We have good and we have evil. It started with creation. God made everything in the world and He called it good. Then came the serpent and evil entered the world. Good and Evil. It spread like wildflowers and can now be found at every street corner and dessert.
Lines are drawn between good and evil. Think about when Katrina hit and there were those people who ran to the stores to grab whatever they could - or to people's homes - destroying more than what had already been destroyed, taking what was never theirs to begin with. Then there were others who risked their own lives to save others - who came to help those in need and opened their hearts and their homes to help these people who had suffered tremendous loss.
Goodness isn't just a state of being; it's a state of doing. Good deeds must truly be tailored to the needs of others.
Be careful - sometimes we convince ourselves we're doing things for the good of others but we can take pride in good for others and even be doing things we believe to be helping others but it is giving us some sort of gratification.
Have you ever missed an opportunity to "do" good for someone? A chance you had to do something for someone else but for whatever reason you didn't or chose not to? I think that we call all relate to a time when that happened. Liz shares a time when that happened and she didn't bring a dog back that had been following her and later she discovered that the dog was missing and had gotten lost. She also never knew what came of that dog or if the dog ever found it's way home.
I don't think that we should sit in guilt over those missed opportunities, but we should be mindful of them and learn to take the opportunities presented to us and act on them. We can use those times to show others Jesus. I have heard it said like this, "people are looking for Jesus with skin." People want to know that Jesus ID come to die for them. They want to know that HE DOES love them and DOES care for them. It is our faith in what we cannot see that is sometimes hard to grasp. Others may look to you to see Jesus. If we are His people. If we are to BE LIKE him, then our actions and behaviors SHOULD resemble him!
Liz says that when confronted with a choice to act or not to act, we need to stop and consider what Jesus would do in our place. I think about the "WWDJ (What Would Jesus Do)". His example of goodness in action are clear throughout the Gospels.
Liz shares the story of the woman at the well. She sees Jesus sitting by the well and when she approaches the well he asks her to give him a drink. She can't believe that He is talking to her. Jesus tells her of the Living Water that God has for those who ask. She asks for this Living Water. This is where Jesus asks her to go and get her husband, which He knows she does not have because she is living an adulterous life. He shares with her God's Living Water and she learns that He is truly Christ. His goodness toward this woman is an act of His Goodness.
Jesus didn't have to be nice to her or share any of that - but he did. He was good to her. He took the time to reach out to the thirsty woman and share with her what God had to offer. He shared the Living Water that God wanted to give her and wants to give us.
Liz says, "We, too, have a great message about living Water to share with thirsty neighbors and relatives. But we need pause in the midst of our many activities and busy lives to really see those people at our elbows. We might feel pushed out of our comfort zones sometimes, but it's not necessary to work up a sermon to preach at people."
The Pharisees were not the examples given us to follow. Our example is Jesus - his listening ear and loving heart.
I like the statement Lizabeth shares that states: "When we live in close communion with Jesus, and that relationship is reflected by the Holy Spirit residing in us, we don't have to worry about living good lives. Our lives will naturally display the Spirit inside. The secret is following where he leads, in the steps of the Good Shepherd himself."
Liz then asks, "And what is the nature of the Good Shepherd?"
- He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice.
- "I am the gate for the sheep... whoever enters through me will be saved."
- "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep."
- "I know my sheep and my sheep know me - just as the Father knows me and I know the Father - and I lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also."
Liz says, "When we listen to the voice of the Good Shepherd and follow in his way, then we will be able to live out goodness in the world around us."
She also says, "Goodness is not to be confused with niceness or sweetness. It's not even the same thing as kindness, though expressions of those two fruits of the Spirit can look very similar. Goodness begins in the heart. It's actions then flow from an attitude of alignment with God's will. A person can be good and still demonstrate that virtue through actions that appear very different from outright kindness - including disciplining or rebuking another person, for instance. Jesus was good, even when in righteous anger he drove the moneychangers out of the temple."
Goodness begins with our hearts. When all the world may look at us from the outside, God looks at our heart. God knows our hearts. Our responsibility is to make sure our hearts are in the right place. I sometimes do what I call a "heart check." When I am in a certain situation or thinking of something else, or someone else, I try and ask myself if my heart is in the right place. Our my thoughts in line with God? Do I have others in mind first?
