It’s a simple thought really! One of the core beliefs of our Incredible God, Eternal Father, and Everlasting Prince is that He is unchanging!
Jesus, the Anointed One, is always the same—yesterday, today, and forever. Hebrews 13:8 tPt
And yet, this unchanging Bridegroom loves us so intensely that when we get it… when we grasp just a smidgen of that love, when we open our hearts to be loved unconditionally, His love changes EVERYTHING! It changes how we view ourselves and how we view others. It changes how we perceive our difficult circumstances. His love changes how we view the hurting around us. It changes our actions AND reactions! His love changes everything!
Let that seep deep into your spirit today! His love for you is unchanging and yet, His love for you changes everything!
My prayer for you is that you will grasp and BELIEVE that His love for you is unconditional, relentless, and unchanging… that you would trust this truth a little bit more today than yesterday and tomorrow, more than today!
16 And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. 17 This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus. 18 There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. I John NIV
He is the Lover of your soul and the keeper of your heart! He wants the very best for you!
Live loved,
My family is evidence that His love changes everything! #thankfulheart #Imabeliever Photo Creds: Jaime Hinton
Perspective: (noun) a particular attitude toward or way of regarding something; a point of view. Have you ever thought about what influences your perspective on events in life? Situations and challenges we encounter are filtered by our gender, age, culture, ethnicity, and most of all, our outlook and experiences!
This Sunday, it was an honor and privilege to share at Freedom International Church about rewiring our perspective to line up with God’s!
How exciting it is to know that because we are filled with the Holy Spirit, we have the mind of Christ! However, we need to purposefully pursue His heart and His ways on a daily basis.
In the video, I talk about Neural pathways. Below, I’ve linked a video that shows Neural pathways being formed (note: Use of this video does not indicate support of the website cited at the end of the video). If you are interested in more information about changing behavior patterns, you can read more about the “Neuroscience of Behavior Change” here: https://healthtransformer.co/the-neuroscience-of-behavior-change-bcb567fa83c1
I hope you enjoy this teaching about developing Neural pathways that form a habit of seeking the Supernatural Perspective in every area of our lives! It was a blessing to share and I hope that you are blessed and encouraged as well! (You may need to turn up your volume.)
https://youtu.be/TWkS2-zZ7oI
Here are the highlights of ways to develop a connection to our Father’s Perspective!
Trust in His goodness! His good plans for you and for those around you!
Proverbs
3:5-6: Passion translation
Trust in the Lord completely, and do not rely on your own opinions.
With all your heart rely on him
to guide you, and
he will lead you in every decision you make. Become intimate with him in whatever you do, and he
will lead you wherever you go. tPt
Romans
8:28: So we are convinced that every detail of our lives is
continually woven together to fit into God’s perfect plan of bringing good into
our lives, for we are his lovers who have been called to fulfill his designed
purpose.
tPt
Trust
in His plan! Tap into His presence consistently and pursue His heart, Jeremiah 33:3: Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and
unsearchable things you do not know
Psalm
25:14: There’s a private place reserved for
the lovers of God,
where they sit near him and
receive the
revelation-secrets of his promises.[d]
He will speak to us! Not necessarily His plans,
or His timeline, or His purpose, but His heart!
Trust
in His process! Be transform, or renew, our thinking patterns by aligning them
with His
Romans
12:2: Stop imitating the ideals and opinions of the
culture around you,[a] but be inwardly transformed by the Holy Spirit through
a total reformation of how you think. This will empower you to discern God’s
will as you live a beautiful life, satisfying and perfect in his eyes. tPt
I Corinthians 2:16: “Who has known the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?”[a] But we have the mind of Christ.” Because we are filled with the Holy Spirit NIV
Trust
in His timing!Isaiah 40:31– 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. Differently translations say: wait, trust, & hope in the
Lord! He will cause us to soar and our
vision will be aligned with His!
Psalm 37:7 Quiet your heart in his presence and pray; keep hope
alive as you long for God to come through for you. And don’t think for a moment that the
wicked in their prosperity are better off than you. tPt
Live Loved!
