PATIENCE

MareBearHitstheRoad Blogger - May 2, 2010 - 16 Days - and impatience has NOT set in. My excitement is overwhelming at times, but I find that I am not so impatient to leave as I would normally be. Perhaps through the trials over the past few years, I am actually learning more through the stillness of patience for God to act, speak and fill my cup.  My time grows scarce and everyday is a juggling act and will become more so because my brother Brad is having some health issues that could turn serious. However, I know God is in control and I KNOW just like the sun WILL rise that God is not finished with this amazing and wonderful young man. If you would like to know more about Brad visit my Facebook page and click on my notes tab - over the balance of time I am here I am giving back to those that mean so much by honoring them with my heartfelt love and thanks via the written word. Which brings me back to Patience. I have been attaching links to a FB page called I expect God to ACT. Do you? I know I do! There is nothing I love more than watching His divine plans unfold right before my very eyes. Watching as he turns lemons into lemonades or takes a barren tree and produces wonderful fruit. But these things take time and patience is not something many people are best known for. Although I do know quite a few people in my circle of friends that exhibit and display this incredible gift.  I am beginning to enjoy the peace that comes through Patience even though my enthusiasm often wants to lead the charge and move faster than perhaps God would like. 


New Living Translation
We prove ourselves by our purity, our understanding, our patience, our kindness, by the Holy Spirit within us, and by our sincere love 2Corinthians6:5-7


I have always admired the patience I see in others. It is gift really, and something all of us struggle for a lifetime to gain control of. Often it is said never pray for patience...as often trials and tribulations may just test that very thing you seek and pray for. But God is infinitely patient. He sits quietly waiting, for us to turn to Him genuinely from our hearts and to trust Him with our every need. Some never come to that place of understanding while others see it as plain as the nose on their face.  But when we rest at the feet of Jesus, listening for His still quiet voice we can learn much, grow much and rest in everything. The scripture above is so profound in how it accurately describes how we get to that point of genuineness and freedom in our walk with God. Say it out loud for a moment, turn off the TV or the stereo, quiet your heart, mind and spirit and feel the verse fill you with a peace that only God can bring.



This verse is a lead in to what God deems perfect Love and is quite popular for weddings.  The verses about Love is Patient and Love is Kind. The above verse knocks me to my knees and flows in me with a great washing of our Father's love. The love that harbors us when we are alone and lost; it is the port by which we seek refuge during incredible storms and strife; it is the vessel upon which we sail when we choose Him over all other things.


I am so very excited over the upcoming move and the journey these past months have been; I am excited to share it with family, friends and loved ones because I know that whatever God has planned it will be for His Glory and not my selfishness or personal goals and desires. He already knows those things, so I will be patient to see how it all unfolds. But until then, I am having the time of life watching and listening and waiting as the months have turned into weeks which will turn into a matter of days very soon. I am excited to be excited but rather than try and control it all, I am trying to exercise great patience and wisdom and great counsel for what I know is God's incredible plan for the BFF.  As a vessel for Him to use, I am excited and eager to know His Vision for the BFF. I am not rushing to make choices that are not guided by the Holy Spirit and a spirit of patience.


Or maybe my eyes are just seeing things so much more clearly than ever before and I see that when I wait on the Lord, I am never disappointed but when I charge, like a bull in a china shop often, I miss the very beauty of what He has planned or the fruits of my labor. But I must also give credit where credit is due. Not only to God but to each and every person who has shared my life and missteps over the past 10 years. People who exhibited not just incredible patience in their own lives through their own private struggles and tidal waves, but who even in their strife - their love came through in their incredible display of patience as my little mustard seed tried to take root. It could not have been easy. Yet, they are still here in my life, supportive and loving and ever patient to see how it all turns out.


Even as I write these blogs or my tributes, I patiently wait as the flow of words come to be written, so as not to confuse or make light of things that are not just precious and dear, but words that may affect another through God's hand. I am so thankful that since this decision was made, I have waited and I have watched, to see how purposefully this has all come together.  But I am most patient now more than ever because I do not want to miss a single moment of the many wonderfully perfect memories that are going to be made over the next 2 weeks and on the journey East. I will stand in my faith with patience and with love, even if it is rejected or scorned. Such a small price in the big scheme of things.