The Word Illustrated #59--Patience

The Word Illustrated #59
© Pamyla Floyd
9/4/2010
Revised from: Feb 28, 2002

Patience

And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also; knowing that tribulation worketh patience Romans 5:3

I can attest this scripture to be true. During times of tribulation, we have the added bonus of a more intimate relationship with the Lord. I had no other choice, but to sit at His feet while He worked with me, on me and thru me. As we go through, our patience is refined by way of the persecution, trials and tribulations of life.

How can we ever grow, develop and mature if we don't experience storms. No one likes going through, but even when all is breaking loose around us, we can find peace that surpasses all understanding through Jesus Christ. I Peter 5:7 says to cast ALL of our cares upon Him, for he cares for us. All means all! When we hold onto things that disturb our peace, our rest, our health we are not in the will of God. We MUST keep our eyes on the prize and press toward the high calling of Jesus Christ.

WE already know what we left behind, need we go back? Ok then, no more standing still. Life is not about yelling and screaming to get our way, or blowing up when we hear things we don't like. Impatience will show up as immaturity or disguise itself as abusive. It is not easy to detect and deal with, but what sweet victory when it is recognized and surrendered to our loving savior.

I had to learn to stop talking so much. Before I thought, I spoke. Patience meant nothing to me, it was just a word. I'm not proud of that part of me, but I am grateful that it is in my past now. Jesus helped me overcome the thing that was destroying my life, and all of my relationships along with it. There is life and death in the power of the tongue, and I used mine to cause death. I have to be honest about it. WE all have something or some things that need to be purged from our lives.

There comes a time in everyone’s life where some thing holds us captive in such a way, that it literally takes our breath away. We become afraid to breathe out. .WE are continually broken before the Lord and deliverance comes quickly if we acknowledge, release and allow the work to begin. When we are put in a position where all we can do is to cling tightly to those things we know to be true and sure, it is then that patience has a chance to have her good work in us.

Surrender now. It is still daylight and much life is left to be lived the right way.

God bless,
Pamyla

If you want to know how to ask Jesus into your heart, or need help in leading someone to Christ, please visit my Salvation page. If you want prayer or need help finding scriptures to stand on, please email me: thewordillustrated at yahoo dot com

Reference Scriptures:

And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me -- II Corinthians 12:9

My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;-- James 1:2

Note: The image is of a marionette doll with various tags hanging around her such as rent, car note, childcare etc

The Word Illlustrated #54--Volunteer Service

The Word Illustrated #54
© Pamyla Floyd
7/29/2010

Volunteer Service

With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men: -- Ephesians 6:7

Volunteer--a person who voluntarily undertakes or expresses a willingness to undertake a service

About 3 years ago, I was praying and searching for a new church home. I’ve always been a volunteer at heart, and really wanted to get back into God’s service. My prayers were answered when the Lord sent me to Amazing Grace Church. In that place, He gave me all that I asked for and more.

I spoke with a friend who I highly regarded in the faith, and excitedly told her what happened to me. Her reaction stunned me. She said “Sister So and So said to sit down for a year and watch, before you get involved and worn out”. I realized then, that she had only talked about serving God, instead of actually doing it.

I’m not speaking on this to put anyone down, (I let her know that she was given the wrong advice). My point is that service to God is never wrong. It is unequalled to anything you or I will ever do in the service of man. If you are worried about waht you do, or what others will say, please know that you have been played by satan. Check your motives. Do you want to be seen by others for praise or are you thankful to the Lord for what He has done and want to bless Him back? You can NEVER out give God. The interest He pays far exceeds any other return!

I am thankful to be in a place, where the pastors encourage us to use our gifts and talents to honor God. My personal and spiritual growth has been accelerated since giving my whole heart to serving the Lord. You don’t have to pray about this, it is God’s will that we serve Him. It’s time to get off the pew, stop complaining, get in there, and do what we do best.

WE are all born with different talents, gifts and abilities, and even those we used in the world, can be turned around and used for the glory of God. How can you bless the Lord today? Be willing to allow Him to use you, you won’t regret it. Infact, you will wonder why you didn’t do so sooner.

God bless,
Pamyla

If you want to know how to ask Jesus into your heart, or want help in leading someone to Christ, please visit my Salvation page. If you want prayer or need help finding scriptures to stand on, please email me: thewordillustrated at yahoo dot com

Reference Scriptures:

Proverbs 16:7 – When a man's ways please the LORD, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him

I Peter 4:19 -- Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator

Note: The illustration is of a hand raised up. It symbolizes a hand raised and ready for service

The Word Illustrated #42--Dust off your gifts

The Word Illustrated #42
© Pamyla Floyd
5/3/2010

Dust off your gifts

A man's gift maketh room for him, and bringeth him before great men – Proverbs 18:16
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During these both rough and uncertain times, many of us are facing economic hardships that we might not otherwise have had to deal with. Even more of us however, have gifts that we have pushed deep into the back of the closet. They were probably not used in the areas we earned our living in. Some of us were told that we could never make a living do the very thing that we loved, and would do, for exactly nothing!

These are the gifts that I am speaking of, those we might not have even cared much for, but were good at. These could be the very things that God uses to bring us out of our personal economic depression. Reach back into the closet and dust off your gifts. They are needed now more than ever! If we ask, our Heavenly Father will show us a way to use them even now. Yield yourself to His Holy Spirit and He will show you the steps to take.

Some of us clean, sew, cook, repair, listen, teach well, among other things. Many times our gifts were laid aside because the income did not follow. I emplore to look again at the thing or things you put down. Ok, the income may not have followed before, but you are a new creature, with a different mindset. If the love is in the work, it will be noticed and the income will abundantly flow.

Take time to think about and be honest with yourself about the things you may not have necessarily cared for, but that you are good at. Go before the Lord in prayer, and go on from there. You never know which door is standing wide open waiting for only you to walk through it! Jesus promised a more abundant life, it is up to us to grab hold and possess it!

God bless,
Pamyla

If you want to know how to ask Jesus into your heart, or want help in leading someone to Christ, please visit my Salvation page. If you want prayer or need help finding scriptures to stand on, please email me: thewordillustrated at yahoo dot com

Reference Scriptures:
Proverbs 8:12—I wisdom dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of witty inventions

II Chronicles 15:7—Be ye strong therefore, and let not your hands be weak: for your work shall be rewarded

Note: The illustration above is of a woman in thought, thinking about the gifts that she has laid aside.