Scripture: Luke 21:17-19

Patience is powerful 💪

Most people I know think patience is passive. However, in my experience, patience is a choice that’s very active.

Jesus told His disciples, “And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But not a hair of your head shall be lost. By your patience possess your souls.” (Luke 21:17-19, NKJV) 

That doesn’t sound like a victim mentality to me. It sounds like a decision that creates self-control. We possess our souls by being patient. How patient are you? To what extent are you able to control your soul? Don’t forget your soul is a combination of your mind and emotions. 

I’m not one of those Christians asking for more trials so he/she can develop patience and endurance. No way, and thank you very much! Life is hard enough on its own. I don’t need more trials—I need more help. 

Can we be totally honest for a moment? I’m so done with this COVID-19 fiasco. Yes, it’s real, and yes, it’s terrible, but can we get on with life? Let’s wear masks, gloves, hockey helmets or whatever we can do to move on. Can someone please find a cure? 

I realize I probably sound simplistic, but do you feel this way as well? I guess I’m losing my patience with this pandemic and the countless stories surrounding it. I’m sad about the loss of life. People we know have died. They were vulnerable, they got sick, and they died. 

Have you lost someone you love? I’m so sorry. I feel horrible for you. 

Psychiatrist Elisabeth Kübler-Ross discussed the five stages of grief in her study of death and dying: denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance. Anger and impatience can be normal, especially under these circumstances. 

I encourage you to pray for your trials. Pray for more patience for you to make it through. 

You’re a miracle.

Scripture: Colossians 1:10-11

Have you suffered? 🙏

The Apostle Paul struggled with patience because he and every other Christian in the Roman Empire were being persecuted. Can you imagine being a first-century Christian? Public humiliation, confiscation of property, beatings, being used as a human torch and being fed to wild animals could have been the fate of any believer at any time. It must have been horrible. 

Have you suffered for your faith? 

Paul prayed this prayer for a group of believers in Colossae: “so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please Him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to His glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience,” (Colossians 1:10-11, NIV)

Years ago at church, I met a new couple for whom this prayer from Colossians was a reality. My eyes were suddenly opened to the extent of persecution many Christians in the Middle East were experiencing. This wonderful couple moved to our city with their two young children. I found out they were escaping religious persecution. I invited them to lunch so I could hear their heart and their life story. My eyes swelled with tears when I heard of the torture the husband had endured, but it didn’t compare to the shock of hearing the wife’s throat had been slit. Her father had hired men to kill her because she had accepted Christ as her Savior and Lord.

Although this couple had experienced such pain, they had a beautiful spirit of love. Counseling and prayer helped them to overcome the torture and abuse they had suffered and even to love their enemies. They had received an amazing amount of patience from God.

I definitely need more patience. How about you? 

Although I never want any of you to suffer like my friends, I do want all of us to receive the gift of patience so we can make it through this pandemic. Can we commit to helping others breathe in the peace of the Holy Spirit and the love of God in these frustrating times?

I know God will help you because you’re a miracle. 

Scriptures: Proverbs 25:15, Proverbs 15:18, Galatians 5:22-23

Stay calm…

Proverbs 25:15 says, “Through patience a ruler can be persuaded, and a gentle tongue can break a bone.” (Proverbs 25:15, NIV) 

The power of patience can influence a world leader or change the heart of a hard-hearted family member. A person who can exercise patience in the toughest crisis or most difficult problem will win friends and influence enemies. 

