Tag Archives: Patience

Alphabet Faith Stories: Patient Pam

Posted on by
Patience is a virtue.

Scripture for patience:

Romans 8:25: “But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.” (NIV)

Merriam-Webster Dictionary definition of patient:

  • Bearing pains or trials calmly without complaint
  • Manifesting forbearance under provocation or strain
  • Not hasty or impetous
  • Steadfast despite opposition, difficulty or adversity

Inspirational quotes on patient/patience (Inspirational Words of Wisdom):

  • God’s love is patient, persistent, and persevering
  • Patience and diligence, like faith, remove mountains
  • Endurance is nobler than strength, and patience than beauty
  • Showing kindness, patience and faith, in yourself when you do make mistakes

P: Patient Pam’s Story:

“From the time that Pam could stand on a step stool to reach the countertop to help her mother bake, she fell in love with baking. She would tell everyone that she wanted to be a “baker like her mother” when she grew up. Her mother had a side business at home of making delectable, yummy delicacies for birthday parties, weddings, tea parties, and other occasions.

As the years passed by and Pam continued to help her mother bake cakes, pies, cookies, and other decadent desserts after school and on weekends, she told her mother that she planned to enroll in a culinary school when she graduated from high school in order to learn other aspects of the business. Pam’s mother was delighted and showed enthusiastic support when Pam was accepted into the prestigious School of Culinary Arts in Kansas City, a two-year program.

After graduation, Pam was offered a position as Head Baker at a local 4-star restaurant who were known for their delicious desserts. Pam was given a five-year contract with a very good salary but knew that she wanted to open her own bakery someday. As Pam waited patiently and worked diligently at the restaurant, she also researched locations where she would open her own bakery and decided that she would contact a real estate company in her hometown to see what buildings were available. After six months of looking, she finally found the right building to start her business.

Pam leaned on her faith and scripture in Romans 8:28 which says, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.” (NIV) It would take another year before Pam’s business would be up and running due to renovations and getting the building up to the proper local codes.

When that day finally arrived, Pam and her mother cut the ribbon together. She owed so much to her mother for showing her how to bake at an early age and encouraging her to follow her dream of becoming a baker and opening her own successful business.

It has been ten years since Pam followed her dream of opening “Pam’s Bakery and Cafe.” She also began teaching the art of baking to high school students one night a week, encouraging them to follow their own dreams as well. After graduation, many of them continued to further their education in the culinary arts.”

You may never open your own bakery, or you may have had dreams of opening one but never pursued those dreams. God has a plan for your life in whatever He has for you to do. Romans 12:12 says, “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.” God will reveal His plan for you if you remain joyful, patient, and faithful.

Blessings,

Yvonne

Inspirational Women: Mary and Martha of Bethany

Posted on by
Patience is a virtue

“Patience is a virtue” is a quote that I have heard over and over. It certainly had its challenges for me growing up in a household with 11 other siblings that’s for sure. However, even in smaller households patience could prove to be daunting as well.

Mary and Martha, sisters in the Village of Bethany, were as different as “night and day.” Mary, noted for being a “true worshiper”, and Martha, noted as a “devoted servant”, had their ups and downs especially when it came to running the small household. They also had a brother, Lazarus. Martha was the oldest, while Mary was the middle sibling, and Lazarus was the youngest of the three.

One thing that they all had in common was that Jesus was their cousin and according to some writings, Jesus often visited with his “cousin” family on a number of occasions. In Luke 10:38-41, it tells us that while Jesus was visiting at their home, Martha became concerned that Mary was not helping to prepare the food and all the preparations that had to be made upon Jesus’ arrival.

Martha approached Jesus and said, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” (verse 40 NIV).

Jesus answered her saying, “Martha, Martha. You are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” (verse 41 NIV)

While growing up in my family, I was one of the older siblings and helped with the chores around the house. My oldest sister loved to cook and helped my mother in the kitchen preparing meals. I was often “stuck” babysitting my younger siblings and can remember feeling that my chores were “many” compared to my sister’s. We would often get in a disagreement as to our responsibilities. My mother often told us that our responsibilities around the house were equally important and she appreciated our willingness to help.

Jesus appreciated Martha’s willingness to prepare food for his visit; however, he felt that Mary took time out from the busyness of the preparations by listening to what He had to say when he came to visit them.

Often times we get so busy that we do not take the time out of our schedules to just sit quietly and “listen” to the still, small voice of the Holy Spirit. We have children to care for, jobs to rush to, chores, meetings to attend, and other responsibilities that crowd out “times to sit and reflect upon God’s grace, love, and mercy.”

Martha was trying to be the perfect host rather than taking the time to listen to what Jesus had to say when he visited this family. John 11:5 tells us that “Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus”. Martha was just trying to be “the hostess with the mostest” and prove that she was the hallmark of the family and could run the household.

How does this all relate to “patience”? When Martha reacted to Mary sitting at Jesus’ feet by grumbling, Jesus told her not to be upset by Mary’s actions because she had “chosen what was better”. Mary was eager to learn all that Jesus had to say and she could not do this if she were running around the house trying to “make preparations” for Jesus’ visit. Patience on Martha’s part was needed after Jesus’ response to her being upset.

Sometimes a little patience goes a long way in how we react to the circumstances around us. Patience is not an easy virtue to attain. Sometimes when we ask for it, we get “troubles” and things that make us lose our patience instead. That is when we have to stop, thank God for helping us to “learn” patience in our lives, and then continue to believe that he will develop this characteristic as we grow in his knowledge and his word.

I know that there have been many times when I have had to re-learn lessons about patience in my own life. God continues to chisel out the things in my life which helps shape the person that he wants me to become. That, my friends, is a “work in progress” every single day. But thanks be to God who gives me all the help that I need to “become more like Him.”

May the Lord bless you and give you the desire of your heart as you continue to live for Him.

Blessings,

Yvonne

Coffee Inspiration: Pour A Cup of Patience

Posted on by

We are told that “patience is a virtue”. We also teach our children to “be patient” until we can get around to helping them. Patience, according to the Oxford Dictionary, states that “it is the capacity to accept or tolerate delay, trouble, or suffering without getting angry or upset.”

The Bible clearly defines patience as it relates to the characteristics of a Christian as follows:

I Corinthians 13:4 – “Love is patient, love is kind, it does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.”

Galatians 5:22 – “But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness…”

Psalm 27:14 – “Wait (be patient) for the Lord; be strong and take heart, and wait for the Lord.”

Waiting and being patient has never been one of my most notable characteristics, but the Lord has shown me that if I wait and am patient, that he works all things out for my good and even better than I could have imagined. So instead of jumping to conclusions, I try to wait and pray and see what God is going to do about the situation. He has never failed me yet and He has always “shown me a better way.”

In “Thank Heaven for Coffee (and other little pleasures)” by Barbour Publishing, Inc., it has this to say about patience:

“Patience serves as a protection against wrongs as clothes do against cold. For if you put on more clothes as the cold increases, it will have no power to hurt you. So in like manner you must grow in patience when you meet with great wrongs, and they will be powerless to vex your mind.” – Leonardo DA Vinci

The above quote sums up how we should grow in patience and Galatians clarifies the results of patience–the fruit of the spirit will be more readily seen in each and every one of us.

May the Lord help each of us to “grow in patience” as we walk with Him daily.

Blessings,
Yvonne