Liz encourages us to get out our journal and consider some questions:
If you met Jesus at the well today, and he told you "everything you ever did," what significant life events would be included?
What does living water taste like? Describe the effect of living water on your soul.
How can you find time to stay close to the Good Shepherd? What changes do you need to make in order to better hear his voice?
She then asks if you have houseplants. If you don't she encourages you to buy one small plant. When you water your houseplants or your garden even, be reminded of the image of Jesus as Living Water. Think about what the water does for the life of the plant, as it is drawn up through the roots and plumps up the leaves or brightens the blossoms. Take a moment to be thankful for what the Living Water is doing in your own life, and let it prompt an outpouring of goodness in a specific way each watering day.
Liz ends with a suggestion for us to be aware of instances in our lives that present opportunities to:
- exercise goodness;
- develop knowledge;
- practice self- control;
display perseverance;
offer brotherly kindness;
demonstrate love.
Scriptures to share:
Proverbs 11:27
If you search for good, you will find favor; but if you search for evil, it will find you!
Ecclesiastes 7:20
Not a single person on earth is always good and never sins.
Romans 15:14
I am fully convinced, my dear brothers and sisters, that you are full of goodness. You know these things so well you can teach each other all about them.
Questions for you:
1. Do you believe there are more good people than evil people in the world today? Why or why not?
2. Why was it so good of Jesus to interact with the woman at the well? What changed in the woman's life as a result of her encounter with Jesus?
3. Describe a time you took a risk to do something good. Was it difficult or easy? Why?
Blessings!
Cindy
Aug 18, 2009
Aug 17, 2009
Chapter 5 - The Fruit of the Spirit is Kindness
Lizabeth starts the chapter out talking about when their son was sick and how the people in her community came and blessed them with Christmas gifts. The acts of kindness from many whom were strangers to the family blessed them beyond anything they could comprehend.
She goes onto share an article printed in the local paper. It was submitted by a woman who had eaten at a restaurant where her and her husband were celebrating their 60th wedding anniversary. A stranger had paid for their entire meal. She stated in the article, "all one reads or hears in the news is about the bad that happens in the world, and we wanted to pass on some good news that happened to us. There are good and kind people in our world, also." This is a cute article and makes you think, why do we focus on the bad things, instead of the good? Why are news reports more about murders, rapes and burglaries, and not about the kindness one person gives to another?
Has anyone done something kind for you? Can you think of one thing or several things that others have done for you out of kindness? Have they been family, friends, or complete strangers?
About 8 years ago I attended an Alpha course. It is a 12 week course that covers some simple and basics to Christianity. At the time I didn't have a job. I was in the process of building a town home for me and my two children. I believed that God had a plan. I trusted Him. One week during that Alpha course I went for prayer for healing in my life and things from my past. I prayed with three individuals - one woman whom I had met the first day I attended the course and two gentlemen that I did not know. I proceeded to tell them about the many things that I had been living with, guilt that I had been holding on to, resentments I had, the many things that had been weighing on my shoulders. I told them of my breakup with my ex husband and how I was trying to start a new life for myself and my children. I wanted to provide for them and teach them about God and how loving and compassionate he is.
That night I was so blessed and as they prayed with me the weight of the many things that I had carried were lifted from my shoulders. I began to feel the peace of God in my life and I did truly trust Him to help me with my life. The following week at the course one of the gentlemen I had prayed with approached me and handed me a card. I still have that card and carry it with me in my bible carrier. That card says, "There are no sure things in life...except friends. (Let me know if I can help.) He wrote in my card (he suffers from Parkinson's I believe and so his handwriting was very shaky, but inside the card was a $50 bill and he wrote, "Please use the enclosed $ 4 whatever you need. Tom. Tom showed kindness in my life. He was a complete stranger to me and yet HE resembled what God does for us. He didn't need to do that. He, from his heart, wanted to do something for me to help me and help my children. He cared. I was so blessed. I DID get a job, I DID close on that home, and I DID grow with Christ. God has changed my life and through many people and their "acts of kindness" I have been blessed throughout my walk with God. These people have helped me grow, stretch, understand, gain wisdom, many things that have helped me in my walk with Christ. Their acts of kindness went beyond any value of dollar I could give.