Have you discovered the power of patience in difficult situations? Why is it so powerful? Patience is so powerful because of four incredible reasons:

1. When you have patience, you won’t lose your cool. I can guarantee if you lose your temper, your actions and words will damage your reputation. Proverbs 15:18 says, “A hot-tempered person stirs up conflict, but the one who is patient calms a quarrel.” (Proverbs 15:18, NIV) 
2. When you have patience, you will impress and influence real leaders. Leadership is very difficult. Leaders are looking for calm, kind and positive people. “Through patience a ruler can be persuaded, and a gentle tongue can break a bone.” (Proverbs 25:15, NIV)
3. Your patience can destroy the enemy and your enemies. My mentor, Dr. Richard Dobbins, warned me I should expect at least 20% of opposition and criticism from employees, church members or people in the community. Notice the Bible says, “…a gentle tongue can break a bone” (Proverbs 25:15, NIV), even a bone of contention.
4. When you have patience, people will see the Spirit in you. The world may be freaking out, but you won’t because you have the Spirit. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such there is no law.” (Galatians 5:22-23, RSV) The Spirit will help you keep your patience and be a calming force. 

October 1, 2017 was a horrible day for Las Vegas. A crazed gunman shot more than 500 people at a country music concert. When I heard about the crisis, I immediately texted a police officer and a SWAT Team member who attended our church. I told them, “I’m praying for you guys.”

The next day, I found out the officer was on duty at another location but responded quickly to the call. He drove to the location and felt led to enter the building while the shooter was still killing innocent people. By the grace of God and a cool head, he and his partner found the shooter’s location and helped stop the shooting spree. He became a hero that day.

If you stay calm and patient, God can use you to save a life, save a soul, build a business, raise a family or change a nation. 

Because you’re a miracle.

Scripture: Isaiah 40:31

Waiting is a drag 😒

Waiting is not one of my strengths. Do you like to wait in line or in a traffic jam? I don’t. In fact, I can honestly say I feel like a caged cat. I tend to look for a way out. I’ve had strange thoughts like going off-roading in order to pass the traffic or going in the carpool lane, even though I don’t have a passenger with me. 

I don’t know why I get so impatient. I get impatient in the grocery store. I know it’s a character flaw. I’ve tried to combat my impatience with a song, looking at my cell phone or reading a magazine in the store lines. Traffic jams are a little tougher. I even get impatient when I wait on God to answer my prayer or to change the circumstances of my life. 

Do you ever get impatient with God? 

There is a Bible promise that helps me refocus on God, take a deep breath and believe Him to come through right on time: “But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.” (Isaiah 40:31, NKJV) It promises that if we really wait on God, we shall renew our strength. Wow! I need that. We shall mount up with wings as eagles. Wow! I need that, too. We shall run and not grow weary; we shall walk and not faint. Wow! I need ALL of those promises.

Four benefits of waiting on God can surely be ours daily. So can we add one line to this verse and sing the song by Bill and Gloria Gaither like we did in Sunday school?: 

“Teach me Lord, to wait down on my knees,

‘Till in Your own good time You answer my pleas,

Teach me not to rely on what others do,

But to wait in prayer for an answer from You.”

I’m praying for you right now. “May God grant you the patience to wait, and may God renew your vision, strength and determination.” 

Because you’re a miracle. 

Scriptures: Isaiah 55:8, Psalms 40:1-2

Operator, give me Jesus on the line ☎️

Prayer can be the most incredible opportunity, or the most frustrating activity of our lives. The biggest difference between the two is our ability to wait. 

Do you have the ability to wait on God?

A good friend of mine, also named Paul, once told me these wise words: “Hey, Paul Marc, I’ve given God a new name.” I fell for the bait and asked, “What? You gave God a new name? What is it?” My friend replied, “Jehovah in the nick of time.” Although he was just kidding me, the point was well-taken. God’s timing is not my timing. Isaiah tells us, ““For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord.” (Isaiah 55:8, NKJV) 

Psalms 40:1-2 tells us the story of King David when he had fallen into another tough situation:                  “I waited patiently for the Lord; And He inclined to me, And heard my cry. He also brought me up out of a horrible pit, Out of the miry clay, And set my feet upon a rock, And established my steps.” (Psalms 40:1-2, NKJV) David waited on God in prayer, and God answered him. He rescued him and pulled him out of depression.

