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Perseverance

Jul13

Another look back. This time to March 11, 2010. Cycle Drawing

After looking back, with the thought in mind about cycles, I began to think that one “cycle” in life that would be of benefit to us, would be the one where we persistently, tenaciously, strive after God.

At times I strive for him deeply, while at other times, my mind and body just do not want to cooperate.

It took many years for me to find out that these cycles are normal, and that if I slow down a bit, rest adequately, and don’t believe all the negative press I give myself, that these cycles pass. As I told a friend recently, “They didn’t come to stay, they came to pass.”

The 2010 writing is as follows;

James 1:4 stopped me in my tracks this morning.

Here’s how it reads; Perseverance must finish it’s work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

I’ve been asking God about some things lately that seem to go on and on and on. When I read this verse, I had to read it again and again and again.

Then I did a little word study, and here’s what I found. There is a “Crafted Prayer” at the end.

The dictionary I used was a Websters, copyright 1989, and the concordance was the NIV Exhaustive Concordance, copyright 1990.

Dictionary definitions; Numbered definitions are from the original Greek.

Perseverance – Being persistent. A continuing in a state of grace, leading to a state of glory.
Persevere – To try hard and continuously in spite of obstacles and difficulties.
5705 – Endurance (patient, great) persistence. Standing firm, endure patiently.
Mature – Having reached a state of full natural development. Relating to a time when development is complete. Involving or arrived at after prolonged, careful thought. 5455 – Perfect, adult, perfection.
Complete – Nothing missing or lacking. Absolute, entire. To perfect, round off. 3908 – Whole.
Lacking – Short of, without. That which is missing or needed. 3309 – Not having everything needed.

Lord, Help me to hold on to You in spite of the obstacles I face, so that I may bring You glory. Help me to patiently stand firm until my development in You is complete. Help me to give careful thought to Your word, until my growth has nothing missing or broken. Help me to be completely whole, having nothing needed.

Let Your glory be shown in me.

Persist with me. Persist with Him.

Nothing missing, nothing broken. Won’t that be glorious?

Amen

Do Be a Do Bee

Jul6

In preparation for a speaking engagement in a couple of weeks, I’m going over some old blog posts.

Isn’t it funny (not funny ha ha, but funny strange) how the same things keep coming around again and again? (The topic I’ll be speaking about is “Cycles” Funny?)

Note the date of the original post. Do you keep going around the same circles like me? Like the Israelite’s. The same circle for 40 years? I would not believe it if I had not done it myself so many times.

Posted by Deborah at Thursday, March 04, 2010

Romper Room

 When I was little there was a show on called Romper Room. The theme song said “Do be a do bee and don’t be a don’t bee.” Well my “Do bee” and my “Don’t bee” have been colliding as of late. Stated another way, my Do-er and my Be-er have been having a fight. My flesh says go and go, do and do. My spirit says stop striving. Listen for His heartbeat. The only way to hear it is to be. From just about every direction I’m hearing the same thing. Rest. Rest well. Repeat. Be intentional about listening. Reflect. Ponder. Then, I feel like I’m doing that too much and being lazy. I’ve really had to ask God where that line is. How can I be a “Do bee” and not cover His heartbeat with busy, and how can I be a “Don’t bee” without being slothful. It is a fine line, but one that I believe He wants me to explore. This mornings sermon implored us to put our whole faith in God. Trusting in Him alone to keep ourselves in balance. We cannot earn it or learn it. We have to look (at Him) and live. I’m looking at Him, and believing that my life will have the proper balance of “do-ing” and “be-ing”

Sound familiar to anyone?

Well, the next posting was SO helpful.

I be sharing it with you soon!