Thursday, January 31, 2013

Being Patient


I am learning that the one thing that you never ask God for is patience, because he seems to willingly provide/allow situations that test your patience when you ask for it!  All in all, patience is a good thing, but to become patient (or long-suffering as the word is translated) usually you have to go through trials and gain life experience to get there.  That is not high on anyone’s list!

So you might be asking, if it is such a pain to obtain, why seek it?  It appears that whenever you are patient, it has some sort of a negative connotation and it is magnetic for trouble.  Whether it is patience with a hostile family member, patience in waiting for a job, patience with waiting on God, it seems that the expense is always on us.  But the truth is, there are a lot more positive outcomes than we would realize…

I am going to summarize/quote some scriptures that I found on patience and illustrate the positives in the storms that you might be facing…

Romans 2:6-7 God gives eternal life to those who endure for his glory.  When you think that everything that you are going through is in vain, think again!  God sees that and he rewards it.  A little bit of trouble now is worth an eternity in heaven.  But this is a sober reminder that saying the sinner’s prayer does not guarantee an easy life, sometimes it does just the opposite.  Instead, it gives you meaning and purpose to the adversity that you face.

Psalm 40:1-   “I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry.”  I understand God better when I am patient because I take the time to listen for him.  I find myself hurrying through life sometimes, unable to take my foot off the gas and unable to stop and listen to what is going on around me.  Sometimes hearing God takes time and effort, but it is worth it!  That’s why we must take the time to do it!

Psalm 37:7-9- We learn self control and to be at peace with our circumstances when we are patient.  When I am still in the presence of the Lord and wait for him to act, I realize that I can not control others and I can not be responsible for their actions... but I learn to control how I react and I give myself time to react. I acknowledge that God can influence them and I need to trust in his will, even when it looks ugly. 

This shifts our focus to God rather than our adversaries.  Easier said than done, I know (I struggle with this), but only through enduring the trial to the end will we be able to see the conclusion that God brings.  On another note, while learning self control I learn to not look like a 3 year old throwing a fit when I don’t get my way because I am willing to wait rather than need to be gratified immediately. 

1 Corinthians 13:4- Love is patient.  It is the first quality that Paul uses to describe agape (True Love).  When you are willing to be patient and loving, a number of things happen.  When you love yourself and you are patient with yourself, you have grace for yourself when you take a do not meet your own expectations.  You also do not let the standards and time constraints that others force on you bother you.

When you are patient when starting a relationship, you protect your heart by not rushing into a relationship prematurely and causing more harm than good.  You get to know the person without giving it to the wrong person, and sometimes it is the right person, just the wrong time.  Either way, patience frequently leads to fewer scars on your heart. 

When you are patient in an argument with someone, you take the time to understand them rather than jump to conclusions and say things that hurt them.  This happens in any relationship, that is why we must be quick to listen and slow to speak.

I am sure I could do a post on each of these or list numerous other verses, but I won’t drone on!  I hope that you can see how important patience is in the Bible from a couple of different vantage points.  Yes, it can be a pain in the butt at times, but in the end, it is worth it.  So remember, in any circumstance, be patient because as the old saying goes, haste makes waste!





Saturday, January 26, 2013

Psalm 23 More than a Shepherd


The other day I was talking about how I was reading Psalm 23 and it was blowing me away.  As I read it, I felt a strange feeling of shame yet I felt secure.  Kind of like how when I screw up in front of my parents and instead of yelling, they just hug me and say that they love me.  It is very disarming and humbling to say the least.  So that is what I was feeling as I read this scripture.  Just knowing how God takes care of me and loves me, even when I feel unlovable or inadequate, is greatly humbling.

This stems from the idea that sheep are rather difficult, stubborn, and defenseless, and we as people can be equally difficult and stubborn.  But for all of the maintenance that God performs on me even when I don't deserve it, it is truly humbling to know that he cares about me.  But after mulling over this verse, I have come to remember that he is more than a shepherd...

I read an ancient commentary (circa 1920’s) in seminary on this verse, and it really opened my eyes to this verse.  Most of the time, we stick with the shepherd motif when reading this scriptures, which is good and totally possible, but there are other attributes that this commentary illuminates (that can live inside the shepherd analogy as well).

Shepherd-  This is probably one of the most common illustrations for God in scriptures.  Shepherds have a pretty rough job of taking care of their stubborn sheep, and sometimes their jobs are very dirty.  But he cares for us because he loves his sheep and he wants to take care of them.  I just have to get to know his voice and know when the impostors try to imitate him so that I will not be led astray by their voices.

