Power Of Patience Learned

Key Scripture: "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, p-at-i-e-n-c-e..."  Galatians 5:22

Power Point:

             I am never, let me repeat that, N-E-V-E-R writing on the subject of patience again.  With all the opportunities I have had to exercise patience in the last three days, I am definitely DONE with it.

On Saturday, our precious pink poodle Lollipup, (the hunter), started our day off with a wounded cardinal. A few hours later, she tried to play with another cardinal. Later, she found a baby mole and then finally finished off the first cardinal. She is now on extreme restriction. You do remember that I never kill ANY thing.

Yesterday, I was supposed to go to a gathering of friends and on my agenda was the plan to make some of my special cookies.  What a great idea right? As the day progressed I began feeling unwell but I forced myself to head to the kitchen. I began to add my ingredients and realized that I only had one beater in the mixer. No matter where I looked I could not find the other one. I don’t know if you know this but one beater does not beat very well. It was a struggle. Finally I got the cookies in the oven and prepared to make the frosting. Uh-oh. I put in the cream cheese and the milk and then added the powdered sugar. What was that brown thing in my beautiful creamy frosting? A roach? Impossible! It seems not. So of course I threw out the frosting and found myself unable to make any more because I didn’t have enough cream cheese. As I began to clean up the dishes, I tripped on the other beater, which had fallen on the floor. I do not like patience. And I did not pass the test. Sigh.

I hope your trials of patience turn out better than mine. Although actually I guess I did pass this one. I didn’t scream or cry or shake my fist at heaven. This morning I went to the grocery and got new cream cheese and new sugar. My friends today will have my special cookies.

            Maybe that’s the quality of patient endurance. At any rate I pray your trials will strengthen your resolve. It honestly does not do any good to “lose it” (as I did with Lollipup.)  The frustration and anger I felt at toward her for killing something did no good at all. I couldn’t sleep. I upset my daughter and I was miserable. When all the events of yesterday began to happen, I knew I needed to get a grip and pass this new test. I felt much better handling it the right way.

            If you think about it, Jesus had perfect patience so I guess we do too. We just need to step back and let it flow don’t we?

            And this is the absolute last time I will talk about patience. I think.

Power Thought:

Patience is a virtue. I’m working on it.

Power Of Generous Patience

Key Scripture: "God's servant must not be argumentative, but a gentle listener and a teacher who keep cool, working firmly but patiently with those who refuse to obey."  II Timothy 2:24 The Message

Power Point:

     I was talking to someone the other day and I was getting –well-impatient. As I sat there, beginning to fume, I heard this patient voice inside me say, “Be generously patient.” Darn.  He had me again. I’m not fond of working on the “patience” thing.

     If we take a close look at the fruit of the Spirit each of them builds upon the other one doesn’t it?  We begin with a foundation of love and because of that we become truly joyful. Peace should just come naturally following on the heels of love and joy.

     And then comes patience. Ah. Patience is to be included in all of the fruit if you think about it.  Patient love.  Patient peace. Patient faith. Patient gentleness. Patient goodness. Patient kindness. Our love isn’t real love unless its filled with the fruit of patience is it?  Our kindness finds it hard to be continually kind unless patience is added in.

     Perhaps patience is really the most important part of God’s nature.  Every part is wonderful of course but where on earth would we be if He wasn’t generous with His patient love and kindness; His patient grace and mercy and His patient faith in us?

     If you’ve ever been around someone who is impatient with you, you probably really understand how important God’s patience is for us and definitely in us.  When I think of all the times that I’ve missed the mark or let the spirit of stupid stay around too long, I’m very, very grateful for God’s generous patience.  And He doesn’t have to think about it, He just IS.

I think we probably would be a lot better off if we allowed Him to work on that particular trait in us don’t you? And the key is, not to be grudgingly patient, or conditionally patient but generously patient all the time, just like Jesus.

Power Thought:

Patience is a virtue.  How virtuous are you? 

Power Of Generous Love

Key Scripture: “Go forth and multiply.” Genesis 1:27

Power Point:

     What would you consider to be the “greatest commandment”?  Don’t you think that God has chosen “love” to be the foundation of all that we do? Jesus said, “Love God, Love yourself, and love others.” Love is the seed that God has given us to sow. That’s the main thing we are to “go forth and multiply” isn’t it?

     If you look at love as the foundation of the kingdom of God, then it just makes sense that if we are to bring heaven to earth then our motivation is based on love. As we learn about how much He loves us we are transformed to be generous in love too.

     What if you made the decision today to only walk in Love? What if you multiplied the love you have received and sow it into someone else’s life today?  What if you refused any excuses to be in “UN-love” and simply do what God has told you to do?

     We could change the world Beloved. And we should don’t you think? We hear thousands of reasons of what we could do to improve our world but I honestly do not think I have ever heard that  “Walking In Love” is a useful tool, except in the Bible. When we learn to be generous in love, generous in expecting the best and offering ourselves generously, then we really are being obedient to what Jesus told us and we will transform our lives and the lives of those around us.

