It didn’t take me long to figure out that I couldn’t be great at everything that I tried to do.

One of the first memories of realizing this truth was during my seventh grade talent show. This was a big event at my school. I was part of a little band with some of my classmates. We were performing a popular song by The Beach Boys, who were known for their harmony. Of all times for the physical changes of puberty to attack my body and make my voice to change… it was during that concert! My “ou-we-ou” singing part sounded more like a hound dog barking off key! I distinctly remember one of my teachers, whom I had never seen smile before…laugh hysterically.

You may have been wondering if I ever sang in public again? Unfortunately, I did years later while visiting Aunt Mae, one of my church members. I went to see her at at an assisted living center where she was rehabing after a difficult surgery. I had intentions of cheering her up because I knew that she was discouraged. We sat and talked in the meeting room there for quite a while. I noticed that people were coming into the room. In a few minutes, I heard the chaplain say: “It’s good to have Jerry Bear with us today as we begin our chapel service, I’m going to ask him sing Amazing Grace for us!

I nervously went up to the front and I whispered to the chaplain that I could not sing. His response was “ Go ahead, most of them can’t hear well, they will not notice.” As I started singing the first verse, a local dog owner’s group were bringing in dogs to visit and cheer up the patients. When the dogs heard me singing, they went crazy by barking and jumping all over the place! Their handlers pulled them back out the door. I kept singing and they tried to reenter the building with the same reaction and they went back out the door. After I finished my solo, the handlers brought the dogs back in the building and this time there was no barking or adverse response from the canine group. When I went back and sat down by Aunt Mae, she was laughing and smiling.

I still can’t sing but at least I was able to cheer Aunt Mae up that day. I have also learned and accepted the fact that there are some things in life you and I are just not good at…and that’s okay. You don’t have to be great in everything you attempt in order to have a happy day or help other people to have a better day… and I am thankful for that.

Patience is something you admire in the driver behind you, but not the one ahead of you.”- Bill McGlashen

” All men commend patience, although few are willing to practice it” – Thomas Kempis

We all need more patience in this hectic and stressful world we live in today. It seems like the more capacity we have to do things faster and more efficient…the more expectations are raised…therefore adding more stress…which shows up in a prevailing attitude of impatience. You see it everyday in driving in traffic or when shopping at a store. Here are some things I have found most helpful to help us have more patience…

It is so easy to lose the right perspective when we are always in a hurry because we do not leave enough time for delays and interruptions in our schedule. Things like that really sets us up to become impatient with ourselves and others. Here are some things I have found helpful in developing patience in my own life…

Leaving a margin in your schedule can take care of some unnecessary stress. Someone has well said…”Stress is a negative state of mind, It believes everything is an emergency.” Don’t be afraid of adjusting your schedule by postponing and rescheduling some things on your “to do list”. This will give you needed space and time to put your focus on what you need to do first. If you are a “Control Freak” this will be awkward at the beginning, but in the long run this will allow you to function more efficiently and effectively.

Remember how patient God is with you. This is so important for us to realize and act accordingly. Romans 15:7 challenges us to: “Accept one another, then, just as Christ has accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.” Sometimes it is helpful to say a private prayer of thanks to God for your health, your family, a job, being alive today, friends, etc..things we take for granted that God has provided for us. How many times have you been impatient about something small and then… you see or hear about someone else who has so much more difficulty than yourself?

Make allowances for each other. God tells us to: “Be patient with each other, making allowances for each other”s faults, because of your love” (Ephesians 4:2 LB). The reality is that we don’t know about everything that is going on in someone’s life that we can’t see. There can be extenuating circumstances that might be adversely affecting their behavior. Ask God for His grace and strength for yourself when tempted on becoming too impatient with other people. You will be amazed at how He can do that through you as you trust and depend on Him moment by moment.

Learn by Listening. Don’t evaluate without the facts. Listen to the person, ask questions. Listen before you answer. Proverbs 18:13 LB warns us that “Spouting off before listening to the facts is both shameful and foolish.” We can learn and understand so much more if we will really take time to listen. I can not stress enough how helpful this is in staying calm and patient in difficult situations. Ask questions to clarify your understanding but do so carefully and respectfully and then give them adequate time to respond.

