Without a doubt, we all have, and all will, face adversity. It is not unlikely that this will start in our younger years, and last until our last breath. A hard reality, but true!
There are several people in the Bible who experienced what you and I would believe were insurmountable moments, and periods, of adversity. Pastors like to refer to them as, "trials and tribulations", as those words, coupled together, appear many times throughout the Bible.
When I think of adversity, my immediate thoughts turn to Job. Though struggles seemed to be endless, Job was able to "weather all storms", praising God all the way.
Job's story is unique. Satan placed a bet with God that Job would eventually curse His name, if to much emotional and physical pain was applied. Let's examine some of the losses that Job endured. He is perhaps our greatest example as an example for those who suffer.
Job was stripped of his possessions. Though he had wealth in the form of herds and flocks, an unmistakable love for family, and a recognizable level of admire-ability among others in the lands, it was his faith, devotion, and finally perspective that would be mightily challenged. The Lord called him, "blameless and upright.", Job 1:8; also saying that there was, "no one on earth like him."
Three times in verses 13-18, we see three messengers who barely escaped annihilation by the way of swords and fire, reporting to Job that he had lost his oxen and donkeys (1), sheep (2), and camels (3). All of his wealth in the form of livestock that were used daily to provide for his family were gone in an instant. The servants in the fields were killed by the sword, burnt, and only three survived to tell the tale.
A fourth messenger appeared to tell Job that his family had been killed, Job 1:18. The house where his sons and daughters were "feasting" collapsed due to a mighty windstorm from the desert. I think the important note in all of this, is that the four messengers appeared in succession, only minutes apart. Each verse; 13, 16, 17 and 18 start the same; saying, "While he [the messenger] was still speaking [before finishing], another appeared to report another grim calamity. All would have been hard "pills" to swallow, not to mentioned that each message was separated only by brief minutes, and perhaps seconds.
Job lost all of his possessions and all of his family in a matter of minutes; in the blink of an eye. How would you have reacted to such news, had the shoes been on your feet?
What did Job do? "At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship and said: 'Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I will depart. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised.' "
How is that for a response?
Not satisfied with Job's integrity in faith toward the Lord, even in his loss, Satan was once again allowed to plague Job. This time, he afflicted Job with "painful sores from the soles of his feet to the crown of his head", Job 2:7. Even at the encouragement of his wife to retract his integrity, curse God, and die, Job 2:9, he remained in his stance of devotion. He replied, "You are talking like a foolish woman. Shall we good from God, and not trouble?", Job 2:10. Verse 10 continues reporting as recorded, that Job, "did not sin."
Saturday, January 21, 2017
Adversity: Part Two
I am currently facing a time of adversity. It is 2017, and for the third time in my life, I am homeless. Despite this small calamity, which to shall pass, I feel extremely blessed. I have a place to stay at a shelter, food to eat, a place to shower and shave, and enough money for a good "cup of Joe" to start my day.
While you have seen this verse in a previous chapter, it bears repeating. In Philippians 4: 4-7, Paul writes, "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Jesus Christ."
Recently, I felt I had a clear understanding and vision for the next step in my life. In many ways, I feel that I have squandered opportunity after opportunity, for the better part of the last ten years. I have now come to the realization that it was a time for growth. The Lord was guiding me, even in my absence, relationally, for that time. I say that I was "absent" because I was not tapping into God's vast array of resources on a daily basis. I like to think that has changed.
But I grew closer. Paul says in Philippians 4: 10-13, "I rejoiced greatly in the Lord that at last you renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you were concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength."
I felt strongly that I was being called to Atlanta, Georgia. I recently returned after spending six weeks there from Thanksgiving through the New Year's holiday. This leap began in October, 2016, leaving Asheville, North Carolina, to take a position which resulted in a two-month stint in Charlotte. It is now evident, at least for the time being, that perhaps I was NOT prepared to leave Asheville. I, without a doubt, tend to jump "to the other side", toward "greener grass", to quickly.
The famous music artist from Miami, Pitbull, says it best. In his song entitled "Can't Have", he sings, "The grass looks greener on the other side; till you get to the other side."
Going back to Paul's writing in verses 10-13, Philippians chapter 4, it is easy when we feel removed or far away from God, to feel as if he has no concern for us. Paul states in the first sentence, "at last you renewed your concern for me." Let's examine this.
I was the one who did not ask for His guidance and with expectancy of the resulting answers and blessings, yet He was ever present. God is the most equipped "Navy Seal" known to man. To this very day, a Seal has never left a fellow warrior on the battlefield; dead or alive.
You can be confident that God is omnipresent. He has the appropriate resources, at the ready, at the appropriate time, when we face combat within ourselves in the world. And at times, the war is long. Reaching out to Him, tapping into His arsenal, allows us to remain appropriately equipped for battle at the exact date and time that we need Him.
The second part of verse 10 goes on to say, "Indeed you were concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it." Paul is very discerning and spot-on with this. God has the absolute ability to be concerned and have concern for us. How, do you ask? By having a consistent and constant dialogue with Him, our Savior, gives us our ability to have Him remain in us. How can we expect God to be ever-present; even though He is always available, if we do not maintain a dialogue with Him? You cannot receive for what you do not ask in prayer.
We need to remember that are God is OMNIPRESENT! Always available. Day or night, minute-by-minute and even second-by-second, rest assured He is there. The best part; in humility because of His abounding love for us, he can always be reached. It is in His very nature to be available.
Did Jesus not make time for the tax collector and the harlot alike? The blind and the able-bodied? Indeed he was there for them, and it is the same for you and I, two-thousand years later.
He lives!
Something quite deep to ponder and reflect upon.
While you have seen this verse in a previous chapter, it bears repeating. In Philippians 4: 4-7, Paul writes, "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Jesus Christ."
Recently, I felt I had a clear understanding and vision for the next step in my life. In many ways, I feel that I have squandered opportunity after opportunity, for the better part of the last ten years. I have now come to the realization that it was a time for growth. The Lord was guiding me, even in my absence, relationally, for that time. I say that I was "absent" because I was not tapping into God's vast array of resources on a daily basis. I like to think that has changed.
