LIFE HAS A LOT OF WAIT… ONLY YOU CAN CHANGE YOUR LIFE…
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr.
1 Corinthians 13:4 (MSG) Love never gives up. Love cares more for others than for self. Love doesn't want what it doesn't have. Love doesn't strut, Doesn't have a swelled head,
1 Corinthians 13:4 (NLT2) Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud
I was praying with a small boy. I said: Son, how can I help you pray? He was quick to answer. He said: PRAY THAT DAD WILL BE AS PATIENT WITH ME AND MOMMY AS HE IS WHILE HE IS FISHING.
TO ACCOMPLISH GOD’S WILL WE MUST HAVE MORE THAN NEARSIGHTEDNESS. Working with people takes time and much patience.
Galatians 6:9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
In 1981 I accepted the pastorate of a small mission work in eastern Kentucky. I loved the work there. I was there for 8 ½ years, 1372 sermons. One of my loves was the rest home ministry. I took young people and we set up music and played. Today 40 years later the girl that is head of that rest home sang with us. Through the years we played and sang over 400 times there. In 1989 I accepted the pastorate here at Smiths Grove. I had been here almost 10 years.
I was very discouraged and went to church and cried and cried. DOES ANYONE SEE WHAT I AM DOING? My patience with people was gone. I called home and told Linda I was really down and I was going someplace. I did not know where. I was going to take a ride I might be home tonight, maybe tomorrow? I drove and drove and I cried and cried. 5 hours later I found myself back in Prestonsburg. I stopped at the old church. It was closed and up for sale.
I pondered had I accomplished anything in my 8 ½ years? Had I accomplished anything in my 10 years here in the Grove? Was my life in vain? I felt my heart say: PATIENCE MY SON. The tears were still flowing. My pinto found itself in the back of the rest home. I had visited the rest home over 420 times. I begged God. Let someone remember me. Please God, LET SOMEONE REMEMBER ME!
I walked down the hill and buzzed to go in… not one of the staff remembered me. 420 visits and nothing. I walked down the hall way of the rooms. I never recognized one name. No one remembered me. Wait, I saw DEANNA’S NAME ON THE WALL. I walked in and DEANNA was singing. Half of her head was removed. She had the song book to one eye and was singing, 10 years and she was still singing. I waited until she finished. I said: HI, DEANNA, HOW ARE YOU? She never answered? More tears. I started to walk out of the room and DEANNA SAID: PREACHER HOW IS MARTY AND JOSH? (My son’s) How is Linda? My tears turned to joy, DEANNA REMEMBERED ME! I never even said my name.
We visited and had prayer. I walked down the other hall. One name, BETHEL… I walked into Bethel’s room and she just stared at the ceiling. She never said one word. As I was leaving the room I prayed. Bethel answered me. She said is that you Brother Hughes? She said I have wondered about you many times. She said I have been blind now several years. I thought that you was the nurse. She knew my voice. She remembered me and the work for the cross. We laughed and visited. She prayed for me and mentioned both of my sons name in her prayer.
IN YOUR PATIENCE POSSESS YE YOUR SOULS. THANK YOU GOD… 18 YEARS OF WORK, GOD SOMEONE STILL KNEW MY NAME. Pastor, Sunday School teacher, singer --- GOD REMEMBERS US… BE PATIENT.
THERE IS A GREAT LESSON IN THE LAST DAYS… WHAT DO WE DO WHEN TROUBLES TRY TO BURY US? DO WE KEEP TRUSTING GOD EVEN WHEN I CAN’T SEE HIS PLAN? SOMEHOW WE SEEM TO THINK GOD NEEDS TO EXPLAIN WHAT HE IS DOING. PEACE BE STILL? TRUST GOD? BE CALM?
I want to start this lesson by telling you a valid fact… YOU WILL NEVER GET OUT OF THIS LIFE ALIVE. What a real waste of a new day to do things the same old same old way.
Luke 21:19 In your patience possess ye your souls.
We must stand firm. Stand still. We must keep staying with God’s plan. Rest if you must, but never give up and never quit. That's what is required. Stay with it to the end. You won't be sorry learning patience. By standing firm, you will stay calm and trusting THE UNSEEN HAND…
**WHAT DOES PATIENCE MEAN?
Capacity to tolerate delay and trouble without getting angry or upset. Continue, cheerful, hopeful, endurance, stay calm. To bear provocation, pain WITHOUT COMPLAINT. To not get irritated.
HOW EASY IS IT TO LOSE YOUR PATIENCE?
Keep your temper, no one else wants it. What gives you the right to judge another man’s servant? HOW OFTEN DO YOU EXPLODE? DO WE ALLOW STRESS TO BUILD UP? Blowing up has consequences.
Guard your hearts… BE POSITIVE. GUARD YOUR MOUTH…
WILL WE ACKNOWLEDGE VENGEANCE NEVER BELONG TO US. JESUS ASK A RHETORICAL QUESTION: (Jesus is trying to show people a serious point.)
Luke 18:8 I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?
The question Jesus ask is first preceded by a statement: DO YOU TRUST ME THAT I WILL JUDGE… We must leave accountability, evaluation and judgment in the hands of a MIGHTY GOD that keeps good records.
WILL A PERSON ROB GOD? HOW IS THIS POSSIBLE? TO TAKE SOMETHING THAT IS NOT YOURS. GOD’S DESIRE IS THAT PEOPLE WILL REPENT… NOT JUST CONFESS. WHAT DO WE OWE GOD?
Malachi 3:8 Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings.
Seems we as humans have the tendency to not TRUST GOD and we want to get mad. We even in jest that I DON’T GET MAD, I GET EVEN. Many have developed a TATTLE TAIL SPIRIT.
Romans 12:17 Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.
18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. 19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
THERE ARE TWO DIRTY WORDS IN THE CHURCH TODAY. WE CAN’T BYPASS THESE WORDS BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT POPULAR. PATIENCE AND SUBMISSION.
Proverbs 15:18 A wrathful man stirreth up strife: but he that is slow to anger appeaseth strife.
Proverbs 15:18 (NLT2) A hot-tempered person starts fights; a cool-tempered person stops them.
James 5:8 Be ye also patient; establish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.
Romans 8:25 But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.
Romans 12:12 Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;
Ephesians 4:2 With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;
God’s plan is very clear. He desires us to stay humble. May we be mindful that anger fits and temper tantrums never accomplish God’s plan. We must accept each other in love and be kind and long suffering.
PATIENCE BRINGS KINDNESS AND UNDERSTANDING…
Luke 6:35 But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.
Faith and patience are not passive, Faith is an action word. Patience takes the high road and is always kind.
CONCLUSION: PATIENCE, GOD HELP US. WHAT IS IMPORTANT? FAITH, FAMILY, FRIENDS… YOU CAN’T FINISH WHAT YOU DON’T START?
Psalm 37:7 Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.
My friend, trust God’s plan. Stay calm. Life will knock you down. Patience is not always easy. Patience is to allow the Holy Spirit to take control. It is up to you: Patience or regret? Stay focused on what is important.
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
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