Kindness - a simple act, or a an extreme one. Kindness changes your heart. It softens us to be better, to want to do better, to have a desire to be more like Christ.
According to the dictionary Kindness means: the act or state of being kind and marked by charitable behavior, marked by mild disposition, pleasantness, tenderness and concern for others.
Think of a person that has shown kindness to you. Can you see how these qualities were present in their character? What makes people kind and others not so kind?
Lizabeth shares these thoughts in the chapter:
Kindness has the power to bring light to darkness. True kindness is prompted by humility and not arrogance and power. Showing kindness is not an act of law but a gesture of grace. It should be as natural as breathing. Acts of kindness reward us with the sort of joy we may only fully know in heaven.
Some scriptures to think on:
Proverbs 12:25
An anxious heart weighs a man down, but a kind word cheers him up.
1 Thessalonians 5:15
Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else.
Liz says - give what you can - because you have been given much.
Basic kindness is always an option, even in tough times. It can be expressed as simply as allowing another driver to pull ahead of you. When there is a fundraiser and you maybe can't afford to purchase much, maybe you could donate just a dollar.
Kindness in action often involves risk-taking.
The purpose of this chapter is to discover how to demonstrate appreciation for kindness from God and others, and to motivate us to show kindness to others.
Kindness means to treat others as God treats us - with love, mercy, compassion, and grace and generosity.
Think about a time that God has shown you kindness. Think about times that others have shown you kindness. Make a list of those things. Take time today to reflect on those thins, be thankful for those people and to God for the kindness that they have bestowed upon you and think about some small practical ways that you can thank them.
Look for small opportunities to show kindness to those around you. If you see an elderly person that may need some help bagging their groceries - help them, hold the door open for someone, pay for the person ahead of you or behind you at the coffee shop or a drive thru window, help a neighbor with yard work, send an encouraging card to someone, whatever it is that comes to your mind and heart - do it!
Ephesians 5:1-2
Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are His dear children. Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God.
2 Timothy 2:24
A servant of the Lord must not quarrel but must be kind to everyone, be able to teach, and be patient with difficult people.
Think about a few questions:
What is the kindest thing anyone has ever done for you? How did it make you feel?
What is the relationship between kindness and forgiveness?
Am I living as an example of Christ? If not, what is keeping me from doing so?
Do I have bitterness and resentment in my heart and need to let go and forgive those who have hurt me?
Ephesians 4:29-32
Don't use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them. And do not bring sorrow to God's Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, He has identified you as His own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.
A few years ago my husband and I volunteered for the children's classes as church. He sang a song in our group to help us remember Ephesians 4:32. It went like this, "Be kind and loving to each other, be kind and loving to each other, be kind and loving to each other, Ephesians 4:32. When anyone in our house is not acting nice one of us will break out in song and start singing that. It usually lightens the air and gets us to think about our actions!
Go, and be kind to one another!
Blessings,
Cindy
She goes onto share an article printed in the local paper. It was submitted by a woman who had eaten at a restaurant where her and her husband were celebrating their 60th wedding anniversary. A stranger had paid for their entire meal. She stated in the article, "all one reads or hears in the news is about the bad that happens in the world, and we wanted to pass on some good news that happened to us. There are good and kind people in our world, also." This is a cute article and makes you think, why do we focus on the bad things, instead of the good? Why are news reports more about murders, rapes and burglaries, and not about the kindness one person gives to another?
Has anyone done something kind for you? Can you think of one thing or several things that others have done for you out of kindness? Have they been family, friends, or complete strangers?
About 8 years ago I attended an Alpha course. It is a 12 week course that covers some simple and basics to Christianity. At the time I didn't have a job. I was in the process of building a town home for me and my two children. I believed that God had a plan. I trusted Him. One week during that Alpha course I went for prayer for healing in my life and things from my past. I prayed with three individuals - one woman whom I had met the first day I attended the course and two gentlemen that I did not know. I proceeded to tell them about the many things that I had been living with, guilt that I had been holding on to, resentments I had, the many things that had been weighing on my shoulders. I told them of my breakup with my ex husband and how I was trying to start a new life for myself and my children. I wanted to provide for them and teach them about God and how loving and compassionate he is.
