“Be patient , then, brothers, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop and how patient he is for the autumn and spring rains.”
James 5:7 (NIV)

Clothes have to have the right fit. If they’re too oversized, we look frumpy. If they’re too tight, we can’t breathe. Clothes need to compliment our age. Mature people dressing like the young generation look ridiculous, but wearing outfits that make us look older than we are is uncomplimentary.

Just as we need the proper clothes to look attractive on the outside, we require our character to be clothed in patience to look attractive on the inside out.

The process to acquire the wardrobe for our body is relatively a quick one. We go to a department store, choose an outfit off the rack, head for the change rooms, and scrutinize ourselves in the mirror. If we like what we see and the price is right, we take the outfit to the check out and after paying for it, head on home.

But, patience isn’t so quickly acquired. As a matter of fact, in the world in which we live, patience is in limited quantity. Have you noticed the impatience on our roads with drivers weaving in and out of lanes, blaring their horns? Or, how about, the increasing popularity of the microwave-able meals gracing our kitchen shelves? We want what we want, including patience, right now! We don’t want to wait. In this zoom-zoom world of ours, we probably don’t know how to wait.

But, the farmer appreciates the need for patience. He’s learned to wait for the rains. He’s learned to wait for his crops to grow, to ripen, to mature. He’s learned to wait for good things to come.

Job appreciated the need for patience. In the midst of horrific losses (including health, family, and material losses), enormous difficulty, and monstrous suffering, he persevered (practised patience), held onto his faith, and trusted God to help him stand firm and fixed until the gale force wind of crisis passed him.

Our world is replete with pressures and problems and we can’t wave them away with a magic wand. In order to endure, to persevere, to run “the race marked out for us,” (Hebrews 12:1 NIV), in order to be empowered, to be conquerors, to wait for good things to come, we have to heed Paul’s advice: “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with…patience.” (Colossians 3:14 NIV)

Check out your closet. Is patience part of your wardrobe?

God Bless!
Love & Prayers,
Anna

“But I tell you: Love your enemies, bless them who curse you, do good to those who hate you.” Matthew 5:44 (NIV)

From the beginning of time as recorded in Genesis when Cain, angry with his brother, lead him into the field where he attacked and killed Abel, down through the centuries of world history, our planet has been plagued with conflict and dissension, with broken hearts and spilled blood.

Countries have risen up against countries and peace treaties have been drawn up and violated. The bonds between family members and friends have been battered, bruised, and broken. Why? Because “hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy” (Galatians 5:20-21 NIV) threaten to undermine the peaceful relationships among family, friends, coworkers, and nations. They threaten to alienate us. To destroy us. To obliterate our peace.

Statistics tell us the world has enjoyed peace for less than 8% of its history and 50% of all marriages end in divorce. These statistics for estranged relationships are not very encouraging. In fact, a cloud of despair passes over our hearts when we read these startling and depressing figures. It almost seems…hopeless.

And yet…the Apostle Paul urges us to “live at peace with everyone.” (Romans 12:18 NIV) Jesus tells us to “go and be reconciled.” (Matthew 5:24 NIV) God, the First Peacemaker, refused to accept us as His enemies, and came to us, in His Son, Jesus Christ (the Peace Child), to break down the barrier of sin separating us from Him, to repair the battered relationship between us, and to make peace with us. “Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you.” (Luke 2:11 NIV)

Will it be easy for us to operate in humility, search for forgiveness, bury our pride, and reach out to people who have hurt us? No, it is no easy path to follow. Philip Keller wrote: “The path of peace…is a tough trail tramped out with humble heart and lowly spirit.”

But…it is possible. We can take the initiative to reach out to people, to break down the barriers, to extend the hand of peace, to repair the battered relationships, to restore the bruised bonds, if…we cooperate with the Holy Spirit in cultivating peace within us, and then, in God’s strength, step out and walk that difficult path of peace.

Jesus tells us “Blessed are the peacemakers.” (Matthew 5:9 NIV) Are you willing to be the agents of peace in the lives of the people in your life and tramp the difficult path of peace, especially as Christmas is coming?

God Bless!
Love & Prayers,
Anna

“I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.” Philippians 4:11 (NIV)

Did you know…children laugh more than 400 times a day? Imagine that. Four hundred times a day! And adults? Studies have confirmed adults laugh…15 times a day. What has happened in the period of time between our start-up in childhood and our entry into adulthood?

Little children have this innate joie de vivre. They lead carefree lives. And why shouldn’t they? They have no worries. No responsibilities. No stress. They don’t need to be concerned with putting food on the table and paying the bills. That’s what the adults in their lives do. Children just need to live and enjoy life.

And adults? We find ourselves becoming burdened with the reality of our responsibilities. We have children to care for, elderly parents to assist, groceries to purchase, mortgages to pay… And eventually, we lose the joie de vivre. We begin to take our lives and ourselves too seriously. We begin to be more negative than positive in our outlook, in our conversation. We…often mistake happiness for joy.

Happiness depends on externals. We will be happy if…we have a great job…we are earning a lot of money…we drive a high-end vehicle…we have a healthy bank account…we have the ideal weight…we experience fabulous weather…we benefit from good health…we are in blissful relationships…

Joy is being happy whatever the situation. Joy is a fruit of the Spirit that God wants to cultivate deep within us. Joy does not depend on the circumstances in our lives, but arises from our deep, intimate relationship with God. As He nurtures this inner delight, joy bubbles within us, filling our mouths with laughter, flowing through our lips with songs, brightening our countenances with radiance, smoothing out our scowl lines, and shining in our eyes with brilliance.

I’m reminded of a song I learned in church a long time ago:

I’m a bubblin’, I’m a bubblin’, I’m a bubblin’ in my soul.
I’m a bubblin’, I’m a bubblin’, since Jesus made me whole.
Folks can’t understand it why I’ve got to shout it.
I’m a bubblin’, I’m a bubblin’, I’m a bubblin’, I’m a bubblin’, I’m a bubblin’ all day long.

Is joy bubbling within you?

God Bless!
Love & Prayers,
Anna