Guide-  I have had the pleasure of going to Israel, and let me say that their “wilderness”, is a barren wasteland.  So knowing that the Lord is our guide that will lead me through the tumultuous wilderness to green pastures and still water is comforting.  It also lets me know that if I follow him and listen to him, that he will guide me properly.

Protector-  The most famous line in this verse, “yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil”, reminds me that God will protect me.  When I read it, I feel overwhelmed by his love for me knowing that I mean that much to him that he will protect me.  The pathways were tight and treacherous (and still are), and during that time, it was common for roads to have thieves frequenting them.  Knowing that God has his rod to rescue me from the treacherous path and a staff to defend me from any aggressor is comforting.

Host-  When I read that God prepares a table before me in front of my enemy tells me a few things.  First of all, if he is allowing my enemies to be in my company, that he has confidence in me that I will be able to endure or rise above what ever they bring against me.  Second, God is going to provide for me as a host. He won’t let my cup run dry, instead, it will overflow.  I need to remember that he cares for the birds and dresses the lilies, and that I am greater than that!  Third, it is the host’s job to protect his guests… thus he won’t let me be destroyed by anyone that enters his house (invited or uninvited).  Fourth and finally, he invites his guests for a reason, therefore I have to have faith in his ability to choose who is a guest at his table.  I might not like it, but maybe the host wants me to learn something by sitting across the table from someone I don’t particularly care for. 

Royalty-  Prophets and kings were anointed by oil.  The fact that God would anoint my head with oil reminds me that he sees me as royalty as well, and that he will bless me with his kingdom as a member of his kingdom.  This also serves as a reminder that as royalty, we have dominion over the evils in our life because we have the authority of the King.

Father-  In ancient Israelite culture, it was common for the father to build an addition onto his house for his son when he gets married.  This concept of keeping the family in the same house is reminiscent of dwelling in the house of the Lord forever (verse 6).  We are family, and he plans on keeping me in the family and he won’t cast me out or reject me.  I know I belong to someone, I belong to him.

What I love about verses like this is that it shows that God takes on different roles in different parts of our lives.  Some days we need to know that God is our protector, others, we need to know that he is our host, so on and so forth.  This also reminds me of the fact that he is dynamic and can speak to us in multiple ways.  That being said, we must be conscious of how he is speaking to us and can speak to us so that we can respond appropriately. So that’s what God was showing me, and I felt that it would be really awesome to share and show you that he is a little more than a shepherd!!

Saturday, January 19, 2013

God is not a God of Chaos


I read this verse the other day, and it totally jumped out at me and smacked me in the face!!  I sometimes wonder why I do not pick up on this stuff quicker, because it would have saved me a ton of grief over the past few years!  I know that there are a lot of you out there who are probably wondering, “why is my life so crazy right now??”  I don’t think we will ever know, but here’s an idea.

James 3:16-18

16. For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there will also be disorder and all sorts of evil and vile practices. 

17. But the wisdom from above is first of all pure; then it is peace-loving, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy.

18. And the seed whose fruit is righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.


I find that there are two things here that cause chaos in our lives, it is either our own choices or other people’s influence.  When I think of my own choices, I immediately think of my time being a Chaplain Candidate.  There was a lot of confusion the entire time, and it appeared a lot of different ways.  Due to selfish ambition (wanting a job and trying to do it on my own power), I overlooked the fact that the process was chaotic and tried to plow through it.  I had good intentions, but ultimately I was trying to will my way into something that God did not want me in.  The way it came to an end was evidence of God’s hand ending the chaos (I can talk about it off record, but not on here), and I found that I have had peace once I understood that.

When I think about some of the other situations in my life, I can think about friendships and other situations that I had that were not healthy.  Whether it was jealousy or selfish ambition, I found that the stress that they brought into my life was disorienting.  It took my focus off of God, and instead I was trying to fix the problems rather than seek God.  Hurt people who hurt people do not realize what they do, they just do it because they have to.  Just like a bull that has no remorse for destroying the china shop, a self-centered person does not care who they hurt because it is stopping them from getting their object of desire.  Inevitably, they blame the person for getting in their way and blame them for making them destroy everything rather than examining themselves and being honest about the destruction they left behind.  This is why I must flee from jealousy and selfish ambition, because the results are never good and I do not want to harm people in my life.

