Purpose of Waiting by Julie Clinton

"Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD." Psalm 27:14

Waiting is hard! Traffic. Long lines at the store. The last family member to get in the car. Test results. Answers to our prayers. Even when things are going good in our lives, we hate waiting for the next positive moment to happen.

But waiting is part of God’s plan. God has many reasons to let us wait, none of which we see until after the fact. For instance, God may want us to wait until: we gain more knowledge, more favorable circumstances arise, we have the support of others, financial provision is available, we are emotionally prepared, etc.

Often we don’t even know why we are waiting. But God does.

He is an all-knowing God. He knows when you sit and when you rise; He perceives your thoughts from afar. He discerns your going out and your lying down. He is familiar with all your ways. He knows the purpose for any waiting in your life. Your job is to trust Him. You can either wait patiently and learn what you can in the process or wait impatiently and miss whatever refinement the delay holds for you.

Pray as you wait. As you do, you’ll discover the value of letting things come in God’s time. You’ll also find the beauty in waiting—the possibility that God’s dream for your life is just on the other side.
    

 Julie Clinton, M.Ad., M.B.A., president of  Extraordinary Women, has spoken to hundreds of thousands of women as host of EWomen conferences all across America, and is author of Extraordinary Women: Discovering God's Dream for Your Life, the devotional Living God’s Dream for You, 10 Things You Aren’t Telling Him and A Woman’s Path to Emotional Freedom.   A woman of deep faith, she cares passionately about seeing women live out their dreams by finding their freedom in Christ. Julie and her husband, Tim, live in Virginia with their children, Megan and Zach.

Wait Upon the Lord (not an easy thing to do)

 

"I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry."  Psalm 40:1

Practicing patience is hard work! This is especially true when we are waiting upon the Lord, who keeps to His own timetable. But believers who trust God to deliver are richly rewarded with the desires of their heart. A person's willingness to wait reveals the value of what he or she desires. Imagine, for example, a young woman who yearns for a husband. She must decide whether to place greater importance upon a) getting married or b) waiting patiently for a mate chosen by God. If her priority is the former, she may accept an offer that is less than the Lord's best for her. The fellow in question might be a good Christian but not a man suited for this particular young lady.

No one goes wrong waiting for the Lord to send His best in His perfect timing. Of course, believers don't receive everything they request. At times God simply says no. In other cases, He adjusts our desire to match His own. In our humanness, we can't possibly know all the details of a situation. So we ask for what we think we need, based on our limited information. A submissive heart accepts the omnipotent Father's gentle redirection. When the awaited object of desire comes, it may not look like what the believer originally requested, but it will be exactly what he or she needs.

Waiting patiently on the Lord is an awesome witness. When He responds, others see the reality of God, His faithfulness, and the wisdom of our commitment. In addition, our own faith is strengthened. Fools rush to seize their prize. But wise believers know that blessing will come in God's good time.

For more biblical teaching and resources from  Dr. Charles Stanley, please visit www.intouch.org

Growing in God

 2 Peter 3:18 says, "But grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ." Easier said than done, right? After all, as a busy mom, who has time to invest in growing?

Most of us have been there to some extent. Maybe we've never said those words, but we've lived them. We've let other things crowd out the things we know are necessary for growth. We've regretted the fact that we don't have more time available for cultivating a relationship with God, but we haven't really determined to make the necessary time.

Or maybe it's just that we don't really know what to do, so we don't do much of anything. How do we do it right? What exactly is it that we're supposed to be doing, anyway?

There are four things that are absolutely vital for our spiritual growth. If we really care about growing, we will make time for these things.  Let me say, however, that these are not things whereby, if we do them, we can earn brownie points with God. They are not practices which, if engaged in, will earn us stars on our heavenly chart. Nor are they things only educated people can do, or only the "truly spiritual" (whoever they are); they are things that every Christian can and must do.

First is prayer. Talking with God is absolutely vital to a relationship with Him. How can we expect to have a relationship with someone we never or rarely talk to, or someone we only talk to in order to deliver requests? Prayer is not something that has to be done "right". If you approach prayer with a sincere heart, truly desiring to know God better, that is "right enough". There aren't special words to say. There is no formula to tell you what you must pray about first. So just jump in. Talk to God as you would your most intimate companion, because that is what He is. And don't forget to listen. True prayer is not merely a monologue delivered heavenward with your eyes closed. Prayer should involve listening, too. It is a two-way conversation between you and God. You can pray anytime, anywhere, in any posture, and about anything. In fact, we are commanded to pray "on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests". (Ephesians 6:18)) If you want to find out more about prayer, there are many excellent books out there on the subject. However, your most excellent textbook is the Bible. There, you will find examples of many different kinds of prayers. Study them. But most of all, just do it. Just pray.

Second is reading your Bible. God has spoken vividly and at length to us in His Word. Why would we neglect to read it? Again, there is no one right way to read the Bible. There are many different Bible reading plans out there. There are also many different suggestions regarding how you should read the Bible, or how much you should read at a time. I suggest that you ask God how He wants you to read it. Maybe you will read the Bible through in a year. Maybe you will concentrate on one verse each day. What matters is that you are reading and meditating on God's Word, listening to what He has to tell you, and applying these things to your life. Make the intake of God's Word a regular part of your spiritual life.

