Wait on the Lord!

There are times in the life of a believer, when we face circumstances that are harsh, unfair, brutal, stretching, and... (fill in your adjective here.)  We can pray and fast and beg God to move mountains, but not hear or see any movement on the horizon. Our human nature, in order to free us from this discomfort, wants to rush in, take control, and find an immediate solution to ease the pain.

If we move in our flesh, like Abraham and Sarah did with Ishmael, there will be consequences that could be even more heinous than the original trial. "The flesh profits nothing, but CAN produce something," a pastor recently shared. 

1 Corinthians 3 talks about works, done in our own strength, being burned up like wood, hay and stubble.  The only works that remain are those done in accordance with His will. Wait on Him! His way is the good way. Wait on Him!

Sometimes His silence is Him working something out in us. While you are in His waiting room, ask Him to move the mountains in your heart, so you can be ready for the answer He is bringing your way.  Lay yourself at His altar and allow Him to do the deeper work. Remember that He is faithful, even when we are faithless. Wait on Him! 

One On One Time

On Good Friday, I saw my 15 year old off for an eleven day missions trip to Uganda. I put on a brave front but hours after she had left I missed her terribly. I had plans (with my new found freedom) to catch up and encourage a back-sliddend friend over lunch. After lunch, I was upset. It SEEMED as if she was getting what she wanted in life and I (being a saint, by comparison only) was getting the short end of the stick. I began to question and I began to think that God forgot about me. I questioned if my prayers were ever going to be answered.

 

Then, feelings of guilt set in. I know my God and I know He loves me. I know He is faithful and I know He is true. Why did I question and why did I doubt? I went directly to church. I had already planned to go to Good Friday Service but now I had an hour to reflect on my behavior before service started. The teaching reminded me of what God DID do for me instead of questions of what He did not do. I repented, I communed and I was revived!!

 

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." - John 3:16 (NKJV)

 

On Easter Sunday, I felt I needed some alone time with God. Instead of doing big church, I opted to celebrate the rising of the Son, with the rising of the sun on Pompano Beach. I told God I needed one on one time with Him and I needed Him to speak to me. He is so faithful. He gave me His word on waiting for Him.

 

"We were given this hope when we were saved. (If we already have something, we don’t need to hope for it. But if we look forward to something we don’t yet have, we must wait patiently and confidently.) - Romans 8:24-25 (NLT)

Easter morning I drove to the beach only to realize a large church was having service there. The Holy Spirit led me to another part of the beach. I found the perfect spot, grab my blanket and walked out onto the sand towards the ocean. It was great... only 2 others on the beach. I sang worship songs, took a few pictures and began to pray. I'm not sure how long I was praying for, but when I lifted my head the others had left! He heard my prayer and answered it... one on one time with Him!

Challenge: Find some one on one time with God. Encourage your children to do the same. Pray and ask God to give you the time and to meet you there. He will!

“be more quiet now”

