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Friday, January 7, 2011

Passionate Patience


"  By perseverance the snail reached the Ark."
- Charles H. Spurgeon

By entering through faith into what God has always wanted to do for us—set us right with him, make us fit for him—we have it all together with God because of our Master Jesus.

And that's not all:
We throw open our doors to God and discover at the same moment that he has already thrown open his door to us. We find ourselves standing where we always hoped we might stand—out in the wide open spaces of God's grace and glory, standing tall and shouting our praise.

There's more to come:
We continue to shout our praise even when we're hemmed in with troubles, because we know how troubles can develop passionate patience in us, and how that patience in turn forges the tempered steel of virtue, keeping us alert for whatever God will do next.

In alert expectancy such as this,
we're never left feeling shortchanged. Quite the contrary—we can't round up enough containers to hold everything God generously pours into our lives through the Holy Spirit! 

- Romans 5: 1-5, The Message (emphasis mine)

Father, forgive us for hardening our hearts against You.  Thank You for giving Your Spirit.  Give us eyes and ears to see and hear, and hearts to welcome, drink deeply and spill freely Your grace and mercy, that we may enter in to Your peace and rest.  Amen.

Photo Courtesy:  flikr - Brendan DeBrincat

15 comments:

  1. Aren't those Romans verses just full of encouragement and embrace and provision?!!!

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  2. Hello Melissa, What hit me here was 'throw open our doors to God..; hey there is so much in that!! the doors of our heart, the doors of our homes, the doors of our secret desires and it goes on... Actually I am getting up to open my front door...O2 is one of the 3 most imprtant elements of life...then water, and salt. Oh my Melissa God speaks to us in so many ways.
    Lets open up in total abandonment this year to God..that is all he wants after all, so why do we hold back.Into my heart Lord Jesus, COME!! Much love always. CM xxxx

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  3. These words make me happy. Such truth needs celebrated! Thank you, Melissa. Thank you. I didn't know I had room for joy tonight.

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  4. A heart to drink deeply and spill freely - that is Godspeak.

    To want more and more of him, to have a bottomless cup that is always full. It's impossible - but what's impossible for us - what is miracle for us - is just everyday love for Him.

    God bless you Melissa - I heart your words - I have prayed today that you be filled and that you continue to spill.

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  5. I really like the tempered steel of virtue keeping us alert and then the alert expectancy. I can look back now at some incredibly rough times in my life and see God in the midst, ever working to bring good from it. In one particular instance--my daughter's terrible car accident, I believe that I wasted a lot of time on anger and cursing. Had I been praising God through it all and been "expectantly alert," the emotional healing would have come much sooner and the domino effect would have been more positive instead of negative.
    Needed this reminder this morning--thank you! :)

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  6. Amazing piece!

    My words for 2011 are Persevere and Expectation - you covered them both†

    http://hisfirefly.blogspot.com/2011/01/persevere-and-expectation.html

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  7. Passionate patience. I just told my kids the other day that God always says YES whenever I ask for patience. You remind me there's a whole layer more. Thanks, Melissa.

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  8. How I needed to hear this today and practice it everyday. Thanks for reminding me .

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  9. Passionate patience and alert expectancy...I love these ideas. Thank you!

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  10. Melissa, God has been talking to me a lot lately about patience (what can I say, that's not one of my virtues). Thank you for bringing a refreshing message about it.

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  11. I like how you said "we're never left feeling shortchanged." How true, yet I often reach into my pocket feeling nothing there. Then He places my hand into His pocket, and it's full of blessings for me. All I had to do was ask.

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  12. Hi! I just wanted to say that I've missed you at Soli Deo Gloria the past 2 weeks. No pressure -- I just wanted you to know that you were missed!

    Love this post!

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  13. Hey, I just came across your blog by doing a bit of blog-surfing, and I'm glad I did! I've added myself as your newest follower, and I hope you'll check out my Christian devotional site as well: www.nocondemnation81.blogspot.com

    Have a blessed day!

    In Christ,
    Dakota

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  14. Hope all is well, haven't seen you lately, love and prayers are sent your way!

    Adrienne

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  15. missing you too...just checking in and hoping everything is ok...praying...hugs:)

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I welcome and appreciate your kind words and comments.