Fruits Of Impatience

                                              

Recently the truth of impatience hit me hard. I read in Matthew 12:34 “You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks?”  and this stopped me in my tracks! What is in my heart that is running over into my conversations? 

What’s In Your Heart?

It was barely 7:30 in the morning and I was already annoyed by the little things. I was Frustrated that I wasn’t getting responses to my texts, bothered that I had to stop what I was doing to help my husband. I was bugged by the noise in the hallway. I was full of impatience! 

But no! That’s not what’s in my heart, I protested. Jesus is in my heart. My husband and children have a place in my heart. My sister is securely loved in my heart. My brothers, my church family. I couldn’t go on… that morning impatience was in my heart and it provoked me to look more at  its provocative, selfish nature. To be too honest, impatience lurks close by, waiting to pounce at any situation and does many times. Ugh! I didn’t care too much for that examination. 

Impatience produces a lot of bad fruit. 

Fruits of impatience:

Self righteousness- It implies that “I would never do that” whatever shortcoming “that” is.

Selfishness-What I want or need matters most. Me first. No, I will not wait, I want it now! Get out of my way. Hurry up and move! It also breeds covetousness and contempt. (The blessing of delayed gratification is for another post.)

Deception-Impatience makes you think that if you don’t make an immediate decision- all is lost. It won’t wait for a “soft answer” Instead impatience fires off quick angry responses that deceive you into thinking “I took care of that problem.”  Making good choices takes thoughtful consideration which takes time. People that are in a hurry, usually have put themselves on that fast lane unnecessarily. I read a bumper sticker that said “Don’t put me in your hurry” Ouch! How many times have I gotten too close because I didn’t pay attention to the time and now I’m gonna be late! 

Insecurity- While I’m faced with impatience, this ugly imp creeps in. Nobody can help me. Everyone is against me and does anyone even love me? All because I have to wait.

Rage-anger is a God given feeling, “be angry and sin not” Or recognize the hurt or injustice done to you but deal with the consequences of the violation in a controlled manner. Rage is violent and damaging, many times with long lasting consequences or even life changing ones. 

Controlling: Impatient people want to control things. Bottom line. 

Evil Speaking- in frustration I'll rant and rave and say some pretty idle words

that I will regret when the impatience has passed. I don’t need to give examples,

those words do come out though.

Impatience is ugly, looking in the mirror called the Bible, I saw it lurking. I cried, I prayed asking God to give me dominion over impatience, over myself. Thank God for his patient love. Jesus loves me and so I pray with confidence knowing that his ways work the best so that I might enjoy the benefits of His kingdom here on earth. I also pray that the fruits of his Holy Spirit will abide in me.

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Supping With Jesus Everyday

 

The other morning, as I was rushing through my morning reading and prayer time, I suddenly stopped and realized that I was rushing. Why? What was the hurry? There's always something else to do in life right? I slowed down and put aside my hurry, the distractions, the worries and even the time and enjoyed my time with Christ. I started my journal that morning with this in my heart “ I don’t like when I rush thru my reading 😞 I miss you and your truths- please help me to enjoy, appreciate and use these truths in my life to be a living testimony Lord Jesus”  

Oh my! I was glad I did slow down, here’s a truth that arrested me. In Luke 21:34 (NLT) “Watch out! Don’t let your hearts be dulled by carousing and drunkenness, and by the worries of this life. Don’t let that day catch you unaware”  Wow! It is so easy to get caught up with life, marriage, family, busyness, socializing, and even ministry. I was thankful for the reminder to pray and be alert. 

The next morning, I thought about this truth “Jesus knocks at the door of your heart.” what an absolute privilege! And yet how often have I missed him? This is the rest of that scripture in Revelation 3:20

“… If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends” Absolutely beautiful! But why wouldn't I be able to hear his voice? because of the "other voices" my carnal self, the world and yes the devil! Once I hear his voice, once I know it's him, I still have to be intentional about opening the door. See, just his presence alone, his knock reminds me of "issues" I have to get out of my heart, maybe hidden things and some times I'm tempted to ignore that voice, that conviction. Then, once I open the door we will sup together. Oh how I need a true friend near me always.

