Here's what I love: anticipation. Here's what I hate: my own impatience.

Here's what I love: Our new church home (Fellowship Bible Church) has such deep biblical teaching! Listen to this quote from our pastor: "Every wait in your life is a pregnancy birthing something in your soul for your good and for His glory." Woah. I was going to say "HWIH: waiting" until I realized how important and wonderful waiting is. That's right. Every time we have to wait, it's a gift. (Feels debatable, I know.) This quote about waiting, of course, has to do with Christmas. Mary was pregnant. You have to wait when you are pregnant. (Incase you didn't know, they have not figured out a way to have a faster pregnancy--5 minutes, bing! you're done! No.) You get to wait--for that perfectly formed little baby. My girls are getting excited about Christmas. Once some presents appear, it's going to be a bit more difficult for them to wait until Christmas day to open them. Why can't we have it NOW? I'd never thought about how waiting is a chance to build faith. Our pastor told us how there had been 400 years of silence before baby Jesus came on the seen--and yet, people remembered God's promise. They believed that He would come through. For 400 years people continued to pass down the teachings of God--they told their children to tell their children that God had made a promise to send a Messiah to save them. And without a word from the Lord for 400 years, these people believed that it would happen. Their faith was rock solid. I mean, I have difficulty waiting ten minutes for something. But, when we are waiting (and believing) our faith grows. When God gives us a wait--He gives us an opportunity to continue to trust Him.

Here's what I hate: I am ridiculously impatient. If I ask my daughter to get her shoes on and they're not on her feet in about 60 seconds I freak out. "Did you hear me!?" "Get. Your. Shoes. On!" Impatience is a huge indicator of selfishness. I want this. I want that. I want it now. I cannot be justified when I get upset about waiting because patience is one of the fruits of the Spirit--so, when I can't manage to be patient, what is that saying about my spirit?? It's all pretty ugly when I take a good look at it. Fortunatley, (oh the grace!) God is patient with me. He waits for me to see my ugly selfishness and ask for His forgiveness and help. Then, He helps. He always comes through--even if it doesn't seem fast enough for me.