Patient?

Love is patient and kind.

1 Corinthians 13:4 

 

Almost every wedding ceremony has the reading of Paul's first letter to the Corinthian Church where he lays out what Love is.  Let me very clear about this: True Love is HARD sometimes!  Why?  Have you ever tried to love someone who is in a foul mood?  Have you ever tried to love someone when YOU were in a foul mood?  Love is challenging!

 

You see, true love is NOT disposable!  True love is a daily DECISION!  Every day we must decide to love and, let's face it, some days the decision is easier to make than others.  That's why LOVE IS PATIENT!  Patience is staying in the journey for the long haul, and that is what true love is, a journey.  

 

There have been times I have been very impatient in love and the result was a lot of hurt feelings, anger, frustration, and worst of all...silence.  Why was I so impatient? Because I wanted MY way and MY way only.  Not a good way to journey.  But one of the awesome aspects of God is He is the God of second chances.  Imagine if you only had one shot at love and if you missed or messed up, "Sorry, but you lost. Thank you, enjoy your lonely life."

 

But God is not like that, instead He expects us to learn from our errors so we, hopefully, don't make the same mistakes again.  God is the God of Second Chances and THAT proves He is patient with us.

Why Do We Argue?

What is causing the quarrels and fights among you? Don’t they come from the evil desires at war within you? You want what you don’t have, so you scheme and kill to get it. You are jealous of what others have, but you can’t get it, so you fight and wage war to take it away from them. Yet you don’t have what you want because you don’t ask God for it. And even when you ask, you don’t get it because your motives are all wrong—you want only what will give you pleasure.

James 4:1-3 

As a child, my brother and I would argue.  Especially when cooped up in a car for those family vacations.  We would argue about who was looking out of whose window, who was taking up more of the back seat, who was touching who, and on and on. We would argue until Dad started to slow the car and head for the shoulder, because we knew EXACTLY what would be coming next.  More than once, Dad told us to get out and run to the sign and back or just run in circles so we could get that energy out before the belt did that for us.

Well, guess what? We, as humans, tend to argue and fight about pretty much anything. Think about some of the things we argue about.  Will Jesus come back before, during or after the trying times? Here's the thing, Jesus will come back when God says so and not before. So what purpose does arguing serve?  

We argue because one group or another believes differently than do we. So what? My job is to be a source of God's Love.  Those who choose to believe differently are no less worthy of God's Love than anyone else. 

We argue about skin pigmentation.  Why? Do we not need the same air?  Do we not love? Do we not weep when we are hurt?  When the only difference is skin pigmentation (which NOT ONE OF US had a choice in the matter) then why make it a source of argument?  

You see where I'm going with this?  We tend to argue because of differences that, in all reality, are irrelevant.  The message of Jesus is to: 1) Love the Lord your God with all you heart, soul, mind and strength, and 2) to love others in the same way you love yourself.  So if we are so busy arguing and fighting, what does that say about our relationship with God, and what does that say about our view of ourselves?

God created each of us as unique, yet in His image.  Isn't it about time we started remembering that? 

Keep Calm? Are You CRAZY?

If you believe that being a member of the Clergy means we are free from frustration, irritation, and the desire to use unkind words (and in our minds punching someone), then you will probably want to steer clear of Ministry as a career.

Let me explain: on Wednesday, I had a calendar full of events and appointments.  I had planned very carefully how to make it to each event and appointment early so I could have time to gather my thoughts, pray, and then go into action.  However, when I make plans, God proves that He has quite the sense of humor because every single driver I got behind apparently had no clue that the vertical pedal on the right makes the car move.  No matter which lane every car I got behind slowed down.  So much for arriving early (although I was early for the Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Service).

When it came time for a hospital visit at Lexington Medical Center, I got stuck in the traffic on the exit ramp for almost an hour (whoever designed the traffic flow for that location should be shot).  While making that visit my phone was blowing up with robocalls from spoofed numbers (and I seemed to have called myself twice).

