Patience is a virtue BY: KB © 12.7.14

Colossians 3:12 "Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience"

Galatians 5:22 "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,"

Luke 8:15 "As for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patience"

Ephesians 4:2 "with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love,"

Man oh man!!! 'tis the season that we forget....we forget that we're human beings called to a higher purpose and calling. We forget that there are other involved in our world. We forget that there are things greater than the conspicuous consumption going on. All our "STUFF" just gets intensified and magnified during our quest to show how generous and how loving we are in material transactions. What about the rest of the year?

So, today I chose the topic of patience...now the funny thing about patience is that it always seemed to be linked with the word love...which lets me know that if there is no willingness to compromise, no willingness to hear and no willingness to bear burdens, not in the negative sense but to support, you cannot call what you have love!

We live is a society of quick fixes and disposable things and unfortunately we have come to treat people as such. Every day we are constantly bombarded with negative messages about who we are as people and it is especially disheartening when it comes from those we care about...whether intentional or unintentional the damage is done; sometimes you can make amends and sometimes you have cut so deep that the scar never goes away, a constant reminder. 

So, I pose the questions - Is your pride so big that it blocks you from seeing the word, vision and heart of God?

Can you see where you see how you've placed your personal comfort above the word of God? Does taking up your cross daily imply that your life is supposed to comfortable and uncomplicated? Matthew 16:24-26 24 Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 25 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. 26 For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?

Have you left anyone or anything in ruins?

How do your actions line up with these words?

Matthew 5: 22-24 …22"But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be guilty before the court; and whoever says to his brother, 'You good-for-nothing,' shall be guilty before the supreme court; and whoever says, 'You fool,' shall be guilty enough to go into the fiery hell.23"Therefore if you are presenting your offering at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24leave your offering there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your offering.…

How ya' livin'?!!!