Not in My Time

"Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart.

Commit your way to the Lord, trust also in Him and He shall bring it to pass."

~Psalm 37:4-5~

I have read these verses often, thinking that it meant if I trusted God everything that I wanted will happen right away. Makes sense, right? Wrong. The other day I read this entire passage and found something interesting a few verses down.

"Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him; do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass."

~Psalm 37:7~

Whoa, whoa, whoa!! Rest in the Lord and WAIT PATIENTLY?! I think something is wrong with that wording, certainly God doesn't expect that from me! But nope, that's right....I'm supposed to delight in God, trust in Him and commit my way to Him right NOW (present tense) and then wait for His right timing (future tense). That's pretty tough and involves constant surrender; two extremely difficult things to do.

I have many things that I want, and often we think what we want is the desire of our heart. That is not necessarily true. Sometimes we want lots of things that aren't good for us, and God knows that we are frail, fallible creatures and in His wisdom He brings along the true desires of our hearts. For illustrations sake, this can easily be related to a parent/child relationship. When I was younger I wanted lots of things that weren't good for me. I wanted candy all the time, but my parents knew that wasn't good for me, so they didn't give it to me. Was I always happy about this? The answer would be a resounding "NO!" But was it the best for me, and really the desire of my heart, yes.

God is not a mean ogre sitting in Heaven taking our plans and wants and throwing them away while He laughs at our misery. Quite the contrary, God can see the big picture of our lives. Out of love He takes and gives things to His children. We may not understand, but He never asked us to understand, only to trust that what He is doing is the best for us and the real desire of our hearts.

Someone is Waiting

Someone is waiting

Someone who understands exactly how you feel,

Exactly how you feel...

Someone is dreaming

Someone is hoping just this will be the day

This will be the day...

That you take your eyes off the ground

Out of the blue

And see that someone is looking right

Back at you...

~Jason Reeves~

Contemplating God

Have you ever sat down and contemplated God? I mean really think about Him? He has so many aspects. He is all powerful, all knowing, loving, caring, compassionate, righteous, true, pure, holy, omnipresent, just, glorious, patient, wonderful and on the list could go. In my mind it is easy to think of Him as a creature that is so big, but distant. The best I can relate that feeling to is the President. He's powerful, a leader, and there isn't much of a chance that I will ever get to meet him, let alone have a personal, one-on-one relationship with him. God is not that way. God may be big, but He longs to know each one of His children on a personal level.

God is not some creature up in Heaven sitting back and watching the happenings in the world, unconcerned, and unattached. Rather, He is right here on earth in spirit with His children. He longs for a close, personal relationship with us. I fear that often we go through life forgetting that He is there and totally blowing Him off. But patiently He waits, softly calling our name until we realize that He is there and how wonderful being with Him can be. When we embark on an intimate relationship with God He blows us away with how He treats us.

"God loves each one of us as if there were only one of us." ~St. Augustine Just think about that, God has many children, but yet He takes time for me and treats me as if I am His only child. The hymn "In the Garden" says is well, "And He walks with me, and He talks with me, and He tells me I am His own. And the joy we share as we tarry there, none other can ever know." Sadly, I think we often pass up that precious relationship because we have other things on our mind. Out of a sheer lack of appreciation God is pushed off and we forfeit a sweet, close relationship with Him.

"Because he has set his love upon Me [God], therefore I will deliver him; I will set him on high, because he has known My name." ~Psalm 91:14

Whispers in the Night

In the midst of tribulation, seems the darkness has no end
When my light of faith is fragile like a candle in the wind
All alone 'tho I'm surrounded by my friends and family dear
It's Your strong voice that comforts me
Your voice that says "I'm near"

I am waiting for His whisper in the night
I'm depending on His word to

give me light
I'm expecting a victory in this fight
I am listening for what God whispers in the night.

In your word I've found my hope
rest from my affliction
evidence of faithfulness, abiding love and grace
It is in this lonely midnight that I've found my greatest treasure
the assurance that You hear me and that you see me in this place.

I am waiting for His whisper in the night
I'm depending on His word to give

me light
I'm expecting a victory in this fight
I am listening for what God whispers in the night.

~Roger Bennett~

(1959-2007)

Former Legacy Five Pianist

Consume Me

"God, I pray Thee, light these idle sticks of my life and may I burn for Thee. Consume my life, my God, for it is Thine. I seek not a long life, but a full one, like You, Lord Jesus."

~Jim Elliot~

Jim Elliot wrote this one summer while he was in college, which means he was right around my age. He had an evident dedication to God, and he wanted to display that in any way possible -- even to the point of death. He ended up being a missionary in Ecuador, and was martyred by the Auca Indians. As a result of his death the door was opened to these people for the Gospel. Now there is a thriving church among this once feared tribe of cannibals.

This made me seriously consider my life. I have come to the conclusion that I want God to run my life, I want to be filled by Him, I long to have a life that benefits and brings glory to Him alone. Whether I have one year or 60 years left in my life I want them to be filled with helping people and doing what God wants. I desire my life to be a living sacrifice to my Savior. When it is time for me to stand before my Maker, I hope to hear the words, "Well done!" I don't want to look back with regret at missed opportunities, wasted minutes, and empty enterprises. I want to look back at a full life -- full of things done to bring people closer to Jesus. I want my life to be a blazing "stick" for Christ, not a smoldering pile of ash that never amounted to anything.

Happiness Is:

The other day I was listening to the radio while driving home from work. They played "Happiness is the Lord" which I have not sung or heard since I was growing up.

Happiness is to know the Savior,

Living a life within His favor,

Having a change in my behavior,

Happiness is the Lord.

Happiness is a new creation,

Jesus and me in close relation,

Having a part in His Salvation,

Happiness is the Lord.

Real joy is mine,

No matter if the teardrops start,

I've found a secret,

It's Jesus in my heart.

Happiness is to be forgiven,

Living a life that's worth the livin'

Taking the road that leads to Heaven,

Happiness is the Lord.

Real joy is mine,

No matter if the teardrops start,

I've found the secret,

It's Jesus in my heart.

I love being a Christian. I love knowing where I'm going when I die. I love having a life that I know is worth living. I love having a close relationship with Christ. I love having that joy, even when life is not hard, and I cry, there is still a joy deep down that brings me hope. Some may find their happiness in their job, or in their friends and family, or in the stuff that they have. Those things are all well and good, but true joy and lasting happiness come from God Above, who blesses His children with the promise of life everlasting. Like Mary the mother of Jesus said, "My soul doth magnify the Lord; and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Savior..." (Luke 1:46)

Really Quick

I'm so sorry that I have not updated in a while; Time seems to elude me lately. Last week I started working two jobs, and I have been doing other things with church and family that have kept me pretty busy. I love every minute of my hectic life...it's pretty entertaining. Although, I must admit that I have my moments when I wish it would all stop and I could take a break. I guess that will happen in Heaven someday! :D

I have a couple of ideas for posts, I just haven't had time to write them out. I hope soon. I have a day off on Thursday so maybe then...who knows. Anyways, I'm still alive and doing well, just filling up my days with things besides my blog!