A letter from Stan Bower to the businessmen in the St. Louis region:

Stan Bower

Dear Friends,

In the winter of life, we should think and reflect. The winter is in full swing here, so I have begun to adopt an attitude of reflection. As winter passes, I trust I will spring into the year with a new vigor and continual, infinite hope … the Hope.

Recently, a friend brought me to a new understanding of Ezekiel 20. In verses 8, 13 and 21, we read, “Then I resolved to pour out My wrath on them …”. Three times, He stated this. Then in 9, 14 and 22, He says three times, “But I acted for the sake of My name, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations …”

Here is the principle – God, although very angry, withheld His hand of anger. He instead acted out of His character and not His feelings of anger toward the nation of Israel. Hmm.

How do I act out of His character in me … and not how I feel?? After all the many years of training I have been through with the Center for Relational Care (CRC) under the guidance of Dr. David Ferguson and also Dr. David Knight, Clinical Psychologist at Alpha Omega Christian Counseling, I should be fixed! It seems I should be completely healed and function extremely well with all people. But … the fact is I do so only about 50% of the time. I still get angry – what’s up with that?

I have a new understanding and key to how I am going to process through this. Galatians 2:20 is the spot to jump into. “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.” Couple that with Romans 5:3  “And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance;” He is building character in all of us. Thus, I am to imitate Him in thought and deed, which I do by dying to self and by letting the Spirit of God do His work in me.

He is going to continue to work on me throughout 2016!

A work in progress,

Stan Bower
Area Director

 

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