Tag: God

Personal

The Lucky One

  • by Caleb U

If you keep up on our blog posts, I hope you feel like you have a glimpse into Kendall and I’s lives. I know she loves writing. As she writes more and more, not only do they get better, but you can also see her heart behind her words. You get a glimpse into what is happening in our lives at that moment, not just a topic we wanted to study.

I get the honor of reading and helping Kendall edit some of her posts before they are officially published, and I am amazed. If this blog is nothing more than a journal for us, it’s important to note: I am the lucky one.

We started out at a distance, finally made it to the same place, are now preparing for a wedding and life together. We are learning what the “real world” looks like (as all the old folks say). We are setting out to become our own. We have so many questions and try to spend a large chunk of time figuring out what is right or best for us. From insurance and phone carriers to what state do we live in and how much should we spend on rent.

I am The Lucky One. As we work to discover what God has for us, I am continually amazed by Kendall. She knows exactly what I need to hear and how to break things down for me. Life can seem overwhelming with all of these ideas weighing us down, where do we even begin. How do we figure all this out but also try and slow down (Like we talk about in this post)? Kendall has a way to slow the world down and make it feel like it doesn’t all need to be figured out.

I am The Lucky One. Kendall is such a hard worker. While we feel inadequate and fearful of life’s expenses, Kendall’s character continues to shine. She decided the best thing she could possibly do was to work 3 weeks straight with no off days… several of those days were over 8 hours long. While this is too much and she needs rest, the heart behind it and her willingness is amazing.

I am The Lucky One. As we create the life that we want to live and define the things that are important to us for the future, we continuously learn. Somehow, someway, Kendall is able to learn about things (things like rest, photography, sustainability, you name it) in a ridiculously quick amount of time. And not just the basics, she dives in and sees what God says, how to practice or do these things, then she lives them out like a total #boss.

A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies. Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value. She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life.

Proverbs 31: 10 – 12

I am The Lucky One. There are so many reasons I might go into one day. But for now just know this: I made a detailed list of what I want in a wife a while back, and I mean very detailed, and she checks off every box. Not just a little check, but a big, fat, green one.

Thank you Kendall Lexia for choosing to be mine and giving me the honor of being by your side for the rest of life. I love you most.

Religion

Are You Patient

As Christians, a priority in our lives should be having a life full of love. From loving our spouse to loving our enemies, we have been commanded to love. But what is love really? How can we truly know when everybody seems to have their own ways of showing it or defining it? The Bible is the greatest love story ever told. By looking in the Word, there is clear insight to the idea of love. God is love and has given us a perfect example of what love looks like through His son Jesus! If we make up our own definitions of “Love”, we are also making up our own version of who God is. That is obviously not right. Taking a look at 1 Corinthians, the characteristics of love are actually spelled out for us! 

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails” 1 Corinthians 13:4-8

The Virtue of Patience

Could you define the word “Patient” if I asked you, without giving an example? In today’s world, the word “Patient” is an adjective (meaning it describes something). It is defined as “able to accept or tolerate delays, problems, or suffering without becoming annoyed or anxious”. However… that is what the world tells us today, but not what the Bible says about love and not in that time. In 1 Corinthians 13:4, the word “Patient” is a verb (an action word, a call to action). The Greek word for “Patient” here is “makrothumeó” and it means both “to persevere, to be patient”. To me, this is intriguing for a couple reasons.

  1. To be patient and persevere in our patience is a call to action (rather than just a description of who we should be)
  2. When we define Love with 1 Corinthians, Love is both patient (verse 4) and it perseveres (verse 8). Defining Patient in this verse’s context means the exact same thing. When we are practicing patience, we are loving and practicing love. 

Are you Patient? When the lines at the grocery store are long. When you were ready to go 20 minutes ago but are still waiting on your loved ones. When you are doing the dishes but people keep bringing you more. When the light turns green but the person in front of you is on their phone. When that child screams nonstop for no apparent reason. When you want something to change about your significant other but no matter what, they just don’t change.

If love is Patient but we are not, how could we possibly love to the best of our abilities?

Love “always perseveres” and love “is Patient”. While the scenarios above might test our patience at times, it is something we can always work on and strive to persevere in. 

How to Gain Patience

  1. Keep in Step with Spirit 

Before Jesus was arrested and taken to Golgotha to hang on a cross for our sins, Jesus and his disciples shared the Last Supper. Here, Jesus told his disciples he is going to send an advocate to be with us… the Holy Spirit (John 14). Just before Jesus’ ascension (after his death and resurrection) the disciples received the Holy Spirit. Shortly after that event, at the Pentecost, all believers received the Holy Spirit. To this day, we still have the Holy Spirit with us to comfort, encourage, advocate, and help!  If we walk with the Spirit and “keep in step” (Galatians 5) we learn to bear the fruit of the spirit. One of these fruits is Patience. As we keep in step and learn to live more like Jesus, we become more like him.

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience…” Galatians 5:22. 

  1. Find Joy In The Wait

While we wait patiently, it can be helpful if the waiting period seems to have a purpose. Whether you are waiting for the car in front of you to start driving or you’re waiting to hear back from the doctor. Work your wait. In all circumstances, seek out an opportunity to learn and grow in your wisdom and your relationship with God. In all circumstances, He has already saved you because His love for you is so great. He loves hearing from you, why not pray and spend that time with Him. Do something beneficial while you wait and find joy in the God that is willing to die for you. 

“The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him” Lamentations 3:25

  1. Look to the Son

We have been given an advocate through the Holy Spirit, yes. We also have a 66 book love letter (the Bible) that is an example to us. God sent us His son, Jesus, and we have records of how to love and how to be patient because of His Example. With crowds following Jesus everywhere he went and disciples that seem to never learn or understand, Jesus is clearly a professional at patience. Much like keeping in step with the Spirit, spend time in the Word learning. How can you be more like Jesus today? How can you be more patient today?

“The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you,  not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance” 2 Peter 3:9