Thinking back on a past trip to Israel I am reminded of a situation which occurred. We had checked our luggage in at the Tel Aviv airport and had juggled the weight in our overly stuffed suitcases. I was careful to keep my receipts in tack for the ministry gifts and other items I had purchased and looked forward to my 17% refund on the taxes I spent. There was a special place in the airport I would turn my receipts in and the refund would be a help on my trip home. I was told it was after we went through security and I was ready! Looking for this office I was proud of myself that I was able to keep all my receipts together in one place! I stood in line for quite a while and finally it was my turn! After looking at my receipts he asked to see the items I was claiming. I explained that they were in my checked-in luggage. Denying the refund, he explained that there was another office before I checked in my luggage that I should have used. I was not happy with that decision and the patience I had been using while in line, wanted to leave me. I had counted on that refund and was not impressed with the rules! I finally resolved that I was "sowing" my 17% into Israel as an offering and then I was okay!
We flew from there to Jordan where we
encountered a series of intense security checks before we finally boarded the plane. Once settled for a while I decided to use the bathroom on board this aircraft. Everything is so compact in that little room and according to the airlines, the type of plane etc the toilet paper can be found in different places. Turning to look to my side I accidentally hit the flush button with my elbow. If you have ever used the restroom on a plane before you know that it sounds like everything in that tiny room is sucked outside the plane! Well, let me tell you that it feels that way also! I felt like I was hanging on for dear life as I envisioned myself being pulled through the toilet! I am sure the people in the seats outside the room wondered as they heard, "AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!!" Then I got the giggles as I realized how this sounded. I giggled the rest of the trip each time I thought of that experience which broke the tension from all the rules and security checks in Israel and Jordan we had just experienced. We must be able to laugh at ourselves and not let situations get the best of us!
James 1:2-3 tells us to "count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience." Oh, that's what I was learning! Then this passage continues in verse four, "But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing". So, if we embrace our situations and let patience work, it will complete us!
At
www.dictionary.com it describes "patience" in this way; "the quality of being patient, as the bearing of provocation, annoyance, misfortune, or pain, without complaint, loss of temper, irritation, or the like." Oh my, I had some more "completing" to do, though I finally did get to that point! This is our goal, that we so trust God in all that we do that we never lose our peace or pickup irritation! Look what we get when we do this. Not only are we perfected and complete but we will lack in NOTHING! Oh, my goodness! That's an amazing goal well worth the patience we are developing!
In the days we are living in, why are we surprised when stuff happens that could steal our joy? We have a choice to trust God and deliberately "count it joy" or give way to the irritation or misfortune and lose it! I want to "lack in nothing" in every way, don't you?
Don't flush joy!
Product link: Learn how Tamar embraced her situation and dealt with the shame that was tried to be put on her! In "
From Shame to Fame" DVD you will learn lessons that will encourage you as I act out the life of Tamar. There is anointing in this Hebraic month of
Nissan to tap into, and Tamar is an example. Through her union with Judah she brought forth kings in her lineage, including Jesus Christ! There is anointing to turn situations around this month, even the most hopeless! Filmed live!