But I grew closer. Paul says in Philippians 4: 10-13, "I rejoiced greatly in the Lord that at last you renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you were concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength."
I felt strongly that I was being called to Atlanta, Georgia. I recently returned after spending six weeks there from Thanksgiving through the New Year's holiday. This leap began in October, 2016, leaving Asheville, North Carolina, to take a position which resulted in a two-month stint in Charlotte. It is now evident, at least for the time being, that perhaps I was NOT prepared to leave Asheville. I, without a doubt, tend to jump "to the other side", toward "greener grass", to quickly.
The famous music artist from Miami, Pitbull, says it best. In his song entitled "Can't Have", he sings, "The grass looks greener on the other side; till you get to the other side."
Going back to Paul's writing in verses 10-13, Philippians chapter 4, it is easy when we feel removed or far away from God, to feel as if he has no concern for us. Paul states in the first sentence, "at last you renewed your concern for me." Let's examine this.
I was the one who did not ask for His guidance and with expectancy of the resulting answers and blessings, yet He was ever present. God is the most equipped "Navy Seal" known to man. To this very day, a Seal has never left a fellow warrior on the battlefield; dead or alive.
You can be confident that God is omnipresent. He has the appropriate resources, at the ready, at the appropriate time, when we face combat within ourselves in the world. And at times, the war is long. Reaching out to Him, tapping into His arsenal, allows us to remain appropriately equipped for battle at the exact date and time that we need Him.
The second part of verse 10 goes on to say, "Indeed you were concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it." Paul is very discerning and spot-on with this. God has the absolute ability to be concerned and have concern for us. How, do you ask? By having a consistent and constant dialogue with Him, our Savior, gives us our ability to have Him remain in us. How can we expect God to be ever-present; even though He is always available, if we do not maintain a dialogue with Him? You cannot receive for what you do not ask in prayer.
We need to remember that are God is OMNIPRESENT! Always available. Day or night, minute-by-minute and even second-by-second, rest assured He is there. The best part; in humility because of His abounding love for us, he can always be reached. It is in His very nature to be available.
Did Jesus not make time for the tax collector and the harlot alike? The blind and the able-bodied? Indeed he was there for them, and it is the same for you and I, two-thousand years later.
He lives!
Something quite deep to ponder and reflect upon.
Tuesday, January 3, 2017
Patience: Wrap-Up
In Patience: Part I, I made a stab at the meaning for me as a definition.
In practicing patience, much is required of us if we are to maintain it. I mentioned being in a stable state, being calm, and having clear thought during situations that might cause us stress. Using control in our daily endeavours will help, as there are many things throughout the day that we cannot, and have no control over. Focus on the ones that you can.
Paul's first instruction when becoming king was to "wait." God instructed him to wait a period of seven days. Waiting on positive things to come our way by the virtue of having faith in God's plans is hardly easy, but is achievable.
I offered the idea that each and everyone of us has a "patience quotient." For some it is easy to have patience in line at the grocery store of the (dreaded) DMV, and for others, not so much. We need to be aware, or cognizant of the areas that will require more patience of us, and make an effort on those.
Paul's challenge to us in Philippians is to "Rejoice in the Lord, always. I will say it again: Rejoice!" Notice that he even uses capital letters for the word, "Rejoice", in the passage. He was also "content" in all things from the Lord; feast or famine, penniless or the abundance of wealth. What I feel sure that he meant was that we not only need to be content in all areas and times throughout our lives, but to have a realization that the Lord has brought us these things; and sometimes the polar opposites of each other, allowing us to grow in our faith.
Paul offers us the secret recipe for success in Philippians 4:13, "I can do everything through Him who gives me strength."
Try to exude this confidence, knowing the secret. Pray, wait, and know that if you wait and have faith, blessings beyond our imagination will come our way.
In Part Deux, I brought to light the question of our design as human beings; "Are we built to be patient and content?" The answer for me; and I would believe for the majority of folks, we are not. Both the idea of being patient and content can be; and is, hard work. However, nothing comes our way on a silver platter. We must be willing to put in the time and effort.
For the answer to this, my cry for help; hopefully to be answered in my own life, will have a better chance of coming to fruition by setting "SMART" goals. Specific, Manageable, Achievable, Reachable and Time-Specific. This is not something that I came up with on my own, but rather an actionable idea that was mentioned to me during either a class or training program during my career as an advisor.
Then, the idea is to be content in the process.
Start small. For me the best approach as I mentioned is making a list. Crossing things off the list gives me a sense of accomplishment; no matter how small. I offered the the following: "Draw your plans in Sand, and your Goals in Stone." You will then be able to etch your accomplishments in stone, knowing that a goal you set has been reached.
In Part Tres, I was thinking mostly of the Christmas holiday. The explanation concerning the idea of Jesus's mission, is undoubtedly the best explanation of any I have ever heard. I have Andy Stanley, Pastor of Northpointe Church in Atlanta, Georgia, to thank for that.
Like Jesus, we all have a mission. Personally, I am beginning to realize that it has taken many years to prepare for mine. Having that clarity; only recently coming to light, gives me an extra ounce of faith, each day, that I am doing God's work.
There are four parts at work around the holidays to be mindful of. Atonement, Content, Forgiveness, and Patience. Once again, all are achievable. Patience will be necessary after we atone and forgive; either internally or externally. Be content in the process.
Part Quattro started with my explanation of a "hard time" in my life that I had to endure. For fifty-three days in 2016, I was at a homeless shelter for veterans. However, the lessons that I learned there concerning my personal character and resolve will have exponential and lasting effects.
Like Paul, I experienced the totality of favour and the lack thereof. The longer I was there, the more content I became in what seemed like a dire situation. My basic needs were not provided by my own efforts. What I gained, was a contentedness in the process, and was surrounded by others who I could provide my own faith in God; day-by-day, a little at a time. Veterans are a hard bunch to reach, as we have all experienced things that we would rather not talk about. I did feel that I was successful in the mission that God had placed me there for, no matter how small of an impact.
I realized how important our spiritual growth can be, in our daily walk with God, no matter the circumstance(s). The greater excess in our lives, can be had in spiritual growth.
