Sound Advice

My grandfather gave me one piece of advice, that I remember. He told me, "Never pray for patience or your patience would be sorely tried." I have remembered and tried to follow this advice.

Then recently more things on patience came to light for me, a scripture I had committed to memory years ago, finally made sense to me. James 1: 3 ""Knowing this that the trying of our faith worketh patience."

Having taught school for a number of years. I am well versed in testing to see if knowledge is retained. I have often wondered if there was a way for me to know if I was making progress in my spiritual life. It came to me the way to know if your faith is growing is that you have more patience. Knowledge without fruit is useless, thus, the creation of a quiz to know if your faith is growing.

Is my faith growing quiz.

1. You ask your child to take out the trash.  What is the reaction you are expecting?
      a. You expect them to go do it immediately.
      b. You tell them, "When this TV show is over the trash must be taken out."
      c. You give them five minutes then you assign punishment.
2. You are waiting in line at the grocery store.  What is your reaction?
      a. You are tapping your foot, breathing heavily, and praying that this
         goes quickly.
      b. You check to see if there is a shorter line and dash for it.
      c. You think to yourself 'waiting is something everyone has to do,' the
          wait patiently.
3. A car that has been riding your bumper, just comes around you and cuts you off.
      a. You honk and shake your fist, hoping they don't stop.
      b. You pull over and call the police with their license number.
      c. You say to yourself, 'The only person who is hurt, if I get mad is me.'
4. You have been waiting in line to purchase tires, someone cuts in front of you.
      a. You wait patiently, praying that the clerk is aware of what is
         happening and correct it.
      b. You say "excuse me, but I am next in line."
      c. You step forward in front of them and say "the line starts back there."
5. Your spouse comes in and requests a piece of laundry for tomorrow.
      a. You tell them "you know where the machine is."
      b. You say "ok," and remind them a little advanced warning would be nice.
      c. You go to the laundry room slamming doors, lids, etc...
Answers; 
 1-b, 2-c, 3-c, 4-a, 5-b are worth 20 points each
 1-c, 2-a, 3-a, 4-b, 5-c are worth 15 points each
 1-a, 2-b, 3-b, 4-c, 5-a are worth 10 points each
0-30%
Your faith if of no effect. Do not be weary every man is given a measure of faith, with time and grace your faith will grow. "For it they which are of the law be heirs, faith is "made void:" and the promise made is of no effect. Romans 4:14-16.
30-60%
You have faith, but you have doubted  We have all been through this step.  The following scripture that goes with this answer seems really harsh.  Read the verse before it to know that it is about offending a brother in our choices.  This is not a good place to walk, just a place to pass through. "And he that doubts is damned if he eats, because he eats not in faith for whatsoever is not of faith is sin." Romans 14:23.
60-80%
Your faith is growing.  Be encouraged "If ye had faith as a grain of a mustard seed, ye might say unto this Sycamine tree, be thou plucked up by the roots, and planted in the sea, and it should obey you." Luke 17:6.
80-90%
Your faith is increasing abundantly, continue the good fight.  "No boasting of things without measure, that is, of other men's labors; but having hope, when your faith is increased, that we shall be enlarged by your according to our rule abundantly." 2 Corinthians 10:15.
90-100%
Your faith is grown, there is no doubt.  You know if your faith is grown it is because you have more patience with others.  "Knowing this that the trying of your faith is working patience, but let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire wanting nothing." 2 Peter 2:34.  The key work being patience.

I am not all knowing and am human. If this quiz is unsound according to the Word, please let me know.

Thank you. Sincerely yours,   Canita

Establishing Righteousness

"Now no chastening for the present seems to be joyous, but grievous; nevertheless afterward it yields 'the peaceable fruit of righteousness' unto them who are exercised thereby." Hebrews 12:11

"Chastening" has two definitions; to punish or correct and to restrain and subdue. The definition of restrain and subdue is the definition used with this scripture. The word "exercised" means discipline or train. The word "subdue" has several meanings the ones that fits this lesson is to control, overcome, make less intense, or diminish.

When I began looking up the word "righteousness" the word peace often accompanies it. Then I came across the scripture where peace and righteousness kiss. Psalms 85:10. Peace and righteousness are a pair.

Righteousness is given by God, it can be put on, it is a fruit, grows by faith and is accompanied by peace.

Righteousness can be put on

You can put on righteousness. It is an armour according to 2 Corinthians 6:7 "By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left." The putting on of righteousness is also referenced in Job 29:14, Ephesians 6:11-17 and Psalms 132:9. We are admonished to put it on daily in our fight for faith.

Righteousness grows by faith

Galatians 5:5 "For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith." Part of our faith growing is the hope of righteousness bestowed on us from God. Let us daily hope for righteousness.

Righteousness is accompanied by peace

James 3:18 "And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace." Additional references for peace and righteousness are Psalms 85:10, Romans 14:17, and Hebrews 12:11. I will never think of righteousness without peace in the future. It is taught that righteousness is right standing with God. It is truly right standing with God, but along with that is peace. Some of the things done are in right standing with God, but not always done in peace.

Righteousness given by God

Righteousness is given by God not by works. Romans 4:6 "Even as David describes the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputs righteousness without works." References to Righteousness by God are found in Job 36:3 and Psalms 24:5. The scripture refers to Righteousness being God's righteousness. Then in Ephesians 4:24 when we become new Creation in Christ, we become righteousness and true holiness.

Righteousness is a fruit

Righteousness is called fruit or fruits. "Being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ unto the glory and praise of God." Philippians 1:11. It is also referenced as fruit/s in Romans 5:17 and Amos 6:12. Righteousness is not listed as a fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22-23 even though it is not listed I do believe it is a measure of mankind.

Below is a quiz to confirm how your righteousness is growing. You may be surprised by some of the answers, but when you pair up peace and righteousness it changes the perspective a little.

1.    You're sharing a meal with a devout Jew, your favorite dish at this restaurant includes bacon.  What would you do?
                      a.     Order your favorite dish, they will not even
                             notice that you are having bacon
                      b.     You decide to try something new on the menu
                             that does not include bacon
                      c.     You order your favorite dish and apologize
                             hoping they are not offended
2. You are eating out with someone you know has a religious offence to shellfish.  What would you do?
                      a.     Choose a restaurant that does not serve
                              shellfish
                      b.     You go to the restaurant with shellfish;
                             they can find something else on the menu
                      c.     Ask them if it is ok to go to a restaurant
                             that serves shellfish
3. At a friend's party they have a fortune teller.  You refuse to participate in
this activity.  How would you handle this situation?
                      a.     Tell your friend how you feel about this
                             activity and leave
                      b.     Participate and repent later
                      c.     State you are passing on this activity,
                             but will join them later
4. Some is gossiping about a fellow worker.  What do you do?
                      a.     Gossip with them and repent later
                      b.     Tell the fellow worker you don't listen
                             or participate in gossip and leave
                      c.     Listen to them and say nothing

Answers; 1-b, 2-a, 3-c, 4-c
 

How did “Plaster of Paris” get that name?

“Plaster of Paris” is made from gypsum. Gypsum is a chalk that is a hydrated sulfate of calcium which occurs naturally in sedimentary rocks.

The definition is gypsum a heavy white powder that is heated to high temperature below the melting point or fusion point to extract the moisture, which, when mixed with water, forms a thick paste that sets quickly; used for casts, moldings, statuary, etc…

And found in those mines along with gypsum was the precious Alabaster, which was used to make perfume bottles.  The "rose rock" which is found in Oklahoma in more abundance than any part of the world is gypsum.