Supping with Jesus is one of the gifts He offers. I’m so grateful for his kind friendship and patient guidance. I love it when He pursues me with unrelenting love. Thank you Jesus. 

A Walk In The Cool Of The Day: Read Your Bible

Sometimes reading my bible is impossible when my day is cluttered up with activity. Then, reading my bible at some point will become a chore. Once in a while the religious fraud wants to come out and say, "you must do this in order to get that, work, work, work!" That's a crazy thought right? Then condemnation sits on me because I'm a bad daughter and God is displeased... LIES! LIES! LIES! God wants to walk with me. He wants to see the fruits of my soul. It is HIS desire. Wow! God doesn't tire of my questions. He's not insecure about my insecurity. He loves me and cares about my concerns. 

• I asked God, Lord, is it possible to feel your presence in my bible reading?

Yes. I Am, I'm here always, are you ready to sup with me? He's ready to sup with me! amazing.

• Then I asked God, is it possible? Would your Word speak to me regularly?

Yes. I Am, I'm always speaking to you, can you hear me? I've been able to hear him.

• So I pressed in and asked Jesus, is today a good day to hear from you? 

Yes. I Am, when you call out to me, I will answer. Today and everyday is a good day to hear from God.

• Finally, I've asked God, Lord can I share our conversations? Go and tell others…

As I've looked forward to the walk with God "in the cool of the day" we've had some wonderful good discussions. Some hard topics, some sweet, but always salted so I can share some gems from my wealth. 

I hope I am not sounding feely, touchy and or falsely religious, but his word is ever alive, sometimes it cuts me to heal me, other times he embraces me and simply delights in me and when I've shared these 'supping' moments with a loved one, they too are pulled in close by Jesus.

How To Do All Things

 

                photo by Clark Tibbs

Have you ever considered your day and wondered, what did I accomplish? Have you gone back to that mountain of secret aspirations and found that you’re still at the start of your climb? Have you ever revised a goal because the finish line was way up to the sky and hidden by the clouds? Have you ever set out to conquer your To Do List for the day and you get buried under the To Dos?

That happens a lot to me, and I suspect that it happens to everyone in varying degrees. I have wondered time and again about what drives successful people to accomplishment or steadfast people to remain on the narrow path to eternity. Every once in a while my mind is boggled in a battle of I will, I can’t, I must, I can’t. The battle rages.

                        What Will It Take

Will is a powerful tool. Daily I reach for my will power and strap it on, 

it takes me far. Yet, alone I often miss the mark.

I love my family, but I seldom tell them. I love a clean house, but it takes a whole day. I love to play volleyball, but I’m out of shape. I love to have coffee with friends, but I’m way too busy. I love to write, but I rarely have time.

How can I walk in dominion? What will it take to self motivate?

I hate to be lazy, but I pound on the snooze. I hate to be fat, but I run from the diet.  I hate a chaotic house, but I struggle to regulate. I hate to wait, so I constantly relocate. I hate writing blocks, yet they pile up like rocks..

Can I conquer these mountains? What will it take to self motivate?!

I will to seize the day, but it seizes me. I will to tell my flesh no, but it shrieks in protest.  I will to write a list, but it dissipates. I will to hurry and go, but my feet squander the day. I will to establish peace, but Fret and Worry want to move in.

Is there a force that will drive me to better? What will it take to self motivate?

                                                        Philippians 4:13

I take my will and charge it with God. Through his word I will be infused with his grace. Now, I can rest and know that I can do all things thru Christ who strengthens me

 

Average Day

                                               

...Its just a regular day Lord...

                                       

That's what hit me this morning as I sat down to read my bible.  As it is my habit, I always date my reading. Today it hit me. It's August 1, 2017, of course I started scanning my memory bank, someones birthday perhaps? An anniversary? 

I came up with nothing....then that still small voice of God said "So what will you do with it?"

