In The Waiting...

This morning I woke up and found myself in a flare. A flare is the term used when you are in pain with flu-like symptoms, muscles and joints in tremendous pain...sometimes numbness of face and limbs. If the heat is not too extreme today, I think I'll consider going to the pool for a swim. When I am in a flare, being in the water is helpful and does not cause more pain/inflammation.

Last night I took two Tylenol PM, and prayed myself to sleep. I slept well through the night, so this will help that I had a full night of sleep. Most of the time when in a flare, rest is in order. Swimming seems to help as well. It can be so frustrating at times, but then I am thankful to God that it is not a life threatening syndrome. So many people are facing far worse.

We have about 1 week left before husband graduates from the Chaplain Residency Program. We are down to the wire with no job secured as of today. Of course, this can change within a moment! He does have a few interviews lined up (two were scheduled yesterday, and one we are waiting on for the definite interview time from a call the day before). God amazes me...how we can go from one day or moment of having nothing lined up, to the next day or next two days having 3 interviews. :)

Isn't this how God words so often? I mean, His time table is way different than ours. This is something that husband and I have a challenge with. Mainly, because we have folks asking us if we have anything lined up, (AND the bills will not stop coming in either) We are getting questions that we are not qualified to answer at this moment, because we are waiting on God for the answers. :)

From a world's perspective, we should already have a job secured and plans laid out. From a God-centered perspective it is all about the unknown, faith and trusting in Him completely.

Trusting in God completely means...not worrying about tomorrow. Worry is a huge sin in my life that I desire to be rid of! I know God is able, and that it takes a choice on my part as to if I am going to keep on worrying about these things and frantically trying to fix it, or if I am going to do all I can do, and "stand"...enter in with God's plan. He is ready and willing to take these burdens, and to lead us on the path we should go.

Matthew 6:24-29 (New Living Translation)

24 “No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.

25 “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? 27 Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?

28 “And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, 29 yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are.

1 Peter 5:8-10 (New Living Translation)

8 Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. 9 Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your Christian brothers and sisters all over the world are going through the same kind of suffering you are.

10 In his kindness God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation.

Does anyone else struggle with truly "letting go" of situations or concerns, and truly giving them over to God to handle?

I'm not saying to sit back and do nothing. We can seek the Lord on it by reading the Bible, praying, searching for the job...applying everywhere possible (believe me, husband has applied to HUNDREDS; ever day he is on the computer, in the newspaper, talking with other folks about leads), making calls, and checking every possible lead. We've lost count after all of these months of searching for a job!!

However from our experience with it...most of our plans are usually fruitless. Often times what we think to be God's plan, is actually not His plan at all.

Most of the jobs or ministry situations we have been a part of, were not part of "our" plans. Heck, they weren't even in places he had ever thought about. They were opportunities that came to us right at the last minute, in places we had never thought about going...places we couldn't even remember applying to...or opportunity brought to us from a totally different avenue.

God is so amazing. He holds the answers, and as I type this I am reminded of how much lack of trust I have in the Lord when I worry over something.

The children are doing well, but a little anxious about where we may be living. They are hoping we stay here, because we are beginning to meet new friends. However, they understand, and are flexible to the fact that we could very well be moving away.

I love this song. It is from the movie, "Fireproof". A great moving!!

Grabbed the Syrup, Missed Out on the Honey

This morning I did something in a rush, without thinking it through, really.   I was making home-made pancakes with blueberries for breakfast (our routine Wed morning breakfast-more on that later)  Anyway, I usually put honey on my waffles (and pancakes) for several reasons. Mainly, it is what is best for me personally.

I prepared J and Bubb's first (they like the light syrup), and I got them settled.  Then in a rush, I completed my plate by grabbing the syrup and putting it on my waffles as I was walking to the table...before thinking twice about it.  I realized what I had done after they were pretty much drenched.

Thinking the syrup would be just as good...if not BETTER...mmmmm, I went ahead and ate it! :)   

It was sweet, and oh so good for the moment.  Yet, in the long wrong, it wasn't what is best for me. 

Have you ever done this?  Grabbed or done something on the fly before thinking it through...then later realizing it was not the best thing for you? Sometimes it is immediate...we realize it almost right after the fact...that it isn't really best for us.  Yet, we ignore it, and keep on with it.  Sometimes it is way down the road before we realize it wasn't what was best for us at all.  

