Day 301 - Holding Patterns

"I listened to Bishop TD Jakes podcast about transition with a lady named Sheryl Brady who preached at his conference. It ministered to me. She had some nuggets of wisdom. One was that we may be in a holding pattern and need to stay there because we are going to fly soon. We need to stay there because otherwise we, like the caterpillar in the cocoon, will have to go back to crawling. Second she said that God is our teacher and rabbi and speaks before the test and is silent during the test. He knows we can handle it so he watches how we take it."

For all those waiting on the Lord be encouraged. It is only in the waiting that the promise of renewed strength can come. God is faithful to His word and will carry it out the way He desires. Go and find the verses in the Bible about waiting on God. Every one of them has a common thread; waiting. In order to receive the promises you must be waiting. 

If you're like me you don't like to wait. In a time and day where everything from movies to oatmeal is instant we are impatient at best. Over the years fast food and microwave mentality has crept in and laid waste to our processes by which we get to quality results. Many would sacrifice quality for instant gratification. 

God will not be rushed though. He knows the fullness of time and waits for the proper season. He sees the fruit ripening and waits until optimal time and then immediately puts in the sickle. He may not be on our time but He is always on time. 

That word 'wait' in the original language also adds another dimension to our understanding. If it were only about waiting we all would go nuts or forget what we were waiting on. The word is not passive but rather active. It speaks of entangling in. We are to be wrapping up our lives in God and entangling ourselves in Him while we wait. Now we see what we are supposed to do in those holding patterns of life. Wait, entangle yourself, on the Lord. Get wrapped up in God. When we do then He will do His part, His way, in His time. 

Are you in a holding pattern? How can we get entangled in God? 

Day 123 - Work in Progress

"Thank God He is gracious and kind and isn't finished with any of us yet."

God has forgiven us and with that forgiveness cast our sin as far as the East is from the West. While we live in this present truth we also know that there is still a war in the flesh against the spirit. In 1 John we are told that if we say we have no sin we are liars. Thank God He offers not only past forgiveness but also present forgiveness if we confess and repent. 

Knowing this isn't enough. We must live in it. If God isn't finished with me then I know that tomorrow is going to be better than today. I also can forgive myself and strive to do better with every life lesson. 

If God isn't finished with others then I can be patient with them, just as God is patient with me. I also can extend the same forgiveness that God gave me. 

Finally if I know all this then I should be the most grateful person on the planet. He who has been forgiven much loves much. A thank you should be on our lips every moment of every day. 

Have you seen growth over the years while God patiently worked with you or others? What other applications do you see that we can live in this truth?