That night I was so blessed and as they prayed with me the weight of the many things that I had carried were lifted from my shoulders. I began to feel the peace of God in my life and I did truly trust Him to help me with my life. The following week at the course one of the gentlemen I had prayed with approached me and handed me a card. I still have that card and carry it with me in my bible carrier. That card says, "There are no sure things in life...except friends. (Let me know if I can help.) He wrote in my card (he suffers from Parkinson's I believe and so his handwriting was very shaky, but inside the card was a $50 bill and he wrote, "Please use the enclosed $ 4 whatever you need. Tom. Tom showed kindness in my life. He was a complete stranger to me and yet HE resembled what God does for us. He didn't need to do that. He, from his heart, wanted to do something for me to help me and help my children. He cared. I was so blessed. I DID get a job, I DID close on that home, and I DID grow with Christ. God has changed my life and through many people and their "acts of kindness" I have been blessed throughout my walk with God. These people have helped me grow, stretch, understand, gain wisdom, many things that have helped me in my walk with Christ. Their acts of kindness went beyond any value of dollar I could give.
Kindness - a simple act, or a an extreme one. Kindness changes your heart. It softens us to be better, to want to do better, to have a desire to be more like Christ.
According to the dictionary Kindness means: the act or state of being kind and marked by charitable behavior, marked by mild disposition, pleasantness, tenderness and concern for others.
Think of a person that has shown kindness to you. Can you see how these qualities were present in their character? What makes people kind and others not so kind?
Lizabeth shares these thoughts in the chapter:
Kindness has the power to bring light to darkness. True kindness is prompted by humility and not arrogance and power. Showing kindness is not an act of law but a gesture of grace. It should be as natural as breathing. Acts of kindness reward us with the sort of joy we may only fully know in heaven.
Some scriptures to think on:
Proverbs 12:25
An anxious heart weighs a man down, but a kind word cheers him up.
1 Thessalonians 5:15
Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else.
Liz says - give what you can - because you have been given much.
Basic kindness is always an option, even in tough times. It can be expressed as simply as allowing another driver to pull ahead of you. When there is a fundraiser and you maybe can't afford to purchase much, maybe you could donate just a dollar.
Kindness in action often involves risk-taking.
The purpose of this chapter is to discover how to demonstrate appreciation for kindness from God and others, and to motivate us to show kindness to others.
Kindness means to treat others as God treats us - with love, mercy, compassion, and grace and generosity.
Think about a time that God has shown you kindness. Think about times that others have shown you kindness. Make a list of those things. Take time today to reflect on those thins, be thankful for those people and to God for the kindness that they have bestowed upon you and think about some small practical ways that you can thank them.
Look for small opportunities to show kindness to those around you. If you see an elderly person that may need some help bagging their groceries - help them, hold the door open for someone, pay for the person ahead of you or behind you at the coffee shop or a drive thru window, help a neighbor with yard work, send an encouraging card to someone, whatever it is that comes to your mind and heart - do it!
Ephesians 5:1-2
Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are His dear children. Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God.
2 Timothy 2:24
A servant of the Lord must not quarrel but must be kind to everyone, be able to teach, and be patient with difficult people.
Think about a few questions:
What is the kindest thing anyone has ever done for you? How did it make you feel?
What is the relationship between kindness and forgiveness?
Am I living as an example of Christ? If not, what is keeping me from doing so?
Do I have bitterness and resentment in my heart and need to let go and forgive those who have hurt me?
Ephesians 4:29-32
Don't use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them. And do not bring sorrow to God's Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, He has identified you as His own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.
A few years ago my husband and I volunteered for the children's classes as church. He sang a song in our group to help us remember Ephesians 4:32. It went like this, "Be kind and loving to each other, be kind and loving to each other, be kind and loving to each other, Ephesians 4:32. When anyone in our house is not acting nice one of us will break out in song and start singing that. It usually lightens the air and gets us to think about our actions!
Go, and be kind to one another!
