Gracious

                                                               

                      The word of the lord came to me:...
                                                               Ezekiel 12:1

                   He watched as his children went about doing their own business.  Always thoughtful, the father would follow his sons and daughters sending them personal messages of love and caring.  They would noticed but for a moment and turn away with a cold shoulder. Some of them would ignore it altogether. He was not desperate, just patient. Neighbors would scold him and tell the father to mind his own business. 
                 " Let them live their lives as they please." They would sneer.


                The father knew. With a deeper knowledge and pain he knew that he had to do this. He found someone...one of his children who loved him and listened obediently.  

                He gave him messages to tell the other children. Instructions of discipline; fear of what could and would come if they did not turn from their deeds of destruction and selfishness. He also shared with him to tell them the hope that they can have if they go back to him and be back in relationship with him.

                 " Son of man, you are living among a rebellious people. They have eyes to see but do not see and ears to hear but do not hear, for they are a rebellious people..."
                                                                                                       Ezekiel 12:2

                         More love then we can take   
                 
                   That story I told you is about us. And like the people during the past, too. Pretty much during all of history.  But do you notice? Through the story the father, God our Father, is always loving. Even when he's angry. Because his anger is just, clear, and true.  God has every right to discipline us. He can clearly see everything we do that's against him. 

                  Now get this. God is patient. Yeah I know...I've heard that before. You're probably thinking. Have you ever thought of how patient? God is so patient that he could easily give us  thunder and lighting words in the sky clearly telling us to turn back or else. No... he actually chooses a man who has to digest what he's telling him (which could take hours or days) then wait patiently for the man to gather his wits and spread the news. God usually gave the messenger a couple months or years so the people could have a chance to take it in, turn to God, and repent.  Now how much more patient can you get then that?!


           For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing;it is the gift of God,
               Ephesians 2:8

                 That to me is almost overwhelming. God loves me and you that much that he gave us the gift of eternal life freely!!  Just like God choosing men to spread his message.  He sent his son down and Jesus became fully man while being God.  Jesus and God were patient beyond my understanding.  Jesus could have come down as a fully grown man and got the job done faster.  He literally took the time to grow inside Mary like a baby and grow up like us.

                 The picture I have above was from last year. A neighbor girl and I teamed up to create three bake sales in three months so that money could go into buying Christmas gifts for her family.  I do admit there were times when I could have been like,
                " Give me the spoon,  I would have been done with this by now! It's late and I want to eat dinner!!"
                 God definitely gave me the patients and grace to live in the moment with her and enjoy her company.

                  God wants to enjoy each moment with us and he wants us to live in the moment with him.  Give your time to him today.  Ask God to wash you with his grace and patients so you can share that with others.