Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Good Day

Don't you love it when you just have a really, really good day? I certainly do!! Especially when I would classify most of my days as merely mediocre. Average. But today, well, today was a good day. Something about being productive is just so...so...gosh. I don't know. Just so great. Instead of sitting around watching several episodes of one of the many TV shows I'm following, I actually did things today. A little bit of housework, a little bit of baking (I wanted to do more, but a lack of supplies nixed that), and a little bit of writing, and hanging out with some awesome Junior Highers.

Today was a Wednesday, which means youth group. I help out with the Junior Highers at my church and tonight, we played charades. Watching  them try to act out things such as "sack cloth and ashes" was one of the most entertaining things I've ever seen. I was quite impressed with their endeavors, I'm not gonna lie. It was...wonderful.

Also tonight, we sang one of my FAVORITE songs: Jesus, Thank You. If you aren't familiar with this song, the chorus goes: Your blood has washed away my sin/Jesus, thank you/The Father's wrath completely satisfied/Jesus, thank you/Once your enemy now seated at your table/Jesus, thank you. I love this song. It's all about what Christ did for us and how our natural response should be to thank Him. It's such a great reminder and it's a little convicting at the same time. I love it.

So, I don't know about you, but to me, today was a GOOD day.

Hebrews 12:28 NIV
Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe...

Tuesday, February 7, 2012

Patience is a Virtue

Today, something dawned on me. I am not a patient person. I'm not. I get frustrated rather easily...much more so than I care to admit. Sometimes, the tiniest thing can set me off. Traffic. Lines at the bank. Waiting for a book at the library. Even my cat.

For some odd reason, I've woken up in the middle of the night nearly every night for the past couple months to discover that my cat is chewing on books, trying to climb to the back of my bookcase, walking across my desk, or meowing for no other reason than to hear herself. I'm not going to lie, it drives me insane. I've had this cat for 13 years and she's only started doing this the past few months. What on earth has happened?

As I was thinking about it this evening, I realized that, to my Savior, I'm just as annoying as my cat. In fact, I'm much more annoying than she is. Without the blood of Jesus, I'm a trouble-maker, just doing things I shouldn't. And yet, God's patience is absolutely overwhelming. Though time and time again, I slip, He is there to pick me up. Despite all my shortcomings, all my fears, all my failures, He is patient with me. He still loves me. He still forgives me. I may get into all sorts of mess, but He is right there, waiting for me to call on Him.

When I think about it, God's patience is one of His greatest gifts, and one that I can never hope to understand. Far too often I forget that, and it's something that I'd do well to remember.

Colossians 3:12 NIV
Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.
Galatians 5:22-23 ESV
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.