Whether it be food, jobs, ministry, or other activities in our lives? Someone suggests something, so we jump to it, without even consulting with God first on the matter.  Or we jump into something because it seems like a good and godly thing to do, without even consulting with God prayerfully first.  

God really impressed on my heart how easy it is for me to do this...especially with bigger decisions.  (However, I believe God is just as concerned about our every day small decisions too. Like how we spend a dollar, and how we spend our time.)  Each moment is a gift, and I desire for every part of it to be God led.  

Of course, there is no way to do things perfectly...every moment of every day.  We all mess up. We all get caught up in thinking we have the answers, or with thinking someone else's ideas are the best or even god-led.  We all get caught up in our own agendas...doing our best to mask them in the name of the Lord.  You know, making our agenda, God's agenda kind of thing.  ;)

These verses really spoke to me:

Proverbs 16:25 (Amplified Bible)

²⁵There is a way that seems right to a man and appears straight before him, but at the end of it is the way of death.

Romans 3:10-11 (New International Version)

¹⁰As it is written: 
   "There is no one righteous, not even one; 
    ¹¹there is no one who understands, 
      no one who seeks God.

1 John 1:8 (New International Version)

 ⁸If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. ⁹If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

There have been times where I grabbed/jumped before even thinking about praying...especially in ministry.  At the time, it seemed the right and "godly" thing to do.  Yet in the end, it wasn't God's direction at all.  This doesn't mean that I didn't learn something in the process though. Or that God still didn't use me even with my wrong turns.   :)

(Sure the syrup in and of isn't that horribly bad for me in moderation...hey, its seems good and "light", but if I had taken my time to be patient and think it through, the honey would have been a better choice...sweetest...so much better for me in the long run.) 

It is easy to grab for the quick fix, and lets get it done.  

There is always someone trying to fix us quickly, OR I am always trying to fix myself up or someone else quickly.  It is for good reasons too.  I care, and want to help.  Advise is given because others care and want to help us.  Yet, when our advise becomes forced and thoughtless, then I fear we are playing God...and that is scary!!  When it boils down to it, only God truly knows what is best for us.

Whatever it is in my life, service, struggles, circumstances...if it is a rushed decision, it won't be nearly as sweet as when the Lord is given full reign/complete control to direct our steps.  

This is where the surrender part comes in...which is so so difficult for we humans to do.   To "Let Go", and allow God do HIS best work in us in total surrender.

So in my breakfast time this morning, God reminded me to slow my thoughts and actions.  To not be too hasty in decisions. or in giving quick advice...especially in a forceful way.  To "wait upon the Lord, and be of good cheer".  

As I type this, in my human reasoning I'm thinking, "this is easier said than done".  Especially where the world says to get on with things quickly, to make money quickly, to do everything...quickly.  God is saying to my heart and soul..."be still child, and know that I am God".

Isaiah 40:30-31 (New International Version)

 ³⁰ Even youths grow tired and weary, 
       and young men stumble and fall;

 ³¹ but those who hope in the LORD 
       will renew their strength. 
       They will soar on wings like eagles; 
       they will run and not grow weary, 
       they will walk and not be faint.

Romans 8:24-26 (New International Version)

²⁴For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? ²⁵But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.

 ²⁶In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.

Hebrews 6:15 (New International Version) 

¹⁵And so after waiting patiently, Abraham received what was promised.

Ecclesiastes 7:8 (King James Version)

 ⁸Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof: and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.

It is difficult to be patient, and to remember that God's timing is "perfect".   I'm not saying sit back and do nothing.  What I am saying is, not to force things or jump into something too quickly without prayerfully waiting on the Lord for HIS direction.

In our urgency to help ourselves, or others along, let us all remember that only God makes things happen for us... as we soak in His word, pray, and trust in Him completely.   I can encourage, and suggest, but it is really up to that person to allow God's best direction for them. It is up to us to allow God's best direction for us. God can use others to speak into our lives, but even still...we always benefit from waiting on the Lord for the final word.

Exercising my faith in these areas is a great challenge for me personally. What about you?