Stopped at the grocer to renew my supply of office candy.  I had 4 items in the express line.  The person in front of me had food enough to find the source of the Nile.  Therefore, that was another 45 minute wait in line at a grocer who only had 2 lines open. After ringing up all this customers purchases, out came the coupons (many of which were expired which led to a rather heated debate), finally the purchase was made and the customer had to look at every item on the receipt to make sure they weren't being over charged.  Because of this lengthy exchange, I was a few minutes late to a Swearing In at the Sheriff's Office.

This continued all day, wherever I went.  So by the time I was ready to come home, I knew my blood pressure was probably at the exploding point, so I stopped off to calm down and have some coffee.  I re-read the devotional passage and had a few choice words for God because the passage was Psalm 131:2, "I have calmed and quieted myself."  David, the Beloved of God, must not have ever had such a frustrating day if he was able to calm and quiet himself!  And yet, perhaps he actually did have such a day because if he quieted and calmed himself then he was not quiet and calm before.  I could literally feel God's WHACK to my forehead.  Instead of lashing out at Him as I had intended, I had to confess my heart and ask forgiveness.

The second part of verse two reminds us that when a child is upset, they seek the comfort of their parent to handle and resolve what's bothering them.  That's what I needed (and still need) to do.  Then it hit me, yet again, God is the one in control of ALL things!  My frustration, irritation, anger, and unkind words were my effort to take over God's job and God used all the days events to remind me He truly is the one in charge.  When I finally realized that, Calm and Quiet replaced all that had been within me.

I'll leave you with Psalm 131:3. "O Israel, put your hope in the Lord—now and always."  God is God, and we are not, so let Him do His job.

Side By Side

"Can two people walk together without agreeing on the direction?"

Amos 3:3

 

A number of years ago, Dean Martin performed a song called, "Side By Side".  Think about this, is a journey possible if there is no agreed upon direction?  Is it possible for us to do ANYTHING together if the direction is not agreed?  Can we carry on a conversation when we can't decide the subject to discuss?  If we try then we are to idiots just talking to ourselves.

 

A church youth pastor wanted to emphasize this point by having a "Random Race."  Each of youth was blindfolded (it was held in the gym so there were few obstacles) and they were turned in different directions.  Then with the "BANG" of the cap gun they all started running.  However, the finish line location was never provided and everyone took off in their own direction.  How well do you think the race went?  I'll admit, it was pretty funny to watch, but the finish line location had never been agreed on, nor had the direction of the race been agreed on.  

 

Every day, we must agree on the direction we are willing to go with others.  Who are you willing to walk "Side By Side" with?  

There IS A Way Out

For we do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, regarding the affliction that happened to us in the province of Asia, that we were burdened excessively, beyond our strength, so that we despaired even of living. 

2 Corinthians 1:8

 

This is not a topic many people want to consider, yet it is one of the extremely important because it can help save someone's life...perhaps even yours.

 

We endure a lot every single day, and if we allow it, we will carry it with us until the burden builds up and threatens to destroy us.  Think of it this way, take your every day stress and think of it as a stone.  The bills you have to pay (each one being a stone), the demands of the job (each one is a stone), the expectations of others (each one is a stone), dealing with family matters (each one is a stone), getting the children to all their activities (each one is a stone), keeping your relationships positive and meaningful (each is a stone)...you get the idea.  Now, each stone gets put into a backpack you have to carry everywhere you go, even in the shower, to bed, everywhere.  How long do you think it would take for you to get uncomfortable?  How about until you get overwhelmed?

 

Each stone, in and of itself, isn't that heavy.  Yet when we let them build up and build up without dealing with them, they can become too much fairly quickly.

 

Also consider those who have endured traumatic events and are now haunted by those events and are constantly replaying them in their minds unable to stop them.  The doubts, the questions, the self accusations, the self condemnations that scream in their minds are relentless.  Then add on the regular daily stresses and you can see how this can very quickly become overwhelming.

 

You see, when get overwhelmed, we start to despair.  Despair is the loss of hope.  When we despair, we tend to withdraw into ourselves because we have been trained to believe being overwhelmed is a weakness and if you seek help you are a worthless wuss.  This train of thought needs to stop!  

