The past few months have been kind of rough for my family. Some of you know the details, other's don't but are still praying. For both sets of people, I am thankful. Not every day is bad, but everyday is uptight with the thought of what might occur within that day to send everything spiraling down again.
I am learning to trust. Looking back on some posts from last summer I realize that what God was teaching me during that time was simply a stepping stone for the trusting, waiting and obedience that would be required of me just a year later.
Last night was another long night. At times I am not sure what awakens me at 3 am, but I have learned like Samuel of old to say "Speak, for your servant is listening." It has taken me a while to get to this point as I did not have one as wise as Eli to instruct me to do so.
I am learning in these wee hours of the morning to pray. I am learning to pray scripture, to ask for miracles, to boldly come before the throne, to be sensitive to a dream that I might just have awakened from and to lift people and their known struggles very specifically to the Father, to pray for myself and seek His face.
Today I am weary. Not just becuase I have been up since 4 am, but I am weary of the lies that the enemy tells that we so easily believe, and in so believing hurt ourselves and those around us. Our lives can be so futile, a deep rut of running after what we think is the best for us, when all it takes for pure joy is stopping, taking a breath and saying "God, what do You want for me."
This morning after a long night of tossing and turning, reading, kneeling, and seeking, God brought to mind (and to my playlist)one of my very favorite songs sung by the Gaither Vocal Band, the lyrics are listed below. It describes in picture perfect rhyme my life and the lives of several I know right now that are just pursuing the dust and lonely winds of this world, and ends with a promise so simple and true "Just Jesus ONLY will NEVER fail!" Praise His Name!
I'll worship only at the feet of Jesus
GVB
I went to visit the shrine of plenty,
But found its store-rooms all filled with dust,
I bowed at alters of gold and silver,
But as I knelt there they turned to rust.
So I'll worship only at the feet of Jesus,
His cup alone, my holy grail,
There'll be no other gods before Him,
Just Jesus only will never fail.
The call of fortune made me a pilgrim,
To journey to fame's promised heights,
But as I climbed the promise faded,
And wind blew lonely all through the night.
Just desert dust and empty shadows,
All promises that turned to lies,
The gods of earth fail and betray me,
You alone are Truth and Life.
So I'll worship only at the feet of Jesus,
His cup alone, my holy grail,
There'll be no other gods before Him,
Just Jesus only will never fail.
Just Jesus only will never fail!
Showing posts with label growth. Show all posts
Showing posts with label growth. Show all posts
Thursday, August 23, 2007
Friday, June 01, 2007
His burden is easy.
Sometimes life is simply overwhelming. One lays awake long into the night and wonders why the Lord would allow situations of struggle into the lives of families that are so obviously in love with Him, striding to the right thing, and are in His service.
If one is not careful, the overwhelming thoughts of anger and bitterness can quickly arise as these same situations spin out of our control and leave us awake struggling to understand. Thus a vicious cycle can begin.
The events of life lately have reminded me of verses in the New Testament that I never quite understood and still grapple with…
“1 Peter 4:13 Instead, be very glad—for these trials make you partners with Christ in his suffering, so that you will have the wonderful joy of seeing his glory when it is revealed to all the world.”
Be glad in the trials? Are you kidding me? This verse would seem to indicate that those preachers of the prosperity gospel that promise your best life now, are liars. We have been called to suffer right along side Him, and that suffering may not take on the form of a cross and nails. It may take on the form of overwhelming loss, or stress, or concern for one that you hold dear. It may be grieving for a soul that is so far from the Light.
"The things we try to avoid and fight against - tribulation, suffering and persecution - are the very things that produce abundant joy in us. Huge waves that would frighten the ordinary swimmer produce a tremendous thrill for the surfer who has ridden them. "We are more than conquerors through Him" IN all these things - not in spite of them, but in the midst of them. A saint doesn't know the joy of the Lord in spite of tribulation, but because of it. Paul said "I am exceedingly joyful in all our tribulation". Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest (Rom 8:37, 2 Cor 7:4)
I believe that the trials, the long sleepless nights, the trials that make us so weary, are to simply draw us in…to focus our eyes not on the storm but on the One who controls it. To lean in and cry out “I cannot do it on my own, I am not in control, I need You, I need your help.”
