In the Waiting

For many years, we have been waiting.  It has been an ongoing struggle.  I won’t go into details, but I will say it has been a battle that for me has been emotionally exhausting at times.  And it has to do with the health of someone in our family. (Nothing life-threatening. ) 

We are finally getting some answers and are at a place of peace with what we must do.  Last week we sat in a doctor’s office waiting to see the doctor.  I was sure she would confirm what we felt the Lord was leading us to accept and the step to take next in this journey. 

Glancing at my phone, I read the prayer request responses from a few faithful prayer warriors I knew would pray during this appointment.  Then I opened a book to pass the time and began to read.  Within the first paragraph, tears splashed onto the pages below.  My hand reached into my purse and waded through a variety of items in order to find the soft package of travel tissues.  Finding my tissues, I wiped my eyes, temporarily slowing the leaking. 

I again, turned to my phone and quickly texted a prayer request,

“We are still in the waiting room.  I just started tearing up while reading a book.  Please pray. I don’t know why I’m crying.”

As I typed the above request, my eyes fixed on the word “waiting”.  I couldn’t look away from it.  “We are still in the waiting…”

Still in the waiting.   For years, we have been in the waiting.   Perhaps I was emotional because I could sense we were almost done waiting.  Or perhaps it was because the wait has been long. 

Yes, we would have loved for the Lord to choose to heal our family member quickly and supernaturally.  Yes, and amen!  However, it doesn’t appear that is the road the Lord has chosen for this particular journey.  We have been seeking the Lord and praying about this particular issue for years, waiting and then moving when led, and then waiting some more.  We have seen God move and have seen progress.  However, we have not seen complete deliverance.  What we have seen, though, is our God being faithful to answer what the next step is, directing and guiding us every step of the way and helping us prepare our hearts for His next leading. 

At the doctor’s office that day, what we felt the Lord saying to us was confirmed by the doctor and we do have a clear path forward as we follow the Lord in His next step. 

Are we still in the waiting?  Yes.  But I have a peace that passes all understanding knowing we are in the waiting room of the Great Physician.  He is altogether good, loving, and trustworthy. It isn’t that He is too busy or doesn’t care or just wants us to wait.  If we are in the waiting room, there is always a higher purpose in it.

     

“I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, And in His word I do hope.” Ps 130:5

“My soul, wait silently for God alone, for my expectation is from Him.  He only is my rock and my salvation; He is my defense; I shall not be moved.  In God is my salvation and my glory; the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God.  Trust in Him at all times, you people; pour out your heart belfore Him; God is a refuge for us. “ Ps 62:5-8

Are you in the waiting room today?  The Lord is with you in the waiting. 

Father, I thank you that you are right in the middle of the waiting.  Lord, it is in Your Word that I hope.  I wait silently for You alone, O Lord!  My expectation is from You.  You are my rock and salvation, my strong defense and I shall not be moved.  I trust in You and I pour out my heart before You, O God.  You are my refuge, strength and shield.  Deliver by Your mighty hand.  Lead and guide me in your path of deliverance, healing, and restoration. And if waiting is part of the journey, I ask to see You in the waiting and for your full and perfect plan to be fulfilled.  I ask for complete healing, body, soul and spirit, In Jesus’ Name, Amen. 

Hemmed In

This is the memory verse for Proverbs 31 Online Bible Study "A Confident Heart" this week.  I love this verse. 

The NIV translation says, "You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me."  

"You hem me in"...mmm... doesn't that sound lovely? 

Today we are digging in deeper...

Part 1: "You go before me and follow me."  

In the original Hebrew, "hem" is the word tsuwr, and it means to enclose or secure.  Wow!  How comforting to know the God of the universe has us tucked in tight and secure.

"You go before me."  The Hebrew word for "before" is qedem.  It means aforetime, from the beginning.

God knows the future.  He is already there.  He has known it from the beginning.  He goes before us.

"...and follow me." The Hebrew word for "follow" is achowr.  It means the back side or rear.

 He is our rear guard behind us.  He hems us in secure in Him.

He is before us and behind us.  As my friend, Melissa Taylor, says, "We are a God-sandwich".

Now for Part 2: "You place your hand of blessing on my head."

The word "hand" is from the Hebrew word kaph.  One meaning is palm of the hand.  He not only inscribes us in the palm of His hand (Isaiah 49:16), but He also places His hand on us.  Again, God-sandwich!  

Another meaning for kaph was power.  God places His hand of our head and when He does, it is full of His glorious power!  Of course it is, after all, He is God, full of power and majesty!!