Surround yourself with like-minded believers in Christ. That is not to say that we should not have friends or relationships beyond the scope of that definition; but at the core, this group of people should have influence within your life.
While Jesus completed his mission with a love for others, grace and a confident approach from start to finish, we are human. And while Jesus was able to express that love, patience, grace and confidence from start to finish; we are not equipped to do so, as He did, as we are not free from sin.
We must be humble and patient; with love, as Paul explains in Ephesians 4:2
We must be patient in affliction, faithful in prayer, Romans 12:12
It is in my opinion, important to revisit Galatians 6:9, "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up."
For those who are interested in history, you may remember that Sir Winston Churchill gave a short but powerful address at a commencement saying only, "Young men, never give up! Never give up! Never give up!"
Show and present your spiritual gifts to others! You will be rewarded, at the appointed and proper time for your faithfulness, patience, and "Good will toward men."
In Part Cinco I shared the "Love speech", well known by many in Paul's letter to the Corinthians. He presents with confidence, that love is patient and kind.
I had you turn to passages in Matthew and Proverbs, both urging us to "put away our swords." In doing so, we must have patience. By putting away our swords, we show love.
Paul also urges us in Corinthians 13 to be kind. Kindness, I surmised, was easier to show than patience. While not the focus for performing patience and kindness, Paul is confident that we will reap a harvest, and an award for our efforts in displaying love.
Part Seis was about exuding patience in what is to come. We all have hopes, goals, and dreams for the future. It is easy to lose sight of these when things go awry in our day, but having patience and focus will undoubtedly help.
There are many good examples; that if we look for them even in the holiday movies, that offer good examples of why we should be patient. Charlie Brown and Jimmy Stewart come to mind for me.
David says, "Be still before the Lord, and wait patiently for Him;...", in Psalms 37:7.
Paul, in Romans 8 says, "But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently."
Patience, and faith; are important as we pray, presenting our requests to God.
Paul asks us to pray; unceasingly. To have an express understanding of dependence; for "all good things come from God", found in Thessalonians.
Matthew displays unbelief, as stated in his writings. Jesus says to him that we need only to have the "faith of a mustard seed", to move mountains. I'm not sure what those mountains are for you, and I certainly at times do not have clarity as to what they are, or what they will be for me? What I do know, is that being faithful in prayers gives us a defense against the Devil. I believe it is important to go to God in your times of trouble, and even more important to go to him in our times of receiving blessings.
Each week, a running theme in Joel Osteen's message to his congregation is typically filled with the idea of being expectant in receiving blessings; be it in times of struggle or times of blessing. Realizing that both have opportunities for growth; opportunities for strengthening our "faith muscle", will help us through the valleys and assisted us in staying on top of the wave; or trough. The key is to be expectant in the outcome.
Being prepared for God to stretch us is paramount. Our God is a "Big God." He wants the best for you, and the best for me. Be willing to accept challenges. Pray unceasingly no matter your circumstances. Let the challenges; and the process of going thru them, be lessons in faith. Be willing to stretch. God always has a definitive plan for our spiritual growth. But, we must be dependent on Him, and let Him be in the "driver's seat."
We must be patient!
In practicing patience, much is required of us if we are to maintain it. I mentioned being in a stable state, being calm, and having clear thought during situations that might cause us stress. Using control in our daily endeavours will help, as there are many things throughout the day that we cannot, and have no control over. Focus on the ones that you can.
Paul's first instruction when becoming king was to "wait." God instructed him to wait a period of seven days. Waiting on positive things to come our way by the virtue of having faith in God's plans is hardly easy, but is achievable.
I offered the idea that each and everyone of us has a "patience quotient." For some it is easy to have patience in line at the grocery store of the (dreaded) DMV, and for others, not so much. We need to be aware, or cognizant of the areas that will require more patience of us, and make an effort on those.
Paul's challenge to us in Philippians is to "Rejoice in the Lord, always. I will say it again: Rejoice!" Notice that he even uses capital letters for the word, "Rejoice", in the passage. He was also "content" in all things from the Lord; feast or famine, penniless or the abundance of wealth. What I feel sure that he meant was that we not only need to be content in all areas and times throughout our lives, but to have a realization that the Lord has brought us these things; and sometimes the polar opposites of each other, allowing us to grow in our faith.
Paul offers us the secret recipe for success in Philippians 4:13, "I can do everything through Him who gives me strength."
Try to exude this confidence, knowing the secret. Pray, wait, and know that if you wait and have faith, blessings beyond our imagination will come our way.
In Part Deux, I brought to light the question of our design as human beings; "Are we built to be patient and content?" The answer for me; and I would believe for the majority of folks, we are not. Both the idea of being patient and content can be; and is, hard work. However, nothing comes our way on a silver platter. We must be willing to put in the time and effort.
For the answer to this, my cry for help; hopefully to be answered in my own life, will have a better chance of coming to fruition by setting "SMART" goals. Specific, Manageable, Achievable, Reachable and Time-Specific. This is not something that I came up with on my own, but rather an actionable idea that was mentioned to me during either a class or training program during my career as an advisor.
Then, the idea is to be content in the process.
Start small. For me the best approach as I mentioned is making a list. Crossing things off the list gives me a sense of accomplishment; no matter how small. I offered the the following: "Draw your plans in Sand, and your Goals in Stone." You will then be able to etch your accomplishments in stone, knowing that a goal you set has been reached.
In Part Tres, I was thinking mostly of the Christmas holiday. The explanation concerning the idea of Jesus's mission, is undoubtedly the best explanation of any I have ever heard. I have Andy Stanley, Pastor of Northpointe Church in Atlanta, Georgia, to thank for that.
Like Jesus, we all have a mission. Personally, I am beginning to realize that it has taken many years to prepare for mine. Having that clarity; only recently coming to light, gives me an extra ounce of faith, each day, that I am doing God's work.
There are four parts at work around the holidays to be mindful of. Atonement, Content, Forgiveness, and Patience. Once again, all are achievable. Patience will be necessary after we atone and forgive; either internally or externally. Be content in the process.
Part Quattro started with my explanation of a "hard time" in my life that I had to endure. For fifty-three days in 2016, I was at a homeless shelter for veterans. However, the lessons that I learned there concerning my personal character and resolve will have exponential and lasting effects.
