PATIENT ENDURANCE

Have you thanked Him?

Have you praised Him?

Have you made it your priority to agree and cooperate with Him today?

Have you taken that deep breath and listened for what He has for you today?

1 Timothy 2:1 (The Message)

The first thing I want you to do is pray. Pray every way you know how, for everyone you know.

Patient endurance permits us to cling to our faith in the Lord and our faith in His timing when we are being tossed about by the surf of circumstance. Even when a seeming undertow grasps us, somehow, in the tumbling, we are being carried forward, though battered and bruised. - Neal A. Maxwell

Yesterday my friend and the “Master Pastor” of my little home church (He recently completed his Masters this past spring, hence the moniker) Josh, spent some time exhorting from Revelation 2.  Jesus through John was sort of “grading” the church-folk from Ephesus.

The context for Josh’s chat was that to be a FAITHFUL, albeit pleasing CHURCH, we must be ONE that demonstrates the DESIRED “recipe” offered in the first few verses of Revelation 2.

A church that demonstrates: 

Patient Endurance.

Sound Doctrine.

Love.

Standing Firm against Evil

So yesterday Josh spent a little time encouraging PATIENT ENDURANCE in us as a church reflecting on the examples of Jesus, Paul, and Stephen; reminding us that WE are called to be FAITHFUL in all circumstances just as they most certainly were.

Oswald Chambers once said,

“The goal of faithfulness is not that we will do work for God, but that He will be free to do His work through us. God calls us to His service and places tremendous responsibilities on us. He expects no complaining on our part and offers no explanation on His part.  God wants to use us as He used His own Son.”

That is an intense responsibility that OFTEN will REQUIRE PATIENT ENDURANCE.

Yet GOD has made it clear that while STORMS and CIRCUMSTANCE may befall us, that while we may be pressed and challenged to patiently endure trials and challenges, GOD will never press that endurance beyond what we can handle. (1 Corinthians 10:13) and because of that WE CAN (with his immeasurable help) patiently endure!

Maxwell says we may emerge a little battered and bruised, but our endurance will always be rewarded!

(We) need to stick it out, staying with God's plan so (we’ll) be there for the promised completion. Hebrews 10:36 (MSG)

So, the encouragement for today is to continue to cultivate and exercise patient endurance! 

Trials will come. 

Challenges will surface.

You WILL have to take a punch or two. 

But remain faithful. 

In recent weeks I have had what I thought were some of my closest allies opt to spend time tearing me down.  There are swirls of enemy adversity attempting to squeeze the life out of some of the fledgling ministries that have in the past flourished.

Yet I and they must ENDURE.

Why?

The man (woman) who patiently endures the temptations and trials that come to him (her) is the truly happy man (woman). For once his (her) testing is complete he (she) will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to all who love him. James 1:12 (PH)

"No pain that we suffer, no trial that we experience is wasted. It ministers to our education, to the development of such qualities as patience, faith, fortitude, and humility. All that we suffer and all that we endure, especially when we endure it patiently, builds up our characters, purifies our hearts, & expands our souls… - Whitney

Have a blessed DAY.

I love you all!

OPPORTUNITIES for HOPE