“Let the Spirit change your way of thinking and make you into a new person. You were created to be like God, and so you must please Him and be truly holy” (Ephesians 4:22-23).

Patience is the fruit of the spirit we were studying this past week. I have spent most of the weekend on my face before the Lord.  A most humbling experience and one of repentance. The Holy Spirit is helping me get rid of the junk in my heart one step at a time.  I love and hate it. Discipline is not pleasant for the moment, but it does produce peace.  So very thankful that I am a daughter of God and He loves me!

In the previous post I had said my wallet was stolen.  Imagine my joy and chagrin when a lady from the Subway in Durant called me to say they had found my wallet!  Isn't it funny how God takes care of foolish people?  I was even more confused by the circumstances surrounding when the wallet was found. Confusion is a work of the enemy and I have had to repent of so many things this week! Where there is confusion there is every evil work.  The Lord has shown me my heart and it wasn't a pretty sight.  Thank you, Father God, for Your forgiveness, grace, patience,and mercy toward me.  It is new every morning...I should say every moment!  :)

I decided to stop working with the kids. My back and neck are hurting too badly to work at this time.  It is sad because my heart is toward the kiddos.  Love them very much.  Will miss them all and the people at work.  There are times and seasons in our lives and we do have "teachable moments".   If we humble ourselves, learn from each experience and trust that we were there for a reason. I believe God's in control of everything and everybody that comes across my path no matter how short the time may be.

Patience.  Boy, have I failed in showing this fruit today. Only by God's grace does it manifest in my heart!  My husband went to Walmart twice this weekend to pick up a Rx for me.  It was wrong both times. Even after we asked it to be corrected.  This seems to be a continuous thorn in the side for me.  I've requested "automatic updates" on a couple of my prescriptions.  Somehow, that doesn't happen.  The doctor offices never gets the faxes when I need refills.  One thing after another.   (The Holy Spirit is testing me to see if I will walk in love toward Walmart Pharmacy.)  However, they are the cheapest in town!!  We save a bunch of money.  So, I am going to pray through and quit letting this get to me, in the Name of Jesus.  He is a God of grace and mercy and this can happen!

The Hebrew word for patience in Galatians 5:22 is makrothumia and it means "long-suffering toward others inspired by mercy".  The opposite meaning word is krino which means "to pass judgment upon, condemn, take vengeance on".   The lesson that had me on my face before God was this one.  She was telling how Jesus often taught on opposites.  It is on forgiveness and not judging one another because that which we judge in another we do ourselves.  She used scripture after scripture and the Holy Spirit really ministered to me.

One scripture that stood out to me was in 2 Samuel 24:14 "I am in deep distress. Let us fall into the hands of the Lord, for his mercy is great; but do not let me fall into human hands."  The question was:  What was David's attitude toward judgment after he sinned? Answer:  He wanted God's judgment (he was given 3 choices of punishment in vs 13), because he knew His mercy is always great toward him, but that man would be unmerciful.  How true.  The Lord's mercy is new every morning and I am so very thankful that I have received it abundantly on a daily basis!

This verse wasn't in the Bible Study but it has always stayed with me....  it is in James 2:13.   " Because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment."  Whew!  Lord, I want to walk in mercy and Your grace.  Help me to do this on a daily basis by your fruit of the spirit growing in my spirit man.  I must be filled with the Holy Spirit to do this.  Prayed up and my mind focused on Him.

The thing is  I had just gotten up off the floor, so to speak about another issue when the Walmart thing came about.  Back down on the floor again.  Isn't God good?  Hahahaha.  Oh yeah. I know He will continue to show me wonderful and not so wonderful things.  Some will be humbling but they will produce a harvest of love, joy, peace, patience.... and the rest of the fruit of the Spirit.

Next week's lesson is kindness and goodness....looking forward to it.  I hope it won't be as rough as this week has been!  I think....:)

God Bless each of you that take the time to read this.

Debbie