I Hate Waiting!

     I absolutely hate waiting!  I've never been good at it.  Throughout my life, whenever a time came that I had to wait, I failed at being virtuous.  I play the piano a little bit.  As a teen when I would get ready to go somewhere and be waiting for the rest of the family or my ride, well, that was when I got my best practice sessions in!  I would play and sing and probably drive everyone else crazy as I waited and played and sang.  But, it gave me something to do.
     Christmas was the worst!  I loved getting presents, but I wanted to know what was in those boxes.  One year mom wrapped all our gifts and put numbers on the boxes.  No names.  Surely it wouldn't be too hard to figure out whose were whose since there were only three of us kids.  Oh, but it was!! Shaking them yielded no answers.  Coats, underwear, and socks sound the same when shaken no matter who they are for. 
     My brother was expert at getting the packages opened and wrapping them back up without leaving a trace.  So, I got him to open the boxes.  That way I could honestly say, "No, ma'am, I didn't do it."  HA!  One year our presents were all safely locked away behind my parents' bedroom door.  They went out one night to shop for more, and I was left in charge.  I was about 14.  That would make my brother about 8.  Poor guy.
     I've always been tall, so reaching the crochet hook that would fit through the hole to pop the lock on that bedroom door from its carefully positioned spot atop the door frame was easy enough.  I opened it, told my brother to go in and see what he could find, and waited in the hallway.  I made SURE I didn't step foot in that room.  He reported back, and my sister and I peered in to see the loot. When he came out we locked the door back, returned the crochet hook to the top of the door frame, and went through the rest of the evening excited about our secret knowledge. 
     All went well until Mom and Dad came home and tried to get into their room.  That's when the question came, "Who's been in our room?"  As we all denied entry, the hammer came down on me.  Busted.  I had put the crochet hook in the wrong place on top of the door frame.  Needless to say, there was a lot of scolding and crying since I was obviously the only person in the house tall enough to reach the crazy thing in the first place.  All because I hate waiting.
     Today I find myself waiting.  I think I know the answer I will get in the end, but I have to wait for it. Many years have passed since those piano playing days.  I have a little more patience.  I have some insight and wisdom about life.  I still have to wait though, and I hate it.  My mind makes up all kinds of scenarios.  I surely am doomed.  Surely.  Well, aren't I doomed?
     The simple truth is that no, I am not doomed.  I believe God is in control.  I believe that His plan is bigger and better than anything I can imagine.  I believe He loves me and is working all things together for my good.  If that means I have to wait, then wait I will.  I will pray and praise.  My hope is in the name of the Lord who made heaven and earth. 
     As the next few days pass, I will wait for the answer to my question.  What will I do?  I won't be at the piano playing and singing.  I will be placing my trust in my Jesus, reading the Word of God, and praying that whatever happens God's will is done in my life.  
    What about you?  Are you waiting for God to reveal something to you?  Are you praying over a life situation and wishing God would answer quickly?  Are you seeking Him and trusting Him to work all things together for your good?  Leave me a comment and let me know what God is doing or has done in your life.  I would love to hear about it!

Enough Wet Wood!

     I had the wonderful opportunity yesterday to speak to another beautiful group of ladies.  God graciously continues to open doors for me to share the lessons He teaches me.  My friend and I have the privilege of speaking together, and we constantly stand amazed at how God gives us lessons which He puts together for a weekend of talks that touches not only our own hearts as we grow in our faith, but also the hearts of the ladies we are speaking to.  It's so wonderful to be a part of all that!
     The theme of the conference this weekend was Fan the Flame.  I wonder, is your fire smoldering or blazing?  Second Timothy 1:6 tells us to rekindle afresh the gift of God which is in us.  Matthew 5 tells us not to hide our light under a basket.  There is a challenge for us there.
     I am convinced that many, if not most, of us living here in the south have lived our lives satisfied with a mediocre Christian walk.  Church is just something we do.  It's expected, so we follow along to fit in.  We are wet wood.
     Have you ever been camping on a chilly, damp October weekend?  Looking for wood to start a campfire becomes difficult.  You gather small pieces to kindle the fire, most of it is damp, wet, and hard to ignite.  When, finally, the spark catches, you might blow onto it ever so gently.  Then, carefully so as not to smother the fire that is beginning to grow, you pile on a little more wood.  Larger pieces than before, until finally you add the large logs that will burn for a long time. 
     My husband and I have worked for that campfire more than once.  When we finally got it going, we stacked the big pieces of wood close to the fire so they could dry out and be ready to burn. We didn't want to put out the fire by adding wet wood.
     Such is our walk with the Lord.  We need to begin to stack up those small things: answered prayers, encouraging words from friends, a sermon or lesson that convicts us, the desire for more and more of the Word, and allow our fire to ignite into a beautiful flame.  That flame then lights the world around us.  We have something special about us.  Each of us does.
     When we walk with the Lord, He specifially equips us and gifts us to accomplish His work here on Earth.  Your job is different from mine.  My work is different from my husband's.  The analogy in scripture is a body.  I need my eyes, ears, hands, fingers, toes, each for a different purpuse.  Each is equally important to me.  I broke my big toe in the ball joint a few years ago.  It will never be the same.  Sometimes when I take a step I feel the twist in my foot as my toe won't bend completely like it did before.  Even so, I'm glad it's still there! 
     I have a friend who is losing her sight.  She has a cane now to help guide her so that she doesn't run into things.  She can't drive.  She has to depend of friends to get places. 
     That's what the body of Christ is like when you don't do what God has called you to do.  Don't be confused about this.  It's important that each of us understand.  If you are a child of the King, then you are called.  Called to be a light to this dark world.  Called to be a part of a functioning body. So if you don't function, that part of the body of Christ is off-balance.  Paralyzed.
     My friend, I urge you to seek the Lord.  Serve Him with all your heart.  Dig into His Word, and share your light with the world all around you. I am so grateful for the opportunities that continue to come my way.  Do I consider myself a speaker? Not really. What I do know as absolute truth is the drive deep in my soul to obey when the door opens and I am asked to teach.  Then I have that feeling of satisfaction and delight that I am walking the path God has put before me. 
         What about you?  What is it that you do that you KNOW is God's plan for your life?  Rekindle afresh the gift of God which is in you.