Like Paul, I experienced the totality of favour and the lack thereof. The longer I was there, the more content I became in what seemed like a dire situation. My basic needs were not provided by my own efforts. What I gained, was a contentedness in the process, and was surrounded by others who I could provide my own faith in God; day-by-day, a little at a time. Veterans are a hard bunch to reach, as we have all experienced things that we would rather not talk about. I did feel that I was successful in the mission that God had placed me there for, no matter how small of an impact.
I realized how important our spiritual growth can be, in our daily walk with God, no matter the circumstance(s). The greater excess in our lives, can be had in spiritual growth.
Surround yourself with like-minded believers in Christ. That is not to say that we should not have friends or relationships beyond the scope of that definition; but at the core, this group of people should have influence within your life.
While Jesus completed his mission with a love for others, grace and a confident approach from start to finish, we are human. And while Jesus was able to express that love, patience, grace and confidence from start to finish; we are not equipped to do so, as He did, as we are not free from sin.
We must be humble and patient; with love, as Paul explains in Ephesians 4:2
We must be patient in affliction, faithful in prayer, Romans 12:12
It is in my opinion, important to revisit Galatians 6:9, "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up."
For those who are interested in history, you may remember that Sir Winston Churchill gave a short but powerful address at a commencement saying only, "Young men, never give up! Never give up! Never give up!"
Show and present your spiritual gifts to others! You will be rewarded, at the appointed and proper time for your faithfulness, patience, and "Good will toward men."
In Part Cinco I shared the "Love speech", well known by many in Paul's letter to the Corinthians. He presents with confidence, that love is patient and kind.
I had you turn to passages in Matthew and Proverbs, both urging us to "put away our swords." In doing so, we must have patience. By putting away our swords, we show love.
Paul also urges us in Corinthians 13 to be kind. Kindness, I surmised, was easier to show than patience. While not the focus for performing patience and kindness, Paul is confident that we will reap a harvest, and an award for our efforts in displaying love.
Part Seis was about exuding patience in what is to come. We all have hopes, goals, and dreams for the future. It is easy to lose sight of these when things go awry in our day, but having patience and focus will undoubtedly help.
There are many good examples; that if we look for them even in the holiday movies, that offer good examples of why we should be patient. Charlie Brown and Jimmy Stewart come to mind for me.
David says, "Be still before the Lord, and wait patiently for Him;...", in Psalms 37:7.
Paul, in Romans 8 says, "But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently."
Patience, and faith; are important as we pray, presenting our requests to God.
Paul asks us to pray; unceasingly. To have an express understanding of dependence; for "all good things come from God", found in Thessalonians.
Matthew displays unbelief, as stated in his writings. Jesus says to him that we need only to have the "faith of a mustard seed", to move mountains. I'm not sure what those mountains are for you, and I certainly at times do not have clarity as to what they are, or what they will be for me? What I do know, is that being faithful in prayers gives us a defense against the Devil. I believe it is important to go to God in your times of trouble, and even more important to go to him in our times of receiving blessings.
Each week, a running theme in Joel Osteen's message to his congregation is typically filled with the idea of being expectant in receiving blessings; be it in times of struggle or times of blessing. Realizing that both have opportunities for growth; opportunities for strengthening our "faith muscle", will help us through the valleys and assisted us in staying on top of the wave; or trough. The key is to be expectant in the outcome.
Being prepared for God to stretch us is paramount. Our God is a "Big God." He wants the best for you, and the best for me. Be willing to accept challenges. Pray unceasingly no matter your circumstances. Let the challenges; and the process of going thru them, be lessons in faith. Be willing to stretch. God always has a definitive plan for our spiritual growth. But, we must be dependent on Him, and let Him be in the "driver's seat."
We must be patient!
Sunday, January 1, 2017
Patience: Part Seis
It's January 1, 2017.
For some that means waiting on bonus checks to be cut, a cost-of-living raise, and for some; it means looking for new and potentially better opportunities. For most, patience will be an important component, no matter the situation or circumstances.
I hope and pray that the holiday season was filled with joy, laughter, friends and family, and "Peace on earth, Good will to men", as Linus so correctly ends his soliloquy to Charlie Brown and the others at the Christmas play, saying, "Charlie Brown, that's what Christmas is all about." How I love the classic cartoons and old movies such as, "It's a Wonderful Life", this time of year.
But the year has come and gone; it is "in the books", as they say.
Two verses come to mind with respect to patience in all things new; one from David in Psalms, and the other from Paul in Romans 8, my favorite chapter in the Bible:
"Be still before the Lord
and wait patiently for him;
do not fret when people succeed in their ways,
when they carry out their wicked schemes", David in Psalms 37:7
and,
Paul says:
"But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently."
I want to focus on two parts this morning, and on two pieces of each verse.
First; in Psalm 37:7, "and wait patiently for Him;"
Patience is absolutely required if we are to have faith in God's plans, and in God's timing. Flip back to Patience: Part Cinco, and you will find the verse mentioned from Galatians 6:9 where Paul states, "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time, we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." While praying daily and even throughout the day as we see fit, David cautions that we must, "wait patiently for Him."
Like most of you probably have, I have set some goals that I will give a valiant effort to achieve in 2017. The coming year will have many blessings, and will have many struggles as we patiently wait for Him. While I am focusing on the principle of patience, should we not also have faith in the things and desires on our heart and minds that we present to the Lord?
Even as important as praying is the listening part. As part of the degree that I earned in my undergraduate work in psychology, I had two classes in counseling. We were tasked with the job of listening to others. Hearing their pleas, hearing there problems, and perhaps offering some advice as to what they should think about and analyze; in an attempt to decipher what may make sense of those issues or problems. Not easy, but achievable.
I am reminded of my late grandfather who many times used the word "hope." I can fondly remember the many times that I shared my goals and dreams with my grandfather what I was "hoping for." I am reminded also; however, what Paul says in his letter to the Thessalonians, saying, "Pray without ceasing - Ye are dependent on God for every good; without him ye can do nothing; feel that dependence at all times, and ye will always be in the spirit of prayer, and those who feel this spirit will, as frequently as possible, be found in the exercise of prayer."
