longsuffering

Well, it’s that time again. Time for a good spring cleaning! When I think about spring cleaning, I think about my house. My windows need washing, the rugs need cleaning, the ceiling fans need dusting, & the air conditioner filters need replacing. Y’all, I am just getting tired thinking about all of it!

Just think about it though.

Does our inner man need a spring cleaning, too?

What if we made a conscience effort to get the cob webs out of our hearts? What if we swept jealousy & comparing ourselves to others straight out the door? What would our God given houses be like if we just flat out wiped out hate and filled it back up with love? Like the love I have for chocolate gravy & biscuits.

James, the brother of Jesus, talks about this in

James 1:21 Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. (NKJV)

Peter mentions it, as well, in

I Peter 2:1 Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking,

And I can’t go without including the fruit of the Spirit (notice this says “fruit” as in singular, as in one-which means all of these beautiful qualities go together. As in you need to have all of these, not just pick which one you want to do & leave the rest out.)

Galatians 5: 22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. (NKJV)

Let’s take a look at ourselves (me included, because I need it more than anybody!). Let’s make sure we have the most important aspect in our lives first, LOVE. Then, I really believe the rest will fall into place.

Matthew teaches in Matthew 12, that if we get rid of something bad in our lives, we need to immediately fill it back up with something good. If we don’t we chance more bad coming back into our hearts.

⁴³“When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest, and finds none. ⁴⁴Then he says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when he comes, he finds it empty, swept, and put in order. ⁴⁵Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter and dwell there; and the last state of that man is worse than the first. So shall it also be with this wicked generation.”(NKJV)

Whew! Spring cleaning is hard! Especially when you have to get rid of things like being unforgiving & having bitterness in your heart. Things like this is like old baggage you have tucked back in the corner of a closet & forgotten about. It’s been around so long, that you hardly notice it’s holding you up in your walk with God.

Ephesians 4:31-32 ³¹Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. ³²And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you. (NKJV)

How about we all get to work on spring cleaning? I know I sure need it. I’m so glad you stopped by today. I presented the good news to Miss Neenee last night that school would be out next month. As in NEXT MONTH. She was just pleased as punch to know she would have a break before long. Come on summer!! I hope you have a blessed week. As for me, I have got to be going because I should be washing clothes.

photo credits: quotesgram.com, whatchristianswanttoknow.com, newhealthom.com

How many of you love to wait? Ok, why is no one raising their hands? Probably because you are like me & do not care very much for having to wait. We live in a society that, the quicker we can have results, the better. Our time is too precious to be wasted on waiting. However, there is a wonderful virtue to be had by learning to wait. That is the characteristic of patience or sometimes referred to as longsuffering.

Galatians 5:22-23 New King James Version (NKJV)

²²But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law

God has patience. So it must be a good thing. He doesn’t ask us to do things He wouldn’t do himself.

Psalm 86:15 New King James Version (NKJV)

¹⁵But You, O Lord, are a God full of compassion, and gracious,
Longsuffering and abundant in mercy and truth.

The Lord is very patient with us. He wants everyone to have a home in heaven.

2 Peter 3:9 New King James Version (NKJV)

⁹The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us,^[a] not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.

If you get tired of waiting, you should know it’s ok. It’s a work in progress. God wants us to discipline ourselves to wait. This leads to being righteous & will finally give us a home with Him in heaven.

Romans 2:6-7 New King James Version (NKJV)

⁶who “will render to each one according to his deeds”:^[a] ⁷eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality;

Life gets hard sometimes. You want an answer. You don’t want to have to go through a rough time. Nobody does. God’s patience even runs out.

Jeremiah 44:22 New King James Version (NKJV)

²²So the Lord could no longer bear it, because of the evil of your doings and because of the abominations which you committed. Therefore your land is a desolation, an astonishment, a curse, and without an inhabitant, as it is this day.

But we must realize if we are patient, there is a reward for it.

Galatians 6:9 New King James Version (NKJV)

⁹And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.

Matthew 25 : 46 New King James Version (NKJV)

⁴⁶And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

Psalms 62: 1 New King James Version (NKJV)

Truly my soul silently waits for God;
From Him comes my salvation.

Being patient, waiting & wondering if God is even listening can be disheartening. But God is good. He is right on time every time. When your patience is being tried, & you’ve prayed & prayed & waited for an answer, remember- there are 3 answers to prayer.

Yes

& wait

God’s not being mean. He’s trying to mold you into what He wants you to be. And goodness gracious who does not need some improvement in their lives? We just need to understand waiting & patience is necessary for our walk with the Lord. So, you see my friend, patience is something we must have. We have got to condition ourselves to wait on God. We have to empty ourselves of doubt, fear, & gloom & doom. Then we can fill ourselves with the things of the Lord, like faith, hope, & love.

And talk about somebody needing patience. I made this little dress for my granddaughter. I may have had to re-do some certain parts a time or two. Me & bias tape have this love/hate relationship going on. Oh well, it all worked out. She’s going to look so sweet in it!

I am so glad you stopped by today. I hope everything is going well for you. With fall in the air, I think everybody is in a little bit better mood. We will be making our annual trip to Ames Plantation this weekend. I can’t wait. You can read more about this fun festival here. As for now, I have to be going because I should be washing clothes.

photo credit: http://www.theladiesfeed.wordpress.com,www.ninapaley.com,www.art-of-inspired-living.com,www.curiositesbydickens.com