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Deuteronomy 32:1-3 “Listen, O heavens, and I will speak; hear, O earth, the words of my mouth. Let my teaching fall like rain and my words descend like dew, like showers on new grass, like abundant rain on tender plants. I will proclaim the name of the LORD. Oh, praise the greatness of our God!”
This blog is another guest blog spot. My friend Jessica had a specific colorway in mind, especially after reading these verses. I was more than happy to oblige her. In return, she wrote this bit- telling why these verses are meaningful to her.
“This past summer I was pregnant with our fourth daughter and my husband and I were in the process of preparing to go to France as missionaries. The pregnancy was very rough and we were without insurance. I went through a time where I was telling God how I felt and asking why things were the way they were, specifically regarding our financial situation and going to the mission field. I felt exhausted and worn out and knowing that the French are an extremely difficult group of people to reach with the Gospel I was overwhelmed with how hard this would be. After reading this passage one day in my personal time I realized that I needed to just shut up and listen to God and let His Truth refresh me. From there I also began to see that this promise is true for France (and really everywhere!), that we must be faithful in sharing the Gospel and pray that those hearing will listen and be refreshed by His Words of Dew. My part in that is two-fold: first of all I need to listen myself and secondly I need to proclaim the name of the Lord. It’s been so refreshing to come to this place of understanding! Not that I always “get it” but that I have this to hold onto. God’s Word is like fresh dew and His teaching like a gentle rain which the earth needs so desperately. Rain and dew are so simple, not contrived but natural results of the progression of nature. I want to live that way and share the Gospel that way as God’s Word should be that way in my life. Though I am still tempted at times to “inform” God that this is all too much when I sit and still my spirit reading God’s Word I am refreshed. Our plans for France have been bumped back a bit but we are still pursuing God’s call on our lives to faithfully serve.
I was drawn to Lamar’s yarns at first for their beauty but then because of the stories behind the colorways. My husband and I are both musicians that dabble a bit in the other arts, preparing to go to France to start an inner city community arts center as missionaries. I love it when God uses the every day in beautiful ways to speak to us!”
Galatians 5:22-25 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. ”
Galatians 5:22-25 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.”
Galatians 5:22-25 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.”
Galatians 5:22-25 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.”
Galatians 5:22-25 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.”
Galatians 5:22-25 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.”
Sometimes I really love to write these parts of my blog. Other times, well, I really don’t like the task. Not because of what I read in scripture, but rather to see the scripture as a measuring stick. And so often, I am measuring up short.
I’ve always loved the Fruits of the Spirit. Loved to read about them and ponder them. However, each time I really contemplate them, I always seem to fall short. And Patience is a virtue that I am not abounding with at the moment.
The dictionary defines patience as ” the quality of being patient, as the bearing of provocation, annoyance, misfortune, or pain, without complaint, loss of temper, irritation, or the like.” And that is a hard task as stated.
However, when you look at Biblical patience, it’s even more astounding. The John Gill Exposition of the Entire Bible says of patience or longsuffering, ” which intends not so much a patient waiting for good things to come, for more grace, and for glory, through the Spirit; but a patient bearing and enduring of present evils with joyfulness, being strengthened by the Spirit with all might, according to his glorious power; being slow to anger, ready to forgive injuries, put up with affronts, and bear with, and forbear one another: and which is usually accompanied with gentleness, humanity, affability, courteousness, shown both in words, gestures, and actions; in imitation of the gentleness of Christ, and agreeably to that wisdom, that heavenly doctrine of the Gospel, which, among other things, is said to be gentle, and easy to be entreated.”
You see, I think of this in context to how I’ve responded to my children lately. And I’m ashamed. I preach to them about following Christ, yet my own life is not always a good example of how to follow. Recently, I’ve made an attempt to really spend more time in daily Bible reading and prayer. And I know that our Lord is faithful and just to give us the things that we ask that are according to His will. And I know from the scripture that He desires for us to have the gift of patience. As our family expands, I can see the need for my savior more and more. For in my own strength, I always fail miserably. Yet through His grace, may I come to succeed. This year, I am setting out on a journey to become more Christ like in all aspects of my life. Hopefully, a year from now, I’ll be able to look back and see how much my “fruit” has grown, especially concerning the area of patience.
... a time to dye 