Blessings,
Cindy
Jul 21, 2009
Chapter 4 - The Fruit of the Spirit is Patience
This weeks study is on patience. At a time in our world where we are so programmed to have instant gratification. At the click of a button you can purchase just about anything you want. Within seconds you can send and receive messages to and from anyone. Buy now, pay later. We are a world in debt with households averaging over $10,000 of debt in credit cards for things that we had to have now. Patience certainly isn't something that comes easy for most of us. And by worldly standards we don't really need to have any patience when we can have everything we want NOW.
God has a plan for each and every one of us. In his plan is a perfect time for every thing. That timing may not work out with what our time line is for things. Trying to figure out God's timing verses our timing - may be just one challenge we face in trying to figure out God's plan for our lives.
We seek God for many things; guidance, our calling, a heart for Him, to be this to be that, but have you ever prayed for God to give you patience? Best advice - Never pray for Patience! Whenever I have ever prayed for patience it seems the world around me gears up a few notches and things just get out of control. The kids are acting up, things around the house start to fall apart, whatever could go wrong does, and things I never expected happen at the least likely of times! Isn't that just how life is? Patience is certainly one of the fruits of the Spirit that I have struggled with. Although, I believe that the older I get - the more patient I become. I was kidding about the don't pray for patience comment.... but I will say, be careful what you pray for!
Think of the times - for me it's Christmas - where you couldn't wait for something. I couldn't wait to open my presents. I even remember more than once sneaking peaks at my presents while they were so neatly wrapped under the tree. I would know what my presents were before I opened them - and then - when it was Christmas Day and I opened them, that excitement of opening the presents was gone. Some times I was even disappointed because I may have not gotten what I wanted.
In life, our lives can sometimes be that way. We end up with outcomes that we didn't hope for. The timing of things isn't quite right and we think, "why didn't that happen earlier or when I wanted," or "why couldn't I have had that and not this." Sometimes if we would just be able to wait and be patient, the rewards would be so much greater than we could ever expect.
Patience is certainly something to really think about. Something difficult to understand how to gain it and something hard to implement into our lives at times. I hope that this week you will have your eyes and ears open to what God wants you to work on with regards to being patient in HIS timing.
I enjoyed preparing for this chapter and I chuckled as my world around me got really crazy and I thought, "of course these things are going to happen, I am working on patience." As I prepared my notes for this study it just so happened that my patience was tested. I was at the Emergency Room for some back pain. As I was just about to be called in (after waiting for an hour and a half already) a nurse came and told me a critical patient just came in and it was going to be a while longer. I thought, "of course it is going to be longer for me to wait." I then said a prayer for that patient and I thanked God for the opportunity He had provided me to work more on this chapter.
Liz gave some good insight on patience in this chapter. I love the line where she says, "I don't know what it is about parenthood, but inevitably it tests even the best-intended." She then shares a story of a mom who had two daughters in the car fighting about a barbie and she warns them that if they don't stop the barbie is going out the window. As the girls continued the mom grabs the barbie and chucks her out the window as they continue down the road. I laughed thinking I could totally relate to that. I have a 10 year old and a three year old and they argue about everything. They are constantly yelling and yet it comes down to it that the three year old just wants so much to play with his older brother and his older brother is nice when he is okay with playing with him, but when he doesn't want to play anymore things are out of control. Then I hear, "mom, get him out of my room."
I also enjoyed the stories that Liz shares of the newspaper that printed about patience that had run it's course for some parents. Here were some of the stories:
A mom had ignored her three year old because she thought he was fantasizing when he said a "birdie" lived in his room. One evening she walked in to discover a bat circling over the bed.
A mother became impatient and insisted her child stop yelling for her from across the house and come into the kitchen to tell her what was wrong. The child showed up a few minutes later. dripping wet. "I fell in the toilet," she wailed.
An exhausted mother let her sleepless child "cry it out" through the night. At about 2 am the wailing stopped. When the mom came into the room at day-break, the one year old was asleep on the crib rail, one leg dangling on each side.
Can you relate to any of these stories - do they remind you of those times that your patience wore thin and yet you discovered that your kids really needed something from you? I can.
So, what causes us to be impatient? Liz shares that it's because we want to be first. First in line, first on the job, first to be waited on. Patience will only grow as we learn to content ourselves with last place.
