When God Says Wait

Just yesterday I overheard someone saying  "It's really hard to wait".

I know that's a fact. Waiting is just not one of those things that we humans come by easily.

{Even in ancient times}

The Answered Prayer

I stroke his warm, soft fur as he purrs out his unconditional thanks back. As I smooth and caress his soft exterior, I wonder, what if this was the last time I see him? How could I ever know how absolutely prophetic these words actually were...

I love all my cats, but Koby Garfield Morris, Jr., he's my buddy. He was more like a dog then a cat, because he followed me everywhere. I didn't mind though, because Koby was great company.

The evening I pondered this question, we watered my flower garden together, or should I say I was watering and he was trying to get a drink of water from my bucket! Anyhow, we were both there just the same, and I was reminded of our deep love for each other – though expressed in different ways. Upon finishing our routine, we walk back to the house, I give him a final pet and hug goodnight. That was the last time I saw him.

The next morning I went out to feed my cats as usual. Koby wasn't there, but he frequently goes out in the woods exploring so I didn't really think much about it. That is, until my brother told me he had heard some cats fighting the previous night, and wondered if I’d seen him. Koby always got in fights with neighboring cats, and besides a few scrapes and bruises he was fine – usually. But, the day wore on and still no Koby. I began to worry. Where could he be? I tried to calm myself by thinking he was probably in the woods somewhere, occupied by some interesting object. But, after a while, that did not work anymore.

That evening, as I went to water my flowers without my faithful companion, I decided to put God to the test.

You have to understand that I believed in God generally, but had never experienced Him working personally in my life. I mean, I went to church, studied my Bible, etc. but I honestly was still learning to trust God on a personal level. I figured this was His chance to prove His love to me. So, thinking I was doing God a favor, I prayed, "Dear Lord, You say in Your Word that You care about me, and I want to test it out. There are stories in the Bible about You raising people back to life. Now, Lord, I’m asking you to bring my cat back. I don’t know where he is, but You know. If he’s alive, bring him home, and if he’s not alive bring him back to life. Lord, trusting that You will do this, I promise to never doubt You again, and to follow you without a question – that is, if You bring me back my cat..."

 As soon as I finished praying I expected to see Koby come bounding out of the woods, or hear his familiar "meow" coming from some nearby location. But nothing happened.

I laid in bed that night I wrestling with God. Just why didn't He bring my cat back? Doesn't He want me as His child? If He does, why didn't He prove Himself to me?

In my devotions the next morning God lead me to two familiar texts in the Bible that say, ‘…the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.’ ‘What? Shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil?...’ I was stunned. Was God trying to tell me something? Of course! God knew that my prayer did not come from a heart sincerely desiring to know Him better, but from a heart that wanted to use His power for selfish reasons. If He had granted my request, I would have rejoiced in my success, and gone right on in my unbelief. But, by not granting my request He showed real love for me in that He wants to save me- not just satisfy my every whim.

I wish I could say that after coming to this realization,that Koby came running out of the woods from somewhere, and we lived happily ever after...  but I can’t.
Koby never came back. Some of God’s lessons aren't the easiest to learn, but they must be learned. Although my prayer was never answered in the way that I wanted, it was still answered. I am beginning to learn that the God who transforms hearts into new creations is the God who comforts those He has to correct. I’m learning that though I didn't receive my request, I received something far greater, and I’m learning to say with Job, ‘ the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.’


Guest contributor, Paige Harraway writes from Monticello, Georgia.

(Job 1:21; 2:10)

Faith

You must be wondering, Joi, whatever happened to the rest of “God’s Love Shines” from last week? I know, I’m wondering the same thing myself. I’m sorry. Too caught up with other activities… again! Maybe I haven’t yet sufficiently learned that last lesson yet…

---

On the road once more.  That seems to be my life right now. My family and I often drive this route, ever since I was small. I see the same scenery I've always seen. The teeming highways of the same ever congested big city, the familiar golden arches of the same McDonald's where we stop for bathroom breaks, the quaint hamlets nestled on on the mountainside. Even the dips and curves on the roads are familiar to me. Above that, I've become accustomed to a rickety, old bridge that gives the appearance of collapsing -any moment now. (In my opinion, this bridge has not been fit for vehicles in the last 20+ years. But, what do I know about that kind of stuff, anyway?) I used to be pretty anxious to cross it, but now, even though it doesn't look like it’s getting any stronger, I’m fairly comfortable traveling it.