What I am trying to express, is that hoping for the things we do not have; and a desire for them, is in no way wrong. It is more important to exercise your "prayer muscle"; in faith, knowing that God wants good things for us in our lives. God requires us to "step out in faith." In the King James Version, Matthew recites as Jesus said to him, "And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of [a] mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it will remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you."
Hardly an easy concept to grasp.
Strong believers in Christ should know beyond a shadow of a doubt that Jesus wants good things for us. We must be patient. In prayer, in the process, and in patience for the answer in His time. The "faith muscle" also requires a willingness to stretch. Like the exercises we perform at the gym, the muscle must be torn down, and then given time to rebuild to a greater state; a bigger and stronger muscle.
For that to happen, we must realize that God doesn't give us small goals. Our God is a "Big God." He aims to stretch us beyond our comfort zone and to heights that we have a disbelief that we can achieve. Add to that, prayer, listening, and a "Bigger Faith" is required of us.
What we need to realize, is that we will be greatly rewarded for our efforts. God will stretch us beyond what we believe and think is achievable, so he can set the bar a little higher out of our reach, to stretch us once again in the realization of His glory for Him; and us.
The reality is, we must be ready and willing to accept the challenges set before us. In doing so; in patience and with love and affection in the process, will allow us to reach unimaginable dreams that we thought were impossible.
For some that means waiting on bonus checks to be cut, a cost-of-living raise, and for some; it means looking for new and potentially better opportunities. For most, patience will be an important component, no matter the situation or circumstances.
I hope and pray that the holiday season was filled with joy, laughter, friends and family, and "Peace on earth, Good will to men", as Linus so correctly ends his soliloquy to Charlie Brown and the others at the Christmas play, saying, "Charlie Brown, that's what Christmas is all about." How I love the classic cartoons and old movies such as, "It's a Wonderful Life", this time of year.
But the year has come and gone; it is "in the books", as they say.
Two verses come to mind with respect to patience in all things new; one from David in Psalms, and the other from Paul in Romans 8, my favorite chapter in the Bible:
"Be still before the Lord
and wait patiently for him;
do not fret when people succeed in their ways,
when they carry out their wicked schemes", David in Psalms 37:7
and,
Paul says:
"But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently."
I want to focus on two parts this morning, and on two pieces of each verse.
First; in Psalm 37:7, "and wait patiently for Him;"
Patience is absolutely required if we are to have faith in God's plans, and in God's timing. Flip back to Patience: Part Cinco, and you will find the verse mentioned from Galatians 6:9 where Paul states, "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time, we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." While praying daily and even throughout the day as we see fit, David cautions that we must, "wait patiently for Him."
Like most of you probably have, I have set some goals that I will give a valiant effort to achieve in 2017. The coming year will have many blessings, and will have many struggles as we patiently wait for Him. While I am focusing on the principle of patience, should we not also have faith in the things and desires on our heart and minds that we present to the Lord?
Even as important as praying is the listening part. As part of the degree that I earned in my undergraduate work in psychology, I had two classes in counseling. We were tasked with the job of listening to others. Hearing their pleas, hearing there problems, and perhaps offering some advice as to what they should think about and analyze; in an attempt to decipher what may make sense of those issues or problems. Not easy, but achievable.
I am reminded of my late grandfather who many times used the word "hope." I can fondly remember the many times that I shared my goals and dreams with my grandfather what I was "hoping for." I am reminded also; however, what Paul says in his letter to the Thessalonians, saying, "Pray without ceasing - Ye are dependent on God for every good; without him ye can do nothing; feel that dependence at all times, and ye will always be in the spirit of prayer, and those who feel this spirit will, as frequently as possible, be found in the exercise of prayer."
What I am trying to express, is that hoping for the things we do not have; and a desire for them, is in no way wrong. It is more important to exercise your "prayer muscle"; in faith, knowing that God wants good things for us in our lives. God requires us to "step out in faith." In the King James Version, Matthew recites as Jesus said to him, "And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of [a] mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it will remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you."
Hardly an easy concept to grasp.
Strong believers in Christ should know beyond a shadow of a doubt that Jesus wants good things for us. We must be patient. In prayer, in the process, and in patience for the answer in His time. The "faith muscle" also requires a willingness to stretch. Like the exercises we perform at the gym, the muscle must be torn down, and then given time to rebuild to a greater state; a bigger and stronger muscle.
For that to happen, we must realize that God doesn't give us small goals. Our God is a "Big God." He aims to stretch us beyond our comfort zone and to heights that we have a disbelief that we can achieve. Add to that, prayer, listening, and a "Bigger Faith" is required of us.
What we need to realize, is that we will be greatly rewarded for our efforts. God will stretch us beyond what we believe and think is achievable, so he can set the bar a little higher out of our reach, to stretch us once again in the realization of His glory for Him; and us.
The reality is, we must be ready and willing to accept the challenges set before us. In doing so; in patience and with love and affection in the process, will allow us to reach unimaginable dreams that we thought were impossible.
Friday, December 30, 2016
Patience: Part Cinco
There is only one day left in 2016. At the stroke of midnight, tomorrow, we will be "out with the old" and "in with the new", as they say.
As I look back and reminisce on this year, I can identify times when I have been exceedingly patient, and times when I have not. This had led to blessings, and in some cases grave mistakes. It makes more sense to me to dwell on my accomplishments than on the things and times I might change.
One of the well known verses is in Paul's letter to the church in Corinth. If you have been to a wedding in the past; or even one previously for some, you will immediately identify Paul's words.
"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs."
1 Corinthians 13: 4-5
Some recognize this as the "Love" passage. But what about patience?
Paul mentions the word "patient" in the first sentence; the third word. "Love is patient." he also follows that with "Love is kind", only separated by a comma. He obviously thought these two simple groups of phrases; patient and kind, to be of great importance as two requirements in love.
I feel compelled to try to paint a picture for what patience; mentioned first, and acts of kindness have to do with love.
Let's look at patience first.