She says that patience is a word that seems more about stillness and waiting than taking action. A state of patience can require great acts of trust, self-control, and humility. One story in the bible that reflects this is the story of Hannah. A woman who was barren for many years. She trusted the Lord and was patient and prayed for a child. She did end up with a son after many many years of waiting. She named him Samuel. Her patience and trust were richly rewarded.
What kinds of things are you waiting for or have you waited for? What would be on your list and how would you rate your patience level with each one? What are those things or areas that set you off? Is it traffic? Drivers that cut you off? Work? Kids? Spouse?
What does patience look like? In the dictionary we find that patience means the ability or willingness to suppress restlessness or annoyance when confronted with delay; quiet, steady perseverance, even-tempered care.
Here are some bible references regarding scripture and some things to think about:
Psalm 40
I waited patiently for the Lord to help me, and he turned me and heard my cry.
We must wait patiently in prayer for God to do HIS work in us. God's timing is perfect. Some times we may have to wait much longer than we anticipated or even hoped.
Habakkuk 2:3
If it seems slow, wait patiently, for it will surely take place. It will not be delayed.
We develop patience as we learn to understand the Lords plans for us. If we didn't have to wait we may never learn the need to develop patience for things.
Hebrews 6:12
Imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.
1 Corinthians 13:4
Love is patient and kind.
Patience is one of the evidences of love. These fruits work together and if you have one, chances are you probably have signs of another!
2 Corinthians 6:4,6
As servants of God we commend ourselves in every way; in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love.
1 Thessalonians 5:14
Encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone.
We need to learn to be patient with those around us. Showing patience to others helps them see Christ through you!
Romans 8:25
If we look forward to something we don't have yet, we must wait patiently and confidently.
We wait eagerly to inherit what God has promised to us as His children. We haven't received His full and complete gift to us. We wait, and while we wait, we have something to look forward to. This isn't it. There is more that God has in store for us! We have something to look forward to. It is our job to wait patiently for the time that we will receive God's full and complete gift to us.
Lamentations 3:25-26
The Lord is good to those who depend on him, to those who search for him. So it is good to wait quietly for salvation from the Lord.
James 5:10-11
For examples of patience in suffering, dear brothers and sisters, look at the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. We give great honor to those who endure under suffering. For instance, you know about Job, a man of great endurance. You can see how the Lord was kind to him at the end, for the Lord is full of tenderness and mercy.
I believe that when we suffer trials in our lives we truly begin to understand endurance and patience. There are many things I believe we can all think of, things that we wanted immediately, outcomes we wanted now, things that were truly hard to wait for. I believe if you truly think you would be able to come to one or more times where God's plans did not happen in the time that you had hoped for. I believe it is in these times where we truly are stretched to build that patience and to really trust in God's plan and put our agenda aside.
As hard as it may be at times, God's timing may not be our timing, and learning to trust in His time and His plan instead of ours is certainly worth learning how to do. Just as Liz shared Hannah's story with us, you too may be richly rewarded for your patience and endurance.
Jesus is our ultimate role model for patience. While he was on earth he showed patience - even when those around him were persecuting him and doubting him. Jesus never gave up on his followers no matter how much they messed up - no matter how self centered they could be.
Liz says, "It's encouraging to know that he is just as patient with us as we take our faltering and sometimes baby steps in our own life journey."
So how do we become patient? How do we allow the Holy Spirit to produce and grow this Fruit in our lives?
First we must submit our agendas over to the Lord. He has our plan. He knows the timing in His plan. Whatever it is we are looking for answers for we must surrender to Him.
Things we can think about are:
Why are we in such a hurry? Is it because we have been taught that we can have it now? Is it that we feel we deserve things? Our desires take over and we can't wait for what it is we want right now?
What are those things that trigger us to lose our patience? Think about those triggers and think about ways in which you can learn to not let those triggers get you. If it is traffic and drivers - then the next time you encounter someone that cuts you off - instead of reacting to it - let it go - think that that person must really need to be somewhere and thank goodness you are not in as big a hurry. Next time your kids start acting up - instead of resorting to yelling and screaming - take some time to figure out what is truly going on with them, figure out what they need, and give them the patience required to teach them to behave.
Take time this week to be observant. Watch for those times that God has given for you to be stretched in this area of patience. Pray for your eyes to be open and your heart to be willing to work on being patient.