In contrast, we see what wisdom provides. 
It is pure: think about what it feels like to have cold water on a hot day.  Nothing quenches your thirst more, and the wise person quenches your soul because they seek to give Godly counsel. 
It is peace loving:  the wise despise strife, but engage it to put the fire out.  They seek a life of harmony, and do what the must to protect it. 
It is gentle: By no means does the wise person want to harm those around them.
It is reasonable:  the wise person seeks understanding others and understanding situations rather than stereotyping or jumping to conclusions. 
It is full of mercy: Though the wise are careful with their hearts, they are quick to forgive others so that they are not burdened by un-forgiveness.
It is full of good fruits: the words and actions they produce are healthy and nourishing to those around them. 
It is unwavering:  They are stable and consistent in people’s lives.  Their yes is yes and their no is no, and they are dependable.
It is without hypocrisy:  Those who are wise seek God’s perspective and do not stray from it.  They are not double minded and do not live a life that they themselves would not condone.

When I look at the life of the wise person, it is much more appealing to me.  This is why I seek that life.  I do not always add up, but it is a process and I am doing my best.  In the past month, God has cleansed me of a few things that brought chaos to my life, it sort of felt like detoxing letting go of those things and it has been rough, but at the same time I am finding that it is creating discipline in me and giving me a fresh start.  Like salt in the wounds, it stings, but I know it is for a good reason.  I am not afraid of leaving behind some of those things that God took from me, but instead I am looking forward to what God will give me. 

It is much easier now that I can see the picture coming into focus, but I want to encourage you to ask for God’s perspective when confronted with disorder.  During the time it is hard to see the big picture, but keep seeking God for it!  Most of all, remember, our God is not a God of chaos.  Yes, you will see tough times, but God will not disorient you.  That is not his way.  So as you go forward, be encouraged and seek wisdom, because it is much better than the alternative!


Thursday, January 10, 2013

A Picture of a Room/A Picture of a Heart


This week I was thinking about things to write about, and I asked God if there was anything worth writing about.  He brought me back to a conversation that I had with a friend that I never completed.  I wanted to say much more, but sometimes I just stop because I do not want to be the guy that rambles or says more than I have to.  I know that by my words I am acquitted or condemned, so I try to be as purposeful as possible.  In this case, saying more would have killed the tone of the conversation because the illustration was not complete in my mind.

A friend lost someone close, and I told them that it is okay to be dealing with it and that people heal at different paces.  No matter how long someone is in your life, they hold a place in your heart and that is okay to take your time to heal.  I told them not to feel guilty about the memories since they are allowed to happen, it is only when a memory stops someone’s progress that it is dangerous.   

As I was reliving this conversation, God reminded me of a picture of an empty room.  The room was painted a light pink color, and it was obviously lived in because there were nicks on the hard wood floor and walls, there were hash marks on the doorway, and the room felt like it was filled with memories.

What I believe God was reminding me of was that my heart is like a house.  People will come in and out of my life and I allow them to live there.  I only have so many rooms, but in each of them it is filled with friends, family, loved ones, jobs, ministries, etc.  Through my life, they come and spend time in my heart.

During that time, I will have a lot of great memories and I must cherish those and let them characterize those times of my life.  I must, however, learn to let go when it is time to let go so that other memories can happen with others that will move into the room.  If I try to force the person to stay in the room, it will hurt everyone.

Because I remember those positive memories, I must do my best not to force the new person to be like the last person or make them live up to expectations.  I must create new memories with each person in the room and allow them to be themselves unhindered by the history of the room.  Sometimes this means repainting and redecorating the room, but sometimes accommodations must be made.  Each person is unique, and they deserve to be treated as such.

Finally, I need to let people into that room, especially if it has been empty for a while.  If I try to close it off or keep it as a shrine to someone who has left, bad things will happen.  Whether it is decay, infestation, or smell, a room will not last if it is not used for its intended purpose…. To be lived in.  In the same way, if a heart is not occupied, it will go to waste.  This is why I have to let people into my heart.

So what I feel like someone needs to hear today is that it is okay to be sad that a room was left empty by someone or something.  You might want them to come back, and they might, but do not be afraid to let someone or something else move in.   Whether it’s a job, a person, a child, or a spouse, it can be scary because you never know what the new person will do in the room.  But if you never let them in, you will never know.  Remember, if they love you and care about you, they will take care of the room and do their best to fix it when they mess up it up.  Those are the right people and things to let into your heart.

In conclusion, when the nicks appear on the floor and the wall, deal with it and see it for what it is... fixable.  When the hash marks appear on the doorway, celebrate the time spent together and growing with one another.  Cherish the memories, because you never know when they will move out.  Though it hurts to let someone move out, it is better than never inviting them to move in and never having the chance to create memories together.