Oh that I might be able to cling to the promises of Him that are faithful and true. “When I am overwhelmed I go to the Rock that is higher than I. Ps. 62” in the words of Charles Spurgeon. "Your sorrow itself shall be turned into joy. Not the sorrow to be taken away, and joy to be put in its place, but the very sorrow which now grieves you shall be turned into joy. God not only takes away the bitterness and gives sweetness in its place, but turns the bitterness into sweetness itself."
Last night when tired and weary and searching for an answer, I was reminded that He inhabits the praise of His people. I found this new song and remembered that I could turn my overwhelmed feelings over to Him and exchanged it for a lighter burden and he would carry mine..Matthew 11:30.
I’m Overwhelmed by your love
Your amazing love, for me.
I never will understand why you chose to be my friend.
Oh I will not forget the price You paid with love on Calvary.
Amazing love, amazing grace, I am overwhelmed with gratitude and praise
And I will rejoice and fall on my knees, lift up my voice, a love song I will sing…
Serenade of sweet worship to you my King.
For those of you in the battle know you are loved and being held up in prayer. Read the last chapter…WE WIN! Love you!
If one is not careful, the overwhelming thoughts of anger and bitterness can quickly arise as these same situations spin out of our control and leave us awake struggling to understand. Thus a vicious cycle can begin.
The events of life lately have reminded me of verses in the New Testament that I never quite understood and still grapple with…
“1 Peter 4:13 Instead, be very glad—for these trials make you partners with Christ in his suffering, so that you will have the wonderful joy of seeing his glory when it is revealed to all the world.”
Be glad in the trials? Are you kidding me? This verse would seem to indicate that those preachers of the prosperity gospel that promise your best life now, are liars. We have been called to suffer right along side Him, and that suffering may not take on the form of a cross and nails. It may take on the form of overwhelming loss, or stress, or concern for one that you hold dear. It may be grieving for a soul that is so far from the Light.
"The things we try to avoid and fight against - tribulation, suffering and persecution - are the very things that produce abundant joy in us. Huge waves that would frighten the ordinary swimmer produce a tremendous thrill for the surfer who has ridden them. "We are more than conquerors through Him" IN all these things - not in spite of them, but in the midst of them. A saint doesn't know the joy of the Lord in spite of tribulation, but because of it. Paul said "I am exceedingly joyful in all our tribulation". Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest (Rom 8:37, 2 Cor 7:4)
I believe that the trials, the long sleepless nights, the trials that make us so weary, are to simply draw us in…to focus our eyes not on the storm but on the One who controls it. To lean in and cry out “I cannot do it on my own, I am not in control, I need You, I need your help.”
Oh that I might be able to cling to the promises of Him that are faithful and true. “When I am overwhelmed I go to the Rock that is higher than I. Ps. 62” in the words of Charles Spurgeon. "Your sorrow itself shall be turned into joy. Not the sorrow to be taken away, and joy to be put in its place, but the very sorrow which now grieves you shall be turned into joy. God not only takes away the bitterness and gives sweetness in its place, but turns the bitterness into sweetness itself."
Last night when tired and weary and searching for an answer, I was reminded that He inhabits the praise of His people. I found this new song and remembered that I could turn my overwhelmed feelings over to Him and exchanged it for a lighter burden and he would carry mine..Matthew 11:30.
I’m Overwhelmed by your love
Your amazing love, for me.
I never will understand why you chose to be my friend.
Oh I will not forget the price You paid with love on Calvary.
Amazing love, amazing grace, I am overwhelmed with gratitude and praise
And I will rejoice and fall on my knees, lift up my voice, a love song I will sing…
Serenade of sweet worship to you my King.