Be blessed!
Cindy
"We could never learn to be brave and patient if there were only joy in the world."
Helen Keller
God has a plan for each and every one of us. In his plan is a perfect time for every thing. That timing may not work out with what our time line is for things. Trying to figure out God's timing verses our timing - may be just one challenge we face in trying to figure out God's plan for our lives.
We seek God for many things; guidance, our calling, a heart for Him, to be this to be that, but have you ever prayed for God to give you patience? Best advice - Never pray for Patience! Whenever I have ever prayed for patience it seems the world around me gears up a few notches and things just get out of control. The kids are acting up, things around the house start to fall apart, whatever could go wrong does, and things I never expected happen at the least likely of times! Isn't that just how life is? Patience is certainly one of the fruits of the Spirit that I have struggled with. Although, I believe that the older I get - the more patient I become. I was kidding about the don't pray for patience comment.... but I will say, be careful what you pray for!
Think of the times - for me it's Christmas - where you couldn't wait for something. I couldn't wait to open my presents. I even remember more than once sneaking peaks at my presents while they were so neatly wrapped under the tree. I would know what my presents were before I opened them - and then - when it was Christmas Day and I opened them, that excitement of opening the presents was gone. Some times I was even disappointed because I may have not gotten what I wanted.
In life, our lives can sometimes be that way. We end up with outcomes that we didn't hope for. The timing of things isn't quite right and we think, "why didn't that happen earlier or when I wanted," or "why couldn't I have had that and not this." Sometimes if we would just be able to wait and be patient, the rewards would be so much greater than we could ever expect.
Patience is certainly something to really think about. Something difficult to understand how to gain it and something hard to implement into our lives at times. I hope that this week you will have your eyes and ears open to what God wants you to work on with regards to being patient in HIS timing.
I enjoyed preparing for this chapter and I chuckled as my world around me got really crazy and I thought, "of course these things are going to happen, I am working on patience." As I prepared my notes for this study it just so happened that my patience was tested. I was at the Emergency Room for some back pain. As I was just about to be called in (after waiting for an hour and a half already) a nurse came and told me a critical patient just came in and it was going to be a while longer. I thought, "of course it is going to be longer for me to wait." I then said a prayer for that patient and I thanked God for the opportunity He had provided me to work more on this chapter.
Liz gave some good insight on patience in this chapter. I love the line where she says, "I don't know what it is about parenthood, but inevitably it tests even the best-intended." She then shares a story of a mom who had two daughters in the car fighting about a barbie and she warns them that if they don't stop the barbie is going out the window. As the girls continued the mom grabs the barbie and chucks her out the window as they continue down the road. I laughed thinking I could totally relate to that. I have a 10 year old and a three year old and they argue about everything. They are constantly yelling and yet it comes down to it that the three year old just wants so much to play with his older brother and his older brother is nice when he is okay with playing with him, but when he doesn't want to play anymore things are out of control. Then I hear, "mom, get him out of my room."
I also enjoyed the stories that Liz shares of the newspaper that printed about patience that had run it's course for some parents. Here were some of the stories:
A mom had ignored her three year old because she thought he was fantasizing when he said a "birdie" lived in his room. One evening she walked in to discover a bat circling over the bed.
A mother became impatient and insisted her child stop yelling for her from across the house and come into the kitchen to tell her what was wrong. The child showed up a few minutes later. dripping wet. "I fell in the toilet," she wailed.
An exhausted mother let her sleepless child "cry it out" through the night. At about 2 am the wailing stopped. When the mom came into the room at day-break, the one year old was asleep on the crib rail, one leg dangling on each side.
Can you relate to any of these stories - do they remind you of those times that your patience wore thin and yet you discovered that your kids really needed something from you? I can.
So, what causes us to be impatient? Liz shares that it's because we want to be first. First in line, first on the job, first to be waited on. Patience will only grow as we learn to content ourselves with last place.
She says that patience is a word that seems more about stillness and waiting than taking action. A state of patience can require great acts of trust, self-control, and humility. One story in the bible that reflects this is the story of Hannah. A woman who was barren for many years. She trusted the Lord and was patient and prayed for a child. She did end up with a son after many many years of waiting. She named him Samuel. Her patience and trust were richly rewarded.