P.S. If this encouraged you, please share on social media and comment below!
Who is God to you? Don’t answer too quickly. Pause…. think… let your mind navigate that question.
As I pondered this thought today, my mind rolled through scenes of my life. All He has done for me, all He has given me, all the moments of pain and joy that He carried me through! How can I adequately articulate who He is to me?
But now, this is what the Lord says— He who created you, Jacob, He who formed you, Israel: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are Mine. 2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. Isaiah 43:1-2
From Genesis to Revelation, the attributes of God, His
character, His heart, His goodness is referred to by many different titles! From Abba to Y’shua, Alpha to Omega, over 900
names and titles1 still cannot capture the essence of who our God is
to His people!
I Am… He is the I Am… everything we need can be found in Him! I find such peace in knowing that no matter
what I need, He has a way to meet that need.
He holds me in His lap and allows me to rest my head against His
chest. His presence eclipses my need
when I choose to dwell there! Who is God
to me? Daddy! I find my greatest fulfillment in my relationship
with Him as a daughter, accepted, valued, loved unconditionally, His
princess. THAT fills my love tank!
But who is He to you?
He wants to be your everything!
But He will start by being your Savior, your Father, your Healer, your
Deliverer.
Has it been awhile since you’ve connected with Him? Talk to Him today! Find that quiet place where you can pause and
listen. He wants to love on You and draw
you into His arms. There’s such peace in
that place! He will not reject you! He will not scold you! He will set you on the path He designed for
you just as a parent would redirect a child riding his bicycle in the
street.
Are you in need today? He is a Way Maker! He is a Miracle Worker! Let Him be who You need today! Our God is a Light in Your Darkest places!2
“God is not human, that He should lie, not a human being, that He should change His mind. Does He speak and then not act? Does He promise and not fulfill?” Number 23:19
“For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through Him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God.” II Corinthians 1:20
This Father’s Day, our worship team, like many others, led us
in the song, “Good, Good Father.”1
How beautiful it must have sounded in the realms of Heaven, hearing
strains of this song echoing from all over the world. What a powerful truth that the enemy has
tried to steal from the hearts of society as a whole.
Think about it, over the past 40 years, the media has tried to erase the remnants of fathers worth respecting. It has presented us with examples of fathers that are foolish, clueless, outdated, and dull. It has attacked strong fathers as being macho, selfish, or chauvinistic. Stereotypes have been applied and enforced through television shows, lyrics, and comics strips.
As the respect for fatherhood declined, so did the fathers. Men began abdicating their role in droves eventually creating a generation that was dubbed, “The Fatherless Generation.”2
That’s not to say that there haven’t been some poor examples of fatherhood. Many can attest to experiencing painful childhoods because of absent, uninvolved, or abusive fathers. And when your father memories are fraught with pain, the idea of God being a good, good Father is foreign and unrealistic.
But the role of fatherhood was created to be an expression of
love and provision throughout childhood as well as one of guidance and wisdom
for life. It was originated by our
Heavenly Father when He breathed His very breath into Adam and when He created
Adam and then Eve, in His own image.3 He spent time with them each day, walking and
talking. That is the heart of the
Father! It’s a commitment of love that
allowed Jesus to walk through a tortuous death and resurrection in order to
reestablish a pathway of relationship with us!
We need fathers! We need YOU, Dads!
We don’t need you to
be perfect but present!We need fathers who will:
Listen to silly jokes and never-ending stories
Paint fingernails and toenails while sipping imaginary tea
Toss baseballs and practice dance moves
Schedule son events and daughter dates
Celebrate successes and rising from failures
Work elbow to elbow in chores and homework
Be teachable yet confident, kind yet firm
Demonstrate generosity, integrity, and faith
Lead, honor, and love through every season
I know, that’s a tall order, isn’t it? But the payoff is without comparison! “The father of a righteous one rejoices greatly.
