| "God waits until he gets his turn," says Savannah, age | | | | of the world and the good shepherd who gives his |
| 5.His turn?This sounds like something my elementary | | | | life for the sheep. "God has patience with us because |
| school principal might have said when I was called to | | | | he had to sit and watch his son die on the cross," |
| his office. In my case, "his turn" usually translated into | | | | says Trey, 11. "He is waiting for us to believe in him," |
| a paddle being applied to the seat of my pants.God | | | | adds Elizabeth, 9."God wants us to be patient with |
| has patience with us "by waiting in line," says Ashton, | | | | others to show them we are Christians," says Sarah, |
| 5. I suppose he's waiting in line to get his turn. | | | | 10. One of the biblical words used for patience is |
| Perhaps Ashton was considering how we make God | | | | "perseverance." It's not just passively tolerating |
| wait in line by trying to solve problems by ourselves | | | | unpleasant circumstances. It's active endurance in the |
| instead of turning to him for answers."God has | | | | face of adversity. The Apostle Paul wrote to the |
| patience with me and everyone else because we all | | | | new Christians at Corinth that the signs of an |
| mess up a lot," says Gary, 10. "Twenty-four hours a | | | | apostle, which included miracles, were "accomplished |
| day, someone is sinning," adds Andrew, 11.Or as | | | | among you with all perseverance."Sarah is right on |
| Emily, 8, says, "God knows what's going on.""God has | | | | target. If Christians belong to a patient Father, his |
| patience with us because he is so, so, so very nice," | | | | patience should be reflected in their lives. Persevering |
| says Christian, 7. Yes, God is nice or gracious in that | | | | patience in the lives of Christians is one of the best |
| he doesn't judge us immediately when we sin against | | | | advertisements to those who don't know Jesus. Try |
| him. But don't mistake God's slowness to anger for a | | | | turning the other cheek after you've been slapped |
| compromise of his righteousness. Rather, his patience | | | | with injustice, ridicule or scorn for believing in a man |
| gives us time to turn to him."If God didn't have | | | | who rose from the dead almost 2,000 years |
| patience, we wouldn't be here right now," says Peter, | | | | ago.Point to ponder: Patience is perseverance in the |
| 10. Yes, we wouldn't be "here" to "hear" God | | | | face of adversity or injustice.Scripture to remember: |
| patiently calling us. The Apostle Paul wrote that those | | | | "For consider Him who endured such hostility from |
| who harden their hearts against God store up his | | | | sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and |
| wrath against themselves for Judgment Day. Another | | | | discouraged in your souls" (Hebrews 12:3).Question to |
| translation reads "treasuring up for yourself wrath" | | | | consider: Is Jesus prompting you to show his |
| (Romans 2:5).Who in their right mind would want to | | | | patience to someone?Carey Kinsolving is a syndicated |
| invest in a "Wrath Account" administered by | | | | columnist, producer, author, speaker and website |
| God?"God has patience with us because he is | | | | developer. To see Carey's Kid TV Interviews and |
| perfect," says Madeline, 11. "God knows we are like | | | | more, visit The Kids Talk About God website |
| sheep and are not smart. God knows we are sinners | | | | contains free, online content for children and families. |
| and need His mercy. God can give us His mercy | | | | Print free lessons from the "Kids Color Me Bible" and |
| when we ask for it."Sheep grazing in green valleys | | | | make your own book. Watch for free the |
| seem so peaceful. It's easy to forget that sheep are | | | | adventures of an 11-year-old girl traveling around the |
| not the brightest of God's creatures. Without a good | | | | world, visiting missionaries in the Mission Explorers |
| shepherd, they're vulnerable to all kinds of | | | | Streaming Video. Print Bible pictures drawn by kids |
| hazards.The prophet Isaiah wrote: "All we like sheep | | | | that illustrate Scripture verses. Receive a |
| have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to | | | | complimentary, weekly e-mail subscription to our |
| his own way; And the Lord has laid on Him the | | | | Devotional Bible Lessons. Bible quotations in this |
| iniquity of us all" (Isaiah 53:6).In the ultimate paradox, | | | | column are from the New King James Version. |
| Jesus is both the sacrificial lamb who dies for the sins | | | | |