What kinds of things are you waiting for or have you waited for? What would be on your list and how would you rate your patience level with each one? What are those things or areas that set you off? Is it traffic? Drivers that cut you off? Work? Kids? Spouse?
What does patience look like? In the dictionary we find that patience means the ability or willingness to suppress restlessness or annoyance when confronted with delay; quiet, steady perseverance, even-tempered care.
Here are some bible references regarding scripture and some things to think about:
Psalm 40
I waited patiently for the Lord to help me, and he turned me and heard my cry.
We must wait patiently in prayer for God to do HIS work in us. God's timing is perfect. Some times we may have to wait much longer than we anticipated or even hoped.
Habakkuk 2:3
If it seems slow, wait patiently, for it will surely take place. It will not be delayed.
We develop patience as we learn to understand the Lords plans for us. If we didn't have to wait we may never learn the need to develop patience for things.
Hebrews 6:12
Imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.
1 Corinthians 13:4
Love is patient and kind.
Patience is one of the evidences of love. These fruits work together and if you have one, chances are you probably have signs of another!
2 Corinthians 6:4,6
As servants of God we commend ourselves in every way; in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love.
1 Thessalonians 5:14
Encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone.
We need to learn to be patient with those around us. Showing patience to others helps them see Christ through you!
Romans 8:25
If we look forward to something we don't have yet, we must wait patiently and confidently.
We wait eagerly to inherit what God has promised to us as His children. We haven't received His full and complete gift to us. We wait, and while we wait, we have something to look forward to. This isn't it. There is more that God has in store for us! We have something to look forward to. It is our job to wait patiently for the time that we will receive God's full and complete gift to us.
Lamentations 3:25-26
The Lord is good to those who depend on him, to those who search for him. So it is good to wait quietly for salvation from the Lord.
James 5:10-11
For examples of patience in suffering, dear brothers and sisters, look at the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. We give great honor to those who endure under suffering. For instance, you know about Job, a man of great endurance. You can see how the Lord was kind to him at the end, for the Lord is full of tenderness and mercy.
I believe that when we suffer trials in our lives we truly begin to understand endurance and patience. There are many things I believe we can all think of, things that we wanted immediately, outcomes we wanted now, things that were truly hard to wait for. I believe if you truly think you would be able to come to one or more times where God's plans did not happen in the time that you had hoped for. I believe it is in these times where we truly are stretched to build that patience and to really trust in God's plan and put our agenda aside.
As hard as it may be at times, God's timing may not be our timing, and learning to trust in His time and His plan instead of ours is certainly worth learning how to do. Just as Liz shared Hannah's story with us, you too may be richly rewarded for your patience and endurance.
Jesus is our ultimate role model for patience. While he was on earth he showed patience - even when those around him were persecuting him and doubting him. Jesus never gave up on his followers no matter how much they messed up - no matter how self centered they could be.
Liz says, "It's encouraging to know that he is just as patient with us as we take our faltering and sometimes baby steps in our own life journey."
So how do we become patient? How do we allow the Holy Spirit to produce and grow this Fruit in our lives?
First we must submit our agendas over to the Lord. He has our plan. He knows the timing in His plan. Whatever it is we are looking for answers for we must surrender to Him.
Things we can think about are:
Why are we in such a hurry? Is it because we have been taught that we can have it now? Is it that we feel we deserve things? Our desires take over and we can't wait for what it is we want right now?
What are those things that trigger us to lose our patience? Think about those triggers and think about ways in which you can learn to not let those triggers get you. If it is traffic and drivers - then the next time you encounter someone that cuts you off - instead of reacting to it - let it go - think that that person must really need to be somewhere and thank goodness you are not in as big a hurry. Next time your kids start acting up - instead of resorting to yelling and screaming - take some time to figure out what is truly going on with them, figure out what they need, and give them the patience required to teach them to behave.
Take time this week to be observant. Watch for those times that God has given for you to be stretched in this area of patience. Pray for your eyes to be open and your heart to be willing to work on being patient.
Be blessed!
Cindy
"We could never learn to be brave and patient if there were only joy in the world."
Helen Keller
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