Treat others the way you want to be treated. Jesus said: “So in everything you do, do to others you would have them do to you.” (Matthew 7:12 NIV) This is the “Golden Rule” that Jesus gave us to guide us in our relationship with others.When we do this, we truly reflect God’s Love and Grace…and we will see for ourselves the power of patience in our lives…

A number of years ago, I traveled two days to attend a large national conference. Because of the long trip, I was late getting to the first session. When I arrived, I had difficulty finding a seat. I finally found one on the second row up front in the center section close to the stage. It wasn’t long until I realized why that seat was available. During the program, whenever the speaker started to make a good point , the man in front of me would stand up an shout “Amen, Hallelujah” real loud while waving his arms. I couldn’t hear and see hardly anything else while he did this repeatedly. The next session I determine to sit in another place, so I went to the balcony. After finding a seat, I got busy looking at my conference schedule as the session began… only to see the same guy sitting directly in front of me again! Oh well, I thought how unfortunate I was to have to go through this again. Sure enough, just as the opening music began he stood up and obstructed my view and all I could hear was his comments. I was getting very impatient and upset until… they had a “Welcome Time” and asked everyone to turn around and greet each other. When he turned around, although I had not noticed before, I discovered he was severely handicapped. God broke my heart right then and there! In that moment, I asked God to forgive me of my bad attitude. God forgive us when our impatience keeps us from seeing people and situations from His perspective.

This is a photo of me and of my friend Rob. It was taken at a reunion of our old church youth music group several years ago. Rob played the drums, I played the bass guitar some, helped with the road crew and other things back then. In this photo, Rob is holding a little booklet I wrote years ago entitled “The Lord Always Knows What Is Happening”. That title came from a popular saying we heard a lot back in the 1970’s. People would ask “What’s Happening?” And we would reply “The Lord Always Knows What’s Happening!” The reason we would say that was because there were so many answered prayers within our group and on our mission trips and at the concerts during those years. One summer we did a week of concerts in Bridgeport, Connecticut. We performed concerts in the shopping malls, schools and other venues. We had rented a civic auditorium for concerts in the evening. Before we went on that trip, as I spent time praying for it, I sensed that God wanted me to purchase some Bibles to take with us. I was told that would not be necessary because someone else was taking care of doing that for us. But yet every time I prayed, I really sensed that I was to the get some Bibles anyway. At our final concert there, we had over 200 people make a decision to become a Christian! We spent some time praying and counseling with those people. The Bibles that had been previously ordered for them did not show up. We unpacked the Bibles I had brought. There were just enough Bibles for everyone that became a Christian that night! We were so amazed being able to see first hand things that only God could do. We sensed God’s presence in such a wonderful way. That was such an important part of helping me grow as a young Christian. I am reminded of Hebrews 10:35 that encourages us with these words..”So do not lose or throw away the boldness, courage, and your confident trust in God that you had in the past.” I thank God for those experiences when I had with my friends back then.

I really think it we need to realize the importance of forever friends that God has placed in our life’s journey to help us grow in our faith together. They help shape us through their encouragement and friendship. I think about my friend Rob, who passed away unexpectedly last year. He always had a love for music and for people.That never changed through the years. He did so much to help people to experience and develop their love for music. He even volunteered to help kids learn to play musical instruments who could not afford to do so in his community. Rob’s influence lives on in his family and other people who knew him and were touched by his friendship and what he did for them. I am thankful for people like Rob who make a positive difference in people’s lives. I am thankful that someday I will see Rob again at another reunion…that will be in Heaven. I can’t even begin to comprehend how great that will be!

There is an old bridge near our home. The Harrisburg Covered Bridge was built in 1875, it is the oldest covered bridge in Tennessee. I took this picture a few years ago during a snow storm. Bridges are built to make a way to get us over places that would be far more difficult to travel without them. I’ve often thought how the Lord is like that, especially if we will follow His path and plan for our lives.

Jesus is the Bridge in our relationship with God, He is also our Bridge to help us through difficult times. You have to trust a bridge as you go over it. In the same way, you and I need to trust in the Lord for Him to be the Bridge that gets us through stressful situations. He understands more than anyone else, the obstacles you and I face in life. Chuck Smith has said that “God wants us to trust in Him completely, even when we cannot see any possible solutions.” God is always there nearby, we can count on Him to be dependable, no matter what our circumstances may be. There have been times in my life, that I didn’t know what to do next, or I did not know how I would make it, but I did…because of God’s Bridge of Guidance, Grace and Mercy. One of my favorite Scriptures is “ God is our refuge and strength, a Very Present Help in times of trouble (Psalm 46:1).

Sarah Young, popular inspirational writer, describes it this way,” Whenever you feel inadequate for the task at ahead, stop and think about your resources. God is your strength. He is infinite and He never runs out of anything. So when you work in collaboration with the Lord, He will give you what you need to keep moving forward step by step. Refuse to be discouraged by delays or detours. Instead. trust in the Lord…and just take the next step.” Remember God’s promise: ” If you do what the Lord wants, He will make certain each step you take is sure.”- (Psalm 37:23).