    Why not plan to go forth and generously multiply love today? God says that if you sow that character quality in your life, you will receive it back in abundance. If you give love today, He says that it will be given back to you, pressed down, shaken together and overflowing in your life.

I like that idea, don’t you?

Power Thought:

Got love? Give it away. Need love? Give it away!

Power Of Our Words

Key Scripture: “The human tongue is physically small, but what tremendous effects it can boast of! A whole forest can be set ablaze by a tiny spark of fire, and the tongue is as dangerous as any fire, with vast potentialities for evil. It can poison the whole body, it can make the whole of life a blazing hell.” James 3:5,6 Phillips

Power Point:

Our words can be trash or treasure can't they? Did you know that the words you speak are very important to the devil? If he can get us to SAY what he gives us to THINK he’s set destruction in motion. He gives us opportunities for negative thoughts all the times. (You probably knew that.) They are not necessarily OUR thoughts. So of course, if he gets us to speak out what he’s whispering in our ears-the lies, the doubts, the anger, the divisive thoughts, then he’s won. Words have power. They take on their own life and set in motion the fires of hell. The truth is that the tongue by itself is not the problem. It just sits there unless we activate it by speaking out what we hear. 
     There are two things Jesus cautioned us about; take care what you listen to, and take care how you speak. Why? Because out of our hearts LIVING water is supposed to flow. Out of our mouths LIVING words are supposed to fill our atmosphere. God’s words always bring life. Once we choose to set them firmly on our tongues they bring life and not death. God’s word is active and alive and powerful. It cuts through the junk we think and the lies we believe-if we let it.

     As you read the Old Testament you can see how easily the children of Israel fell for the lies of the enemy. They would have God’s word on the matter and then the whispers would come to bring doubt and unbelief. Pretty soon they were voicing them and then pretty soon they were grumbling and complaining. Eve is also a good example. She had God’s word on everything. She lived in the perfect Garden that God’s words had created.  All Satan had to say was, “Did He?”  “Did He really say that?”  Look how that turned out!

     Do you have a promise from God about a situation in your life? Has God said? Has Satan said, “Did He really say that?”  If it’s good, He probably did. If it brings life and not death, He probably did. 

     If Satan can get us to voice distrust in God he is tempting us to release all sorts of fire into earth. That’s not our job. We are to release heaven into earth.  Every unkind, unloving, discouraging, doubting, “dis-grace-full” word we speak over someone or about someone is bringing death.

     We need to stop. We need to look UP! And we need to listen and speak only what God says.That’s when life can come. That’s when the Words of God cut through the lies and show us the truth. That’s how we are able to discern between what is from our souls and what is from our spirits. Hebrews 4:6 says that the Word (or Words) of God are what discern the thoughts and intents of our heart.  I guess that means we need to read it, agree with it and apply it.

     If the father of lies is giving you food for thought, put cotton in your ears!

Take care what you hear and be especially careful about what you speak. Your words are creating the atmosphere where you live today-and tomorrow. Be sure to choose the right ones.

Power Thought:

Our words are powerful for good or for evil. They bring life or death. Which will you choose?

Power Of Love Like A Hurricane

Key Scripture: “He lays the beams of His upper chambers in the waters, Who makes the clouds His chariot, Who walks on the wings of the wind.”  Psalm 104:3

Power Point:

         All eyes have been on Tropical Storm Isaac, which is about to become Hurricane Isaac. At church yesterday, we sang a song which included the words, “He is jealous for me. Love like a hurricane, I am a tree. Bending beneath the weight of His wind and mercy.” There are two things about “Isaac” and God that we need to think about because it’s a great visual.

         First, we need to realize that God’s love for us is not just a quiet, gentle, grandmotherly love, although of course it can be that. God says that His love is powerful and that it fills everything. It can’t be stopped. It can’t be taken away from us. It’s so amazing that when we really consider it, our souls bend beneath the weight of His mercy and His passion for us. You might want to take a moment to do that.

         Secondly, “Isaac” was the child of the Promise given to Abraham. As the seed of Abraham we have the same Promise in the person of Holy Spirit. That promise was able to live because Abraham believed God. Faith always brings the fulfillment of the Promise.

         As you’re watching the weather reports today, why not put them in a little different perspective. As you pray for the storm to be turned away from American coasts, pray that God’s love will explode over America as powerfully as that hurricane. That it will reach every bit of her land and her people in a glorious outpouring of the reign and the rain of the Holy Spirit.  Pray for the promise of power from on high for this nation and the explosion of His restoration in us. Pray that when the enemy comes in, like a flood, the Holy Spirit of God will come in and plant the banner of truth over us again so that it is clearly seen.

         Beloved, the promise of the power of God is for all of us who know Him. Just as it began in this nation over 200 years ago, the promise of His power is still there. It may be covered over in places but the covenant we have with our God still rests in the heart of His people.