Whoever fathers a wise child delights in him.” (Proverbs
23:24 TLV) How does a father end up with
a righteous and wise child? By following
the example of the Father of fathers! What
makes God a good, good Father? He is loving,
kind, compassionate, faithful, wise, merciful, generous, and oh, so,
patient!
You may be thinking, but He is perfect and I am not. That’s true, but… His perfect love can flow
through you–a less than perfect–but teachable
father! Trust that He loves you enough
to give you all that you need to be the dad your family needs!
Dads, don’t shy away from your role! Fathers are an integral part of God’s plan for healthy families a necessary foundation for healthy communities! Not only do biological and blended families need their dads, but there are emotionally hungry children who need adopted dads, and spiritual orphans who long for spiritual dads. Allow the Father’s love and character to flow through you to the next generation! Your investment will bring dividends that far outlast your life here on earth!
Live Loved,
I’m immensely proud of this amazing man! He loves deeply and well. He is teachable and generous! I am ever so thankful for this Dad and my own Dad & Dad-in-Love! <3
P.S. It’s fascinating to learn about how young bull elephants
act when the male role models are missing from their lives: https://youtu.be/5gsNjI99eFE
1Good, Good Father by Christ Tomlin, Songwriters: Anthony Brown / Pat Barrett
Storms, like most natural phenomena, carry their fair share of beauty… the dancing breezes, showers of raindrops, brilliant displays of flashing light, and commanding rumbles of thunder. In Florida, our summers are known for daily doses of thunderstorms. Most of the time, it’s a manageable inconvenience that we weather our way through (pun intended!) knowing the sunshine will chase away the remnants of the storm soon enough. But sometimes those storms are not inconsequential and are not quickly followed by the sunshine.
If you have lived more than a decade or two, you are well aware that life carries storms much like the Florida skies. Some storms are intense yet brief and are quickly followed by smooth sailing. Other storms leave us feeling marooned on an island of pain and confusion, wondering if we will ever feel soul-healing sunshine again.
As I look back on my journey, there are several distinct times that I remember feeling very storm-ravaged by life’s circumstances. During those times, I felt like the rug had been pulled out from under me and I was flat on my back wondering where it had all gone wrong. If that’s where you are today, I want to encourage you! There is a clear horizon on the other side of the storm! Keep moving forward, moment by moment, day by day, knowing that you WILL come through this storm and you will have a story to tell!
In Mark 4, we read the account of Jesus and His disciples taking a boat trip. When they were in the middle of the lake a violent storm whipped the boat around and the disciples were sure that death was upon them so they ran to wake Jesus. “Teacher, Teacher, wake up! Don’t you care that we are going to die?” Jesus brought perfect calm in the midst of the storm, then turned to His disciples and asked, “Why are you so afraid? Haven’t you learned to trust yet?”1 They were awe-struck!
In the midst of this storm, the disciples got a revelation! They encountered the truth that this Jesus was no ordinary man. He wielded power over the wind and waves! When they crossed over to the other side, their minds were eager to see more evidence of who this amazing Teacher was. AND they had a story to tell! Two chapters later, we see Jesus sending them out to preach and to demonstrate the power that they had seen in action.
What does this storm story bring to your stormy
situation? Be encouraged! Your storm isn’t worthless. God can take any difficult situation, even ones
caused by our own choices, and bring good out of it! Here are some proven “Storm Tips:”
Rest: Jesus, the son of man slept; but Jesus, the Son of God, never sleeps! He is always available to you! While He may not change your circumstances, He will calm the raging seas of confusion and doubt in your heart. He will bring supernatural peace in the midst of chaos allowing you to rest in Him. He is trustworthy!
Revelation: In the storm, Jesus revealed His power to the disciples up close and personal! Storms are perfect places to encounter Jesus! He will reveal Himself to you in new and tangible ways during the difficult times. The best thing is, no one can take that revelation away from you! Your new understanding of who He is becomes part of your firm foundation enabling you to stand in the midst of any storm owning your faith.