As a momma now for almost 23 years, I expect to be taught (often) by our children.  The post below is no exception.  Our oldest, Michelle wrote this for her blog, Delightedblogspot.com to share what God is teaching her, little does she know, He is trying to teach me the same thing. May you too hear God's voice through her words and be encouraged! A few days ago CH and I spent some time praying together. We have some open-ended questions right now and we simply asked God to show us his will and to continue to guide us. As we were praying, the Holy Spirit taught me something in a split second. It was as if I was sitting down to coffee with an old friend, one who knows how to speak my language and put me in my place at the right time. He said... "STOP LIVING LIKE YOU HOPE GOD SHOWS YOU HIS WILL. If you're a Christ-Follower (which I am) then you're already a part of his story. There is NO need to worry 'if he'll show you his will' or 'if you'll figure it out'. All you need to simply do is wait. You can have full confidence he'll show you when he's ready." I was cut to the core with the realization that I have spent too much of my life "hoping" I "figure out" God's plan. It's truly a lack of trust I didn't know I had. Sadly, I think this mindset is common (which is why I'm compelled to share this lesson with you). We as Christians sit around relying on ourselves to "figure" out God's desire for us. In reality God has promised to show us his will, we must simply trust and wait. Wait? But how long? I'm not sure, but I know an answer is coming. In the meantime I can drink a big cup of coffee, enjoy married life, and say with confidence that I know Christ holds our future. -Michelle *the title of this post is a reference to a song by the David Crowder Band A few days ago CH and I spent some time praying together. We have some open-ended questions right now and we simply asked God to show us his will and to continue to guide us. As we were praying, the Holy Spirit taught me something in a split second. It was as if I was sitting down to coffee with an old friend, one who knows how to speak my language and put me in my place at the right time. He said... "STOP LIVING LIKE YOU HOPE GOD SHOWS YOU HIS WILL. If you're a Christ-Follower (which I am) then you're already a part of his story. There is NO need to worry 'if he'll show you his will' or 'if you'll figure it out'. All you need to simply do is wait. You can have full confidence he'll show you when he's ready." I was cut to the core with the realization that I have spent too much of my life "hoping" I "figure out" God's plan. It's truly a lack of trust I didn't know I had. Sadly, I think this mindset is common (which is why I'm compelled to share this lesson with you). We as Christians sit around relying on ourselves to "figure" out God's desire for us. In reality God has promised to show us his will, we must simply trust and wait. Wait? But how long? I'm not sure, but I know an answer is coming. In the meantime I can drink a big cup of coffee, enjoy married life, and say with confidence that I know Christ holds our future. -Michelle *the title of this post is a reference to a song by the David Crowder Band A few days ago CH and I spent some time praying together. We have some open-ended questions right now and we simply asked God to show us his will and to continue to guide us. As we were praying, the Holy Spirit taught me something in a split second. It was as if I was sitting down to coffee with an old friend, one who knows how to speak my language and put me in my place at the right time. He said... "STOP LIVING LIKE YOU HOPE GOD SHOWS YOU HIS WILL. If you're a Christ-Follower (which I am) then you're already a part of his story. There is NO need to worry 'if he'll show you his will' or 'if you'll figure it out'. All you need to simply do is wait. You can have full confidence he'll show you when he's ready." I was cut to the core with the realization that I have spent too much of my life "hoping" I "figure out" God's plan. It's truly a lack of trust I didn't know I had. Sadly, I think this mindset is common (which is why I'm compelled to share this lesson with you). We as Christians sit around relying on ourselves to "figure" out God's desire for us. In reality God has promised to show us his will, we must simply trust and wait. Wait? But how long? I'm not sure, but I know an answer is coming. In the meantime I can drink a big cup of coffee, enjoy married life, and say with confidence that I know Christ holds our future. -Michelle *the title of this post is a reference to a song by the David Crowder Band

Renewal By Waiting

Hi Ladies!  My name is Dawn and I’m so excited to be a part of Parakaleo.  Two weeks ago, my friend, Patrice, told me about an opportunity to write a monthly devotional to share with other moms.  I’m very thankful the Lord has opened this door and I look forward to getting to know you all better.  For the past week and a half, I’ve enjoyed reading the posts that have been coming to my inbox.  

Before I go any further, I’d like to take a minute or two to tell you a little bit about myself.  I’m a mom to three amazing kids; Hailey, 16, Chase, 12 and Jillian, 11.  In a few months, my husband, Brian, and I will celebrate 20 years of marriage.  Six years ago, we relocated from Ft. Lauderdale to the mountains of North Carolina to plant a church.  I’m a native Virginian, so North Carolina was a little like going home for me, although, I’ve never lived a such a small, rural area before.  I would describe my life as organized chaos, between homeschooling, spending time with my family, working, and helping my husband in the church.  I’m very thankful for this opportunity to share my heart with you and I pray, that through this blog, the Lord will continue to be glorified and we’ll continue to be edified.

I don’t know about you, but I have a very difficult time waiting.  Whether it’s waiting on my chocolate chip cookies to finish baking (Mmm. I can smell them now), waiting for the Lord to reveal fruit in my ministry, and I’m embarrassed to admit, waiting for the cashier in Walmart; waiting is not my strong suit.  And we all know, as moms, we spend A LOT of time waiting, especially on our kids.  When they’re little, we wait for them to sleep through the night, to learn how to talk, and to learn how to walk.  When they’re older, we wait for them to come home at night, to get their driver’s license, and to receive acceptance letters from colleges.  Waiting plays a big part in our lives.  And sometimes, all that waiting can leave us feeling drained.  Sigh.  

