Patience is not simply the ability to wait–it’s “how” we behave while we’re waiting.
From Romans 12:12: “Rejoice in hope; be patient in affliction; persevere in prayer. “
Joyce Meyer (born 1943) is an American Christian author and speaker.
Each year follows another
Memories flowing downhill
Some filled with only sadness
Others sketched with joyful thrills
Another sunrise knocking
“Father Time” never slows down
Blessed to be alive, Amen!
One more day, praises go round
Sometimes days feel like winter
Overwhelmed with sky of gray
Other days waken to spring
Youthfulness wanting to play
Daily lessons in patience
Treasures come from smallest gifts
Appetite filled with sweetness
Road ahead, free of snowdrifts
Sunset wraps up one more day
Nightly dreams forever seek
Thankful for every blessing
Journey’s perseverance speaks
Everything takes time. Bees have to move very fast to stay still.
Almost anything that you pay close, direct attention to becomes interesting.
David Foster Wallace (1962-2008) was an American writer and university professor of creative writing.
From Matthew 5:6: “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.”
Just as Jesus teaches
Praying to Father above
Asking in humbleness
Relationship filled with love
Blessed are those who hunger
Seeking truth’s fulfilling hope
Thirsting for righteousness
Father tightens up faith’s rope
Patience shall be required
Waiting for Father’s reply
Following Spirit’s light
View from eagle’s wings on high
Perseverance in prayer
Knocking on heavenly door
Searching for life’s answers
Father fills faith’s inner core
From Luke 11:9-10: “So I say to you, Ask, and it will be given to you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.”
Mountain stream’s birthplace
Creator shall lead
Treasured, flowing grace
Winter’s snow feeds
Journey downstream flows
With patient pursuit
Valley waits below
Douglas fir salutes
Tiny creeks joining
Green landscape ahead
Filled with rejoicing
River’s growing thread
Water’s quiet poise
Nature’s faithful love
Rainfall adding joy
Strengthened from above
Around every bend
Timeless spirit’s fate
Welcome dearest friend
More surprises wait
An elderly man steadily works in his backyard, raking up some of autumn’s harvest of red maple leaves. The quiet, afternoon air is punctuated by angry and upset mumbling coming from the neighbor’s yard.
Walking over to the fence, the former teacher listens while a much younger man unsuccessfully tries to start up his lawn mower. The neighbor, in his late twenties, has been facing extra pressure and longer hours at the small business he operates.
Pausing and then sending some words of encouragement over the fence, the quiet man offers some advice, “Does the mower need a new spark plug?”
A quick reply comes back, “I never thought of that.”
The conversation continues back and forth for a few minutes. The young man confesses his frustration at work has brought a heavy burden on him as well as his family. He is married with a young daughter.
The wise neighbor adds some gems of wisdom before they both go back to their separate chores, “Hang in there. God’s using these difficult days to prepare you for a more successful tomorrow. He’s equipping you with tools which will help you to bear fruit.”
The young man replies back, “Thanks. I appreciate your advice as well as your testament from the Lord.”
With the rake in his hand, the elderly man prepares to step away from the fence, but he returns and offers a prayer for the young man, “God, grant Tim the serenity to accept the things he cannot change, the courage to change the things he can, and the wisdom to know the difference.”
Both men say their final words, and return to their respective yard work.
As the retired teacher continues to rake more of the stubborn leaves into a series of small piles, he hears the lawn mower start up with a roar. Obviously, the young man has changed the mower’s spark plug, and it is now running as it should.
At the same time, Tim feels the spark of God’s Word bringing him patience and encouragement for today as well as for tomorrow.
From 2 Peter 1:5-7: “For this very reason, you must make every effort to support your faith with goodness, and goodness with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with endurance, and endurance with godliness, and godliness with mutual affection, and mutual affection with love.”
Originally published October, 2020.
The confession of the thief on the cross was both a first and final one. But . . . Christ received it. Maybe you never heard your loved one confess Christ, but who’s to say Christ didn’t?
From 2 Peter 3:9: “The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some think of slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish but all to come to repentance.”
From Psalm 1:5-6: “Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous, for the Lord watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.”
Time forever witnessed
Gathered in God’s hands
Blessing with His patience
Every minute planned
Given choice of two ways
Passed on wicked’s advice
Choosing God’s righteous path
Grace pays entry’s price
Faith guiding each next step
Called by God to pause
Waiting for His command
Timeless counsel draws
Spirit, water, and blood
Filled with purity
Believing in God’s Son
Hope’s security
Deeply-rooted faith sown
Watered with God’s love
Overcoming darkness
Harvest’s light above
From 1 John 5:6-8: “This is the one who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ, not with the water only but with the water and the blood. And the Spirit is the one that testifies, for the Spirit is the truth. There are three that testify: the Spirit and the water and the blood, and these three agree.”
Stay open to a new idea for at least five minutes. You could be surprised at the benefit of remaining open those three hundred seconds.
From Isaiah 43:19: “I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth; do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.”
Storms make trees take deeper roots.
Don’t get so busy making a living that you forget to make a life.
Dolly Parton (born 1946) is an acclaimed American singer-songwriter. Her success in country music has enriched her life with opportunities to become a philanthropist, actress, and businesswoman.
Big Sky Buckeye 