Third is fellowshipping with other believers. We need each other for encouragement. In fact, we are commanded to encourage one another, "and all the more as [we] see the Day (of Christ's return) approaching." (Hebrews 10:25) We also need the support and accountability of other believers so that we continue walking in Jesus rather than becoming "hardened by the deceitfulness of sin". (Hebrews 3:13) Together, we can build each other up in Christ. 

Fourth is to fill our minds with things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, and admirable. (Philippians 4:8).  If we allow things into our minds that will tear us down spiritually, that will obviously impact our spiritual growth. Instead, we should fill our minds with things that encourage us in our walk with God. One such thing would be Christian literature and programming. Another would be devotional materials like the ones on this site. Another might be Christian music. Your spirit can be either polluted and weakened or encouraged and strengthened by what you put into your mind. So choose those things that will encourage you and help you in your desire to walk in holiness before the Lord.

One final word: remember that spiritual growth comes from the Lord. No matter how many times you go to church or how many chapters you read in your Bible, spiritual growth, maturity, and insight are granted only by God. Our reason for doing these things is not so that we can accomplish growth on our own. Instead, we practice spiritual disciplines because they are things that God honors with spiritual blessings. Our part is to put ourselves in a position to hear from the Lord. It is God Who will bring the increase.

If you desire to grow spiritually, lay your desire before the Lord. Ask Him what you need to do. Then, prepare to do it…and to grow.

Author:  Megan Breedlove

Website:   Mana for Moms

"My husband, Phillip, and I have been married since December 1995. I am a stay-at-home mom to our four children (with one more on the way in 2012!): Ellie, age 8; Kenny, age 6; Lindsey, age 5; and Jessica, age 3. We are members of Southfield Christian Fellowship in Arlington, Texas, and we live in Fort Worth, Texas.   I graduated from Baylor University in 1993 with a University Scholar's degree in foreign languages and from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in 1996 with a master's degree in marriage and family counseling and a master's in religious education. I enjoy family activities, studying biblical languages, writing, piano, racquetball, reading, and fitness."

Flip Flops

My daughter has been coveting something in her three-year-old heart for nearly two months now.

 

Flip flops. 

     



Friends of our came to visit at Easter time with their two sons just a little older than her, and they had flip flops.  SO cool to her little girl eyes.  Ever since, she's been asking about them, trying to understand what made flip flops different from other shoes, examining my shoe rack to see if I had any.  When we were setting up for VBS at church on Saturday, she met a teen-ager with flip flops and got to try hers on.  She told us they were on sale at Old Navy, 2 for $5.

You guessed it.  We stopped at Old Navy on the way home and bought her not one, but THREE, pairs of flip flops.  And she is over the moon.  She has worn her flip flops everywhere she could since then, and even chose to nap on the floor to keep them on, since she doesn't wear shoes in bed.

We almost didn't stop for them.  After all, she doesn't "need" flip flops.  They're not "good" for her, like well-supported sneakers.  But seeing her eyes light up at the thought of these longed-for big-girl shoes did me in.

I love to see my daughter smile.

And it makes me think of God, who loves his children more than I love my little girl.  Who delights in giving "good gifts to those who ask him" (Matt. 7:12).  Sometimes I hesitate to ask for things that I consider "silly" - the unnecessary, the extravagant.  Things that aren't very "spiritual."  Even things like more children.  Another baby.  I don’t “need” one; I should be satisfied with the child I have.  I can analyze my desires to death before I utter a word in prayer.   Sometimes I do it to make sure that my prayers are pleasing to God, but also in self-defense, to avoid unnecessary disappointment - after all, if I don't ask, he can't say no.

 But I think what pleases God is also the asking.  No, he doesn't want us to be selfish or have a "gimme" attitude.  But heartfelt prayers please him.  The looking of a child to her father to provide, trusting that if fulfilling that desire is not good, then that's okay. 

But then, sometimes, God gives us those “frivolous” desires because he can.  And because he wants to bless us and he "richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment” (1 Tim. 6:17).

And, I think, because he loves us, and He loves to see his children smile.

Author’s bio

Kristi Bothur is a pastor’s wife and mother of four – one on earth and three in heaven.  She and her husband have a ministry called Naomi’s Circle (www.naomiscircle.weebly.com), which reaches out to other parents who have experienced pregnancy loss or early infant death.  They also have a website, Uni-Kids For Christ (www.unikidsforchrist.weebly.com) to encourage Christian parents of only children, whether by choice or by circumstance. 

Hope

Hope



its my word, its on my wall, its around my neck.

Hope is my word.








It is a Hope that I have in Him that no matter what is going on in my life, or the path that I find myself on, I know that I have HOPE because I know that I am held in the palm of HIS hand, and that He knows the plans that He has for me, plans to give me a future and a hope (Jer 29:11)

Sure, things may not be going as I planned or even hoped, but if I am in HIS plan then surely there is no better place to be.

Lets hold on to that hope with two hands, or even the tips of our fingers if that is all that we can manage. But we have it, because He promised we would.

We have hope.


~~~ Paula

Wordless Wednesday