In Proverbs 16:32, there is a verse that says, "Better a patient person than a warrior, one with self-control than one who takes a city." The Book of Proverbs is thought to have an unknown author, but many are taught in seminary schools around the world that it was most likely Solomon.
Matthew writes in chapter 26, verse 52, "Put away your sword," Jesus told him. "Those who use the sword will die by the sword.", NLT
For those of us who have a high competitive nature in business, I believe these two verses are applicable to where I am going with this.
Paul obviously thought that it was paramount to have patience to show love. That may mean that we "put away our swords", even in our business dealings, to achieve the end goal. Love can be shown in our daily activities even at work. You may show love by getting your co-worker a tissue when they are upset or sick. A glass of water when they seem flustered, or "hot around the collar." While these are little things, they do show love.
Yesterday, I had the opportunity to show love by using the air compressor in the trunk of my car to help someone pump a tire with enough air to get to the closest tire shop. My simple request to him, after completing that small act of kindness, was that he "pay it forward." Take a minute out of your busy day to help another in need. The end result was that he was able to get the much needed spare on his right-rear and made it to work on time.
Being patient and "putting away our swords", will go a long way toward reaching the goals we will set for ourselves in 2017.
"Love is kind."
Remember, or read the passage again; that being kind also can also be regarded as showing love for another in our daily walk with God. The two examples above would qualify as kindness. The fact that Paul links these two in one sentence is no accident. While they are not one in the same, Paul sees them as two important ingredients. When is the last time that you were kind to another person? It does not have to be someone you know well, or at the opposite end; someone on the street that you have never met.
Paul simply urges us to be kind as an act of showing love.
Again; while separate, these two phrases grouped together will allow others to know what real love is like when displayed. In saying this, we can also turn to Galatians. Paul writes there , "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." Galatians 6:9
By displaying patience and kindness, we should not look for things that come our way as just a benefit for ourselves. However, Paul's writing in this verse is a statement, not a desire or wish. He is bold. It says we "will" receive a "harvest" for our efforts. The key point in that phrase, when examined, is that we will receive that blessing at the "proper time."
Only God knows when that blessing will come, so we must be patient, quiet; and in performing both kindness, and allowing patience to enter into the question, we will certainly be blessed for our efforts.
It does not take a valiant effort to show kindness, but patience on the other hand can sometimes be exhausting. Will I ever receive that promotion? Will my son or daughter ever display an ounce of appreciation in my advice? In the latter question, you may say to yourself, "Haven't I learned a few things in life by my patience and kindness?"
Rest assured, that in Paul's boldness, you will receive a harvest. Probably not today, maybe not next week, and it could theoretically be next year or years from now.
Display kindness and have patience. Again, patience may be harder to display, but these two acts; with faith; will show love, and you will receive a blessing in the future; at the proper time.
As I look back and reminisce on this year, I can identify times when I have been exceedingly patient, and times when I have not. This had led to blessings, and in some cases grave mistakes. It makes more sense to me to dwell on my accomplishments than on the things and times I might change.
One of the well known verses is in Paul's letter to the church in Corinth. If you have been to a wedding in the past; or even one previously for some, you will immediately identify Paul's words.
"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs."
1 Corinthians 13: 4-5
Some recognize this as the "Love" passage. But what about patience?
Paul mentions the word "patient" in the first sentence; the third word. "Love is patient." he also follows that with "Love is kind", only separated by a comma. He obviously thought these two simple groups of phrases; patient and kind, to be of great importance as two requirements in love.
I feel compelled to try to paint a picture for what patience; mentioned first, and acts of kindness have to do with love.
Let's look at patience first.
In Proverbs 16:32, there is a verse that says, "Better a patient person than a warrior, one with self-control than one who takes a city." The Book of Proverbs is thought to have an unknown author, but many are taught in seminary schools around the world that it was most likely Solomon.
Matthew writes in chapter 26, verse 52, "Put away your sword," Jesus told him. "Those who use the sword will die by the sword.", NLT
For those of us who have a high competitive nature in business, I believe these two verses are applicable to where I am going with this.
Paul obviously thought that it was paramount to have patience to show love. That may mean that we "put away our swords", even in our business dealings, to achieve the end goal. Love can be shown in our daily activities even at work. You may show love by getting your co-worker a tissue when they are upset or sick. A glass of water when they seem flustered, or "hot around the collar." While these are little things, they do show love.
Yesterday, I had the opportunity to show love by using the air compressor in the trunk of my car to help someone pump a tire with enough air to get to the closest tire shop. My simple request to him, after completing that small act of kindness, was that he "pay it forward." Take a minute out of your busy day to help another in need. The end result was that he was able to get the much needed spare on his right-rear and made it to work on time.
Being patient and "putting away our swords", will go a long way toward reaching the goals we will set for ourselves in 2017.
"Love is kind."
Remember, or read the passage again; that being kind also can also be regarded as showing love for another in our daily walk with God. The two examples above would qualify as kindness. The fact that Paul links these two in one sentence is no accident. While they are not one in the same, Paul sees them as two important ingredients. When is the last time that you were kind to another person? It does not have to be someone you know well, or at the opposite end; someone on the street that you have never met.
Paul simply urges us to be kind as an act of showing love.
Again; while separate, these two phrases grouped together will allow others to know what real love is like when displayed. In saying this, we can also turn to Galatians. Paul writes there , "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." Galatians 6:9
By displaying patience and kindness, we should not look for things that come our way as just a benefit for ourselves. However, Paul's writing in this verse is a statement, not a desire or wish. He is bold. It says we "will" receive a "harvest" for our efforts. The key point in that phrase, when examined, is that we will receive that blessing at the "proper time."
Only God knows when that blessing will come, so we must be patient, quiet; and in performing both kindness, and allowing patience to enter into the question, we will certainly be blessed for our efforts.
It does not take a valiant effort to show kindness, but patience on the other hand can sometimes be exhausting. Will I ever receive that promotion? Will my son or daughter ever display an ounce of appreciation in my advice? In the latter question, you may say to yourself, "Haven't I learned a few things in life by my patience and kindness?"
Rest assured, that in Paul's boldness, you will receive a harvest. Probably not today, maybe not next week, and it could theoretically be next year or years from now.