Readiness: No storm lasts forever! Your skies will clear and you will get to the other side of this situation. As you embrace the process of dealing with the debris your storm has left behind (healing, forgiving, rebuilding), you will find yourself ready to go to another level of understanding and victory. You will have a story to tell about the Storm-Stabilizer!
Remember I mentioned those times that I had felt very storm-ravaged by life’s circumstances? As I allowed my mind to look back and mull over those difficult times, I realized a few things that are encouraging:
My pain has faded as a result of forgiveness, time, and healing.
My understanding of the Lord as Father, Healer, Friend, and Lover of my soul is so much deeper.
Experience and increased faith allow me to encourage others in their storms.
I have stories to tell! He has seen me through every storm to the other side! Let’s meet for coffee some time and I’ll share one!
There is no wasted pain when we submit it to the Father! There’s beauty… even in the midst of the storm… when you realize you’re with the Storm-Stabilizer!
On the other side of the storm, someone needs to hear your story. Be alert and ready to be used by the Lord to help someone else weather their storm!
Live Loved,
P.S. Please comment and share if this encouraged you! Blessings!
I rarely watch the news; the hate-filled acts across the world leave me heart broken and frustrated. Have you ever, like me, wondered… Why is there so much hate in the world?
Is hate caused by pride? Self-righteousness? Anger? Self-loathing?
Pain? Fear?
Most likely, it’s a combination of these and more.
But maybe you feel “hate” is too strong a word for the pervasive disregard and lack of decency we see on the news, in the store, in schools, in our neighborhood… regardless, there’s a grass roots effort to perpetuate this hatred.
The enemy of our soul is the source of hatred; Satan
(meaning adversary), roams around on the earth delighting in causing death and
destruction (John 10:10). Again, why?
Biblical passages indicate that Lucifer, now known as Satan, became prideful, wanting to be like God or even above God.1 You see, angels were created by God, but they were not made in His image or to be like Him.
But who IS made in His image? You and me! How Satan must have raged when He realized that God was creating man-male & female-to reflect His heart, His mind, and His nature! God gave us what Satan couldn’t have, His likeness. No wonder Satan is on a rampage to destroy us! His jealousy fuels his hatred of all mankind.
Satan and his minions have diverse tools of destruction at their disposal. Sadly, many of those tools we put straight into their hands through our own decisions or lack of decision. But the greatest tool he wields is that of identity stealer!
How does he steal our identity? Lies, whispered lies, constantly flowing through the media, through others, through our own self-criticism. Lies that lead to pride, self-righteousness, anger, self-loathing, pain, and fear. His lies are meant to convince us that we are nothing like God, that we are alone, that we must fight to get what we want. Ultimately, these lies are meant to steal our God-given identity: Loved one.
When the enemy’s lies block out the truth of who we are, we become victims of a stolen identity!
Victims of stolen identity malfunction in thinking and in relationship. They may think themselves better than others or never good enough. They may feel entitled or victimized. They fear those who look, act, think, or believe differently than themselves. Victims of stolen identity struggle with emptiness and confusion that ultimately leads them to hurt others. Does any of that sound familiar? It does to me!
The solution? A journey of discovery! Destination: Identity Restoration!
In an atmosphere of love, children thrive! They are free and expressive. Ask them
who they are and they declare their name and age. Ask them who they belong to and they’ll throw
their arms around a loving adult in their life.
Children play with any other pint-sized person that crosses their path,
never requesting political leanings, portfolio proof, or family history. They have not yet been branded by the lies
that steal confidence in who they are.
That childlike confidence is still possible for you and me! It’s a confidence born of trust in a Loving Father who created us to look like Him. He looks on us in delight, even in the middle of our mess, because He sees in us, His own reflection! Don’t get me wrong, He doesn’t delight in our poor choices. They grieve His heart in the same way our children’s painful choices grieve us. Yet, we as parents, look beyond our child’s actions and see the child, our child, precious and irreplaceable! Why would Daddy God look at us any differently?
