Tag: Patience

Routines of Life

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Routines of Life

My day began with me carrying out trash. Taking my morning prescriptions followed. After a short drive, I’m enjoying a venti blonde roast coffee from Starbucks. For your information, a venti is 20 fluid ounces.

My To Do List

Today I’ll be working on Bible verse memes for the next few months. I’ll create them and schedule them. I use Canva software for this job. I post them daily on two private Facebook groups I manage. One of the groups is for my family and is used to keep track of me.

The other is for the retirees and friends of the day job from which I’m retired. I’ve been doing both foe around four years. The day job retiree/friend group helps friends and former coworkers stay connected and to share prayer requests/needs. I have 168 people in that group.

Staying Busy

I’ll also do my daily writing, some editing, and strive to get my 10,000 steps in for the day. Additionally, I’ll do some longer range planning for the my writing goals including my nonfiction, my pen name work, my blogs , some video work (working on doing a video blog), and reading/ listening goals/schedules. I also have my Spanish lesson.

My working about 30 to 40 hours a week on the writing work is why I’ve had writing income for 50 consecutive months. Some months the income is small but it all ads up and it’s what gives me purpose and fills my retirement hours.

I confess that my writing keeps me from being bored. I’m never lonely.

Today’s Selfie

The selfie is from today.

My Daily Devotional Time

You might enjoy reading the morning devotion I used. It is at https://www1.cbn.com/devotions/names-of-christ-savior.

Where to Put Your Hope

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Developing Our Patience

Posted in Blog, Jim Kepler, Jimmie A. Kepler, Jimmie Aaron Kepler, Jimmie Kepler, Writing2 Comments

Developing Our Patience

If there’s one thing we all need to work on it is patience. If you’re a writer you need more patience than most because of the slow pace of the publishing industry.

We live our lives on the fast track with a microwave or Amazon Prime mentality. We want it now. To achieve our goals and fulfill our desires we rush and hurry. When they aren’t instantly satisfied we wait and worry. If we’re not careful, before we know it we can be out of control. There is another way. 

The word of God reveals to us the answer. Once we understand how God would have us to be patient, we will be much more productive in every area of our lives.

Proverbs 16:22 (KJV), “Understanding is a wellspring of life unto him that hath it: but the instruction of fools is folly.”

Four Ways Your Patience Is Tested

1. Interruptions

Matthew 19:13 – 15 (KJV), “Then were there brought unto him little children, that he should put his hands on them, and pray: and the disciples rebuked them. But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven. And he laid his hands on them, and departed thence.”

Sometimes there is a reason for an interruption. We need to see the bigger picture.

2. Inconveniences

Luke 10:40 – 42 (KJV), “But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me. And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.”

Sometimes we will suffer inconveniences. Again, we need to see the bigger picture.

3. Irritations

Judges 2:3 (KJV), “Therefore I also said, ‘I will not drive them out before you; but they will become as thorns in your sides and their gods will be a snare to you.’”

Yes, God allows irritations in our life. 

Remember, frogs eat anything that bugs them. 

4. Inactivity

Proverbs 19:2 (KJV), “Also, that the soul be without knowledge, it is not good; and he that hasteth with his feet sinneth.”

Let’s face it. We hate to wait. Sometimes, we do the wrong thing instead of waiting for God’s timing. Remember Sarah and Abraham and Hagar? (See Genesis 16)

How To Be a More Patient Person

1. Develop a new perspective.

Proverbs 19:11 (KJV), “The discretion of a man deferreth his anger; and it is his glory to pass over a transgression.”

2. Desire a sense of humor

Proverbs 17:22 (KJV), “A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.”

An unknown someone once said, “Laughter is the lotion for the sunburn of life.”

3. Deepen your love.

1 Corinthians 13:4 – 7 (ESV), “Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.”

4. Depend on the Lord

Isaiah 40:31 (KJV), “But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.”

The root of impatience is selfishness.

Image by Luna from Pixabay

Walk In A Manner Worthy Of Your Call To Write

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Walk in a Manner Worthy of Your Call to Write

Text: Ephesians 4: 1 – 6
Focus: Ephesians: 4: 1b – 3

Are you a Christian writer that writes inspirational fiction or devotions to encourage Believers in Jesus Christ? Maybe you are a writer whose drive is sharing Christian themes and principles for the mainstream market. Whatever your motivation, “walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called,” Ephesians 4:1b.

Ephesians 4:1-6 (English Standard Version) says,

I, therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call—one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

These verses give five principles that will help you: Walk In A Manner Worthy Of Your Call To Write

Humility

Principle One: Humility – “to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility” – Ephesians 4: 1b—2a

As a Christian writer, you should be full of Jesus, not self. The temptation is to be full of ourselves. When this happens, we are at risk of treating others with contempt. It should be about others, not ourselves.

Gentleness

Principle Two: Gentleness – “to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience,” Ephesians 4: 1b- 2a

As a Christian writer, you should be bold but under control. This does not mean to be a wimp. Just as a mighty racehorse is under the control of the jockey, as a Believer, we need to be under the control of the Spirit of the Living God. Share the love Jesus and his teachings without beating the reader over the head with the Holy Bible. Share how God’s Word is applicable to everyday living.

Patience

Principle Three: Patience – “to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience,” Ephesians 4: 1b- 2a

As a Christian writer, we need to trust God in believing His word would come true. We need to keep on keeping on. We need to accept the fact that it takes time to develop our writing craft.  “The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but wish patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.” — 2 Peter 3:9

It is better to have a limited audience and impact lives for Christ than to be a New York Times bestselling author and have no impact or testimony for Christ.

Forgiving Love

Principle Four: Forgiving Love – “to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love,” – Ephesians 4: 1b – 2.

As a Christian writer, we need to realize Christian love covers a multitude of sins. We should write with a respect that loves no matter what. We have all heard it said, “hate the sin, love the sinner.” That is precisely what we must do as writers. After all, as a Christian, you are, by grace saved through faith … it is the gift of God.  Ephesians 2:8-10

In Christ, we need to love people from where they are to faith and growth in Christ.

Unity of the Spirit in the Bond Of Peace

Principle Five: Unity of the Spirit in the Bond Of Peace – “eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” – Ephesians 4:3 English Standard Version

Principal five is the sum of points one through four. All four points equal a bond of peace. We are bearing one another in love. Our writing should share and bring people to Christ, not drive them from Christ. “There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call—one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.” – Ephesians 4:4-6 (English Standard Version).

We need to realize it is not a geographical or a denominational thing; it is a Jesus and a God thing.

Encourage your friends, keep reading and writing.
Jimmie A. Kepler

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Photo Source: Pixabay

This is an original devotion written by Jimmie A. Kepler on May 4, 2012, and edited on July 6, 2013, and August 26, 2018.