While Waiting

This year, I'm sharing my "Treasures" of my study of my "Ponder the Morsels" book. I've picked 31 Psalms to study throughout 2013. Today I studied Psalm 43. Here is what I learned.

Why are you cast down, O my inner self? And why should you moan over me and be disquieted within me? Hope in God and wait expectantly for Him, for I shall yet praise Him, Who is the help of my [sad] countenance, and my God. Psalm 43:5 (AMP)

Why ·am I so sad [are you downcast, my soul]? Why ·am I so upset [are you groaning/in an uproar]? I ·should [or will] ·put my hope in [wait for] God and ·keep praising [or will again praise] him, my ·Savior [Victor] and my God. Psalm 43:5 (EXB)

"Hope in God," or "wait for God." There is need of patience, but there is ground for hope. The Lord cannot but avenge his own elect. The heavenly Father will not stand by and see his children trampled on for ever; as surely as the sun is in the heavens, light must arise for the people of God, though for awhile they may walk in darkness. Why, then, should we not be encouraged, and lift up our head with comfortable hope? "For I shall yet praise him." Times of complaint will soon end, and seasons of praise will begin. Come, my heart, look out of the window, borrow the telescopic glass, forecast a little, and sweeten thy chamber with sprigs of the sweet herb of hope. "Who is the health of my countenance, and my God." My God will clear the furrows from my brow, and the tear marks from my cheek; therefore will I lift up my head and smile in the face of the storm. The Psalm has a blessed ending, such as we would fain imitate when death puts an end to our mortal existence. Treasury of David

Wait (v)
1. to remain inactive or in a state of repose, as until something expected happens
2. (of things) to be available or in readiness.
3. to remain neglected for a time.
4. to postpone or delay something or to be postponed or delayed.
5. to look forward to eagerly.

I find the definition of “wait” interesting. Remain in active until something expected happens. Yet, it also means look forward to eagerly. and in the middle.... remain neglected for a time. 

Yet, each aspect of the definition describes and “end” to the wait. It’s not an eternity.... although sometimes the wait can seem like that. 

Often as I’m in waiting mode, my focus changes from God and what He is doing to what can I do to hurry things along! I’m not a good waiter, as I’ve said before. But I’m trying to not waste the waiting time. One of the definitions for wait, says to remain inactive. As I read that I thought two things: 1) what a waste of time, I can get so much done! 2) Be Still and know that I am God. 

How many times during the waiting times, am I trying to hurry God along, or figure things out on my own, or get so busy doing things so I lose focus on the “waiting on God and being still getting to know God”? 

To create a positive day, I need to remember that while waiting, I need to be still and get to know my God better! 

Keep a Very Important Appointment

This year, I'm sharing my "Treasures" of my study of my "Ponder the Morsels" book. I've picked 31 Psalms to study throughout 2013. Today I studied Psalm 67. Here is what I learned.

God be merciful and gracious to us and bless us and cause His face to shine upon us and among us—Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]!— Psalm 67:1 (AMP)

God, ·have mercy on [be gracious to] us and bless us and ·show us your kindness [make your face shine on us] ·Selah [Interlude]. Psalm 67:1 (EXB)

Selah: pause, to lift up, exalt

Selah. Take time to reflect and praise God. 

All our calendars are full of activities, appointments. Seems that we are taught if we aren’t busy, than we are lazy. However, being too busy to take time to reflect on God’s mercy and grace is wrong in so many ways. 

Taking time to pause, reflect on God’s mercy and grace as a way of putting things in the proper perspective. So often, we are overwhelmed by life and all the things we think we must do, that we miss the really important factors in life. 

Perhaps it is time to “make appointments” to pause and reflect on God’s mercy and grace. If it’s “on the calendar” perhaps we will not only have the time to pause, but we will actually do it. And once we begin to pause to reflect on God’s mercy and His goodness, it will be so inspiring and encouraging that it will be come a necessary habit. 

To create a positive day, I must keep a very important appointment—pause and reflect on God’s mercy and grace!

He’s Got It!

This year, I'm sharing my "Treasures" of my study of my "Ponder the Morsels" book. I've picked 31 Psalms to study throughout 2013. Today I studied Psalm 62. Here is what I learned.

I am not a good “waiter”. Once I make a decision, I like to do things immediately. However, I am continually learning that waiting often has a better outcome. David, discusses waiting in Psalm 62:1. But he want not just “twiddling his thumbs” so to speak. David was resting in and observing God. 

