patient

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

I was talking with a friend recently. He was telling me his 2 grandsons had come to visit. The grandkids live in North Carolina & my friend is from Alabama. Their dad is in the military. So, they only get a few visits a year. One grandson is 8 years old & the other 5. One afternoon my friend had not gotten home yet. His family went ahead & had supper without him. After eating their meal, the 5 year old started asking his grandmother for dessert. She asked him what he wanted & he said ice cream. As she went to fix him a bowl of ice cream, the 8 year old pulls him to the side & says,

“Don’t ask Grandma for ice cream. You have to wait on Papa to get home. He gives you more.”

With that, the 5 year old calls off the ice cream with Grandma. As soon as my friend comes through the door, the 5 year old is all over him. Hugging & kissing him. Telling him how much he missed him. Then he politely asks,

“Papa, do you think I could have some ice cream?”

Unbeknownst to my friend, he happily agrees. Then, goes off to make 2 sweet boys big bowls of ice cream.

I love that story! It made me think if only we could be as patient with the Lord, we would reap so much more in the end. If I could discipline myself to see the big picture, of what’s to come, I would be more content. When temptations, in this life, come our way, if we could say,

“Nope, I’m passing that by, so that I can have the better things Christ has to offer,”

wouldn’t we all be ahead of the game? Just kick those things we are tempted by to the curb, because something better is coming. It sounds easy enough, but the flesh is weak. Or I know mine is!

Matthew 26:41

Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”(NKJV)

Just when I think I have a bad attitude licked, here comes something I let make me worry & fret & get all in a tiz about. If I would just remember, this is the devil trying to break me down. But then, I go to talking when I should keep my mouth shut. I get to passing judgment & getting jealous instead of looking around at all of the blessings I already have. The devil is a smart one. He knows exactly what it takes to get us going. He will try every way he can to trip us up.

II Corinthians 2:11

lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices. (NKJV)

I just need to remember, if I can make it past those obstacles, the Lord can give me more. However, if I choose to give in to temptations, nothing good comes out of it. And I have to remember, sometimes I can learn something from an 8 year old!

I hope you are having a great week. The sun is shining & the grass is growing (especially in my yard. Does anybody want to come mow it??) This is our first full week of school. Hoping everyone is getting back in the swing of things. This Friday Miss Neenee has a fitness test in PE. Please pray she will be able to get those sit ups & planks done like a boss. We have been working on it. Last night we walked 2 miles, with my 80 something year old friend from church. He can out walk me any day. Bless my heart. However, for now I have to be going because I should be washing clothes.

Oh & did I tell you I think the devil makes people not use proper road signals? This is exactly how I feel when they do not.