But check out what Isaiah 40:31 says:

“But those who wait on the Lord

Shall renew their strength;
They shall mount up with wings like eagles,
They shall run and not be weary,
They shall walk and not faint.”  (NKJV)

Now, that’s certainly good news to me!  With all of the waiting I do in life, the most effective time I spend waiting is when I wait on the Lord.  When I choose to begin my day reading my Bible or a devotional or maybe praying in the shower, it makes all the difference in the world.  Inviting Christ to be the head of my life, each day, helps me put all of the other waiting in proper perspective.  Not to mention, waiting on the Lord, has a wonderful promise attached; our strength will be renewed and we won’t suffer from complete exhaustion and burnout.  I find, the majority of times I’m worn out from “mommying,” is when I’m trying to do it in my own strength; relying on me to get it all done.  And while that’s a bad pattern we all fall into from time to time, I want to encourage you to purpose in your heart to spend time waiting on the Lord every day.  I know this may not seem doable, especially if your children are very young, but I can assure you, that if you carve out that time, be it, five minutes or fifty five minutes, not only will you benefit, but so will they.  When my kids were in the baby and toddler stages, I spent countless hours in the car, either worshiping to praise CDs or listening to Bible teaching on the radio.  At that time in my life, my spirit was refreshed every time I turned my car into my prayer closet.  

Spending time in the presence of God transforms our hearts to be more like His and our homes to be a refuge for our families.  Raising godly children is a mountain sized task  which requires strength that only comes from the Lord.  And by His design, the only way we can tap into that strength is when we wait on Him.       

By the way, the cookies were worth the wait.  Although, they can’t begin to compare with the strength we get from waiting on the Lord!

1.  What hinders you from spending time with God each day?

2.  How do you define “waiting on the Lord”?

3.  Think of some creative ways you and your children can wait on the Lord together. 

PLEASE Behave While We Have Company!

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. - Galations 6:9

What does this verse say to you? Personally right now in your life? In the last week it has spoken volumes to my heart as I watched my boys interact with our family in town for the Christmas holiday.

If I was completely honest there was definitely some fear and anxiety in my heart as the time approached that my sister and her husband were coming into town. Yeah see they don't have kids (yet!) and the last time we were all together it was a little chaotic up in Gatlinburg this past summer. My boys seemed to be misbehaving and needing disciplining continually while we all stayed in ONE cabin. I can remember crying because I was so embarrassed and stressed over it all. Now I look back and see that it was all a process to get to the season we are in now. Aaaaggghh....it was such a different visit this time around. It was a 180.

      Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy. - Psalm 126:5

 Yep this visit was such a joy and blessing for us all. My boys listened and obeyed. Oh an occasional discipline was necessary every once in a while, but nothing like the summer trip. They used manners and showed such love and care for others. I was so thankful...and I think Jesus was too!  I sat back thinking what was different from last summer till now.....it was a different season. Yes the physical weather season, summer and winter were different but so were the lives of my little ones. Sometimes it can feel like eternity when we are in the beginning years of training our kids. It is exhausting. We don't see fruit. We wonder, will there ever be fruit? There will. Be patient. He is working on them and you too. As we parent, HIS process is one of refining you and your little ones to look more like Jesus. It is just a season. And just like weather seasons change over time, so will this season of continually disciplining your little ones. Don't give up. You will reap a reward and it is sweet!

What "Season" of parenting are you in right now?
Summer- 
heat is definitely turned up and you are exhausted from the drought of obedience in your child(ren)

Fall-
windy, you feel as if you have been blown all over with how other people think you should parent but you haven't really asked Jesus what He thinks (James 1:5)

Winter- 
cool, you are able to sit back and look at all you have reaped and are blessed by the fruit you have seen in your children

Spring- 
rainy @ times but you are seeing buds of new life in your children as they begin to obey


Here are a few verses to print out, put up, jot down on a note card, or give to a friend who is discouraged in her season of being a mommy.

Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
-1 Corinthians 15:58


And as for you, brothers, never tire of doing what is right.
-2 Thessalonians 3:13

 ...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.
-Isaiah 40:31

A few weeks prior to my sister's visit I was encouraged by a friend who came to stay @ our home with her little ones. She shared how much growth she had seen in my older son and how his behavior had gotten so much better. My kids still struggle, they are not perfect, but I am so thankful that Teresa felt led to share that with me. I was so encouraged and it was as if the Lord was giving me a high five for all those times my head wanted to give up but my heart wouldn't let it! Do you have a friend with a child who is struggling? Keep your eyes open for those opportunities to bless them with some encouraging words (Eph. 4:29) when you see even the slightest bit of improvement in their child's behavior. It will mean SO much and keep that mom afloat on those days she wants to throw in the towel.

Remember these tough times are only a season...NOT forever...stick with it...you will reap the rewards!