Waiting on God - Day 3

Read: Psalm 104

I have always loved the Psalms and God's power and His creation never ceases to amaze me. The lady I am a caregiver for loves to walk. Almost every day we'll go for 1-2 mile walks around her neighborhood. Such an awesome way to see evidence of His creation! I've often asked how people can look at the world around us and say there isn't a God. That all of this around us, came from nowhere, all by itself. That, for me, is harder to believe than a Creator.

O Lord, how many are Your works!
In wisdom You have made them all;
The earth is full of your handiwork.
vs. 24 






Challenge: How does God take care of His creation? 
As soon as I read this question, my mind immediately went to verse 28, "You give to them, they gather it up; You open Your hand, they are satisfied with good." As I said in my previous post Sparrows, God provides and cares about even the littlest things in life. 
Verses 14 through 23 talk about what God gives to us. The little things that we don't even think about, God provides. The big things that constantly weigh on our mind, God provides.

Yesterday I started off my day on a down-note. For some reason I was in one of those "Debbie-Downer" moods. At a really young age I learned to hide my emotions though (that will be another blog post possibly) so not many people, if any, are able to tell my true feelings at a given time. I had gotten home at the end of the day, and was still not in a happy mood. Company was over, and that was all find and good, but I still wasn't "feeling it." I sent up a quick prayer asking God to get me out of that funk I was in because I knew it wasn't right. I texted a friend, and not 3 minutes later, they said they were on their way. I am so thankful for the way that God provides friends at just the right time. He knew what I needed.  
Thanks guys! 

Waiting on God - Day 2

Read: Genesis 49

I'm going to be completely honest here. I was slightly clueless about how this chapter pertained to the devotional, but I still read the entire thing anyway thinking maybe a light bulb will turn on. Surprise, it did. To clarify, I will be the first one to tell you that I am certainly no Bible expert, just a girl posting her ramblings online for others to glean from. I'm not a theologian, or historian, so here are my thoughts...  

All throughout this chapter, Jacob is blessing the twelve tribes of Israel and in vs. 28 it says, "he blessed them, every one with the blessing appropriate to him."  Each tribe of Israel was known for something specific. Reuben was the firstborn and very honored, but he defiled that honor by sleeping in his father's bed. Simeon and Levi were known for their violence, Judah for waiting patiently like a lion with its prey, and the list goes on. The tribes, as different as they were, did not receive the same blessings. Jacob blessed them with blessings appropriate to each tribe. God didn't necessarily take away the blessing, but the consequences of the tribes choices affected the type of blessing they received. 

Challenge: How do you see blessings? 
The way I've always seen blessings is like this... 
Say a woman is pregnant and uses street drugs and smokes, she is not a believer in Christ. Now, it is pretty much common knowledge that street drugs will harm an unborn baby. However, at some point during her pregnancy, she becomes a believer, stops using the drugs, and changes her life around. She goes into preterm labor because of the drugs and smoking, the baby is fine, but they have to do surgery to save mom. She is unable to have any more children. 
Now, did God take away the blessing of children? No, I don't believe so. She (the mom) made certain choices prior to becoming a believer, and there are consequences to those choices. She has one baby, but she cannot have any more. 
The choices we make determine how much of the blessing that we receive.  

Blessings - Laura Story

Waiting on God - Day 1

To start out this blog post series, I'll give you a little background. I'm doing a 31 day devotional challenge in a series called Waiting on God by Andrew Murray. The devotional parts are written by Jeff and Brigitte Ritchey. Over the next 31 days I will try to post the devotional every day, but because I'm not always at a computer every day they might come one or two at a time. I'm hoping to be able to go back through these at the end and see how much I've learned throughout the challenge. I also hope that you as a reader will learn something as well.

Day 1
Read: Psalm 62

This is one of my favorite chapters in the Old Testament. It continuously reminds me that God is in control. He is my rock and my salvation, my stronghold; I will not be greatly shaken. 