For those of you in the battle know you are loved and being held up in prayer. Read the last chapter…WE WIN! Love you!
Sunday, April 29, 2007
Seeking Guidance
I know it has been several weeks since the first edition of prayer and fasting. God has been working in my life in some amazing ways….ways I needed to digest before I tried to put them or anything else into words.
Our second week of prayer and fasting revolved around guidance. In Psalm 146 The Word says “Don’t put your confidence in powerful people; there is no help for you there. When their breathing stops, they return to the earth, and in a moment all of their plans come to an end. But happy are those that have the God of Isreal as their helper, whose hope is in the Lord their God.”
My pastor started by saying, “We have no specific plan other than to keep our eyes on the Lord. Wouldn’t it be great if God removed man from the picture – trumped all of our wisdom – and guided our church through the miraculous.”
The irony of this statement is that our church has already been lead through the miraculous in so many ways. Four years ago when my pastor came to this tiny church set completely out of the way in Highland Village, TX, there were 168 people. Today we run 6 services in a weekend and around 3 to 4 thousand adults…We have numerous ministries that run in a place never built to hold that many ministries. We have a building that continues to stand up though there is no reason that it should. We have never done any sort of mail out inviting people to come, any campaigns trying to bring people in, and there is no way that anyone just drives by as it is so far out of the way. Yet God continues to bring in the hurting, the healing, the broken and the strong, those who have never heard and those that have been in the church since the womb. That is miraculous. We are completely understaffed yet God continues to provide the exact leadership that we need when we need it. We have been guided through the miraculous. No one can look at our church and say…”Well, they built this huge building right where everyone could see it, or well those people are constantly out and about looking for members, stealing sheep, holding campaigns, doing things that is humanly possible and their church is growing.” Rather the truth is…God has expanded faster than our staff and elders know what to do and they daily are broken and tired and in need of Him. I have a group of leaders and other members of my church that press in to Him because they don’t know what else to do. That is God guiding through the miraculous.
So we took our elders and our staff and laid hands on them and prayed for them. That God would speak to them in a definitive direction. That when God guides us that the processes created by that direction would be guided by God.
Then we prayed for ourselves. That God would deepen all of us. That those in our church who sit on the fringes…who use church as hobby, just something to do on a Sunday morning…would be drawn into the deeper part of knowing Him. And then we prayed for suffering. There is a type of suffering that Paul talks about that is a good suffering that deepens us more than anything else ever could.
In my own life I came to a realization that I was not there. I was not asking God for guidance in all things. I for sure seek Him in the big things of life, but what about the little things. God what do you want me to wear today, who do you want me to talk to, what kind of car do you want me to drive, what should my diet consist of, what friends do I need in my life. Rather than seeking the miraculous I was simply relying on my own strength (and I am not so strong) to make decisions. I kind of look at it as if I were a little pig building a house (yes I do realize I just compared myself to a pig!!). I have a great foundation - I was raised in the Word – but then I go about choosing the materials to build and then asking God to build it for me. Well, sure God could build a house with materials I provide ( I mean I He built a universe out of nothing) But how much greater would my house be if I talked with Him and asked for guidance for the right kinds of materials? Don’t you know that God would choose premium product and then offer to go ahead and provide it.
Our second week of prayer and fasting revolved around guidance. In Psalm 146 The Word says “Don’t put your confidence in powerful people; there is no help for you there. When their breathing stops, they return to the earth, and in a moment all of their plans come to an end. But happy are those that have the God of Isreal as their helper, whose hope is in the Lord their God.”
My pastor started by saying, “We have no specific plan other than to keep our eyes on the Lord. Wouldn’t it be great if God removed man from the picture – trumped all of our wisdom – and guided our church through the miraculous.”