Display kindness and have patience. Again, patience may be harder to display, but these two acts; with faith; will show love, and you will receive a blessing in the future; at the proper time.
Sunday, December 25, 2016
Patience: Part Quattro
This year has been a year of patience; and waiting.
It's Christmas Day.
My road to gaining wisdom, patience, and clarity started with my residency in a place for homeless Veterans. And while I was never afforded to take advantage of the full benefits that the program had to offer, my time there was paramount in the development of my character and resolve.
Today, I am excited about what my time there did provide, both for myself and the benefit of others by my personal growth. I gained some friends and lost some friends. I had work, and I had no job. I knew what it was like to have a little "jingle" in my pocket, and I knew what it was like to have none.
Paul is also an incredible example of this. What we need to be cognizant of, is that we can ALL experience the personal; and more importantly, spiritual growth, as Paul did. I, without a shadow of a doubt, have this year; and you can too.
However, we do not ave to experience the trials and tribulations he did, to the extent that Paul did. He knew chains, both in the natural and spiritually. He knew poverty and excess. He did not experience the wealth that Solomon did, but the greater excess of wealth came in the area of spirituality.
Many of us will never be in bondage physically. But we need to be ever present of the power that the Devil can have on us spiritually. Trust me, it is NOT the kind of bondage that I would wish on you, nor the kind that I want you to experience.
Pray! Surround yourself with the Holy Spirit. Surround yourself with people that are strong in their relationship with Christ. He is your Father! He is your Provider! He is the great Physician and Healer! Only He and He alone can relieve you of your pain and sorrow. Your feelings of Despair. Your feelings of Hurt! The drain on your Finances! The deep, dark hole due to a lack of Faith and Strength and Resolve in your walk with God!
This morning, my prayer for my friends, family, and brother and sisters in Christ is that they will feel the Awesome Power of God! Simple, yet life-changing. I pray for exponential growth in all areas of your life. Finances, Health, Work, Family; the blessings that we all wish for, and should pray for; unceasingly.
Many of us will not have the luxury to be with all of the people in our lives that are important to us. But no matter how much Earth we are divided by...be it sand, water or fire, I pray that each of you will know that you are missed and loved!
Today we need to be mindful of the Christ. His patience with ALL situations; perfectly displayed by a perfect existence, free from sin. He came into the world in human form, spent thirty-three years preparing for his mission; and completing it with grace.
He are a few verse that might be helpful in this time of joy, peace, love and patience:
"Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.", Ephesians 4:2 NIV
"Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.", Romans 12:12 NIV
And as Jesus and Paul understood, and provided exemplary practice and discernment in faith of the process:
"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.", Galatians 6:9, NIV
I believe that just as Jesus and Paul did, we can provide our own example to others if we walk this way, daily; in Faith and with Resolve in the eventual outcome.
God wants the best in each of us. We all have been given spiritual gifts. In the Bible they are affectionately referred to as the "Fruits of the Spirit."
Read them. Examine them. Internalize them.
You will be transformed, and will be an example that will lead to an AWESOME transformation the the lives and welfare of others.
Give it a try, daily, for the entire year, beginning January 1, 2017.
You will not only be surprised, but you will see the resulting transformation, in yourself and others in your circle of influence.
It's Christmas Day.
My road to gaining wisdom, patience, and clarity started with my residency in a place for homeless Veterans. And while I was never afforded to take advantage of the full benefits that the program had to offer, my time there was paramount in the development of my character and resolve.
Today, I am excited about what my time there did provide, both for myself and the benefit of others by my personal growth. I gained some friends and lost some friends. I had work, and I had no job. I knew what it was like to have a little "jingle" in my pocket, and I knew what it was like to have none.
Paul is also an incredible example of this. What we need to be cognizant of, is that we can ALL experience the personal; and more importantly, spiritual growth, as Paul did. I, without a shadow of a doubt, have this year; and you can too.
However, we do not ave to experience the trials and tribulations he did, to the extent that Paul did. He knew chains, both in the natural and spiritually. He knew poverty and excess. He did not experience the wealth that Solomon did, but the greater excess of wealth came in the area of spirituality.
Many of us will never be in bondage physically. But we need to be ever present of the power that the Devil can have on us spiritually. Trust me, it is NOT the kind of bondage that I would wish on you, nor the kind that I want you to experience.
Pray! Surround yourself with the Holy Spirit. Surround yourself with people that are strong in their relationship with Christ. He is your Father! He is your Provider! He is the great Physician and Healer! Only He and He alone can relieve you of your pain and sorrow. Your feelings of Despair. Your feelings of Hurt! The drain on your Finances! The deep, dark hole due to a lack of Faith and Strength and Resolve in your walk with God!
This morning, my prayer for my friends, family, and brother and sisters in Christ is that they will feel the Awesome Power of God! Simple, yet life-changing. I pray for exponential growth in all areas of your life. Finances, Health, Work, Family; the blessings that we all wish for, and should pray for; unceasingly.
Many of us will not have the luxury to be with all of the people in our lives that are important to us. But no matter how much Earth we are divided by...be it sand, water or fire, I pray that each of you will know that you are missed and loved!
Today we need to be mindful of the Christ. His patience with ALL situations; perfectly displayed by a perfect existence, free from sin. He came into the world in human form, spent thirty-three years preparing for his mission; and completing it with grace.
He are a few verse that might be helpful in this time of joy, peace, love and patience:
"Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.", Ephesians 4:2 NIV
"Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.", Romans 12:12 NIV
And as Jesus and Paul understood, and provided exemplary practice and discernment in faith of the process:
"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.", Galatians 6:9, NIV
I believe that just as Jesus and Paul did, we can provide our own example to others if we walk this way, daily; in Faith and with Resolve in the eventual outcome.
God wants the best in each of us. We all have been given spiritual gifts. In the Bible they are affectionately referred to as the "Fruits of the Spirit."
Read them. Examine them. Internalize them.
You will be transformed, and will be an example that will lead to an AWESOME transformation the the lives and welfare of others.
Give it a try, daily, for the entire year, beginning January 1, 2017.
You will not only be surprised, but you will see the resulting transformation, in yourself and others in your circle of influence.
