Faithful In Little

     It's been a while . . . I know.  Many times since my last post I have considered what to write about . . . what to share.  I've been meeting up and chatting more with friends I've known for several years.  Sometimes when everyone seems too busy to talk with each other I wonder what God is wanting to do with my friendships.  I want to be a friend who cares about another's life . . . but sometimes I don't know how to ask without being nosy.  I don't know what to ask about.  Sometimes I don't know what exactly to share about my own life.  So I give it to God in prayer.
     That sounds so easy and straightforward.  Sometimes it's not.  In fact, often I look at life and think that this or that is really quite straightforward.  But it's not.  Sometimes unexpected issues come up that no one can do anything about.  Other times I see certain people causing something to not be straightforward.  Still other times I see myself causing something to not be straightforward.
     It's frustrating.  It makes me look forward to when there will be no more trials and no more sin.  But the thing that God keeps pointing me to is a passage in James . . . a passage I memorized a while ago:

Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains. You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.  James 5:7-8 (emphasis mine)

     Be patient.  Yep, that's something I lack.  The more I realize how hard it is for me to do something -- like have patience -- the more amazed I am at God's patience with me.  I mean . . . I get impatient that I don't have patience, which is kind of ironic.  ;)  But even when I am impatient God is still patient with me.  No matter what I do . . . God's always patiently loving me.
     Jesus is patient.  The more I see His patience the more I desire to be like Him.  That reminds me of another verse:

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose.  For those whom He foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, in order that He might be the firstborn among many brothers.  Romans 8:28-29

     The first verse (28) above is commonly known, but it's not often quoted with the second verse.  Yeah, God works all things for good for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose . . . but what is that "good"?  The "good" the verse is referring to is being "conformed to the image of His Son" (vv 29).
     God calls me to be patient; to wait on His timing, to be faithful in what He has given me . . . even if what He has given me doesn't seem like a lot (see Matthew 25:14-30).  As I strive to be faithful in little, He will continue to prove HIS faithfulness in my life.
     Right now I'm doing school again, helping plan/lead a girls' discipleship group, and I've committed to memorizing 3 chapters of Acts every month for the next several months.  I don't think I'll be blogging a lot . . . but when I do I'm pretty sure I'll be sharing another testimony of God's amazing faithfulness and patience in my own life.
     As I face my own trials each and every day I remember often what is going on in Iraq.  Please, please pray our fellow brothers and sisters there who are being persecuted so much right now!  "Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them, and those who are mistreated, since you also are in the body."  Romans 13:3

Now may the God of peace Himself 

sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit 

and soul and body be kept blameless at the 

coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

He who calls you is faithful; He will surely do it.

1 Thessalonians 5:23-24