Waiting for the Lord's Timing

I feel as though I am always in a state of waiting. As much as I try to live in the present and take the opportunities presented me, there are some things that I have prayed over for years, and yet the Lord has not yet said "it is time." I cry over this a lot. I ask God, "Why?" a lot. But, I have a choice to trust God, or not. I choose to trust Him, and desire that my will is for His will to be done. And I will wait on Him.......Lisa

Streams in the Desert - March 8

March, 8

When We Are Ready

"Blessed are all they that wait for him" (Isa 30:18).

We hear a great deal about waiting on God. There is, however, another side. When we wait on God, He is waiting till we are ready; when we wait for God, we are waiting till He is ready.

There are some people who say, and many more who believe, that as soon as we meet all the conditions, God will answer our prayers. They say that God lives in an eternal now; with Him there is no past nor future; and that if we could fulfill all that He requires in the way of obedience to His will, immediately our needs would be supplied, our desires fulfilled, our prayers answered.

There is much truth in this belief, and yet it expresses only one side of the truth. While God lives in an eternal now, yet He works out His purposes in time. A petition presented before God is like a seed dropped in the ground. Forces above and beyond our control must work upon it, till the true fruition of the answer is given.--The Still Small Voice

I longed to walk along an easy road,
And leave behind the dull routine of home,
Thinking in other fields to serve my God;
But Jesus said, "My time has not yet come."

I longed to sow the seed in other soil,
To be unfettered in the work, and free,
To join with other laborers in their toil;
But Jesus said, "'Tis not My choice for thee."

I longed to leave the desert, and be led
To work where souls were sunk in sin and shame,
That I might win them; but the Master said,
"I have not called thee, publish here My name."

I longed to fight the battles of my King,
Lift high His standards in the thickest strife;
But my great Captain bade me wait and sing
Songs of His conquests in my quiet life.

I longed to leave the uncongenial sphere,
Where all alone I seemed to stand and wait,
To feel I had some human helper near,
But Jesus bade me guard one lonely gate.

I longed to leave the round of daily toil,
Where no one seemed to understand or care;
But Jesus said, "I choose for thee this soil,
That thou might'st raise for Me some blossoms rare."

And now I have no longing but to do
At home, or else afar, His blessed will,
To work amid the many or the few;
Thus, "choosing not to choose," my heart is still.
--Selected

One of the most important things to me in all the world is KINDNESS. It's what I want to live out, and what I need from others. And KINDNESS isn't niceness. Niceness is pleasantries that are good, but are surface at the most. KINDNESS is longer lasting, and it's source is heart-based. Maybe that's why the church (i.e. Christians) pour out kindness, ---because our hearts are set on Jesus. Kindness NOTICES and ACTS. -----Lisala

Living Love - Week of March 3

Standing Out

As God's chosen people, holy and dearly
loved, clothe yourselves with compassion,
kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
—COLOSSIANS 3:12

In the later centuries of the Roman Empire—and the early centuries of the Christian era—the once-proud empire suffered a series of setbacks. Wars, waves of invasion by Germanic tribes, and devastating epidemics led to a fractured, failing society.

In the face of terrible conditions, political elites and their non-Christian priests fled the cities. The only functioning social network left was the church, which provided basic nursing care to Christians and non-Christians alike, along with hope that transcended death. Even pagans acknowledged that early Christians were as kind to their neighbors as they would be to family. What made the church so powerful during that time was not artful persuasion but serving others with love.

The world is much different today, of course, but we have similar opportunities to show kindness to others. Think about the Asian tsunami of 2004 and Hurricane Katrina in the United States in 2005. Our nation responded to both catastrophes. But in many instances the church was the vehicle through which help continued to arrive. Christ-followers wanted to make a difference in others' lives, simply for the sake of sharing love. The influence of such acts of kindness is immeasurable. As history shows, entire cultures can change as a result of the Christian community practicing the love of Christ.

Prayer

Thank you, Lord, for using things as simple as acts of kindness to point people to you.

The Value of God's Word

For a little while now, I have been discussing the whole concept of "God's Word"--and what that really means. Although I am still pondering this----- (and my thoughts are on a separate blog just for that purpose)----when I read today's devotional, it touched on a lot of things I've already been going over. Kinda crazy!---LL

In Touch - Mar. 5, 2010

March 5
The Value of God's Word
2 Timothy 3:14-17

From the opening line of Genesis to the final words of Revelation, all of Scripture is divinely inspired. And every word has purpose and importance.

The Old Testament introduces us to God's nature, ways, and power; it lays the foundation for us to understand the Lord's holiness and humanity's desperate need for a Savior. The New Testament explains that Jesus sacrificially became our "bridge" to the Father (John 14:6). Its writings clarify why we must trust Christ for salvation, how to live as God's children, and what to expect in this life and after death.

Through the Scriptures, almighty God reveals Himself to us. He also says that His Word is important for teaching, reproof, correction, instruction, and preparation for what we will face in life (2 Tim. 3:16-17). No other book holds such value for living.

Ephesians 6:13-17 compares the Word to armor, and for good reason: in the battle of life, we have a real enemy who wants to destroy us. But God's power is greater (1 John 4:4), and "dressing" in war gear daily prepares His children for the temptations, lies, and decisions they will face. We ought to be excited about the Word of God, for it is the only hope for mankind—and the only instruction that leads to victory both in life and after physical death.