Friday, December 23, 2016
Patience: Part Tres
Many are thinking about the cold-hard fact and reality that in two days it will be Christmas. While special for all; and especially children all around the world, this time of year is a time of family, joy, peace and rebirth.
For people in the business world, Christmas will come and go much too quickly. However, the last week of the year, with the 26th falling on a Monday, it is a great time to set goals for the coming year. Christmas comes too fast, the New Year holiday comes to fast as well, and for many it will be back to work on January 2, 2017 or the 3rd if you are lucky enough.
Going back to the week before year-end, the time taken for reflection and goal-setting can be either stressful or refreshing. This is especially important if a part of your income is derived from commission. The salary is set; or hopefully has been at least adjusted for inflation, but the rest will fall on your efforts.
Successful people will make small goals daily, and project those goals out to weeks, months and quarters. The idea is certainly to have Q2 produce better results than Q1, and so forth, but we all know that there is a business-cycle. For some that may be that your biggest push will be in Q1 and others Q4, hopefully providing your business with an increase from the previous year, calculated on a year-over-year percentage-basis. It matters not if you are a small business with less than ten employees, or a massive conglomerate composed of many working parts and units, the goal and forecast-ed outcome remains the same.
I would like to think that everyone, worldwide, is offered a time of respite from the 24th to the January 2nd, but the reality is that most employees are not afforded that opportunity.
For Christians, this time of year is especially significant. We could not have Christmas without Christ. That God sent Jesus by way of a virgin birth, in the form of man, was paramount in this process. He bore the likeness of Christ, and spent thirty-three years in preparation for his mission; to die on a cross. No one before him was without sin, and certainly no one after from the time of Adam and Eve in the Garden will live blameless lives.
It then bears to reason that Christmas should be a time of forgiveness. An opportunity to mend relationships, offer forgiveness and move forward into the New Year with a clean slate. This is certainly a desire and wish for many, that manages to be lost, despite the best efforts from others; including family, first and foremost.
It is not that we have a lack of desire to forgive; but as I mentioned previously in the chapter on Atonement, in order to forgive, we must also forget.
Even as I write this morning, I am reminded of transgressions that I have committed, thoughts and actions that should not have taken form; or actions I wish I could take back, and certainly those that were committed entirely noticeable to the ones you love and cherish; and the resulting collateral damage that ensued. We all have them.
If we had been patient, they may not have. There would not have been actions, collateral damage, consequences, or offenses that we now regret, or at least have strong feelings that make us feel guilty. And guilt? Guilt is a powerful force. So is regret. And so is the pain; be it emotional, spiritual or even in some other form that only you can identify or "put your finger" on.
So this Christmas, I urge you to take the necessary time for considerate and thoughtful reflection. You may have to be patient; as I believe it is absolutely appropriate to ask God to reveal to you anything He wishes to lay on your heart that might be necessary to fix. Perhaps that relationship is with your boss. Family and Friends. Or someone entirely outside of the "normal" relationships that we want to care for each and every day. But as stated previously, take the time and be patient for God to answer before taking action.
You will be glad you did, and the atonement process in action; after asking in patience, and then delivering is patience, will be well in the rewards gained, by taking actions during this season; however you celebrate.
Merry Christmas!
For people in the business world, Christmas will come and go much too quickly. However, the last week of the year, with the 26th falling on a Monday, it is a great time to set goals for the coming year. Christmas comes too fast, the New Year holiday comes to fast as well, and for many it will be back to work on January 2, 2017 or the 3rd if you are lucky enough.
Going back to the week before year-end, the time taken for reflection and goal-setting can be either stressful or refreshing. This is especially important if a part of your income is derived from commission. The salary is set; or hopefully has been at least adjusted for inflation, but the rest will fall on your efforts.
Successful people will make small goals daily, and project those goals out to weeks, months and quarters. The idea is certainly to have Q2 produce better results than Q1, and so forth, but we all know that there is a business-cycle. For some that may be that your biggest push will be in Q1 and others Q4, hopefully providing your business with an increase from the previous year, calculated on a year-over-year percentage-basis. It matters not if you are a small business with less than ten employees, or a massive conglomerate composed of many working parts and units, the goal and forecast-ed outcome remains the same.
I would like to think that everyone, worldwide, is offered a time of respite from the 24th to the January 2nd, but the reality is that most employees are not afforded that opportunity.
For Christians, this time of year is especially significant. We could not have Christmas without Christ. That God sent Jesus by way of a virgin birth, in the form of man, was paramount in this process. He bore the likeness of Christ, and spent thirty-three years in preparation for his mission; to die on a cross. No one before him was without sin, and certainly no one after from the time of Adam and Eve in the Garden will live blameless lives.
It then bears to reason that Christmas should be a time of forgiveness. An opportunity to mend relationships, offer forgiveness and move forward into the New Year with a clean slate. This is certainly a desire and wish for many, that manages to be lost, despite the best efforts from others; including family, first and foremost.
It is not that we have a lack of desire to forgive; but as I mentioned previously in the chapter on Atonement, in order to forgive, we must also forget.
Even as I write this morning, I am reminded of transgressions that I have committed, thoughts and actions that should not have taken form; or actions I wish I could take back, and certainly those that were committed entirely noticeable to the ones you love and cherish; and the resulting collateral damage that ensued. We all have them.
If we had been patient, they may not have. There would not have been actions, collateral damage, consequences, or offenses that we now regret, or at least have strong feelings that make us feel guilty. And guilt? Guilt is a powerful force. So is regret. And so is the pain; be it emotional, spiritual or even in some other form that only you can identify or "put your finger" on.
So this Christmas, I urge you to take the necessary time for considerate and thoughtful reflection. You may have to be patient; as I believe it is absolutely appropriate to ask God to reveal to you anything He wishes to lay on your heart that might be necessary to fix. Perhaps that relationship is with your boss. Family and Friends. Or someone entirely outside of the "normal" relationships that we want to care for each and every day. But as stated previously, take the time and be patient for God to answer before taking action.
You will be glad you did, and the atonement process in action; after asking in patience, and then delivering is patience, will be well in the rewards gained, by taking actions during this season; however you celebrate.
Merry Christmas!
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