The irony of this statement is that our church has already been lead through the miraculous in so many ways. Four years ago when my pastor came to this tiny church set completely out of the way in Highland Village, TX, there were 168 people. Today we run 6 services in a weekend and around 3 to 4 thousand adults…We have numerous ministries that run in a place never built to hold that many ministries. We have a building that continues to stand up though there is no reason that it should. We have never done any sort of mail out inviting people to come, any campaigns trying to bring people in, and there is no way that anyone just drives by as it is so far out of the way. Yet God continues to bring in the hurting, the healing, the broken and the strong, those who have never heard and those that have been in the church since the womb. That is miraculous. We are completely understaffed yet God continues to provide the exact leadership that we need when we need it. We have been guided through the miraculous. No one can look at our church and say…”Well, they built this huge building right where everyone could see it, or well those people are constantly out and about looking for members, stealing sheep, holding campaigns, doing things that is humanly possible and their church is growing.” Rather the truth is…God has expanded faster than our staff and elders know what to do and they daily are broken and tired and in need of Him. I have a group of leaders and other members of my church that press in to Him because they don’t know what else to do. That is God guiding through the miraculous.
So we took our elders and our staff and laid hands on them and prayed for them. That God would speak to them in a definitive direction. That when God guides us that the processes created by that direction would be guided by God.
Then we prayed for ourselves. That God would deepen all of us. That those in our church who sit on the fringes…who use church as hobby, just something to do on a Sunday morning…would be drawn into the deeper part of knowing Him. And then we prayed for suffering. There is a type of suffering that Paul talks about that is a good suffering that deepens us more than anything else ever could.
In my own life I came to a realization that I was not there. I was not asking God for guidance in all things. I for sure seek Him in the big things of life, but what about the little things. God what do you want me to wear today, who do you want me to talk to, what kind of car do you want me to drive, what should my diet consist of, what friends do I need in my life. Rather than seeking the miraculous I was simply relying on my own strength (and I am not so strong) to make decisions. I kind of look at it as if I were a little pig building a house (yes I do realize I just compared myself to a pig!!). I have a great foundation - I was raised in the Word – but then I go about choosing the materials to build and then asking God to build it for me. Well, sure God could build a house with materials I provide ( I mean I He built a universe out of nothing) But how much greater would my house be if I talked with Him and asked for guidance for the right kinds of materials? Don’t you know that God would choose premium product and then offer to go ahead and provide it.
Tuesday, June 27, 2006
I met with a snake.
This morning I got up in need of exercise. My energy level was really low and I decided to fight it off with some good ol' fashion exercise.
My normal run did not appeal to me, but the bike/running path I take was calling to me. In this neighborhood there is a running path about a half mile away. The majority of this path is shaded by tall pines which makes for a nice cool haven while exercising. There are birds and squirrels and other such wooded creatures seen while running and it makes for a nice little nature walk/run.
But today I wanted something more. I wanted some more aerobic exercise. I decided to pull out the roller blades!! *hear the adventure music start.
I have not put these roller blades on in probably 5 years, if not more. So I pulled out my long socks (I only have 1 pair of crew socks and they are kept strictly for the purpose of roller blading), and strapped on my blades and wrist guards and after a shaky start off I went.
I did pretty well on the way there, I only had to run into a tree once to re-catch my balance and there was no one around to see it so maybe it didn't happen! ha!
I get to the path opening and really start moving. The coolness of the shade, the breeze I am creating for myself and the worship song I am singing to God are keeping me moving. About this time, I see it.....the branch looking thing lying across half of the path that can only be A SNAKE!!!
Now, let me 'splain. I HATE snakes. Sorry to those of you who think they are great, or would make good pets, or perhaps are just indifferent to them. I HATE them. I have been told all of their "redeeming" qualities and don't believe a word of it. A snake is bad snake and that is the end of my thought process. I realize I am closed minded about this, but I will accept that characterization and move on with my life, thank you very much!
So at the point I meet this 2 foot long snake in my path I am going down a slight incline. There is no way that I can stop, there is no way I can go off the path; I have to keep going. I pushed off and skirted around this fear of mine which for all I know was a deadly copperhead (I did not turn around to look or stay around to ask). I just pushed past my paralyzing fear and kept going!