The Bible predicted that many people would reject the truth, and a glimpse at our culture shows that to be the case. Don't let yourself fall into the same trap. Meditate daily on Scripture, and ask God to speak to you. Life without His truth is destined for failure.

Walking with the Spirit and in the Spirit

When I start "drifting" along in life, it's usually because I'm trying to walk through life on my own strength. Why would I want to do that, when I have access to this Power of the Holy Spirit? --LL

"Walking in the Spirit" - In Touch - Mar. 3, 2010

March 3
Walking in the Spirit
Galatians 5:16-25

The Holy Spirit is one of God's most precious gifts to His beloved children. He takes up residence within the believer at the moment of salvation and empowers him to overcome sin and live for God's glory and purposes. However, the Spirit's power can be "turned off" or ignored. Only those who choose to walk with Him have unhindered access to His strength and guidance.

Walking by the Spirit denotes reliance upon Him. He leads the way, and we follow. As He speaks, we listen, heed His warnings, and obey His directions. The Spirit's way is a path of surrender which, although difficult, leads to fullness of life.

God's Spirit not only guides; He also empowers because the challenge of obeying Him is impossible in our own strength. The Holy Spirit supplies everything we need to live a godly life, and He produces His amazing fruit in us.

Being led by the Spirit should be the natural lifestyle of the sons and daughters of God. As you intentionally seek to maintain an awareness of His presence throughout the day, He is only a thought away. When your mind turns to Him, He gives sensitivity to the things of God and understanding about the situations and people in your life.

Take a walk with the Spirit today, and learn to know His voice. Whenever your mind is not occupied with the duties of the day, focus your thoughts on Him, asking for His guidance and looking expectantly for His leading. When He gives it, rely on His power to obey.

Created for Kindness

I really needed to read this today. My heart is full of sadness and all I want to do is withdraw, but this reminded me of the lovingkindness of our Lord, and since He is the source of all strength and of all things--(including kindness)---I will let HIM fill me today, and every day.--LL

"Created for Kindness" - Living Love - Week of February 24

Created for Kindness

In the image of God he created him;
male and female he created them.
—GENESIS 1:27

A recent study at the Yale University Infant Conition Center reminds us that we are created to show and receive kindness. In the study, researchers had babies—ranging in age from six to ten months—watch a wooden toy try to climb to the top of a roller-coaster incline. As the toy climbed, some toys came along to help it over the top, while others came along to push it back down. Then the babies were given the chance to play with any of the toys. Almost every child chose the toys that had helped!

We are created in the image of a kind God. That means we are drawn to kindness—and even search for it—from the time we are very young. We never lose our need for kindness, but as adults we sometimes value ambition and prestige more. Particularly in the business world, it can be easy to forget that our minds and emotions were made to respond to kindness, not harshness.

When we act kindly toward others, they will be drawn to us and to God. That's why being kind is so energizing. When we are kind, we are acting as we were created to act.

Prayer

Dear God, I want to choose every day to act and speak in the way you created me to.

My Cross to Bear

It is so easy to look at other people's lives and make assessments as to how hard, or how easy, or how blessed, or how cursed their lives are.

But we really do each have our own burdens to bear. The Lord knows each of us intimately, and meets each of us where we are at, and I am so thankful for that.---LL

Streams in the Desert - March 1

March, 1

The Lightest Cross

"And he went out carrying his own cross" (John 19:17).

There is a poem called "The Changed Cross." It represents a weary one who thought that her cross was surely heavier than those of others whom she saw about her, and she wished that she might choose an other instead of her own. She slept, and in her dream she was led to a place where many crosses lay, crosses of different shapes and sizes. There was a little one most beauteous to behold, set in jewels and gold. "Ah, this I can wear with comfort," she said. So she took it up, but her weak form shook beneath it. The jewels and the gold were beautiful, but they were far too heavy for her.

Next she saw a lovely cross with fair flowers entwined around its sculptured form. Surely that was the one for her. She lifted it, but beneath the flowers were piercing thorns which tore her flesh.

At last, as she went on, she came to a plain cross, without jewels, without carvings, with only a few words of love inscribed upon it. This she took up and it proved the best of all, the easiest to be borne. And as she looked upon it, bathed in the radiance that fell from Heaven, she recognized her own old cross. She had found it again, and it was the best of all and lightest for her.

God knows best what cross we need to bear. We do not know how heavy other people's crosses are. We envy someone who is rich; his is a golden cross set with jewels, but we do not know how heavy it is. Here is another whose life seems very lovely. She bears a cross twined with flowers. If we could try all the other crosses that we think lighter than our own, we would at last find that not one of them suited us so well as our own.--Glimpses through Life's Windows

If thou, impatient, dost let slip thy cross,
Thou wilt not find it in this world again;
Nor in another: here and here alone
Is given thee to suffer for God's sake.

In other worlds we may more perfectly
Love Him and serve Him, praise Him,
Grow nearer and nearer to Him with delight.
But then we shall not any more
Be called to suffer, which is our appointment here.

Canst thou not suffer, then, one hour or two?
If He should call thee from thy cross today,
Saying: "It is finished-that hard cross of thine

From which thou prayest for deliverance,
" Thinkest thou not some passion of regret
Would overcome thee? Thou would'st say,
"So soon? Let me go back and suffer yet awhile
More patiently. I have not yet praised God."
Whensoe'er it comes, that summons that we look for,
It will seem soon, too soon. Let us take heed in time
That God may now be glorified in us.