The old Harrisburg Covered Bridge has been been trustworthy for the many people who has traveled over it through the years. How much more can we trust in God’s Faithfulness who has stood the test of time for Eternity! Whatever issues or concerns you may be facing today, take the next step by trusting in Jesus to be your Bridge. He is close by you. He is trustworthy and you can always count on Him.

Through the years of my own personal experiences and also helping other people through difficult times in their lives, I have seen the benefits of trusting God even when life does not make sense. Why is this happening to me? Why doesn’t God answer my prayers the way I had hoped? Our soul seems to ache and cry out that this shouldn’t happen and it is so unfair. It is normal to have those thoughts and feelings but we do not need to let them debilitate us for a long period of time. It is in moments like these, that we are reminded of the harsh reality that we do not live in perfect world. God knew this and that is one of the reasons He sent us Jesus to be our Savior so we may have the promise of Eternal Life and His peace in the midst of difficulties and disappointments in this life. Even Jesus acknowledged the difficulty in living in an imperfect world when He said “ I have told you all this so that you may have peace in Me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows, But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”( John 16:33)

The comfort we are seeking isn’t found in finding the answers to all our questions but it is personally seeking and experiencing God’s presence in the midst of the heartache.This process takes time, but God can and will help navigate you through the uncertainty of the future as you trust in Him. Your path through this, is unique as your fingerprint. You can gain encouragement from His Word, similar experiences from others, but also from other sources that He has uniquely designed for you. It is a blend of all of these, that gives us hope and strength to get through it all. This is how we can trust in God when life doesn’t make sense.

“Base your happiness on your hope in Christ. When trials come endure them patiently, steadfastly maintain the habit of prayer.” – Romans 12:22

Most often when we think of the word “ Hope”, it is in terms of wishing for certain things to happen. That is normal and there is nothing wrong with that. It is good to know there is a much deeper meaning for the word “Hope” than just wishful thinking. Hope is mentioned over 150 times in the Bible. It is not limited to our circumstances or what is going on in our lives. It transcends all of that. It actually means to have confidence and trust in God no matter what we face. Lysa Terkeurst, popular inspirational speaker and author describes it this way: “My Hope isn’t tied to my expectations finally being met in my way and in my timing. No, my Hope isn’t tied to whether whether or not a circumstance or another person changes. My Hope is tied to the unchanging promise of God. I Hope for the good I know God will ultimately bring from this, whether the good turns out to match my desire or not.”

Here are a few of those Bible verses that refer to this kind of Hope:

“Put your Hope in the Lord, travel steadily along His path.” – Psalm 37:34

“Blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their Hope and confidence.” – Jeremiah 17:7

“You are my refuge and shield. Your Word is my Source of Hope.” – Psalm 119:114

“Let Your unfailing love surrounds us, Lord, for our Hope is in You.” – Psalm 33:22

The early Christians used the symbol of an anchor with a cross on of it. It was to give them Hope and remind them of their confidence and faith in God. You may seen this same symbol in a stained glass window in a church. It is taken from Hebrews 6:19… “We have this Hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.” Even today, beneath the surface of our lives, we also have this anchor of Hope and trust in God. This anchor holds us through the storms of life. Hope is not just wishful thinking, it is having confidence in God, regardless of the situation.

“May the God of Hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him.” – Romans 15:13

We have a tendency today, to rush in and out of God’s presence like it is a fast food restaurant…where we place our order the way we like it and expect God to deliver It to us quickly. Good luck with that approach!

Praying is not just saying rehearsed words and asking for things we want. It actually should start by thanking Him for what He already has done for us. Thanking Him for how He is with us now. It is also praising Him for He is… our Savior, our Rock of Stability and Strength in our lives. We should also Praise Him for His Amazing Grace, and His unconditional Love for us!

I have discovered that if we are doing all the talking when we are praying, it is just a one way conversation. We also need to take time to listen to Him. That happens we read the Bible and apply it to our lives or taking time to think what we can specifically do to help others as we are praying for them. Sometimes when I am praying for someone, God will give me a way to encourage them by calling them, sending a text with some encouraging words, or some other way to help them.

“Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart.” – Colossians 4:2

Prayer is not just speaking to God, It is taking a little time to allow Him to speak to us… and that changes everything, including you and me.