I thought of my 92 yr. old father who when asked How are you today? responds "Well I'm here"  That response always strikes me, provoking a mouthful of responses, that I of course keep to myself....I am here...and I will be glad.

I continued as I do in the morning, I invited God in to my day, but I sensed that this ordinary date was gonna have Gods hand prints on it, especially so. I brought my petitions to him, I had to stop and deal with some bitter seeds that were beginning to sprout in my heart, which I had been ignoring, too prideful, too hurt to face them, but today, August 1st, I was ready to weed them out.....again.... 

I have a busy day planned, usually too busy to tell my 
 loves that I'm thinking of them, of course they know I love them, after all, I do pray for them.....but I considered that today I would use some of this day and display my love...scary...Help me Lord not to feel goofy or needy...and even if I do...please help me do it anyway...

then, as I was sowing love, I thought of my life long love, my husband. I stopped to consider the blessing he is to me and our kids and now grand kids, and I knew I wanted him to know of how much he fills my heart....Oh God, it will make me so transparent...he'll think I'm a pushover....Help me to sow that good seed please Lord...




The morning is almost gone, and there's still much to do, 
My ordinary day is turning into an extraordinary moment.
....Oh God please let me consider you in my acts and choices today. Amen.

Be A Good Custodian of your Mind

For days I've had this image of a place; a mind thats messy filled with scattered thoughts and imaginations. In a day people will go about their day taking in foul images, or incredible master pieces. Conjouring up wicked thoughts from the music they listen to, or beautiful restful thoughts through the words they take in.  12 hours or more of images, words, songs, pictures being poured into the mind.


Consider your intake friend or who you're allowing to pour info into your mind, since these things do mold and shape us.

Romans 12:22

Donot be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

What are the intentions in your mind?
Who's allowed there to traffic about in it?
What parimeters are in place to aid the one who gaurds your mind?
What kind of thoughts get uncovered when a light is lit in there?

"And the Anger of the Lord was Hot Against"....Ho

How To Find Gods Way

As I read my bible today...these wording hit me, not once, but twice in the short chapter of the Old Testament book of Judges.  As always the questions came flooding out...

Lord why is it that we can betray you so easily?(for the carnal mind is emnity against God) Why do you put up with it time and again? (But thou Lord are full of compassion, you're gracious and longsuffering) Lord if know we'll fail, why allow it? (Choose you this day whom you will serve, as for me and my house we will serve the Lord) How do I avoid your anger? (do right for sin lies at your door...put on the full armour of God that you may avoid the wiles of the devil) Do people know when you're angry at them?(but his word was in my heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones...) 

Even as I type I know that much of our walk with God is a sanctification process, a converting of a heart and a preparation for the souls eternal destiny 

Then I considered that sometimes a parent puts up with and forgives a child time and again.  sometimes the offenses are incredibly severe and yet from somewhere comes the ability to "wipe the slate clean and start over" and I wondered can our parenting compare to Gods?

How much can I give for love?  Can I distinguish between love and fear of man? (our kids in this case)

 John 3:16 For God so Loved the World that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believed in him should not perish, but have everlasting life

How much can I look past my anger and correctly and courageously handle a situation?

In Judges 2:14-15 God gave another opportunity to his children to make right choices. They didn't; they allowed their feelings and emotions and desires to dictate their actions.  This made God angry (again) but he didn't sit there and destroy them, or ignore them. He let them go to their wants and choices and feel and carry the weight of their choices, until the weight overcame them and they cried out to God.  Because God is gracious and long suffering he gives help always to a heart that cries out to him.                               

Usually I come to these conclusions:

Accept that Gods ways are a step ahead and way beyond my comprehension.

Isaish 55: 8-9 "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways," says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. 

 In all my situations I have to know or find out Gods Way of doing things before I can proceed.  When I don't and do things as the world would think I'm usually left with a void in the situation.

Romans 11:33

Oh, how great are God's riches and wisdom and knowledge! How impossible it is for us to understand his decisions and his ways