Wherever we go, He goes.  He goes before us.  He is already there.  He stands behind us to protect and guard and hem us in.  He places His Almighty and powerful hand of blessing on our heads!

Father, we thank You that You go before us and follow us, that You place Your hand of blessing on our heads.  Thank you for hemming us in and keeping us secure in You and Your power.  We need not fear the future, worry about the present, or fret about the past because You surround us as with a shield.  We are secure in Your love.  In Jesus' Name, Amen.   

Happy Endings

 I am currently leading a facebook small group for Proverbs 31 Ministries Online Bible Studies with Melissa Taylor.  We are on Chapter 5 of Stressed-Less Living by Tracie Miles. 

This book was God ordained for this time in my life.  Chapter 5 is no exception. There were so many treasures in this chapter, but if I had to remember only one point, it would be that the Lord remembers.  

In Chapter 5, Tracie explains the story of Hannah from 1 Samuel 1.  If you haven't read the story of Hannah, I encourage you to go and read it now. Hannah's heart desire was for a baby.  She was childless. 

"And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed to the Lord and wept in anguish." 1 Samuel 1:10

"...and the Lord remembered her."  1 Samuel 1:19

I love that..."and the Lord remembered her".

Do you feel as if the Lord has forgotten you?  Hannah may have felt like the Lord had forgotten her and her desire for a child.  He did not forget.  No doubt she had asked the Lord for a child before this day.  What was different about this request?  Desperation. 

There is something powerful that happens when we come to the Lord in desperation. 

Recently, I heard Karen Ellison, the founder of Deeper Still, explain that Jesus didn't go knocking on people's doors asking if He could heal them.  Everyone who received healing from Jesus was desperate and sought Jesus desperately!  When they sought Jesus desperately, He healed every single one who came to Him.  It wasn't even the healing they were seeking, they sought the Healer! 

Hannah was desperate.  Hannah sought the Healer and entreated Him to remember her.  He did. 

What are you desperate for today?  What part of your  life do you need Jesus to touch?  Your marriage?  Health?  Job?   Finances?  Children?  When we finally come to the end of ourselves and realize we cannot fix our problem, and we fall to our knees in desperation, He meets us and touches our lives and heals what only He can heal.

He has not forgotten you. 

Hannah's story has a happy ending and as Tracie wrote "I believe that our heavenly Father wants us all to have happy endings." (pg. 96) 

"As we make faith a priority and learn to trust in God's plans, even if we do not understand them or like them, the doors will be flung wide open for God to enter our lives and begin his mighty work.  During the wait we are called to fall on our knees just like Hannah and pour out our hearts to him.  We are called to live life in a state of dependency on Him, believing that His peace is available in any situation."  (pg. 97) 

The Lord wants us to seek Him.  I need Him to hold me, to protect me, to comfort me, and keep me shielded in His love.  When I curl up in His presence and seek His face, I feel safe, secure, and full of peace. He always guides me.  He always remembers my requests.  He remembers yours also. 

While we are waiting for the positive outcome, we can rest knowing He is working on our happy ending.  Even when the endings don't turn out exactly how we would have written them, we can trust that His ending is better.   We can trust Him for a happy ending.  He writes the best Books! 

Perfect Peace

Isaiah 26:3

 Anxiety is all around us in this world.  Many Christians struggle with anxiety and live with guilt because they know God says not to worry.

God does say not to worry, but you may be wondering how?  How do I not worry with everything going on all around me?  How do I not worry in this world of chaos and unpredictability?

The answer:  Our mind.  Anxiety is rooted in our thoughts.  Our thoughts determine our attitude.  The enemy will come to try to put negative thoughts into our minds, but he cannot force us to accept those thoughts.

When a thought comes, we need to assess the thought and not just accept every thought. Assess before you accept!  Does the thought line up with what God says?  If you don't know what God says, then go to His Word and see what he has to say about it.  If it is a negative thought, I about guarantee it isn't from God.

After assessing the thought and deciding that it doesn't line up with God's Word, we then need to disregard the thought and cast it out.

"Casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ." 2 Cor 10:5   

We need to take those thoughts that don't line up with God's Word and cast them down.  Sometimes this is easier said than done.  It may take many times, days, even weeks to change our thoughts.  It will happen though if we persist in our quest to rid our minds of destructive thoughts.

The verse at the top of the page says, "You will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you."  Peace may seem like a foreign far off fairy tale to you.  However, God is always faithful to keep His Word.  The key is our mind.  Again, if your mind is always thinking about the negative "What ifs", then it isn't stayed on Jesus.