Faith.

Sometimes I wonder, why am I more willing to trust an old rusty bridge, built by who knows who, and not a God who I know loves me and cares for me. Have you ever considered that? How much easier we place  faith in man made things and the unknown people who made them. 

Really? How silly is that...

God's Love Shines: Day 1

  God's Love shines: { This week's post agenda:  Capture moments of God's love shining on me}

The past few weeks = a whirlwind. In and out of town every weekend, studying for classes, music obligations to fulfill, birthdays among family, preparations for another move... Busy: an understatement.

Just too busy to stop, take time, and show a friend that I care. I don't get back with her for weeks. I've been ignoring her.

 Last night I make an effort show her that I'm still here and do care; I let her know that she's not been forgotten (though she'd never guess by my actions). Yet, she replies and says," I have not forgotten about you..."

 All the time I'd been too busy for her, caught up in the activities and hassles of my own life, she hadn't forgotten me.

Neither does Jesus.

First snapshot captured: Jesus never forgets.

"Can a woman forget her nursing child,

And not have compassion on the son of her womb?

Surely they may forget,

Yet I will not forget you... I have engraved you on the palms of my hands."

Jesus wants to talk to me, spend time with me, get to know me.  No matter how preoccupied I might be, He never, ever forgets me.

 But, will I forget Him?


*Isaiah 49:15,16

He Cares

 

Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 

Why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin...

..If God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you..?

Your heavenly Father knows that you need these things...

Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and He will give you everything you need.

{Matthew 6:25,26,28,30,32,33}

Forever

I'm amazed. No, more than that. Absolutely floored.

To live forever is incomprehensible. 

Yet, that's what is promised to those who love and follow Jesus.

"And this is the promise that He (Jesus) hath promised us, even eternal life..."

It makes me dizzy to think about it.  Forever- infinitely.

It's like a line from the old Geometry book. There is no endpoint. ( Remember that?:)

<                                                                                               >

“No eye has seen, no ear has heard,

and no mind has imagined

what God has prepared

for those who love him.”

Can we pass by this priceless gift with an infinite warranty?


Photography by Paige H.

Saved by Prayer

She quietly enters the room. By the bedside she finds me kneeling in prayer to God. She hesitates in the doorway, then mutters under her breath something like, " Saved by prayer. You better be glad you're praying". I raise my head to see my mom positioned, ready to smack me with a snowball!

You must be wondering, a snowball fight in the house, really? I must let you in on the background.

Yesterday evening, my mom and I engaged each other in an intense combat of the snowball. You know how it is... The game never really ends (until there's no more snow). You always want to be the last one to pellet the other with a snowball. I had had the last word. That's why this morning, she had a plan to "fix me".

The phrase "saved by prayer" continues to roll around in my head. 

"Saved by prayer." There must be a great lesson to learn from this...

I was engaged in war. There was not much I could really do to protect myself from the "missiles" that were flung at me. No matter how many times I ducked, no matter if I tried to hide behind something, no matter if I was inside or outside, I was always at risk of being hit.

We're all engaged in a similar, but more fierce battle. Satan throws at us his complete arsenal of temptations (I don't mean to compare my mom's attacks with those of Satan). He wants to win this war for our lives and he plays for keeps.

The only safe place in this war of good against evil is spending time with God in prayer.

"He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High

abides under the shadow of the Almighty... He will rescue you from every trap

and protect you from deadly disease. You shall not be afraid ...of the arrow that flies by day...If you make the LORD your refuge,

if you make the Most High your shelter, no evil will conquer you. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may ... find grace to help in time of need."

Photo Courtesy of Paige H.

*Scriptures taken from Psalms 91 and Hebrews 4:16.