For the rest of my time, with my eyes pealed for more snakes in my path (I did not encounter anymore Praise God!)...I began to think about my life. It is very similar to this blading ride.
I am on a pathway...headed in a direction that I want to go...with great things ahead of me. The exercise of life is rewarding though not always easy, but is good for me. Along this path I am going to encounter snakes. Metaphorically, as well as realistically; and in meeting with these snakes/deadly fears in my life I have some choices. I can turn back, go back to where I came from and stay fat and unhealthy, I could stop and become paralyzed and stagnant immobilized and useless, or I could face my fears and cruise on past the snakes in my pathway and reach my goals.
Today I choose to face my fears, to leave that snake in my rearview and not look back. He did not conquer me today, and he won't tomorrow either. I have the ultimate of Snake Killers on my side, and I have no reason to fear.
Philippians 3:12-21 (from the Message)
12-14 I'm not saying that I have this all together, that I have it made. But I am well on my way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out for me. Friends, don't get me wrong: By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I've got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward—to Jesus. I'm off and running and I'm not turning back.
15-16 So let's keep focused on that goal, those of us who want everything God has for us. If any of you have something else in mind, something less than total commitment, God will clear your blurred vision—you'll see it yet! Now that we're on the right track, let's stay on it.
17-19 Stick with me, friends. Keep track of those you see running this same course, headed for this same goal. There are many out there taking other paths, choosing other goals, and trying to get you to go along with them. I've warned you of them many times; sadly, I'm having to do it again. All they want is easy street. They hate Christ's Cross. But easy street is a dead-end street. Those who live there make their bellies their gods; belches are their praise; all they can think of is their appetites.
20-21 But there's far more to life for us. We're citizens of high heaven! We're waiting the arrival of the Savior, the Master, Jesus Christ, who will transform our earthy bodies into glorious bodies like his own. He'll make us beautiful and whole with the same powerful skill by which he is putting everything as it should be, under and around him.
My normal run did not appeal to me, but the bike/running path I take was calling to me. In this neighborhood there is a running path about a half mile away. The majority of this path is shaded by tall pines which makes for a nice cool haven while exercising. There are birds and squirrels and other such wooded creatures seen while running and it makes for a nice little nature walk/run.
But today I wanted something more. I wanted some more aerobic exercise. I decided to pull out the roller blades!! *hear the adventure music start.
I have not put these roller blades on in probably 5 years, if not more. So I pulled out my long socks (I only have 1 pair of crew socks and they are kept strictly for the purpose of roller blading), and strapped on my blades and wrist guards and after a shaky start off I went.
I did pretty well on the way there, I only had to run into a tree once to re-catch my balance and there was no one around to see it so maybe it didn't happen! ha!
I get to the path opening and really start moving. The coolness of the shade, the breeze I am creating for myself and the worship song I am singing to God are keeping me moving. About this time, I see it.....the branch looking thing lying across half of the path that can only be A SNAKE!!!
Now, let me 'splain. I HATE snakes. Sorry to those of you who think they are great, or would make good pets, or perhaps are just indifferent to them. I HATE them. I have been told all of their "redeeming" qualities and don't believe a word of it. A snake is bad snake and that is the end of my thought process. I realize I am closed minded about this, but I will accept that characterization and move on with my life, thank you very much!
So at the point I meet this 2 foot long snake in my path I am going down a slight incline. There is no way that I can stop, there is no way I can go off the path; I have to keep going. I pushed off and skirted around this fear of mine which for all I know was a deadly copperhead (I did not turn around to look or stay around to ask). I just pushed past my paralyzing fear and kept going!
For the rest of my time, with my eyes pealed for more snakes in my path (I did not encounter anymore Praise God!)...I began to think about my life. It is very similar to this blading ride.