Are you struggling with an insurmountable situation? Are you overwhelmed by confusion and despair? Cry out to God and wait for the answer; wait for His help. He hears your cry and will respond in His perfect timing. 

I’ll never forget the summer God answered me in the nick of time. Our school was just a few years old when the administration told me some challenging news. They were $100,000 short to get through the summer months. We prayed with all of our hearts, but there was still no supernatural supply. So I told our whole church about the problem one Sunday, and somebody placed a $100,000 dollar check in the offering that day. We didn’t know this lady and weren’t sure if the check would clear, but it did. God rescued our school in one day.

What is your biggest obstacle right now? Share it in prayer with God! Start knocking on the doors of heaven. Waiting on God is not a passive exercise of futility—it is an act of war and alliance with God. He will hear your cry.

We love you, and you’re a miracle. 

Scriptures: Proverbs 15:1, Proverbs 22:24, Proverbs 29:22

The gun pointed at my face…

The Bible says, “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” (Proverbs 15:1, NIV)

A few weeks ago, I told you the story of a client who pointed a gun at my face and described the damage it would do to my brain. Many people would have responded in fear or shock. Some would’ve fallen apart or been very angry to be threatened. Thankfully, I didn’t. 

Have you ever had your life threatened? Have you ever been bullied?

Many of our readers wanted to know what happened. Well, it’s obvious he didn’t blow my brains out. But the rest of the story is pretty amazing. 

I remember staying completely calm. I lowered my voice and gently said, “Wow, that’s a beautiful gun. Can I see it?” Then I waited patiently for a few moments. Surprisingly, he reached with his left hand and grabbed the barrel and gave it to me. It was heavy. It was a 357 Magnum. Wow! I’d never held a handgun before that day. It was scary. I then said, “This is beautiful. Can I see the bag as well?” He handed it over to me, and I thanked him. It was also very heavy. It contained loaded clips of bullets. He could’ve killed the entire staff. 

I realize now our lives were saved that day by a great God and a gentle answer.

Your answer can either compound a problem or squash it. If you’re an angry person, you may be tempted to react. If your heart is full of frustrations, you may cause more problems than you solve. 

Have you read Proverbs 22:24? “Do not make friends with a hot-tempered person, do not associate with one easily angered,” (Proverbs 22:24, NIV). Another proverb warns, “An angry person stirs up conflict, and a hot-tempered person commits many sins.” (Proverbs 29:22, NIV) 

I used to have a wicked temper until I forgave my dad and received healing from God.

Your answers will come from your heart, so make sure it’s healed. Make sure you defuse your temper before it explodes in your face.

Because you’re a miracle. 

Scripture: Galatians 5:22-23

Don’t be in such a hurry 🏃

I’m thinking about an old Sunday school song today while I’m standing in line at a car rental place. It was written by Frank Hernandez. Its lyrics are so classic: 

“Have patience, have patience,

Don’t be in such a hurry,

When you get impatient, you only start to worry,

Remember, remember that God is patient, too,

And think of all the times when others have to wait for you.”

Do you ever find yourself in a hurry?

If you live in the United States of America, being in a hurry is a disease. If you live in Los Angeles, it’s an epidemic. But if you head to the Bahamas or some other tropical destination, the pace of life is much slower. I’ve been spending a lot of time in a small mountain community to pray and rest. Wow! The pace of life is so slow that it can get annoying. 

The Bible says, “the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such there is no law.” (Galatians 5:22-23, RSV)

The impatience I’m feeling now is not just cultural—it’s unspiritual. So I decided to write this instead of losing my patience. When I’m alone waiting at a restaurant, I always bring a notepad or iPad to send texts, write notes or jot down a list of things to do. I say to myself: “Holy Spirit, please help me not waste my waiting moments. Please help me accomplish something for Your kingdom. I choose to be productive. I choose to tap into the Spirit.”

What will you choose? 

I encourage you to take moments of waiting and turn them into times with God, yourself and His Spirit. You’ll never be in a hurry again. 

Because you’re a miracle.