for all those wrongs. We need to let go and give it to God. If you hold a grudge you are cheating God from His justice. I am so grateful that Jesus came down low in order to bring salvation and forgiveness and peace to people like you and me.
I want to leave you with this thought: We cannot humanly win the battles we face, but God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit can.  So just simply pray, asking God to take over and He will fight battles for you and He will be victorious.
Remember God loves you and so do I.

Hopeless End Turned into Endless Hope

“In fact, we expected to die. But as a result, we stopped relying on ourselves and learned to rely only on God, who raises the dead. And he did rescue us from mortal danger, and he will rescue us again. We have placed our confidence in him, and he will continue to rescue us.”

‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭1:9-10‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Have you ever felt you were at a dead end?  Have you ever asked God why do you let things get so bad and out of control?  Whatever situation you find yourself in, what do you expect God to do about it?   Maybe you don't expect God to do anything. But God works in your life according to your expectation.  That is called FAITH!

The scripture 2 Corinthians 1:9-10 has to do with deliverance.  The purpose of dead-end is to teach you to trust in God.  Bad things / out of control things, force you to learn to trust God, instead of your own ingenuity and cleverness. 

God promises to deliver you, but you must put your trust in Him.  He has delivered you, He will deliver you, and He will continue to deliver you.  There are three different kinds of deliverance:

1) God uses circumstantial deliverance - sometimes God may miraculously alter the circumstance like the Red Sea, but it won't happen all the time. 

2) God uses personal deliverance - God changes you: a new dream, new wisdom, new attitude, and a new perspective. 

3) God' ultimate deliverance is Heaven - While on earth we will experience problems. There will be pain, sorrow and suffering. In Heaven no more sorrow, or suffering or heartache. 

“Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.”

‭‭John‬ ‭14:6‬ ‭NLT‬‬

There is only one way to Heaven.  When you feel like you have reached a dead-end, Jesus can take that hopelessness and turn it into endless hope. Stop relying on self, and rely on God.  He did rescue us from mortal danger.  He will rescue us again. Place all your confidence in Jesus and He will continue to rescue you.  Take all your problems, concerns and give them to Jesus. 

Remember God loves you and so do I. 

Hopeless End Turned into Endless Hope

“In fact, we expected to die. But as a result, we stopped relying on ourselves and learned to rely only on God, who raises the dead. And he did rescue us from mortal danger, and he will rescue us again. We have placed our confidence in him, and he will continue to rescue us.”

‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭1:9-10‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Have you ever felt you were at a dead end?  Have you ever asked God why do you let things get so bad and out of control?  Whatever situation you find yourself in, what do you expect God to do about it?   Maybe you don't expect God to do anything. But God works in your life according to your expectation.  That is called FAITH!

The scripture 2 Corinthians 1:9-10 has to do with deliverance.  The purpose of dead-end is to teach you to trust in God.  Bad things / out of control things, force you to learn to trust God, instead of your own ingenuity and cleverness. 

God promises to deliver you, but you must put your trust in Him.  He has delivered you, He will deliver you, and He will continue to deliver you.  There are three different kinds of deliverance:

1) God uses circumstantial deliverance - sometimes God may miraculously alter the circumstance like the Red Sea, but it won't happen all the time. 

2) God uses personal deliverance - God changes you: a new dream, new wisdom, new attitude, and a new perspective. 

3) God' ultimate deliverance is Heaven - While on earth we will experience problems. There will be pain, sorrow and suffering. In Heaven no more sorrow, or suffering or heartache. 

“Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.”

‭‭John‬ ‭14:6‬ ‭NLT‬‬

There is only one way to Heaven.  When you feel like you have reached a dead-end, Jesus can take that hopelessness and turn it into endless hope. Stop relying on self, and rely on God.  He did rescue us from mortal danger.  He will rescue us again. Place all your confidence in Jesus and He will continue to rescue you.  Take all your problems, concerns and give them to Jesus. 

Remember God loves you and so do I. 

Hopeless End Turned into Endless Hope

“In fact, we expected to die. But as a result, we stopped relying on ourselves and learned to rely only on God, who raises the dead. And he did rescue us from mortal danger, and he will rescue us again. We have placed our confidence in him, and he will continue to rescue us.”

‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭1:9-10‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Have you ever felt you were at a dead end?  Have you ever asked God why do you let things get so bad and out of control?  Whatever situation you find yourself in, what do you expect God to do about it?   Maybe you don't expect God to do anything. But God works in your life according to your expectation.  That is called FAITH!

The scripture 2 Corinthians 1:9-10 has to do with deliverance.  The purpose of dead-end is to teach you to trust in God.  Bad things / out of control things, force you to learn to trust God, instead of your own ingenuity and cleverness. 

God promises to deliver you, but you must put your trust in Him.  He has delivered you, He will deliver you, and He will continue to deliver you.  There are three different kinds of deliverance:

1) God uses circumstantial deliverance - sometimes God may miraculously alter the circumstance like the Red Sea, but it won't happen all the time. 

2) God uses personal deliverance - God changes you: a new dream, new wisdom, new attitude, and a new perspective. 

3) God' ultimate deliverance is Heaven - While on earth we will experience problems. There will be pain, sorrow and suffering. In Heaven no more sorrow, or suffering or heartache. 

“Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.”

‭‭John‬ ‭14:6‬ ‭NLT‬‬

There is only one way to Heaven.  When you feel like you have reached a dead-end, Jesus can take that hopelessness and turn it into endless hope. Stop relying on self, and rely on God.  He did rescue us from mortal danger.  He will rescue us again. Place all your confidence in Jesus and He will continue to rescue you.  Take all your problems, concerns and give them to Jesus. 

Remember God loves you and so do I.