This is the basis of our identity: We are His beloved creation! That’s right! No matter who you are, what you believe, what skin you’re coated in, where you live, what you’ve done, what’s been done to you, how you dress, who you sleep with, what you’re addicted to, or how angry you are… God loves YOU! He is deeply smitten with you, His beloved image-carrier! Your true identity is found in Him! I’m sorry if anyone has made you feel less than loveable. It’s not true! You are worthy of being loved just because you are made in the image of God!
I challenge you… go on a journey of discovery! Ask God to help you sense His love and develop a deep revelation of His love for you! Look for Him in the burst of sunrise, the fragrance of a flower, and the sweet smile of a child. Search the Bible for the truth of His love for you!2 Allow your heart to blossom to the reality that you have an amazing identity: God’s image-carrier! You were designed to be a child of God. As you turn your heart towards Him, you will find security and confidence in His love for you. Your identity will be restored!
“And I pray that He would unveil within you the unlimited riches of His glory and favor until supernatural strength floods your innermost being with His divine might and explosive power.
Then, by constantly using your faith, the life of Christ will be released deep inside you, and the resting place of His love will become the very source and root of your life.
Then you will be empowered to discover what every holy one experiences—the great magnitude of the astonishing love of Christ in all its dimensions. How deeply intimate and far-reaching is His love! How enduring and inclusive it is! Endless love beyond measurement that transcends our understanding—this extravagant love pours into you until you are filled to overflowing with the fullness of God!” Ephesians 3:16-19 (tPt: the Passion translation)
If you are struggling to know and believe God’s love for you, please leave me a note and I will pray for you! You are not alone in your journey!
Live Loved! You truly are!
P.S. Please share on social media if this encouraged you! 🙂
1Isaiah 14:12-17, Ezekiel 28:11-19, I Timothy 3:6
2Jeremiah 29:11 & 31:3, John 3:16 & 15:13,
I John 4, Psalm 139:1-18
I don’t know about you, but when I’m alone in the car, I talk out loud… I talk to the Lord, I talk to the other drivers, I talk to myself, and I talk to the radio!
It’s possible that I looked a little cray-cray when I heard this song on the radio the other day! The beat grabbed my attention, but the lyrics…. Oh my! The lyrics resounded loud in my spirit and I couldn’t help pumping my fist in agreement!
Native Tongue by Switchfoot is a powerful statement about who we are and Who we came from! If we marry these two verses, you’ll see what I mean:
God is Love + God created mankind [us] in His image (I John 4:8, Genesis 1:27)
We were created to look like our Dad! He is love, He speaks love, He functions in love! Love is our native language! Take a listen: Native Tongue
We are born with the capacity to function in love and demonstrate love, but too often we are taught to function out of self-preservation, pain, and judgment. It’s time to go back to our native tongue!
Back before we learned the words to start a fight Back before they told us that the haters were right He spoke the truth, “let there be” and there was Love is the language, love is your native tongue
My heart is a beating drum My head in oblivion My soul, such a long way from My lips, my lungs, my native tongue
My friend, where did we go wrong? My Lord, we forgot our sound My soul, such a long way from My lips, my lungs, my native tongue
So sing it loud, get loud, get Louder than the voices in the crowd, yeah Even when they tried to drown you out, eh Your lips, your lungs, your native tongue
So sing it out, get loud, get Louder than the darkness and the doubts, eh Louder than the curses and the shouts, yeah Your lips, your lungs, your native tongue
What a challenge! Lord, Take us back to the Place where we were created from: Your heart! Teach us to communicate like You! Help us to function as You created us to, out of love, instead of pain, judgement, or pride! Help us to “get louder than the voices in the crowd!”
Live Loved! And you will impact those around you with love!
P.S. If this blessed you or encouraged you, please share on social media! Drop me a comment too! 🙂
Recently, I wrote a blog called “Nuggets of Gold.” It was an encouragement to each of us to search for rays of hope in our life and situations that will help us keep pressing on!
Yesterday, after another rough day in 5th grade world, my husband reminded me of this Japanese art philosophy: kintsukuroi. He said, “You’ve said the public school system is broken and you’re right! But you are the gold that fills in the broken cracks! Keep doing what you’re doing because you make the difference!” What a blessing his encouragement was to me!
