Patience

Today I have decide that I am going to conquer my iPod challenges.  I need to stop relying on Pastor Rob to load his music on it for me.  It is time that I learn how to load my own music, create play lists and become friends with iTunes and my iPod.   

When I first got my iPod, I loaded it with the heavy metal music I listened to back in the day.  I could barely get the music on it and that alone was a frustrating adventure for me.  This was a couple computer crashes ago.  Since then I have stopped listening to secular music and only listen to music that glorifies God.  If a song doesn't glorify Him then it doesn't keep me in the proper mind-set that I need to be in, it doesn't get put on my iPod.  

It has taken awhile however I have acquired good Godly music and have built a little collection.  I have the music from all the cd's loaded onto my computer.  I am sitting here going through each song one by one to weed out the ones that annoy me, don't glorify God, and the ones that don't line up with the word of God.  I am discovery the hard truth that just because it is labeled "Christian" on the cd doesn't mean it speaks God's truth. 

This is a task that I have avoided for years due to all the work it is going to take.  There are a lot of songs!  I don't know songs by their titles so I have to really listen to each one to know if it makes the cut or not.  This is not a job that can be done in an afternoon, it is going to take real work.  Once all the ground work is done, it will be easier to maintain when new music is acquired.   At least that is the plan.

These words/statements keep popping into my mind

• Commitment
• Discipline 
• Staying Focused
• Intentional
• If it is going to be, it is up to me
• Investment
• Opportunity

These are the same words/phrases that Pastor Ruth was telling the mentoring academy yesterday.  Hmmm

This whole experience has me thinking about how I wouldn't take classes because of the prerequisites.  For example In order to take web design, I had to have a couple other classes under my belt.  I'm not trying to get a degree, I only wanted to take the web design to help my church and boss with their websites.  By the time I get through the first prereq class they will have hired someone to do it for them.  Nope not worth it, not doing it.

Then I wanted to take a creative writing class, the list of prerequisites for that one had me near tears.  It would be almost 3-4 years before I ever got to sign up for the actual creative writing class.   Frustrated but this time through God I saw that the other classes were needed as a foundation for the creative writing.  Plus this was for my calling, my destiny.  (breathing)

Instant gratification, I want what I want, and I want it now!!!  That realization has me sitting here feeling like a 2-year old.  Is that really me?  Has this always been me?  

I know if there is something I don't know how to do, or want to do it, I will pay someone who does - to do it for me.   That is the American way, right?

However when it is something that I "want" to learn how to do and I am sitting here frustrated at all the work that it takes to get to the fun part, it has me stopping to think am I really this impatient?  I know I am praying over the lack of patience that I have with people who annoy me but am I overall impatient?

I have been watching Joyce Meyers and she was teaching about walking in the fruit of the spirit and how everyday we are to wake up and say:

"I have the fruit of the Holy Spirit in me, and I am working with the Holy Spirit to develop that fruit every day.  Every day I am growing in the fruit of the spirit.

I walk in Love
I walk in Joy
I walk in Peace
I walk in Patience
I walk in Kindness
I walk in Goodness
I walk in Faithfulness
I walk in Gentleness
I walk in Self Control
I am a self-controlled person.  I can control myself because God gave me everything I need for this life.  AMEN!"

God still has a lot to work to do in me.  At least now I am aware of what I need to pray over, not to mention that I need to be willing and obedient to work on it with Him.  Amen!  Can't do it on my own, I need the Holy Spirit to work in me, mold me, and shape me into the person that I am to be.

The things worth having in this life require work and effort on our part, or we truly don't appreciate them.

Just to think all this started over wanting a worship playlist on my iPod.  Isn't God great, I love Him!!!

Until next time, God Bless!!!