I am on a pathway...headed in a direction that I want to go...with great things ahead of me. The exercise of life is rewarding though not always easy, but is good for me. Along this path I am going to encounter snakes. Metaphorically, as well as realistically; and in meeting with these snakes/deadly fears in my life I have some choices. I can turn back, go back to where I came from and stay fat and unhealthy, I could stop and become paralyzed and stagnant immobilized and useless, or I could face my fears and cruise on past the snakes in my pathway and reach my goals.
Today I choose to face my fears, to leave that snake in my rearview and not look back. He did not conquer me today, and he won't tomorrow either. I have the ultimate of Snake Killers on my side, and I have no reason to fear.
Philippians 3:12-21 (from the Message)
12-14 I'm not saying that I have this all together, that I have it made. But I am well on my way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out for me. Friends, don't get me wrong: By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I've got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward—to Jesus. I'm off and running and I'm not turning back.
15-16 So let's keep focused on that goal, those of us who want everything God has for us. If any of you have something else in mind, something less than total commitment, God will clear your blurred vision—you'll see it yet! Now that we're on the right track, let's stay on it.
17-19 Stick with me, friends. Keep track of those you see running this same course, headed for this same goal. There are many out there taking other paths, choosing other goals, and trying to get you to go along with them. I've warned you of them many times; sadly, I'm having to do it again. All they want is easy street. They hate Christ's Cross. But easy street is a dead-end street. Those who live there make their bellies their gods; belches are their praise; all they can think of is their appetites.
20-21 But there's far more to life for us. We're citizens of high heaven! We're waiting the arrival of the Savior, the Master, Jesus Christ, who will transform our earthy bodies into glorious bodies like his own. He'll make us beautiful and whole with the same powerful skill by which he is putting everything as it should be, under and around him.
Monday, May 08, 2006
Waiting
I read an article the other day on the “Enormous Leisure of GOD.” The particular illustration was of the person Moses. He knew that he was the person who was supposed to free GOD’s people from their slavery, however while he was ready to go right then and free his brothers and sister’s from bondage. GOD had other plans. He sent him into the desert for 40 years to herd sheep!!
Now, think with me here. This man has been raised in the palace of the Pharaoh. Couldn’t GOD have chosen to use him then? I mean he had pretty good access as the adopted son of the princess. But though humanly this would have been ideal, GOD had a greater plan. A plan that took 40 years to bring about.
Why 40 years? To we as humans this seems like…well, almost half a lifetime. But in GOD’s mind 40 years was really nothing. The Bible says that to GOD a day is as a thousand years and a thousand years is as a day. For him 40 years is like a blink.
So what is my point here…..
Why am I so impatient? I am SO tired of waiting on the Lord. Yet at every turn and step I try to take that is what GOD is telling me to do. Over and over I hear…
“Wait patiently for the LORD. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the LORD”
“Wait here”
“Wait for HIS reply”
“Should I continue to wait, now that you are silent? Must I also remain silent?”
“for I am waiting for you, O LORD. You must answer for me, O Lord my GOD.”
“I waited patiently for the LORD to help me, and he turned to me and heard my cry.”
“They have set an ambush for me. Fierce enemies are out there waiting, though I have done them no wrong, O LORD”
“You are my strength; I wait for you to rescue me, for you, O GOD, are my place of safety.”
“I wait quietly before GOD, for my hope is in him.”
“I wait quietly before GOD, for my salvation comes from him.”
“I am exhausted from crying for help; my throat is parched and dry. My eyes are swollen with weeping, waiting for my GOD to help me.”
“The LORD is wonderfully good to those who wait for him and seek him.”
“As for me, I look to the LORD for his help. I wait confidently for GOD to save me, and my GOD will certainly hear me”
“I will climb up into my watchtower now and wait to see what the LORD will say to me and how he will answer my complaint.”
“But these things I plan won't happen right away. Slowly, steadily, surely, the time approaches when the vision will be fulfilled. If it seems slow, wait patiently, for it will surely take place. It will not be delayed.”