This is a photo of a milk can is from the farm of my wife’s grandfather. The can was old and rusty. I had a friend sandblast it and then paint a picture of the farmhouse. When I think of Granddaddy Elliott, I think about his farm and about his faith. My own grandfather, “ Pappaw” Hyder was much the same way. They were both farmers. They were both faithful Christians for many years. I think the Lord places special people in our lives like them to encourage us in our own faith.

Grandaddy Elliott was a deacon and the janitor (and whatever else they needed) at the church near his home. I remember one day going to his house to mow his yard since he wasn’t physically able to do that anymore. After I finished, we sat down and talked awhile. He got out his Bible and shared with me how reading it and studying it every day kept his faith strong. He had developed the practice of reading through the entire Bible a few chapters at a time. This helped deepen his faith. We also talked about the importance of prayer. A long time ago, when his brother was serving our country overseas fighting in the war he would pray for him. Each day he would walk out to the special spot on the farm to pray for him. He would also place a rock there. By the time his brother came home several years later, there was a big mound of rocks representing all the times he specifically prayed for his brother.

My Papaw Hyder used to tell me, that he prayed for me and each member of his family everyday. What a strong encouragement that was for me and my family. In his Bible were prayer notes with tear stains on the them. These experiences and examples have really made a positive impact on my life.

Sometimes I think we neglect or take for granted doing the consistent things like reading and studying the Bible and prayer. Spending time with God each day is so essential to maintaining a faith that is…so simple and yet so strong.

I want to share with you, how my walk of faith began one summer afternoon at the beach…

Growing up as child, I knew a lot of information about God but didn’t know Him personally. Then, all of that changed in the summer of 1970. I attended a youth retreat with my church youth group on the coast of North Carolina. I was really searching for peace of mind and in guidance in my life. One afternoon, I went by myself for a walk on the beach. I stopped and sat there in the sand just looking at the ocean and thinking about my life. I prayed and asked Jesus, if He was real, to come into my life and change it and become my personal Lord and Savior. I have never regretted that decision I made 50 years ago.

Through the years, I have been back to that same conference center to attend meetings and lead retreats. I always take time to go out on that same beach, just talk to Jesus in prayer and thank Him. I still feel unworthy of His love, grace, and forgiveness …yet I know from His Word it is true. I am still learning more about how much He loves and cares for us. He is my best friend, counselor, and encourager. I can’t imagine living life without Him. He makes me a better person, spouse, parent and friend for others. He is my motivation, and source of strength each day. Thank you Jesus for loving me and caring for me!

Also, since that day, I am grateful for the many opportunities that God has allowed me to share with others about His love and care for them too.

How about you? Do you know Him personally? If not, please talk to a Pastor or a Christian friend. Please let God be Real in your life. It will be the best decision you will ever make. Maybe you are already a Christian, but somehow you have drifted away and neglected your relationship with Christ. He is just a prayer away, please talk to Him today. The Bible teaches us that if we will come near to God He will come closer to us, and also that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

I am reminded of Psalm 139:17-18 which states…”How precious are Your thoughts about me, O God, They cannot be numbered! I can”t even count them; they outnumber the grains of sand.” Think about that for a moment..how incredible it is to think that the God who created you and me, and the earth we live in, loves and cares for us in so many countless ways …even more the number of grains of sand at the beach.

This new year 2020 is a “Leap Year”. We have an extra day (February 29th). This happens every four years to keep the calendar year in sync with the astronomical or seasonal calendar. My momma and others told me when I was growing up to “Look before You Leap.” In others words, it is best to evaluate the present and prepare for what is next in for lives. Here are some things to consider as we jump into this new year.

SOME THINGS WILL CHANGE WHILE OTHER THINGS WILL REMAIN THE SAME.

Some things need to be the same. Our core values and good habits should be a consistent in order to maintain the base of our overall good health and wellbeing. Other things we do on a regular basis may need adjustments or additional attention to improve the quality of our life.

WE WILL ENCOUNTER SOME UNEXPECTED THINGS.This is just the nature of life itself that we all face. These can be bad things or good things that will happen. Some these things we may have some control over, others not so much. We can however, control how we respond to things that happen.

NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR PERSONAL GROWTH. Look at and consider some options that can help you to become a better person. Then, weave these new opportunities into your schedule. Through the years, this process has helped balance my personal life as I took some time to take stock of all my regular family and work responsibilities on my schedule. I would decrease some, delete some, increase some and start some new things. This would allow me to schedule my priorities first and then make adjustments where necessary. I would write them down, pray through them and then discuss my thoughts with my family to get their input which was also most helpful.

Well, it is time for me to leap on out of here for now. Have a great day and a Happy New Year!