At one point in the devotional portion for today the author says,

"Waiting becomes the only way to experience a full salvation, the only way, truly, to know God as the God of our salvation."  

 At first I was taken aback. Salvation does not depend on me waiting. Salvation is a gift. But then I read the statement again, and again, and again. I didn't get it. So I reread the entire paragraph; once, twice, three times. It finally hit me. The author isn't saying that  if we don't wait we are not saved. The author is saying that by taking things into our own hands over and over again, we are not trusting God and His perfect plan; therefore, we do not experience the full benefit of our salvation. If you don't trust someone, how can you have a real relationship with that person? Taking things into our own hands is saying that we don't trust God. If we can't trust God, the Perfect One, the Creator of the world, who can we trust? 

Challenge: Type your definition of what it means to wait on God. 
I feel like most people, when they hear "just wait on God" automatically think that they need to put their lives on hold. Just sit around and wait for God to drop it in your lap. I've found this is especially true with relationships, and jobs. I'm waiting for God to bring me the right person, or to give me the right job; and they complain that they have to wait so long. But those same people are not doing anything about their situation. How are you going to find "the one" (I don't believe in 'the one') when you're sitting on your duff and not going out? How are you going to get the perfect job - if you're not even applying for any jobs? Don't miss out on life, experiences, and relationships because you're "waiting on God." I don't believe that is what it means. 


Waiting on God means trusting Him to bring the right person, or job, or experience into your life at the right time no matter what. By sitting back and 'waiting' for everything to happen, that's almost like saying 'God can't bring the job or the person into my life unless I'm sitting right here.' No matter where you are, or what you're doing, if you're trusting God, and following His will, THAT is waiting on God. If you say you're trusting God, but then not living your life, you're really putting limits on what you think God can do. Of course don't make rash decisions. Pray, Pray, Pray. But as my mom always tells me...

Keep going through the doors until God shuts one.
Then find the new door that He has opened,
And Walk Through.

No Problem!

Have you ever said thank you to someone, and they replied with a flippant "No Problem" or "Its not a problem." Frequently this happens in restaurants, or grocery stores, but it can even happen in the business world. You say it to friends, relatives, employers. According to etiquette books, this is a highly disrespectful response, even if it is not intended to be. If we are serving someone, such as in a restaurant, it shouldn't be a problem for us. Its our JOB. But even with simple things as helping someone out. They give a truly heartfelt thank you, and our flippant response is "no problem!"

Someone brought this to my attention the other day, and at first, it shocked me. But then I began thinking about it, and actually caught myself saying it later that same day. Then I realized how true it is.

You might be thinking "Okay, so I say no problem, instead of you're welcome, what's the big deal?"

Let me put it another way. 

Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for this beautiful day that you've given to us.
No Problem. 
The many blessings that we've received throughout the day. 
No Problem. 
Thank you for the opportunity to spend time with friends and fellowship with them.
No Problem.
I ask that you give us a good rest of the day today, and a good nights rest so that we can be ready to face tomorrow.
No Problem.
Bless the hands that prepared this food, and let it nourish our bodies.
No Problem.
In Jesus precious name,
Amen. 

Hitting home yet?

How about a more serious situation.

Dear Heavenly Father,
I know I'm a sinner, and I know that You are the only One who can save me. I believe You sent Your Son Jesus to die on the cross, to pay for my sins. And that He is the only way to be saved from sin. I ask You to come into my heart Lord, make it whiter than snow, and forgive my sins.
Thank You for saving me Lord.
Amen.
No Problem! 
-God

Puts it into perspective huh? Maybe think twice before giving the response "no problem" from now on. I have.

Pinky Promise

The age old saying of bygone elementary school days... if you broke a pinky promise... it was over.





