What Are You Waiting For....and How Long Have You Been Waiting?

Psalm 119:74(MSG)
When they see me waiting, expecting Your Word, those who fear You will take heart and be glad.

Don't Give Up!  Wait on Him!

Waiting.  It's so difficult isn't it?  Webster's dictionary defines waiting in this way:  The act of "remaining" until something expected happens.  I pondered this idea last week, as I found myself sitting in a "waiting" room at our local hospital while my sweet mother was in the operating room having her hip replaced.  Yes, our family was gathered there in anticipation for a successful surgery without incident...and...to God be the glory, within a few short hours, we had exactly that.  But, what if the thing you are waiting on in your life doesn't happen quite according to your planned timeline?  What then?  
In church this past Sunday, our Pastor preached on this very subject.  (If you would like to hear this particular message in it's entirety, feel free to  click here.)  It was the third message in the Noah Series by  Pastor John Lindell entitled: God's Grace In A Deadly Place.

I always find it so interesting that each person can hear the same message and The Lord, through His gracious Holy Spirit, will illuminate exactly what you need to hear for that season in your life.  For me, the takeaway was simple.  First, I was reassured that sometimes we might have to wait a lot longer for something we have been praying for than we had anticipated.  Secondly, I was reminded that how we "wait" really does matter, because other people are watching us "wait", as today's verse mentions..."When they see me waiting, expecting Your Word, those who fear you will take heart and be glad."  

Noah was a great example of a man who had heard from the Lord and obeyed.  He built an ark for safety from the destructive flood precisely according to the directions given from God.  Did it take Noah longer to build it than he expected it to?  I'm pretty sure it must have, sense it took him anywhere from 55-120 years, depending on what theological reference you choose.  Either way, that is a very loooonnnnggg time for a project to be completed!  And then, after boarding the Ark, Noah didn't disembark for a total 375 days!!  What?!  God said 40 days of rain, so, if I had been Noah, I would have thought, 40 days of rain and then we get off of the boat.  But, alas, it did not happen that way.  I'm pretty sure that on day 41, I probably would have been questioning God, whining about my "stinking situation" (as Pastor John described it), and trying to rework a better plan, but not Noah!  

No, Noah was not wailing.  Instead he was worshipping!  He chose not to move out of the boat until he had heard from the Lord!  After the rain stopped, minutes drug on into days....days into weeks...weeks into months...but Noah still remained...expecting God's word to direct him.  When they finally did walk out of that boat, I'm pretty sure that his wife, son's and their wife's were thrilled that Noah was so faithful!  They learned from their husband, father, and father-in-law what it truly looked like to be patient and filled with trust to a loving God.  When it was all said and done, I know they were glad they waited with Noah.  Whoa...talk about leaving an amazing legacy!  

So, I guess I just want to encourage someone who might be reading this today, as I was encouraged, that you need not give up!  Whatever you have heard from the Lord, through His word for your life, it will definitely come to pass!  You can count on Him!!  If He said it...it will happen.  And, if you are still waiting to hear from Him for direction and leading, He will respond.  In our present world order where "high speed" is better and slow is bad, it is difficult to imagine having to "wait" on anything.  However, His timing is not always easily understood.  Wait on Him...and worship while you're waiting!!  God is definitely up to something good!! 

God,
I am so encouraged by the faithfulness of Noah in this season of His life.  His story teaches me so much about persevering through difficult situations and trusting that You are NEVER early or late!  It helps me to be mindful that you are not a God of disorder...but a God of peace (I Corinthians 14:33) and that You have established an order for each life You have created!  What a gift!!  
May Your name be exalted in all the earth~
Amen

 

His Plan For You

Psalm 119:61(MSG)
The wicked hemmed me in--there was no way out--but not for a minute did I forget Your plan for me.

Never forget God's plan for your life.  He has promised you a future.  He has assigned you a task, or perhaps many of them, here on earth and then upon completion of those assignments, He has a room waiting just for you!  I sure don't want to miss that! 

This verse sounds rather hopeless in the beginning, but it's ending assures me that I am destined for great things here on earth and in heaven!  As we head into this week leading up to Easter, I can't think of a better time to remember His plan of salvation for you!  Jesus lays it all out for us in the following verses shortly before He departs this world.  In my darkest hours.....when it seems there is no way out....I pray that I will not forget the plan that Jesus has for my life.  If you are reading these words right now, please know that I have prayed the same for you.

John 14:1-6(MSG)
"Don't let this throw you.  You trust God, don't you?  Trust me.  There is plenty of room for you in my Father's home.  If that weren't so, would I have told you that I'm on my way to get a room ready for you?  And if I'm on my way to get your room ready, I'll come back and get you so you can live where I live.  And you already know the road I'm taking."  Thomas said, "Master, we have no idea where you're going.  How do You expect us to know the road?"  Jesus said, "I am the Road, also the Truth, also the Life.  No one gets to the Father apart from me.

Father,
Thank you for the gift of Your son!  Help us to remember that You are always with us...that You will not leave us or forsake us...and that Your plan for our life is perfect.  Empower us with wisdom and strength to walk in Your ways with grace and love.
In Christ's Name,
Amen

Don't Budge

Psalm 119:51 (MSG)
The insolent ridicule me without mercy, but I don't budge from Your revelation.



Covered foot bridge in Pennsylvania.

I'm on a "bridge" obsession right now.  I love them!  They fascinate me.  Pretty much everything about them.  This one to the right is in Pennsylvania.  It's actually a foot bridge we crossed over while hiking there last summer.  I can almost feel the cool water as it ripples down stream.  If I concentrate hard enough, I can hear the gentle water as it rushes over the rocks and slides through the overhanging brush.  Listen.  Did you hear it?

Listening is hard isn't?  Especially when all you can hear is silence.  For instance, when you have prayed and prayed for something that you are sure is in God's will to deliver and yet He remains quiet.  What do you do with that?

Give up asking?  Turn to something else for answers?  Become bitter and angry?  Nope!  As a child of the King, that is not an option!  It is at this very point of silence that we do exactly what this verse says tonight.  We stand firm in Him and  we "...don't budge from His revelation!"  If you need encouragement tonight, hold tight to the Words that He has given You in His Word.  They are true morsels of the goodness of His love for you. 

My favorite woman of faith, Corrie Ten Boom, was quoted as saying,
 "In darkness God's truth shines most clear.” 

Most High God,

Thank You for revealing Yourself to us through the revelations You provide in Your Word. Help us to cling to those truths and allow them to light our path while we walk in dark places. 

In Christ's Name,
Amen  

 

Wonderful Works

Psalm 139:14(NIV)


Beauty in the mountains!

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;  your works are wonderful, I know that full well.

Nothing like a good nature walk to remind me of the creativity of the Creator!  His works are incomparable to anything that we could come up with on our own, that is for sure.  Strolling through the woods and marshes this past week allowed me to take it all in.  The smells, sounds, the feel of the warm gentle breeze, and sights were a real treat to experience.  

I'm going to keep my eyes open this week for more of His works.  I will be traveling to Joplin tomorrow to work in the clean up effort there.  The goal is to prayerfully deliver hope through action to those who most certainly must feel overwhelmed and exhausted.  I know that it will be challenging to see the destruction and loss that these people are experiencing, but I believe that through the power of Christ and the perseverance of each one of us doing what we can to help, they will overcome!

Praying for the people of Joplin and once again praising God for the miracles that have taken place there.