I could go on and on. The Lord is asking me to TRUST… to WAIT.
Just to bring this to reality. This is not easy. In fact, frankly, it sucks! (for those of you who do not care for this word please pardon it…but it is how I feel!) It does! I realize that GOD has purpose and a plan for me and I would love for that purpose to be revealed right now.
Yet apparently I am still in the training process. Don’t you know that Moses was so glad for all those years of experience herding flocks of dumb sheep and the years in the desert with GOD, when he then had to herd a flock of GOD’s people!! I am sure there were many times that he wished he could go back to the desert and away from the purpose that GOD finally did reveal.
I am ready for things to happen NOW! But GOD is saying wait. As HE has never failed me yet, I am willing to obey. My prayer is that I learn what I need to learn, and am granted the grace and the patience to not step in front of GOD’s plan for my life. My desire is to serve and to glorify. Nothing more, nothing less.
God is not in a hurry. We are. We get down before God and pray, then we get up and say, “it is all done now,” and in the light of the glory of the “vision” we go and do the thing. But it is not real, and GOD has to take us into the valley and put us through fires and floods to batter us (read..our stubborn selves) into shape, until we get into the condition in which HE can trust us with the reality of HIS vision for us.
Waiting......
The End
Now, think with me here. This man has been raised in the palace of the Pharaoh. Couldn’t GOD have chosen to use him then? I mean he had pretty good access as the adopted son of the princess. But though humanly this would have been ideal, GOD had a greater plan. A plan that took 40 years to bring about.
Why 40 years? To we as humans this seems like…well, almost half a lifetime. But in GOD’s mind 40 years was really nothing. The Bible says that to GOD a day is as a thousand years and a thousand years is as a day. For him 40 years is like a blink.
So what is my point here…..
Why am I so impatient? I am SO tired of waiting on the Lord. Yet at every turn and step I try to take that is what GOD is telling me to do. Over and over I hear…
“Wait patiently for the LORD. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the LORD”
“Wait here”
“Wait for HIS reply”
“Should I continue to wait, now that you are silent? Must I also remain silent?”
“for I am waiting for you, O LORD. You must answer for me, O Lord my GOD.”
“I waited patiently for the LORD to help me, and he turned to me and heard my cry.”
“They have set an ambush for me. Fierce enemies are out there waiting, though I have done them no wrong, O LORD”
“You are my strength; I wait for you to rescue me, for you, O GOD, are my place of safety.”
“I wait quietly before GOD, for my hope is in him.”
“I wait quietly before GOD, for my salvation comes from him.”
“I am exhausted from crying for help; my throat is parched and dry. My eyes are swollen with weeping, waiting for my GOD to help me.”
“The LORD is wonderfully good to those who wait for him and seek him.”
“As for me, I look to the LORD for his help. I wait confidently for GOD to save me, and my GOD will certainly hear me”
“I will climb up into my watchtower now and wait to see what the LORD will say to me and how he will answer my complaint.”
“But these things I plan won't happen right away. Slowly, steadily, surely, the time approaches when the vision will be fulfilled. If it seems slow, wait patiently, for it will surely take place. It will not be delayed.”
I could go on and on. The Lord is asking me to TRUST… to WAIT.
Just to bring this to reality. This is not easy. In fact, frankly, it sucks! (for those of you who do not care for this word please pardon it…but it is how I feel!) It does! I realize that GOD has purpose and a plan for me and I would love for that purpose to be revealed right now.
Yet apparently I am still in the training process. Don’t you know that Moses was so glad for all those years of experience herding flocks of dumb sheep and the years in the desert with GOD, when he then had to herd a flock of GOD’s people!! I am sure there were many times that he wished he could go back to the desert and away from the purpose that GOD finally did reveal.
I am ready for things to happen NOW! But GOD is saying wait. As HE has never failed me yet, I am willing to obey. My prayer is that I learn what I need to learn, and am granted the grace and the patience to not step in front of GOD’s plan for my life. My desire is to serve and to glorify. Nothing more, nothing less.