This morning, as I sat in a meeting, he shot me a text reminding me that I’m the gold! His timing was impeccable as I sat across from a teary-eyed colleague whose struggle of self-doubt and discouragement mirrored my own. I was able to share the value of what we do and who we are to our students! Truly, we are the gold in a broken system.
As I determine to be a treasure-hunter, looking for gold in the dark and hurting places, I don’t want to forget to be the gold too. Join me in this: don’t just look for the gold in your difficult circumstances and challenging obstacles. BE the gold in whatever hurting system you are in! Brokenness can be made beautiful when it brings opportunities for problem-solving, healing, and growth!
When I decided I wanted to be a teacher, I had grandiose
thoughts of inspiring the next generation to thrive in their learning! I expected classrooms full of shining faces
anxious to hear all I had to share with them.
I just knew that I could help them love reading, embrace math, and
become flourishing writers! Years later,
I must confess that those dreams are quite tarnished and reality has firmly
ground out the spark of this naïve educator’s lofty goals.
Please don’t judge me harshly. I’m sure there are some who’ve had much better experiences than myself. But the reality is that today’s public schools are filled with students who accurately reflect the failing family structures in our communities. As the family units continue to disintegrate, the impact on the school system as a whole and the educators who daily pour into those students is intense. Most teachers I know are exhausted, frustrated, and downright discouraged. Yet, we come back each morning with a renewed hope that today will be a better day! In all honesty, it’s hard to keep that upbeat attitude in the midst of it all. Yes, the struggle is very real!
This week, my near-breaking point arrived as I was looking over a stack of essays. I’d spent a significant amount of time meeting one-on-one with nearly 50 students to discuss areas of success and growth potential prior to this new writing. As I skimmed through the stack, the lack of progress and even regression was utterly disheartening! I felt the dark stain of hopelessness oozing over my heart. “Why bother? I’m not making a difference! The need is so great, I don’t know where to even begin!”
If you know me, you know that this attitude is generally unlike me. I’d like to say that I’m able to always rise above it all, but that’d be less than honest. Those who walk in shoes like mine well know the feelings I was experiencing!
Such hopelessness is compounded by the sense of fighting a battle alone. This is why we need each other!1
We need to have others in our life that are there to prop us up when we are ready to tumble! And we need to be there for others who find themselves slipping down the slope of discouragement.2 For me, it was one of my co-workers who is well aware of all we face. She listened to me lament and then encouraged me to stop looking at the vast needs and focus instead on the points of success. She reminded me to be willing to accept and encourage the steps forward instead of demanding the leaps… of myself and of my students.
Her simple admonishment was just what I needed to hear. I long to be the miracle worker my students need, but honestly, the weight of such expectations will keep me tethered to frustration on a daily basis. So, I again settle in my heart that I just can’t fix it all. BUT I can be the beacon of hope my students need in the midst of their reality… no matter how they perform, which choices they make, or what emotions we encounter in our day. I need to be the one to search for and find those rays of hope. Those steps of success, no matter how small, are worth celebrating as progress!
It’s like mining for gold! Each student, each co-worker, each day… harbors nuggets of gold, virtual treasures waiting to be discovered!3 These gold nuggets are reasons to hope, reasons to be thankful, reasons to press on. That is the hope I need to remember and cling to when a breaking point looms on the horizon! “Gold mining” is an attitude I can and need to share with others who feel suffocated by the overwhelming reality of our chosen profession.
But it’s not educators alone, is it?! You may find yourself drowning under the flood of life’s demands… physically, emotionally, spiritually, relationally, or financially. Don’t give up hope! And don’t go it alone! There are hope-carriers around you that will remind you to look for the gold nuggets in the dark and suffocating places. You may have to search a little harder on some days than others, but they are there! The world needs you! Don’t jump ship! Find a beacon of hope on the dark days. Be a beacon of hope whenever the need arises.4 Together we can search for gold… reasons to hope and celebrate!
