Eagerly Waiting

So much of life seems to be waiting; and, yet, are we waiting with anticipation for the things God would want us to wait for...His presence, guidance, leadership, direction, power and return? When we think of waiting, we tend to think of the frustration that it brings and, by all means, don't pray for patience! If it's a fruit of the Spirit as stated in Galatians 5:22 and a quality of Jesus, then I definitely will be praying for God to produce the fruit of patience in my life! God wants to teach us many valuable lessons and grow our faith in the 'waiting room of life'. He teaches us full and complete dependance on Him as the Good Shepherd and the One who sits on the throne as the Sovereign Lord over all. He shows us that He is weaving a grand and glorious tapestry in our lives, although, at times we are focused on the ragged edges and loose threads everywhere rather than Him using all things to bring Him glory in and through our lives. The Lord wants us to wait on Him to receive that indwelling power that comes from the Holy Spirit being preeminent in our lives and that requires us being still and resting in His presence and His great and precious promises. (Acts 1:4-8, II Peter 1:3,4) He also insturcts us to be patient in affliction. (Romans 12:12) Affliction is not just trouble, but it is intense pressure and stress. The Lord put me through affliction this past fall as I was seeking to adjust to life back in the States and many other changes. I continued to walk with Him and trust him each day, bowing to His sovereign control and authority in my life. I am still not sure why God allowed it, but am thankful to have gone THROUGH it by His grace ALONE. Are you EAGERLY WAITING for His return?! That means with anticipation and joy in your heart to be able to sing His praises day AND night! (Revelation 4:8) What a glorious day that will be! In the meantime, go and make disciples and wait (Matthew 28:19-20), serve and wait (I Thessalonians 1:9,10), worship and wait! "so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him." (Hebrews 9:28)

Let's get Passionate about Passion Week!

I heard a GREAT sermon by our pastor, Scott Jackson, at Fellowship Church in Arkadelphia, AR yesterday and want to challenge you, just as he did, to get PASSIONATE about PASSION WEEK! He gave us an excellent guide that outlines the various passages in the Bible of the events leading up to Jesus' resurrection and ways to remember and reflect on these events. So, please join me in rekindling or strengthening your love for our Risen Savior and Lord! Let's get Passionate about Passion Week! Monday Key event: Jesus cleanses the temple - dishonors the Gentiles and disappointed with the religious leaders of the day Matt. 21:10-17 Mark 11:15-18 Luke 19:45-48 John 2:12-16 Symbolic event - Coin is symbolic and need to spend time in confession; our bodies are the new temple and ask the Lord to cleanse His temple. I John 1:9; I Cor. 6:19-20 Tuesday Key event: the Day of Controversy - belief vs. disbelief; Trick ?'s for Jesus Matt. 21:23-24-24:51 Mark 11:27-13:37 Luke 20:1-21:36 Symbolic  event - write verse of belief and carry it with you - Rom. 10:9 Wednesday Key event: Day of Rest/Preparation Mark 14:1;John 12:1 Symbolic event - fast and spend time in worship and prayer Thursday Key event: The Lord's Supper and Prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane Matt. 26:17-30 Mark14:12-26 Luke 22:17-33 John 18:1-2 Symbolic event - The Lord's Supper Friday  Key event - The crucifixion of Jesus Matt. 27:1-66 Mark 15:1-47 Luke 22:66-23:56 John 19:1-37 Symbolic event - carry a cross Saturday Key event - Jesus' death in a borrowed tomb Matt. 21:57-66 Mark 15:42-47 Luke 23:50-56 John 19:38-42 Symbolic event - spiritual nap, somber reflection 2nd Sunday Key event - Jesus' Resurrection Matt. 28:1-13 Mark 16:1-20 Luke 24:1-49 John 20:1-31 Symbolic event - go to church and WORSHIP!