Begin to remember the glorious truths of what God promises us. Remember the glorious power of His unstoppable love.  Begin to agree with His will for us, and His power to perform it.

Consider the hurricane force of His love sweeping across our land again. Consider what could happen if the power of His Spirit was poured out again, like a hurricane.

Power Thought: Jesus said our job is to believe and then ask. 

Power of Staying Calm

Key Scripture: "Abide in Me, and I will abide in you"  John 15:7

Power Point:

For the last year or so I have taken the advice of Liberty Savard. She is the author of a little book called “Binding and Loosing for Beginners.” It’s been really helpful.  She looks at the terms “binding” and “loosing” a bit differently and as I’ve studied it, I can agree with her. The word “bind” means to tie yourself to something. The word “loose” means to separate yourself from something. At any rate, no matter how you look at it her suggestions have blessed me.

Each morning I bind my plans and purposes to the plans and purposes of my heavenly Father.

I bind my thoughts to the thoughts of Jesus and I bind my emotions to the calm and balance of Holy Spirit’s emotions. I have been blessed with amazing results.

When you are yielding your agenda to His, all of heaven breathes a huge sigh of relief.

When you are daily transforming your thoughts with the healthy, life-giving thoughts of Jesus you will breath a huge sigh of relief.

And when you are allowing Holy Spirit to breathe out His calm, faithful optimism in to your soul-well, it does amazing things.

In case you want to try it, here’s what I pray:

Father, I bind my plans to Your plans and purposes today knowing that they are always good and they always give me hope for the future.

Jesus I bind my thoughts to Your thoughts today knowing that they enable me to have a fresh perspective on things in my life and abundance in my life.

Holy Spirit, I bind my emotions to the calm and balance of Your emotions because I know that Your love, joy, peace, patience, goodness, kindness, gentleness and self-control will bear good fruit in my life.

The “loosing” part is important too. I loose from myself all wrong patterns of thinking, all doubt, all negative thoughts and behaviors that keep me stuck.

I hope you’ll try it. It has been so eye opening to see what God will do when you give Him the chance. Remember-He’s in you and He wants to get out!

Power Thought:

Being calm, cool and collected has its distinct advantages. Abiding in Him allows us to be bound to His calm and balance.

Power OF Random Of Kindness

Key Scripture: “Add to your faith…kindness.” I Peter 1:7

Power Point:

     Governor Deal has declared August 20, to be “Random Acts Of Kindness” Day in Georgia. When you think about it, kindness really is a good thing whether it’s random or whether it’s in Georgia or anywhere else.

     Recently, the Lord has been showing me such extraordinary acts of kindness that I know can only be from Him. The other day I was in the grocery store with a really full cart and I was very tired. As I thought about unloading all those groceries for the check out, I sighed and thought, “I wish I had someone to help.” Within seconds, the bag boy walked around the counter and started putting my groceries on the belt. I love kindness.

     As I’ve been working on the “Power UP!” book I hit a huge wall and had no idea how to move forward. My daughter, Stefanie, stepped in and took over and did what I could not do. I love kindness.

     As I began writing this I began to think of the many people in my life who are simply kind. My prayer group friends love to pray for people with needs and then they add feet to their prayers by rolling up their sleeves and doing whatever needs to be done. Sometimes that may involve money and sometimes it may involve going out of their way to show someone kindness. I’m blessed to know them and to have received their kindnesses many times. They are definitely ‘Good Samaritans” with skirts on.

     My daughter in law, Kim is always preparing meals for someone who needs help or she 

watches someone’s children for them when they’re in a tight spot. What a good example she is for my grands. Did I mention I love kindness?

     Today, as you read this I hope you’ll ask Holy Spirit what you can do today for someone else to show them kindness. I’ll bet He can hardly wait to show you off as you follow His lead. Remember, no act of kindness is too big or too small. In fact, He began in my life last night.  Julie and I had been praying for people for about three hours. We were tired and we were hungry so we stopped at a drive through to get something to eat. The young man at the window told us how much it was and then said, “But the people in front of you paid for your meal.” It was such a lovely gift. It encouraged us so much that we paid for the meal of the people behind us. Kindness is contagious.

     Kindness is a choice just as everything else is a choice. It’s a lovely way of choosing life isn’t it?  I read a sign recently that said, “You’re always responsible for how you act, no matter how you feel.” We never have an excuse for not being kind do we, especially when the King of Kindness lives in our hearts?

Wouldn’t it be lovely if everyone chose to be kind-at least some of the time? Today it begins with you. You get to choose to be “Jesus with skin on.” for someone, or maybe for many “someones”. Your choice.  I’m thinking we should choose it more often. How about you?

Put a smile on your face and take Holy Spirit’s hand and run off to see the surprising kindnesses He wants to show through you today. At the end of the day, see how you feel. You might want to do it again tomorrow!

Power Thought:

Being kind is just being Jesus with skin on. Pay it forward. He did.