I’m not just a teacher, I’m a treasure hunter! How about you? You’re not just a _____________, you are a treasure hunter too!
Live Loved,
1Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 Two people
are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person
falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real
trouble. NLT
2Galatians 6:2 Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ. NLT3II Corinthians 13:11 Be joyful. Grow to maturity. Encourage each other. Live in harmony and peace. Then the God of love and peace will be with you. NLT
3Psalm 139:14 Thank you for
making me so wonderfully complex!
Your
workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it. NLT
4II Corinthians 13:11 Be joyful. Grow to maturity. Encourage
each other. Live in harmony and peace. Then the God of love and peace will be
with you. NLT
Waiting… It can be one of the hardest things to do. While waiting, we have little control over the timing or even the outcome. Think of the family sitting in the hospital anxiously, hoping to hear good news or the small business owner sitting, phone in hand, hoping to hear from the bank on a much needed loan. Sometimes we feel like professional waiters! The Word of God is filled with promises that are rarely fulfilled instantly. We spend a lot of time waiting to see the realization of what our hearts crave come to pass.
And yet, there’s beauty in the waiting.
Think of the bride waiting for her wedding day. She is not complacent in the waiting, she is planning, preparing, creating, and dreaming! The wedding day will be even richer for the those seemingly unending moments of anticipation!
Waiting… we spend much of our lives in the wait mode. If we are not careful, our waiting will become filled with all the wrong things: impatience, laziness, frustration, jealousy, bitterness.
How can our wait become a season of beauty? One in which we grow and thrive?
First, look back… I know, we think that we should never look back, right? Forget the past and push on! But wait! Think on the story of the Israelites crossing the Jordan in Joshua 4. After that miraculous crossing, God had the people set up an alter as a testimony of His mighty works for the generations to come. We want to look back with thankfulness for the blessings we’ve already seen come to pass in our lives! Create a “memorial” to remember all that God has done for you and your family!
“I will remember the deeds of the Lord: yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago.” Psalm 77:11 NIV
Journaling creates a tangible “monument” to God’s faithfulness!
Then, look forward! What are the dreams God has placed in your heart? What are you anticipating coming to pass? What promises have you been declaring over your life? God is the Dream-Giver and He doesn’t place desires for good gifts in your heart without a purpose. Look forward in faith! If your dreams look possible without Divine help, then maybe they’re too small. Dream big with the faith that what you can’t see can truly be! Write down your dreams and lay them at the feet of the Father in faith.
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11 NIV
Now… be present in the now. What is the Lord’s plan for you in the now? What will you do in the waiting? As you look back in thankfulness and forward in faith, I dare to declare that your present will be filled with grace for the season you are walking through! God’s grace will sustain you to not just survive, but thrive! He will give you what you need to yield fruit today, now, in your present circumstance. Trust Him! He has created you for His Kingdom purposes long before you stood in this place.1 He is faithful in your today, no matter what it looks like. Be patient in the waiting!
“I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live. That each of them may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all their toil—this is the gift of God.” Ecclesiastes 3:12-13 NIV
Consider these lyrics from Hillsongs’ Seasons, so encouraging!
“I can see the promise
I can see the future
You’re the God of seasons
And I’m just in the winter
If all I know of harvest
Is that it’s worth my patience
Then if You’re not done working
God I’m not done waiting
You can see my promise
Even in the winter
Cause You’re the God of greatness
Even in a manger
For all I know of seasons
Is that You take Your time
You could have saved us in a second
Instead You sent a child”2
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God designed us to live in the present, but not without the benefit of the past or the blossom of the future! Look back in thankfulness, forward in faith, and live in His grace for the now, knowing that there is beauty in the waiting.
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“Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, And whose hope is the Lord. For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, Which spreads out its roots by the river, And will not fear when heat comes; But its leaf will be green, And will not be anxious in the year of drought, Nor will cease from yielding fruit.” Jeremiah 17:7-8
Live Loved,
P.S. You are not alone in your waiting! Others are waiting too… comment and share this encouragement on social media! 🙂
