A long, long time ago — even before time, I suspect — God decided to bring forth Mark Roth (and you as well!) as a new creature.

“Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures” (18).

I submit to His divine decision.

This morning I read a very-practical-to-me way to live out that submission. Here’s just a little bit of what Anne Cetas wrote in today’s entry in the March-April-May 2009 edition of Our Daily Bread:

The book of James gives us these three practical exhortations to deal with life’s stressful situations: “Be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath” (James 1:19).

In life’s stresses, let’s be “doers of the Word” (v.22), and take the time to listen and show restraint with our words and anger today.

Remember, Mark, remember!

“Swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath.”

“Swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath.”

“Swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath.”

from James 1:21