If you are someone who struggles with worry and anxiety, please stop feeling guilty.  Guilt and condemnation are never from the Lord.  God doesn't say we have to keep our minds in perfect peace. He said, "I will keep him in perfect peace."  It is our job to keep our minds on Him.  It is His job to keep us in perfect peace.

We don't have the power in and of ourselves to keep ourselves in perfect peace, only He has that power.  He is faithful who promised.  God is not a man that He can lie (Numbers 23:19).  He will see that His Word is performed. 

Keep your mind on Jesus today.  He will give you a perfect supernatural peace that can only be found in Him.  Love you! 

Father, I pray that we would keep our minds on You.  I pray that we would cast down every thought and pretense that sets itself against the knowledge of You and take captive every thought and make it obedient to Christ.  Father, thank you that you keep us in perfect peace when we keep our mind on You.  We love you and trust you in all things.  Protect our homes, our country and our families.  We trust you.  In Jesus' Name, Amen. 

What Are You Looking At?

As a mom, the words "Do not!" come out of my mouth often.

Do not forget to put down the toliet seat!  Do not leave your clothes on the floor! 

Do not eat the dog food!  Do not pick your nose!

Do not....!

We moms know we mean business when the words "Do not" come out of our mouths.  This analogy is what I thought of when I read the verse above.  

God is our heavenly Father and just like we earthly parents tell our kids "Do not" for their own good, He tells us "Do not" for our benefit.  But, do we listen?

"Do not fear;  I am with you;"   

The great "I AM" is with us.  We don't have to fear because He has promised to never leave us nor forsake us.  His presence is always with us.  

I remember a time when my daughter, Sarah, was attempting something new and she was afraid she would fall.  I told her "Don't be afraid.  You can do this, and I am right here to catch you."  She continued to go across.  She kept her eyes on me, she knew I was right there with her and she made it across.  We need to keep our eyes on Jesus to make it across. What we keep our eyes on determines our reaction.  I looked up the word "anxious" in the Hebrew in the next part of this verse and I found it very interesting. 

"Do not be anxious:  I am your God."  The word "anxious" here is translated in other translations "discouraged" or "dismayed".  These words come from the Hebrew word "sha'ah" and it means "to look away, cause gaze to turn away". He is telling us, "Do not look away from me.  Do not turn away and look all around you.  LOOK AT ME dear child. I am your God and I love you so very much."


When we are anxious, discouraged, or dismayed, it is because our gaze has turned away from our heavenly Father.  We have looked away from Him and set our eyes on our circumstances, problems, or fears. 

"I will strengthen you and help you."

 He is our God.  When we keep our eyes on Him, we can remain steadfast, secure, and courageous.  We can be full of faith that our Father will safely help us to the other side.

"I will hold you up with My victorious right hand."  

We don't have to be afraid of the path ahead.  In fact, God says, "Do not fear".  God will lead us steady and strong and He will hold us up.  We can move forward in faith knowing that we will not fall.  We are victorious in Him.  We will make it to the other side.  Just keep your eyes on Jesus and do not fear. 

"You will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You." Isaiah 26:3

Do not fear.  Just trust. 
 

Lean On Me

I will say of the LORD, He is my Refuge and my Fortress, my God; on Him I lean and rely, and in Him I [confidently] trust! Psalm 91:2 AMP

The year was 1988.  Big hair was in with the puffy bangs sprayed stiff with White Rain.  I was in middle school.  My friend, Challie, and I were inseparable with our collars turned up and jeans rolled tight.  We were two teenie-boppers at the Peoria Fair.  We jolted to a booth boasting star-sighted singers could record a "tape" in a real music studio (Yes, I said "tape". I am that old.).  The tune we chose to record was, "Lean on Me",a popular song at that time.  Perhaps you are old enough to remember it?  

Lean on me, when you're not strong.  I'll be your friend.  I'll help you carry on.  Lean on me, for, for it won't be long and I'm going to need somebody to lean on.  Just call on me, brother, when you need a friend.  We all need somebody to lean on.

I"ll spare you and won't sing it. {smile} Thankfully, this was long before American Idol.  Simon would have chewed us up, ate us for lunch, and then spit us out!  (Sorry Challie, we were not good!)

However bad our vocals may have been, it doesn't negate the goodness of the song. 

When I look at the verse above, I see how our God wants us to run to Him and lean on Him.

He promises to be our refuge.   Merriam-Webster defines "refuge" as a shelter or protection from danger or distress.  He is our protection from danger or distress.  (Yes, He even protects you from my singing.) 

He promises to be our fortress.  A fortress is a secure place.  He promises to be a place of security.  

On Him I lean and rely, and in Him, I confidently trust. 