 

The reason there is help available is because help is needed.  However, if no one knows what's wrong, they cannot help.  

 

This thought of despair came crashing down on me over the weekend when I was informed that someone I knew had surrendered to despair and took his own life.  That should not have happened!  Yet, I now have to accept that it did and I was not able stop it because I had not kept in contact with him.  

 

Here are some things we need to understand:

     1.  We are NOT alone!  No matter what we are enduring, there is always someone else who has also dealt with or is dealing with the same or very similar situation!

     2.  If you can see no way out, reach out for help.  Reaching out is a great step to take!

     3.  Write down what's on your mind. Sometimes just the act of getting the issues out on paper or a Word Document can alleviate some of the stress.

    4.  Stay around other people!  We tend to isolate ourselves when we are feeling overwhelmed.  Keeping around other people can help distract us from sinking into despair.

     5.  Keep breathing!  That may sound silly, but remember life happens to us one breath at a time.  We cannot take more than one breath at a time!

 

Please, and I cannot ask enough, PLEASE reach out for help!   

 

"Weeping may only last the night, but joy comes every morning." - Psalm 30:5 

Remember!

Today, the South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy will host a Law Enforcement Memorial Service.  This is a time when we remember those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for Law Enforcement.  We remember the names, as they are called, who have joined the memories of those who have gone before, and we are grateful to them for their service and their sacrifice.

Being a Law Enforcement Officer isn't as easy or "fun" as portrayed on the television or in the movies.  Being a Law Enforcement Officer is a calling.  It is a lot of listening to many sides of an issue (sometimes all at the same time), sorting the facts, writing reports, make a positive impact on the communities, the occasional high speed chase, arresting someone, all with a host of cellphone cameras pointed at you and social media scrutinizing your every glance; as well as, trying to juggle a family life, trying to keep healthy, trying to relieve stress and anxiety... So you see, being a Law Enforcement Officer is not for the faint of heart or those who believe it to be a "nice change of pace."

Therefore, I am asking each of you to pray for our Law Enforcement Officers and Agencies, that they may have discernment, patience, protection, peace, encouragement, pray for their families, and loved ones.  And should you see an officer out and about (not while they are dealing with an issue), Thank Them for protecting us as we go about our lives mostly unaware of their presence.

Father,

Each of us has been called by You.  Thank You for those who have answered Your call to become Law Enforcement Officers.  Theirs is not an easy assignment, yet You have chosen them to serve.  Thank You for their sacrifices.  Thank You for their families.  

Remind us to be grateful for these men and women who Protect And Serve the communities.  Remind us to pray for them.  Remind us to care about them.  Remind us that without them our lives would be FAR different.

Keep each Officer and their loved ones in Your heart and protect them.  And, Father, should and Officer begin to feel overwhelmed, help them to reach out for help.  Remind them that they, too, are human and in need of releasing the things that bother their hearts and haunt their minds.

Most of all, Father, love them!

Thank You and Amen.

What Can Happen?

The Lord is for me, so I will have no fear.
    What can mere people do to me?

Psalm 118:6 

Ever wonder why God allows some storms to come crashing through our lives?  Let's look at how God has so set up nature: lightning strikes the dry grass of the Great Plains starting fires....the fires clear the plain of the dead grass so the new grass can grow and the buffalo has fresh food to eat.  Lightning strikes a forest and the forest catches fire burning the dead trees and undergrowth making room for new growth.  

You can't expect to grow if you have lots of clutter in the way!  God sometimes allows storms to get rid of some of the clutter so we can grow.  

Now what has that got to do with other people?  Simply this, God sometimes uses people as the conduit for our clutter removal.  He uses people to sharpen us.  He uses people to be an example for us.  He uses people so we can set the example (and be very conscious of the example we set).  He uses people to remind us that we aren't perfect, holier than anyone else, or better than anyone else.

Now consider this:  God also uses us in the same ways in the lives of others.  So why fear what mere man can do when God is the one in control?