A new semester, a new year, a new path for my life, all beginning around the same time. All of it both overwhelming and exciting, but I can’t wait to see what God has in store.
Earlier this evening, I realized this about myself: I am not the patient and understanding person I’ve always thought myself to be. I am not patient. I am not understanding. I don’t possess these qualities because, ultimately, they are not mine to possess. They are graces from God and I am a vessel through which He shares this grace with others. I do not show patience or understanding; it is God who does. I’ve been so arrogant and prideful to claim these graces as my own, and I can’t believe it’s taken me so many years to figure out something that, in retrospect, seems so basic and simple to understand. All of the glory of patience and understanding belong only to He who created them.
So, I found a few verses that really spoke to me about this, and thought I would share.
ECCL 7:8
8 Better is the end of a thing than its beginning, and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.
ECCL 7:15-20
15 In my vain life I have seen everything. There is a righteous man who perishes in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man who prolongs his life in his evildoing. 16 Be not overly righteous, and do not make yourself too wise. Why should you destroy yourself? 17 Be not overly wicked, neither be a fool. Why should you die before your time? 18 It is good that you should take hold of this, and from that withhold not your hand, for the one who fears God shall come out from both of them. 19 Wisdom gives strength to the wise man more than ten rulers who are in a city. 20 Surely there is not a righteous man on earth who does good and never sins.
ROM 15:1-7
1 We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves. 2 Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. 3 For Christ did not please himself, but as it is written, “The reproaches of those who reproached you fell on me.” 4 For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. 5 May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, 6 that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 7 Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.
COL 1:9-14
9 And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 10 so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. 11 May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. 13 He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
Lord, thank you for the grace of my salvation. Thank you for opening my eyes tonight to my pride, and for teaching me that without You, I wouldn’t have anything. Thank you for using me to show your beauty and grace to others, despite being sinful and unworthy. I’m so grateful tonight, Lord, for you. Please help me when I struggle. Please help me to recognize and accept my inadequacies, please shine your light on my failings so that I continue to grow in your Grace, please take me and guide me through your Word so that I understand, please help me to reflect your patience and grace for your Glory. Thank you for loving me, Lord. In these things I pray, Amen.
Christmas 2009 photos are now posted under the film tab, if anyone is interested. Hope you had a fab holiday!! 
Dani
A good spouse is a gift from GOD
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