God is not in a hurry. We are. We get down before God and pray, then we get up and say, “it is all done now,” and in the light of the glory of the “vision” we go and do the thing. But it is not real, and GOD has to take us into the valley and put us through fires and floods to batter us (read..our stubborn selves) into shape, until we get into the condition in which HE can trust us with the reality of HIS vision for us.
Waiting......
The End
Thursday, April 20, 2006
Oh to be 5 again
Do you remember the sweet innocence of 5?
For the next 6 weeks I have the honor of watching a friend's son, while the school district where she works winds down to a close.
How exciting it is to be 5!!
For most of us....one does not have to worry over the loss of friendships, or the drama of the day, or how our bills are going to be paid, or if the tire on the car will last until the tax refund comes in. We don't worry about getting married, or if the right one will come along. Or if the price of gas will go so high we will be forced to ride our bike (that we don't have) everywhere.
No the life of a 5 year old consists of....
Excitement about going to wash a car and getting to sit there while the "monster hands" wipe all the dirt away.
Planning for days to go to the library to find books on mummies.
Being estatic about finding a roly-poly-oly on the sidewalk, and making an adventure out of finding more. ( 6!!! We found 6!!)
With a little imagination, spiderman can save the world, and one can fly like superman on top of someone's uplifted feet.
A cookie can make your whole day better.....
and All of life's problems can be solved with a hug, an ear rub, and a nap.
Oh to be 5 again!
For the next 6 weeks I have the honor of watching a friend's son, while the school district where she works winds down to a close.
How exciting it is to be 5!!
For most of us....one does not have to worry over the loss of friendships, or the drama of the day, or how our bills are going to be paid, or if the tire on the car will last until the tax refund comes in. We don't worry about getting married, or if the right one will come along. Or if the price of gas will go so high we will be forced to ride our bike (that we don't have) everywhere.
No the life of a 5 year old consists of....
Excitement about going to wash a car and getting to sit there while the "monster hands" wipe all the dirt away.
Planning for days to go to the library to find books on mummies.
Being estatic about finding a roly-poly-oly on the sidewalk, and making an adventure out of finding more. ( 6!!! We found 6!!)
With a little imagination, spiderman can save the world, and one can fly like superman on top of someone's uplifted feet.
A cookie can make your whole day better.....
and All of life's problems can be solved with a hug, an ear rub, and a nap.
Oh to be 5 again!
Saturday, April 15, 2006
THE PROMISE
Today sadness overwhelms.Because I stood up for myself....
I have been punished.
Because I did what was right...
I have been wronged.
My heart aches for what I loved.....still love.
Wounded, I am broken.
For what I do not know.
I will not go back for another slap.
I will not give in to the pain.
I will learn to let go of what is hurting me.
All I want is to go back in time.
To change what cannot be changed.
Yet what could I have done.
How could I have done more than tell the Truth?
How more could I have sacrificed of my time and emotion.
Forgiveness reigns.
It is only in forgiving that I can be healed.
I want to be whole again.
Want to know that I have worth.
I am set free by THE PROMISE.
I am promised that I will be declared a liar;
When all I stood for was truth.
I am promised that my road will be sorrowful;
Though all that I hoped for was joy.
I am promised that I will be mocked and ridiculed;
When all I gave was hope and encouragement.
HIS Grace will be sufficient;
when I am in need.
HIS mercy will be renewed;
when I wake up.
HIS arms will hold me;
when I am tired.
HIS presence will be there;
when I am alone.
HIS joy will be unspeakable;
when I am sad.
HIS peace will be indescribable;
when I am overwrought.
HIS love will be my anchor;
when I am tossed and thrown in the waves.
That is THE PROMISE.
Saturday, March 11, 2006
Changing
If we don't change, we don't grow. If we don't grow, we are not really living. Growth demands a temporary surrender of security.
– Gail Sheehy
– Gail Sheehy
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