But the fruit of the Spirit is
love
joy
peace
patience
kindness
goodness
faithfulness
gentleness
and self-control.
There is no law (Jewish Law) against such things.

The Lord has set us free so that we may enjoy the benefits of freedom.

So keep on standing firm in it, and stop putting yourselves under the yoke of slavery again. 

Blessed is the one who remains steadfast under trial.

James

Renew a steadfast spirit within me.

Psalm

Learning is not attained by chance; it must be sought for with diligence and ardor.

Abigail Adams

There is no barrier to success which diligence and perseverance cannot hurdle.

Oscar Micheaux

I have never had to face anything that could overwhelm the native optimism and stubborn perseverance I was blessed with.

Sonia Sotomayor

Be always humble, gentle, and patient. Show your love by being tolerant with one another.

Ephesians

Do not neglect the gift that is in you.

living water

I am made in the image of God, not your image of God.

Each and everyone of us has a different story.

Even the disciples of Jesus had a different story. They weren't all alike. They responded differently to how God made God's Self real in their lives.

Each of us is a story of God's Grace.

Some of us would even say. God's grace saved our lives literally.

We go into the world and we share those stories, because it is in the story of our lives that we are built up in our faith and in our experience.

And that's another cool thing my Senior Pastor told us.

PROGRAM LISTINGS & PROGRAM SCHEDULES

You've heard it said, patience is a virtue. Is that the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?

Do you also believe (or have you concluded) the statement, patience is a virtue, to be a biblical quotation - say - a fine declaration from the wise one or a prophet or Our Lord or the oft innocently (more often recklessly) misquoted and misapplied prodigious letter-writer, Paul?

Such an error would not automatically dismiss any value embeded in that statement. Would you agree? So what is patience, if we've established our subject on the surgeon's table - Love Is Patient - to be a wortthwile biblical truth, and if in fact a core value of the sweet life, the fruitful life, the joyful life, the well-earned life, the heavenly life, is LOVE?

What is patience? What does it mean? What is its intention?
{Clear Out The Cabinet - Pause - Reflect}

It might well be our predominant sense of patience is one of w a i t i n g, of not being in a hurry, of hanging out for a while - a very long while - that is, until we are accidentally bumped off that dusty ledge by this speedy little biblical encouragement: run with patience!

Ooops! This plot thickens. Humpty Dumpty sat on the wall. Humpty Dumpty had a great fall. Now how shall we put Humpty Dumpty back together again? Hmm? Is that even possible? I believe we can. Let's see.

Aha! The very word suggests a quality of being. It sugesss possession of a certain set of characteristics (namely: perseverence, diligence, even-temperedness, steadfastness, tolerance, quietness) that are unchanged even in the most trying of times, whatever those trials. Yes, its very meaning is in its language. No mystery at all. Look.

Do you notice a certain oft repeated 'something' missing from its characteristics? Let's take a second look. See?

Is there any value to this more enlightened quality of being?

Warning: Do not SIT on that ledge!

What have we learned?

If one must wait then wait patiently, not idly. PATIENCE does not mean waiting. Waiting does not mean PATIENCE. Yes, I know: it is not easy to escape from the slavery of false definitions draped with clanging chains and ringing symbols at every turn. But it CAN be done. Now that we have the key. It is up to us to remain rid of those limiting chains. We've been already set free. (In the presence of any doubt we encourage exploration of our Golgotha Series).

A UNIQUE ABSORPTION:

Love is patient. Patience is not a virtue; it is a complexity of virtues. Indeed! Love is . . . patient.

Being fully functional & wholly human!

Love is . . .

Ah, love!

Which is it for you - in this moment: a presence or a pursuit?

There is a difference, we've found, a difference I am suggesting is worthy of note.

We make note of that difference, lest in an unmindful laxity the joys of one sabotage the beauty of the other, or the sweetness of one overshadows the challenges of the other, and confusion reigns. The difference is huge.

I'd like to tell you a story. However, I'd rather wait and trust you will be patient with me while I share this lovely lullaby alongside a gentle reminder: eros - the 'lyric fuel of imagination' - can just as sweetly educate the mind as it does the body, both of which you and I are most wisely endowed. Would you agree?

Lullaby by W. H. Auden, 1907 - 1973

"Knowledge that takes you not beyond yourself is far worse than ignorance."
Elif Shafak.

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We Considered These

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You are

What a PRIVILEGE!