I need to know He protects me.  I need to know I can be secure in Him.  I need to know that He is my friend and I can lean on Him and rely on Him.  There are things I don't understand.  There are uncertainties that loom and threaten to quake my confidence.  No matter the circumstances, I will not waiver!  God is my certainty!  He is my confidence! I will confidently trust in the Lord, my God! 

God is inviting you to hear His sweet voice today. Won't you join Him in the quietness of His studio and record His voice in your heart...

Lean on Me when you're not stong.  I'll be your friend.  I'll help you carry on.

All is Calm...All is Bright

Come to me all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Matt 11:28

Rest for our souls.  Rest for our bodies.  Rest for our mental well-being.  Rest for our spiritual growth.

The song playing today is "Silent Night".  We all know the song and sing it every Christmas.  Think about the lyrics in contrast to the busyness of the Christmas season.

All is calm....All is bright.

Jesus came so our souls can be calm, so we can be bright as the star shining that night. 

It is hard to be a light with a stressed, hurried, and worried heart. 

The Greek word for  "rest" above is anapaulo.   It means:

-To cause or permit one to cease from any movement or labour in order to recover and collect his strength.
-Refresh
-To keep quiet, calm, and patient expectation

Do you need a break?  Do you need refreshing?  Do you need calmness and quietness?  Ask God.  Bring this promise to Him and ask Him to give you rest.  Ask Him to restore your soul.  Ask Him to quiet your mind.   Ask Him to fill you with His peace. 

The Lord is giving me a period of refreshing and rest.  I am so thankful.  He will do the same for you. 

He spoke this to me recently and He wanted me to share it with you this morning:

Where you are empty, I will fill you.

Where you are weak, I will be your strength

Where you are overwhelmed, I will be your peace. 

He is saying the same to you this morning.

Come with Me by yourselves to some quiet place and rest.  Mark 6:31

Instead of inner turmoil, we can have peace.  All can be calm no matter what is going on around us.  The song says "Sleep in heavenly peace."  We too can experience "Heavenly peace."   It is not just a song, it part of the gift God gave to us when He gave us Jesus.

Pausing for Peace

Thank you to everyone who left comments, liked on facebook, commented on facebook, or became a follower to enter in the Giveaway this week!  

Drum roll please.......................and the winner of the "So Long Insecurity" Giveaway is.............

Julia Pope! Congratulations! I will contact you.  : )

Last night the sky was illuminated with a double rainbow in the middle of the dark clouds.  Beautiful.  He spoke to my heart to say, This is for you.  I give you my peace, I give you a double portion.  Trust in my promises.  Do you have any dark clouds in your life?  There is a rainbow in the middle of it bursting forth, shining bright.  The clouds will vanish and all that will be left is the rainbow, God's promises always prevail.

Credit: Free images from acobox.com




(This was not the one I saw, I didn't take a picture of it. Still beautiful.)

This has been a CRAZY BUSY week.  Life for me lately has been full.  Can you relate?  Probably many of you can.  We have so much competing for our attention, demanding our time.  I would like to press "Pause" for a moment.



Pause....breathe.....soak in the truth of God's Word.  Soak in the depth of His peace.

I will give you peace in the land, and you shall lie down, and none will make you afraid.  Lev 26:6

Does fear of rejection, fear of the unknown, fear of failure, fear of _____ ever steal your peace? God said He would give us peace and that nothing will make us afraid. 

The Lord will lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.  Numbers 26:6

Great peace have those that love my law and nothing shall offend them.  Psalms 119: 165

You will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. 
Isaiah 26:3  


Oh, how we need to keep our eyes and mind on Jesus and trust in Him. 


Lord, You will establish peace for us.  For You have also done all our works in us. Isaiah 26:12

The Lord is completing all He wants to accomplish in us.  He will do it.  We can have peace rather than worry.  Worry is not from the Lord, peace is.


Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you.  Let not your heart be troubles, neither let it be afraid.  John 14:27

I pray the Lord speaks to you heart as He did mine this morning as I read these verses, these Truths.  I needed this today.  His peace passes all understanding (Phil 4:7).  Praying for a double portion of His peace to fill you and rest on you today.  Love you all!

Dear Heavenly Father,  I thank you for your peace.  Father, I ask for you to fill us with a double portion of your peace and rest today.  Oh, how we need You.  I pray for Your presence to be evident to all of us, that we would see You as we go about our day.  Our day may be busy, but you have promised to give us peace.  I pray that others would see Your peace in us, and want it as well.  I pray we would glorify you in all we say and do.  Thank you for your Holy Spirit and I pray for Him to fill us and rest on us.  We love you.  In Jesus' Holy name, Amen.