How do I express Love as Patience?

I got so inspired after I heard a podcast from Bethel and so led me to do a word study on Patience, using some resources from Skip Moen's. I'll try my best to express this in a more understandable way compared to my cluttered, random thoughts. :) My heart is to inspire you too, as this revelation has gripped my heart.

Patience, generally means self-control, and there's heaps of scriptures on this but focus on God as patient! 

MAKROTHUMEO, comes from two old Greek nouns - makros meaning 'LONG' (i.e. an extended temporal duration); and thumos meaning 'PASSION'. 

We might think this  means love has a passion that lasts. That seems very nice, the kind of thing we  like to hear quoted at weddings . We generally see patience as something that we do, by obligation or commitment. To be patient is to take active steps that overcome our natural response of self-protection, defense or revenge.

But this certain word chosen by Paul has a different context. In the Bible, Makrothumia focuses our attention to God, not on our behaviour. It is God's POSTPONEMENT of JUDGEMENT, always with a view toward repentance. Once we understand that God has postponed the judgement we deserved, we are also required to postpone our judgement of others. PATIENCE BECOMES A NECESSARY QUALITY OF SERVICE TO GOD. The obligations of HESED* require that we exercise the same quality of makrothumia towards others that God demonstrated towards us. In other words, you can't be a follower of the King and have a short temper.

*HESED, in Hebrew, when used of human relationships, means union & loyalty as in the context of marriage. When used to express God's interaction with man, means God's faithfulness to His covenant and the blessings & mercies He shows.

God is the God of Romans 15:5 "Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus..." God is love; and love is patient (1 Corinthians 13:4). How do I express love as patience? I LEAVE THINGS UP TO GOD. Patience puts all of the circumstances of life in God's hands, expressing that God WILL act as a divine judge. It does not demand repentance as a condition of performance but rather shows the GIFT of GRACE as a worship response to the pardon we receive from God. It always allows a space of repentance. I used to think, and maybe others thought too, that it wasn't necessary to forgive until that person demonstrated a willingness to change. I was wrong. Once we accept God's HESED, we incur the obligation regardless of the other's action. I can release forgiveness regardless of how willing one is to change.

The theological sense of makrothumia is both active and passive. It is active in the sense that I deliberately choose to wait no matter how long it takes. This is active spiritual obedience. It is challenging. I decide to behave like God. But "love is patient" does not mean active endurance as though I am called to exercise my mental and emotional muscles to attain that higher place of ethical action. Biblical makrothumia is not the Greek idea of gritting my teeth and white-knuckling through life. Makrothumia is active in relation to God's call, but it is passive in relation to the demands of others. If I am modelling God's character, I wait. 

If I truly believe that God is love and His love is mighty, I trust that whatever I leave in His hands is ultimately in His hands, and within His power to affect. 'Love is patient' is another glorious way of saying that I am NOT in control, that my world is NOT up to me. Now, hear me in this, He is not a control freak that I can't decide on my own. Free will is the greatest risk He has given us.

Patience (makrothumia) is NOT self control. It is not biting my tongue, enduring attacks, holding back my desires, restraining my self defense. PATIENCE IS GIVING UP MY LIFE TO GOD NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS TO ME. Love as patience means that I turn it over to God and wait, just like He waited for me, just like He withheld judgement from me.

If your love is patient, you wait - because God waited , that is enough.

Called to Love - a song and and a prayer

    Dear Heavenly Father,

Your love is like a river 

         flowing down on me

It flows with might and power 

         causing me to live

You called me into love 

... that I can’t do without

You crowned me with Your grace 

... I don’t deserve

You took my ashes away,

    adorned me with Your beauty.

As if it wasn’t enough that...

You took my “old self” with you;

    got nailed on the Cross,

And rose to life that I may live 

... to live Your life to the Full!!!

from an overwhelmed heart full of joy,

forever grateful for Your ...

     illegal, ridiculous, overflowing 

               GOODNESS!

I love You completely, 

               I am Yours!
Your precious daughter
Mary

series of waterfalls taken by my cousin, who loves trekking in Ilocos Norte, Philippines

an unforgotten post

Hi y'all! I just noticed I've forgotten to post this. I wrote it on 03.03.11. For some reason, I felt it's worth posting it anyhow, better late than never as they say. :) ENJOY!!!!

UPHOLD - definition according to KJV dictionary

• to lift on high; to elevate
• to support; to sustain; to keep from falling or slipping
• to keep from declension
• to support in any state
• to continue; to maintain
• to keep from being lost
• to continue without falling
• to continue in being

I have been pondering on the meanings of this word and yesterday, I believe it was the Spirit of God that gave a fresh meaning to me, in a way that I´d understand. Why I am sharing this, is beyond me. All I wanted to do is share to whoever is going through a time of so-called "dry" moment or for some "silent times".... You know, when you feel or think that nothing is happening, or you feel like you´re not hearing from God... that kind of thing.