Redos

Thankfully, for our sake, God is in the business of redos! There are so many people in the Bible that God gave an opportunity for a 'redo'. I have been reading in the books of Exodus and Acts and want to give you a taste of just a few redos mentioned...Aaron, Moses and Paul. Aaron was to be Moses' spokesperson and help lead the Israelites out of Egypt; he accomplished those tasks, but then led the Israelites to worship a golden calf...an idol. Later, God allowed a 'redo' and anointed as well as consecrated Aaron as a priest to serve Him! Moses became angry with the Israelites and threw the tablets with the ten commandments written on them on the ground and they broke. God gave Moses a 'redo' and he spent 40 days rewriting the tablets. As he came down from Mt. Sinai, his face was radiant because he had been with the Lord! Paul had persecuted followers of the Way, and yet, God appeared to him on the road to Damascus, blinded him, and then gave him spiritual sight. He then healed his physical sight and used him in an amazing way to bring many to faith in Christ and strengthen them in their walk with the Savior! Don't EVER give up on yourself, or God, and what He can do with a life surrendered to Him. His mercies are new every morning and GREAT IS HIS FAITHFULNESS! God is in the business of redos each and every day! Praise His Name!

Created to Worship our Creator

When was the last time you worshiped the Lord...just you and He? God's word teaches us that worship of God pleases Him more than our 'sacrifices' of DOING the tasks that God desires for us to do. He is much more interested in us BEING the person that He wants us to be. I order to BE the person He wants us to be, we are to DAILY worship our Creator and allow Him to transform our lives into His image. There are many ways that can enhance our worship of the Sovereign God of the universe...study the various Hebrew names of God and thank Him for who He is, turn on some praise music and sing along,find a hymnal and sing out to God, or read the psalms and turn those verses into prayers and songs of praise and thanksgiving to God. It is essential that we carve out time to worship our Creator on a daily basis. As you do this, you will fall more in love with the God who made you and treasures you! 'I will praise God’s name in song and glorify him with thanksgiving. This will please the LORD more than an ox,more than a bull with its horns and hoofs.' (Psalm 69:30,31)

Freedom from Guilt

I have been auditing a class at OBU entitled 'Christian Counseling' by Gary R. Collins. The book is OUTSTANDING and I wanted to share an excerpt with you:'God knows us perfectly. He understands that we are merely dust, and He recognizes that we will sin so long as we are on earth. He does not expect perfection, but He wants a sincere attempt to do God's will as we understand it and as best we can. God is compassionate. He loves us unconditionally and will forgive our sins without demanding personal atonement and penance. The ultimate solution to guilt and guilt feelings is to honestly admit our pain,suffering, failures, and guilt; to confess sin to Christ and at times to other human beings; to pray for forgiveness and a sincere desire to repent and change behavior; and then to believe with divine help that we are forgiven and accepted by the God of the universe. It is He who in turn helps us to accept, love, and forgive both ourselves and others.' many times our struggles relate to a false concept of God and/or a false concept of God. Believe who God says He is and who you are...and experience His peace and freedom!

Lifetime Learner

I always want to be a lifetime learner. There is always something new to learn about God and His character,how I might emulate Him and reflect His character to those around me, and about myself and the world I live in. God is like a beautiful diamond with so many amazing facets to who He is. We can never fully know the vastness of our infinite God. I want to seek to know more of Him each day..."For my determined purpose is that I may know Him..." (Philippians3:10) I also want to know more about how God has made me and equipped me to serve Him and others. "He who gets wisdom loves his own soul; he who cherishes understanding prospers." (Proverbs 19:8) I seek to also be a learner of others and their needs as well as a learner of the culture and language they live in. (Yes, even in America!) I hope you will join with me in the desire to be a learner of our amazing God, of yourself, others, and the world we live in. "Listen to advice and accept instruction, and in the end you will be wise." (Proverbs 19:20)

Reflections

I have been procrastinating starting a blog for a looong time, but just can't put it off anymore. I really believe God desires for me to write my thoughts and reflections down both for myself and for others. This truly is a step of obedience for me and I trust that God will use this blog for His glory! "So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it ALL for the glory of God." I Corinthians 10:31