Patience

Patience

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One of the hardest characteristics to develop and grow in this world is patience.  All around us is convenience, time-saving, be first, get it done…hurry hurry, we want it now!  Whew…take a moment…breathe.  The “rat race” as it has been called consumes so many people.  Let’s stop and think about that phrase…’rat race’…it has origins of a mouse or hamster in a cage running on a spinning wheel.  Working so hard and going nowhere.  We need the courage and strength to step off the spinning wheel.  The goals of the rat race give us nothing but anxiety, stress and the desire to move the bar higher causing more of the same pain and suffering.  One of my favorite quotes from Albert Einstein…‘the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result,’ sounds like the rat race to me.  Time to start making a change in how we live and the only way we can change is with patience and persistence.  Take a least one step each day out of the rat race and get into the race of faith…for the reward in that race is eternal life through Jesus Christ.  May God’s peace be with you.

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“The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness.  He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”

2 Peter 3:9

(This photo was taken in March of 2018 in White Sands National Monument in New Mexico)

Wait For The Lord

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In our hurried society where everyone seems to be rushing around from one thing to the next, it is hard not to get caught up in it and begin to feel rushed for no particular reason.  Why are we in such a hurry?  What is so pressing?  As I travel the roads of this country from time to time, I observe this increasingly busy life style frequently.  During these days between the Crucifixion and Easter Sunday plan time to be with the Lord and seek His will for you and your life through His timing.  How is God working in your life?  Where can you see His presence?  Who can you help by sharing the Good News?  Seek Him and then wait for Him to lead you.  May God’s peace be with you.

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“I am still confident of this:  I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.  Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.”

Psalms 27:13-14

(This photo was taken in March of 2013 at the Botanical Gardens in the Bellagio in Las Vegas, Nevada)

We Are Saved By Grace

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We don’t deserve it, we didn’t earn it and we are definitely not entitled to it.  It isn’t our right to be saved from our sins.  Our hope of salvation is strictly based on the mercy and grace of God.  No person on earth will ever be able to do for you what Jesus Christ has done for you and no person on earth is going to be able to love you to the level of God’s love for who you are…the only way to find peace, love, joy, goodness, kindness, faithfulness, patience, gentleness and self-control is to commit your life to accepting and knowing Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and spend time making Him known to others.  May God’s love and peace be with you.

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“But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions – it is by grace you have been saved.”

Ephesians 2:4-5

(This photo was taken in July of 2016 in Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming)

Strength Of Character

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When one describes the character of a person they talk about a list of elements that are a combination of a person’s behaviors and attitude.  I have often heard statements like ‘well this is just who I am’ or ‘that is just the way he is’ as if at some point in life our behaviors and attitudes have stopped forming, changing or growing and have now solidified and are permanent.  I have been guilty of this way of thinking myself at times.  However, in the study of faith and in God’s Word the message of hope and transformation are central to the spiritual life.  If anything our attitude and how we behave are two things we do have the ability to choose every day and these are influenced and can grow if we are open to it.  Don’t give up on hope and transformation for yourself or somebody else…things may not change in the way or at the time you would prefer but our life is not about everything being perfect according to our timing, rather it is about God’s plan and His time.  Trust Him and believe in Hope and Transformation…when you read about what He has done in the past you know He is working for the good of all people.  May God’s peace be with you.

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“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.  Against such things there is no law.”

Galatians 5:22-23

(This photo was taken in August of 2016 in Mount Rainier National Park in Washington)

Choose Holy Living

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With each day the gift of free will means we can choose our attitude toward everything…we can choose our attitude towards what other people think, say or do.  We can choose to be kind and compassionate or we can respond with vicious words and wrath…nobody can make you do this, it is up to you how you respond even if you don’t take the time to think about your response you are still accountable for your behavior every day.  Choose patience…choose kindness and compassion…be forgiving and most of all no matter what choose to respond with love…after all that is what Jesus did for us.  May God’s peace be with you.

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“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.  Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another.  Forgive as the Lord forgave you.  And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.”

Colossians 3:12-14

(This photo was taken in June of 2016 at a lake near Minneapolis, Minnesota)

God Wants To Hear From You…

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When I first started my devotion time I had heard about and knew about God the Father, Jesus Christ his only Son and the Holy Spirit…I didn’t really know them or what a personal relationship with The Savior was all about.  I am realizing there is so much to learn and experience in growing and developing a relationship with them…God the Creator loves me unconditionally and Jesus his Son is the one person who sacrificed everything in order to save me.  And the Holy Spirit can be my guide through the ups and downs of life in a fallen world.

One of the hardest lessons is not to judge your relationship with God based on what you see in human relationships…all of us on earth are broken, even the people you think “have it all” and the sooner we can admit we need God the sooner we may find peace in our lives.  May God’s peace be with you!

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“The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness.  He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”

2 Peter 3:9

(This photo was taken in August of 2012 while hiking on the north shore of Lake Superior in Minnesota)

We Wait For The Savior…

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“But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid.  I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.  Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.  This will be a sign to you:  You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

Luke 2:10-12

(This photo was taken in June of 2016 at a lake near Minneapolis, Minnesota)

Elements Of Good Character

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“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.  Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another.

Forgive as the Lord forgave you.  And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.”

Colossians 3:12-14

(This photo was taken in February of 2013 in a neighborhood near Plymouth, Minnesota)

The Holy Spirit

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“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.  Against such things there is no law.”

Galatians 5:22-23

(This photo was taken in August of 2016 at Sapphire Point near Dillon, Colorado)