I wait patiently for God to save me; I depend on him alone. Psalm 62:! (GNT)

God, the one and only— I’ll wait as long as he says. Psalm 62:1 (MSG)

My soul waits in silence for God only; From Him is my salvation. Psalm 62:1 (NSAB)

My soul is quiet and waits for God alone. He is the One Who saves me. Psalm 62:1 (NLV)

Soul: living being, life, self, person, desire, passion, appetite, emotion

Is silent: resting, expecting, reflecting, solicitous, and observing. 

God: “Elohim” very great, mighty

Only: surely, no doubt, certainly, even, howbeit, nevertheless

Salvation: deliverance, health, helping, saving health, welfare

Usually when I have to wait, I like to keep busy. Often the things I keep busy with, are minimal or trivial things. You could say that I like to keep occupied. But Psalm 62:1 teaches me that if I turn my attention to God, who I trust for my eternal salvation, my soul will then be able to rest in silence as I trust Him.

Being silent. Still. Having the confidence that God does not need my in put, I don’t need to “do it myself”, I don’t need to be busy, simply stop and relax knowing that God Almighty has everything in control—He’s got it! 

Waiting is nothing else

but hope and trust lengthened.

John Trapp

WOW! ... hope and trust lengthened. The more I am silent, wait upon God, my hope and trust in God will continue to grow. 

Be still, relax, wait with assurance, without any doubt that God Almighty has it all in control—He’s got it! 

To create a positive day, I need take a step back and be still and silent place my confidence in God knowing full-well that He’s got it all under control 

Waiting

Still waiting for the date of the "non-move". Last night I packed a few more kitchen items. Figured I could use paper plates for a while. If the move is this weekend... can't put off too much until the last minute; there is already too much of that stuff. 

Normally, I'm not a good "waiter". I like to plan and know what to expect. But since my back needs some extra rest right now, this waiting period has actually been a blessing. During this resting and waiting period,  God has made me realize that sometimes, I think clearer if I'd just step back and wait.

I've been able to figure out the layout for the furniture and think through what will work and what wont. Some layouts, I had planned, wouldn't work because the wiring was too short. Glad I realized that BEFORE I had the guys move it all. Don't think they'd appreciate having to move it several times. But if I didn't have this waiting time, I wouldn't have thought through the pro and cons of various placements. I would have rushed in and then realized that things would not work.

This waiting mode, is also having a calming effect. It's been peaceful, just being still. There will be enough hectic things once the remodel date is set. Right now, I need to take advantage of this stillness. 

I hope to remember this lesson the next time God puts me in a "waiting mode". If I just stop and rest and allow God to work, the waiting time will be very peaceful and will allow me to be better prepared for the next lesson God has in store. Too many times, I've been so busy during the waiting period, that when God is ready to move forward, I'm sidetracked on my "business" rather than ready for Him.

Today, as I rest and wait for the move date, I'm enjoying the calmness. Sometimes creating a positive day, isn't about how much I can accomplish, or what I can do, rather it's simply being still and waiting. Today, has been a very positive day.... even though I haven't done much. Days like these are very special and I need to enjoy each one. 

Thank you God for those waiting times which give me strength and energy for the task that lies ahead.

Still Printing!

Today I printed 24 more pages...and the ink is still flowing! I thought for sure today I'd have to replace the color cartridge, but even though the printer is saying "too low to print" the pages came out fine.

Busy day tomorrow as I finish my to do list.....laundry in the morning and chiropractor in the afternoon. Then some time to relax before Tuesday's afternoon surgery.

Little surprises...even things like the ink cartridge continuing to print can make a positive day. It's all a matter of perspective!

8 days and counting

Today was one of those days I had all planned out... you know the type of day when the "To Do List" is full and the pencil is sharpened ready to mark off each task. Well, what I had planned was not what God had planned. My headache was the worst it's been in a while, and I injured my ankle a few weeks ago....it was really swollen today. Therefore, instead of finishing my to do list....I knew I'd be confined to the sofa all day.
I was thinking that the day was a total waste...I wouldn't get anything done on my list....until I remembered that my list doesn't really matter. I was to accomplish what God wanted me to do....not some list I concocted.
So, I started rethinking my "To Do List". Rather than what I thought I had to accomplish today, I consulted God on what He wanted me to do. When I changed from "my list" to God's list....the day was much better!
What was on God's list? Extra prayer time. Recently a few people asked I pray for some special requests. Being able to spend time discussing those issues with God was a good use of my time.
As the day progressed, God sent some special blessings my way. I received a nice email. And later in the day I received a package from Hawaii!! A package brightens anyone's day! And since this package was from some very special friends—it made it even better! (A big shout out to Hawaii—Thank you VERY MUCH!!!)
So, my "To do list" remains full. But personally, today turned out to be a special day.

If your plans need to change, don't consider the day a loss. You can still create a positive day by allowing God to direct your plans.