Waiting

I try very hard to give my writing ideas to the Lord. I want my words blessed by Him for the benefit of others and to point them to Christ. Sometimes I get ideas right away; other times I have to wait...and wait...and wait.

But I notice that when I do wait, I am amazed by the results. He knows exactly what needs to be said and when. He has never disappointed me when I've chosen to wait on Him.

Impatient? Don't be. You're better off waiting on the Lord. He'll bring about exactly what you need in His most appropriate timing.

"Lead me in Your truth and teach me, For You are the God of my salvation; On You I wait all the day." Psalm 25:5

Long Distance

Long distance used to be a big deal years ago. I remember watching an “I Love Lucy” episode where Lucy was trying to call Little Ricky from Europe and was having a difficult time getting through. Today, we have our cell phones that help cut the cost of long distance charges and have an almost instantaneous connection.

I spoke to my Grandmother yesterday who lives in New Mexico. It was great catching up on all the latest with her, and she enjoyed hearing the news about me and my family. At the end of the call she mentioned, “It would be nice to see you sometime soon.” Yes, it would be nice to be able to hop a plane to visit, but the costs don’t make a trip like that easy, especially when I have a family of six to consider in the factoring.

Too bad we couldn’t just transport ourselves like on Star Trek. It would save time and money, and allow for convenient visitations to see our loved ones. Unfortunately, that piece of science fiction has yet to emerge as reality; and I really doubt it ever will. I’ll just have to settle for those long distance phone calls and the occasional letters and e-mails that keep us all connected until the budget can afford another visit.

Ignoring the Warning Signs

Last week I sprained my ankle coming down my walkway. I heard a nice little pop as my foot twisted. There was immediate pain, but thankfully it didn't last long, and the swelling was minor.

This past Sunday, though, my ankle was throbbing. I wondered if I hadn't pampered it enough during the week, so I did a crash course in ankle care: elevating the foot, soaking in warm water and epsom salts, and wrapping with an elastic bandage. The swelling went away, the bruise stayed, and so did the pain. I decided yesterday morning I needed to see a doctor to rule out any possible bone fracture that such an injury could create.

I took a trip to urgent care and got x-rays and an exam. The good news is that my bones are fine. The bad news is that my pain will probably last for another month. I'm not really looking forward to that. But I do have to be thankful that I took the time to follow up on the warning signs my body was given me. If there had been a fracture, and I had ignored the pain, I could have done worse damage to my foot.

God gives us warning signs. He loves us so much that He wants us to follow His rules, not because He is a cruel dictator; but because He knows exactly what is good and healthy for us and He wants us to enjoy the life He has given us to the fullest.

Is God given you warning signs? Don't ignore them. Obey Him so you can be blessed.

Thoughts After a Rain

I love how the clouds look after a rain. They are like big white cotton balls or big puffy globs of cotton candy that float about in the wind. They look beautiful against the brilliant blue sky. The air is also fresh and crisp. No smog is sight.

These kind of days are near perfect. I wonder how much more beautiful a non-fallen world would have been like. It must have been absolutely spectacular.

When this world passes away, we will have a new heaven and a new earth (2 Peter 3:13). I can't wait to see what awesome beauty God will show us then.

You're Not Insignificant

Do you have friends or family that you see totally being used by God? Maybe they have been given the gift of discernment, the gift of encouragement, or even the gift of helps and you see God blessing their efforts. Then you look at yourself and wonder why God would create you to be so insignificant.

First of all, as a child of God you are not insignificant. He created you with precisely the right skills, talents, and physical makeup. No one else in the world is even close to His design for you. That shows significance.

Secondly, we aren't supposed to compare ourselves with others. Some people will be given many special gifts that bless God and others. Some will have only a few. But it is our focus with what God has given us that counts.

So instead of comparing yourself with someone, ask God to show you how you can be a blessing. Ask Him to guide you in the use of your skills and talents. Then trust Him to show you in His proper timing.

Choosing to Despair

I liked watching the “Anne of Green Gables” series on PBS with Megan Follows playing Anne Shirley and Colleen Dewhurst playing Marilla Cuthbert. One of the scenes that I particularly enjoyed was when Anne dramatically said, “I’m in the depths of despair!” Marilla’s answer was profound: “To despair is to turn your back on God.”

Despair is a choice we make when we choose to let our circumstances drown out the promises that God has given us in His Word. It is when we let the fears and doubts in our head overwhelm us to the point that we don’t see the light of His goodness.

Hope can penetrate this darkness. When we call out to God and trust Him to remove the despair, we will eventually see a little glimmer of hope that will blossom and grow as we ask Him to fill us with His Spirit.

Psalm 42:5 is a great comforting Scripture: “Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him for the help of His countenance.”

If we never look beyond our situations, we will despair. But if we give our troubles to the Lord and seek His light, we will have hope that will see us through. Don’t choose to despair. Choose to have hope from the Lord.

Buried in Bitterness

Are you angry about anything in your life right now? Is there a situation that you've been dealing with where you feel you've gotten the wrong end of the deal? Are your frustrations just getting worse? You are buried in bitterness.

Our mind is an amazing thing. We use it all the time to analyze, think, create, and function. But there are times when our minds can look at a circumstance, inplant doubts and fears and fables, and turn it into a melting pot of hostile feelings that make us unsympathetic, insensitive, and hateful. Once this bitterness grows, our mindset changes and we become something we would have been shocked to see in others.

Granted, some situations do call for anger. But the Bible tells us in Psalm 4:4, "Be angry, and do not sin." We sin when we take our frustration to the next level and express it in ugly thoughts and actions. When this happens, only repenting to the Lord, and asking for a renewed mind, will turn our stone cold heart into a healthy one (see Ezekiel 11:19 and Psalm 51). Then we need to hand the situation over to Him, and let God deal with the issue, since vengeance is for God alone (Deuteronomy 32:35a).

Are you buried in bitterness? Only God can dig you out!