30
Nov '23
Let Me Be Frank… wait on the Lord
30
Nov '23
14 Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage;
wait for the LORD!
Psalm 27:14
Does it take courage to manage this holiday season? After all, the holidays can be difficult. Trying to manage relationships. Wishing there were more time. An empty chair where a beloved member of the family sat. Putting up ornaments as almost empty nesters. Hoping your kids call and talk for just a little while.
When we think of courage, we may think of burning buildings, skydiving, or beating cancer. “They are courageous… I don’t think I could do what they did. I’m not that brave.”
In his book David and Goliath, Malcom Gladwell writes, “Courage is not something that you already have that makes you brave when the tough times start. Courage is what you earn when you’ve been through the tough times, and you discover they aren’t so tough after all.”
I love the quote, but I want to add Jesus to it :0). In The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, the crew is terrified as the Darkness looms. Their ship moves closer and closer, and fear overtakes them. Lucy hears the voice of Aslan. He says, “Courage, dear heart” and that’s all she needed to hear.
Courage is what you earn when you go through hard times and come out the other side. It’s built in the waiting. The Hebrew word for wait is qāvâ. It means to hope for, but it also means to bind together – like a rope. As the rope twists and stretches, there is tension in the line. This tension brings us to courage. Waiting in the Lord and continuing to be faithful in the journey takes courage. Praying in the darkness and waiting for an answer takes courage. Finding joy in the little things while missing a huge part of your life takes courage.
Courage is what you earn, but when we wait for the Lord it’s God-given. What we thought would destroy us, only strengthened our faith in Him.
So many years ago, Jesus was born. Emmanuel – God with us. Before He died and was resurrected, He told His buddies, “Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.” (John 16:7)
Are you broken? Take courage. Are you overwhelmed? Take courage. Do you feel like you can’t go on? Take courage.
“Courage, dear heart.” I pray those words ring in your soul this Christmas. I pray that, in the waiting, you meet Holy Spirit in a powerful and illuminating way. Emmanuel – God with us. Wait on the Lord today and be strengthened in hope… He is faithful.
Soli Deo Gloria!
F –
11
Apr '22
Something Don’d on Me! don’t wait
11
Apr '22
If you wait for perfect conditions,
you will never get anything done”
(Ecclesiastes 11:4 TLB)
VACATION ALERT: Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines announced this week, what it says is the “Longest Cruise in the World!” It sails from Miami next year (leaves December 10, 2023) and will be gone for 271 Days! The “Ultimate World Cruise” will visit 150 ports in 65 Countries and ALL SEVEN CONTINENTS! You could see Casablanca, Morocco; visit the “Christ the Redeemer” Statue in Rio on New Year’s Eve; Antarctica, the Great Barrier Reef, Spain, India, the Great Wall of China…the Seven Wonders of the World, and so much more! It’s on ship called “Serenade of the Seas” that is 13 decks tall, 3 football fields long, has multiple restaurants, casinos, mini golf, arcade, rock climbing wall, 6 pools, and a spa. Cost for this NINE MONTH EXCURSION…starts at $79,000 per person! Wow! (But you can get a 10% discount if you pay in full by January 2023!)
But it’s what Michael Bagley, CEO of Royal Caribbean International, said in the announcement that caught my eye. “Coming out of the pandemic, now-more than ever-people have resolved to travel the world and MAKE UP FOR LOST TIME.” The Cruise industry has been battered by the last 2 years and lack of travel, with MANY changes being made to the whole travel trade. This is certainly a “Swing for the Fences” approach to answering that need to “make up for lost time.”
But “making up for lost time” can entail so much more than “travel.” It can be making up with that family member that you’ve been at odds with for so long. It can be reading that Bible text or that Marriage Enrichment book that you’ve MEANT to do, but just haven’t gotten “around to it.” It can even mean going home earlier, making meals together as a family a priority, praying with your spouse, praying FOR your spouse…or helping out a neighbor.
Life must be lived under imperfect conditions. If the only time you enjoy your spouse is when things are perfect, you’re not ever going to enjoy them. If the only time you enjoy your kids is when things are perfect, you’re never going to enjoy them. If the only time you pray is when you feel like it, the Devil’s going to make sure you never feel like it. Paul even says it differently: “WHENEVER WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY…do good to everyone!” (Galatians 6:10)
You have to live your life and enjoy what God’s given you today… in spite of imperfect conditions or circumstances. Stop looking for things to settle down. Don’t wait on “one of these days.” Do it now. Don’t wait…don’t HESITATE…do good for His Kingdom TODAY!
And if you’re looking for an early Christmas present for me, I’m a size “Balcony Suite” in Cruises!
SHALOM-Peace to Your Home,
Don
09
Jun '20
Let Me Be Frank… 5-20-20
09
Jun '20
21 I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in his word I hope; Psalm 130:5
The musical symbol you see here is called a “fermata.” When you see it over a note in music it means to “hold or pause.” And, if you crave control then the next question is “How long is the pause?” The answer… it depends.
This entire season of our lives has been a fermata. We want definite answers for our timeline because, trust me, we ALL have a timeline. We have things to do and people to see. We’ve planned our lives out perfectly and we don’t need something like a silly fermata to get in our way. Or maybe we do.
I wait for the Lord. The root word for wait in Hebrew is qavah. It means to wait for, to stretch, and even the tension of enduring. Has there been some tension in your enduring this season. I mean, “How long is this really going to take?”
I don’t want to waste this fermata. I don’t want to miss the life lessons the Holy Spirit is teaching me. He is stretching me. He is pulling me out of my comfort zone. I am becoming acutely aware of how much we all need connection in this current landscape. I am reminded of the power of a thoughtful text. And I love my neighbor’s baked goods… Want to know how we met them? At the mailbox when Marea asked Mrs. Barbara if she needed anything at the store. And now every week, like clockwork, a new recipe and smiles had by all when we see one another.
There is another side of the fermata. It’s a side that reminds me of my lack of control in any given situation. You see, the fermata means that something is going to be held longer than intended. And unless I’m the Conductor, I don’t get to decide.
What life lessons have you learned in this “season of the fermata?” It’s all about perspective. Has this season derailed everything or have we learned from it? Has our time been wasted or have we grown? The fermata will eventually end… How will we be remembered when this season has passed?
May we be found waiting in the Lord as He continues to “hold” us in His strength and power. Be hope-filled today, friends!
Can’t wait to share with you this weekend!
We are Central… and we’re in this TOGETHER!
SOLI DEO GLORIA
-F