You know when you come to a point of realisation that you may have been driven by great enthusiasm, and passion to see things done, and then you do things without thinking? Then you wonder why things aren´t going the way you expect them to happen. The next thing you know, is that you get restless, trying to pinpoint why, and still the answer eludes you. Yes, I have been through that just recently, and it takes humility and soft heart to admit I´ve ran too fast without considering what might happen next.

Thereby, the word UPHOLD takes a new meaning to me. The more I have reason to thank God for His grace and mercy. He has kept my feet from slipping. He knew I did not want to sow seeds in a long, dry ground. He wanted me to throw seeds on a tilled, fertile and ready ground to receive the seeds. He wanted me to be in a place strategically at the right time.

Digging up Treasures

with Jenni at Höga Kusten, Sweden

Before I head on to my four-month adventure in Sweden, I believe God showed me a golden shovel to uncover an ancient well in this country, which may not be a literal well. Several days before I got on a 2000 km-drive to Sweden, I was down in Helsinki being prayed for by my Finnish friends. One got an impression that I'm stepping into a fresh start - a discovery of treasures in peoples' lives. I shared that I was going to a conference up in Lapland, and from there drive over to the Swedish Lapland down to Gothenburg. All of us agreed that it was a significant trip; as if bridging two nations and helping heal the rift between Sweden and Finland. However that looks like, I thought it was wonderful and I'm so humbled to be part of it.

I had a month time to help my co-leader prepare for the School of Worship, but before that, I joined a YWAM event for Northern Europe Leaders. I thought the theme of the event (EXPAND) was so neat because it was something I felt God has been showing me. More stories on this later. :)

my notes at the gathering

The last four months had been pretty intense so I will be sharing just a few highlights 
of the highlights. Here we go....

A few days before the school started, I was at the end of my patience and really frustrated for not having a decent computer to work on. I was anxious because the student manual was not even printed out. Meanwhile, little did I know, there was an email waiting for me to read that someone wanted to bless me a brand new laptop, and that I could pick my choice! So right now, I'm writing this update from a macbook air, isn't that cool?!

one of the multicultural worship times

There were 12 of us in the school coming from 9 different nations - Philippines, UK, Brazil, South Korea, France, Japan, Latvia, Cameroon, and Colombia. The fact that we come from different backgrounds was already a huge blessing! Yes, we had challenges but come on, this does not happen everyday does it? One time, I was looking around the room and felt God's heart for each of of my team, and I thought, "how can I not love these people"? They're just too wonderful to get to know! As I peer into their lives, I saw God in different angles. B-E-A-U-tiful!!!

"Coffee with Jesus" fundraising

We did some fundraising for the school fees but it wasn't enough to cover all the cost. At one specific week, one of our guest speakers shared about expressing our worship through giving. Each one gave not just in the form of money but others gave their time to get to know each other, time to teach others of their musical skills, and more. Ask of me, among other things I was prompted to give, I felt to give God the time I'm most active and alive - to have a date with Him an hour or two before I go to bed, instead of spending it over internet or other stuff. It was really good.

We had a weekend in Stockholm. We joined this yearly event called "Jesusmanifestation" hosted by various local churches and YWAM Stockholm. I can't recall how many thousands of people were gathered there, for Jesus to reign in this nation, but I will always remember this Jewish woman who just came to know the Messiah. All I did was smile at her and she came to talk to us. And the next thing that happened was her opening her life up and we ended up blessing each other.


We also had a 24-hour worship time, where everyone was welcomed to join. My team and I agreed that God came with His tangible Presence that week and stirred things up, reconciled hearts, renewed peoples' vision & dreams, more than that, He was glorified. I've heard feedbacks from others that God touched them in the areas they needed Him to come do His work. I believe this school was one significant thing that happened this season for Restenäs. 

Ingelin, my housemate

Sam, me & Monica

Friendship and special connections - these were two other reasons that made me so emotional to leave Sweden. It was a great privilege to get to know the people in the house I shared with. I've gotten more creative in my culinary skills, I must say! But really, 20 minutes before I had to leave for the airport, I was crying my eyes out with my housemates - not because we may not see each other again, but for the reason that we'll miss each other's company. An expression of how we've gotten along well together, more than the meals shared but our lives. The girl on the right, Ingelin, became a very dear friend to me. We both found a sister from each other. I went with her to Germany and Prague. She has blessed me so much, and took me to Oslo for my birthday. 

taken during the spring party

Yes, my friends I'm overwhelmed with God's goodness. These are just a few of the treasures I've dug up in Sweden. Thank you for taking the time to read and share the goodness I've received from God. Blessings to you all! Until then!!!