Today God met me. I kind of like this no work thing. I am really been able to listen to God. Also, with this newfound freedom I have time to actually jot life down.
God’s theme for me is Wait and Abide.
Wait like in Psalm 33: 20-22. Abiding like in one of my favorite passages John 15.
So in a few quiet moments I got to thinking about waiting. I got to thinking about all the times in my life when I have had to wait or observed people waiting.
This all started because my students said in the last weeks of school I cannot wait until summer vacation. I would ask the students why they couldn’t wait for summer vacation and they listed off a bunch of things that they loved about it. My kids would ask me too if I could not wait until summer vacation and I would be honest and say YES! When they asked me the question why I would tell them. I get to spend time with my family. I get to go fishing and boating at the lake house. I get to go to baseball games. I can stay up late if I want to. I can travel wherever I want. I can get reacquainted with old friends and some new ones. The opportunities are endless.
Another time I remember waiting. It was the fall of 2006. I just got my ticket paid for after saving for years The hotel was booked, the activities planned. But… I had to wait until March to take the trip of a lifetime with four people I love to paradise Hawaii. We had countdowns and we were all full of excitement. I can still remember the day before I left. I packed and repacked. I was so excited. The plane ride from Omaha to Kauai was so long. I had to wait. The entire way we kept saying I couldn’t believe we are doing this. I cannot believe this is happening. We had the time of our life for 10 days. The wait was well worth it.
I remember having family members have tests done at the hospital for cancer and having to wait or the results. Sometimes the wait was painful and sometimes the wait was worth it when you heard the words it came back clear.
I am watching my best friend plan her wedding in September and I am sure the wait is hard. Day after day she waits for that day when she gets to marry her prince charming. But. I know that on that beautiful day in September when I get to stand behind her (probably crying) the wait will be worth it.
I have seen friends have babies. I watch them wait and prepare for 9 months for that baby to come. They have showers, paint rooms, take classes, and more to prepare. At the end of the nine months the proud parents have a cute bundle of joy that I am almost positive all parents would say he or she was worth the wait.
This got me thinking about two things.
1. Why do I not have that same joy and excitement about Jesus coming back? That feeling that I had before I went to Hawaii was one of a kind. The joy I felt as each day got closer. The smile I had as I stepped off that plane into paradise. Yet I do not do that with Jesus. I wake up like it is just another day. Just another day to teach. Just another to run errands, go grocery shopping, mow the lawn. Just another day to coach a game or watch a favorite TV show. Just another day to live. I realize I need to wake up like I did that morning of Hawaii and expect to see, experience and be loved on by Jesus. Maybe just maybe Jesus will return that day.
2. The other thing I realized is at the end of each of the waits I listed above was complete joy and celebration at the end. The joy of a summer vacation, a trip, a baby, a wife or husband, a life saved. So I ask myself why do I worry and doubt in the wait? The wait was a time to prepare me, shape me, mold me, change me, and grow. In the end the wait was worth it. Even when it is hard, painful, or even breaks you to wait it is worth it. So in the words of Snickers… why wait? Wait because in the waiting God does some amazing things and teaches us incredible things so finally at the end of the waiting he can bring us that joy we deserve and always wanted. So for now I will wait for Jesus to come back and wait for God’s plans to unfold.
God’s theme for me is Wait and Abide.
Wait like in Psalm 33: 20-22. Abiding like in one of my favorite passages John 15.
So in a few quiet moments I got to thinking about waiting. I got to thinking about all the times in my life when I have had to wait or observed people waiting.
This all started because my students said in the last weeks of school I cannot wait until summer vacation. I would ask the students why they couldn’t wait for summer vacation and they listed off a bunch of things that they loved about it. My kids would ask me too if I could not wait until summer vacation and I would be honest and say YES! When they asked me the question why I would tell them. I get to spend time with my family. I get to go fishing and boating at the lake house. I get to go to baseball games. I can stay up late if I want to. I can travel wherever I want. I can get reacquainted with old friends and some new ones. The opportunities are endless.
Another time I remember waiting. It was the fall of 2006. I just got my ticket paid for after saving for years The hotel was booked, the activities planned. But… I had to wait until March to take the trip of a lifetime with four people I love to paradise Hawaii. We had countdowns and we were all full of excitement. I can still remember the day before I left. I packed and repacked. I was so excited. The plane ride from Omaha to Kauai was so long. I had to wait. The entire way we kept saying I couldn’t believe we are doing this. I cannot believe this is happening. We had the time of our life for 10 days. The wait was well worth it.
I remember having family members have tests done at the hospital for cancer and having to wait or the results. Sometimes the wait was painful and sometimes the wait was worth it when you heard the words it came back clear.
I am watching my best friend plan her wedding in September and I am sure the wait is hard. Day after day she waits for that day when she gets to marry her prince charming. But. I know that on that beautiful day in September when I get to stand behind her (probably crying) the wait will be worth it.
I have seen friends have babies. I watch them wait and prepare for 9 months for that baby to come. They have showers, paint rooms, take classes, and more to prepare. At the end of the nine months the proud parents have a cute bundle of joy that I am almost positive all parents would say he or she was worth the wait.
This got me thinking about two things.
1. Why do I not have that same joy and excitement about Jesus coming back? That feeling that I had before I went to Hawaii was one of a kind. The joy I felt as each day got closer. The smile I had as I stepped off that plane into paradise. Yet I do not do that with Jesus. I wake up like it is just another day. Just another day to teach. Just another to run errands, go grocery shopping, mow the lawn. Just another day to coach a game or watch a favorite TV show. Just another day to live. I realize I need to wake up like I did that morning of Hawaii and expect to see, experience and be loved on by Jesus. Maybe just maybe Jesus will return that day.
2. The other thing I realized is at the end of each of the waits I listed above was complete joy and celebration at the end. The joy of a summer vacation, a trip, a baby, a wife or husband, a life saved. So I ask myself why do I worry and doubt in the wait? The wait was a time to prepare me, shape me, mold me, change me, and grow. In the end the wait was worth it. Even when it is hard, painful, or even breaks you to wait it is worth it. So in the words of Snickers… why wait? Wait because in the waiting God does some amazing things and teaches us incredible things so finally at the end of the waiting he can bring us that joy we deserve and always wanted. So for now I will wait for Jesus to come back and wait for God’s plans to unfold.
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