In the past few days, I've learned that some people have broken their word to me, and lied to my face multiple times. I'm not okay with that. If someone gives me their word, I want to be able to trust it. Kind of like a promise. I know, I know. You're probably thinking "We're no longer in elementary school, you don't pinky promise anymore. People are human, they're going to break promises, and not keep their word." Its true, its our sin nature, but when someone gives me their word on something, it'd be nice to actually trust them to keep it. Let alone to then blatantly lie about it and make me the fool? No thank you.

So many broken promises that lead to hurt and heartache, broken friendships, and torn relationships. As I was thinking about this during my 9 hour car ride yesterday, I was thinking about the times in my life that people didn't keep their word. Sometimes it hurt me, sometimes it was just whatever. Depending on how big a deal that promise was, depended on the severity of the hurt. I was getting pretty depressed. Yes, people are human, and they mess up. But then, I started  remembering all the promises that God has kept to me. A quote from the preacher at church a while ago says "Whatever God says is a promise. And whatever God says, He will do." God keeps His promises, He will never break His word.

A few Sunday's back, the sermon was on the Promises of God, and how people have two choices when God makes a promise to them. They can either accept them with faith, or they can doubt them. Are you having a hard time accepting God's promises, and trusting that He will keep them? It's hard sometimes, I'm not going to lie. Over and over again, every single day, I have to remind myself that God wants what is His best for me. His best for my life. It may not be what I think is best, but in the end it is His best that's what I need.

10 Promises Found in Scripture
1. He promises eternal life.
      - 1 John 2:25
2. He promises to never leave you.
      - Deut 31:6, Hebrews 12:5b
3. He promises good plans.
      - Jeremiah 29:11
4. He promises rest.
      - Matthew 11:28
5. He promises to supply all your needs (your needs, not necessarily your wants).
      - Phil 4:19
6. He promises strength in temptation.
      - 1 Cor 10:13
7. He promises peace.
      - Phil 4:6-7
8. He promises richness in faith and the kingdom.
      - James 2:5
9. He promises everything (pertaining to life and godliness).
      - 2 Peter 1:3-4
10. He promises forgiveness.
      - Nehemiah 9:17b, Acts 10:43

Sparrows

Why should I feel discouraged,

Why should the shadows come,
Why should my heart be lonely,
and long for heav'n and home.
When Jesus is my portion?
My constant friend is He.
His eye is on the sparrow,
And I know He watches me.
His eye is on the sparrow,
And I know He watches me.

Refrain:
I sing because I'm happy,
I sing because I'm free.
For His eye is on the sparrow,
And I know He watches me.
 
 Let not your heart be troubled,
His tender Word I hear,
And resting on His goodness,
I lose my doubts and fears.
Thought by the path He leadeth
but one step I may see.
His eye is on the Sparrrow,
And I know He watches me.  
His eye is on the Sparrrow,
And I know He watches me.

Whenever I am tempted,
Whenever clouds arise,
When songs give place to sighing,
When hope within me dies.
I draw now closer to Him,
from care He sets me free.
His eye is on the Sparrrow,
And I know He watches me.  
His eye is on the Sparrrow,
And I know He watches me.

Refrain:
I sing because I'm happy,
I sing because I'm free.
For His eye is on the sparrow,
And I know He watches me.

This song has come to my mind over and over again the past few days. My life is a bit crazy right now. I'm constantly having to tell myself to give it to God. I've had people ask me how I can be so happy when I have these things happening in my life. My reply - I'm free in Christ, and I can "sing" and be happy because my happiness isn't found in the things of this world. My identity and worth is in Christ, and no matter what happens in my life, or what people say or do to me, no one can take my faith away from me.

Matthew 10:29-31 and its parallel scripture Luke 12:6-8 say
Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? And yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So do not fear; you are more valuable than many sparrows.

Such a powerful reminder. But all the more so when you know what this verse really means. A farthing is one penny. A sparrow was worth half a cent in Bible times, less than a penny, and God will not let one of those sparrows fall. Are you not worth more than a sparrow? More than half a penny?

Think about it.