Prayer
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Winning the Waiting Game
I have played the waiting game since childhood. As a kid, I eagerly looked forward to summer. In adolescence, the countdown to obtain my driver’s license began. As a young adult, I couldn’t wait to get married and have children. After standing up in eight weddings before my own, I felt like an eternal bridesmaid. Often, when our desires are delayed, such as when waiting for a job or the healing of a sick loved one, fear and anxiety kick in. So how do we cope while waiting? Here are three truths to help you win at the waiting game. God is at Work in the Wait We’re often…
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Put on Your Boots and Step Out of the Garden of Regret
“I wish I’d have brought my boots,” my sister muttered as we unpacked. “We’re at a beach condo,” I said. “You won’t miss them much.” I was wrong. Most days the January chill kept our flip flops buried in our suitcases. I also wished I’d brought more shoes than sandals. Garden of Regret “I should have…” “Why didn’t I …” “If only I had said…” Recognize these phrases? They mark the way around a space I call the Garden of Regret. Now if you know me you know I love gardens. Nothing brings me more joy—except the beach—than to spend hours perusing trails lined with all sorts of flora. However,…
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Worry or Worship? It’s a Choice
I hate to wait. Doesn’t everyone? Additionally, I am that person who, after perusing a menu a dozen times—making others wait—says to the server, “Take their orders first.” However, once my choice is made, it better come quick. You see, my chronic indecisiveness exacerbates my impatience. Once I settle on a matter, I want it now. Incidentally, I suspect indecisiveness is a family trait, but I haven’t quite decided. So, what are you waiting for? Are you a teacher or student waiting for Christmas break? Are you a parent waiting for a child to come home? I have a friend waiting for a job, another praying for a child, and…
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Drop the Rock: Unloading Unforgiveness
As I dug through the stones, scraping and scratching each knuckle, I said to my husband, “Remind me never to use landscape rocks again.” I just might not take my advice though, because rocks amaze me. Whether smooth or rough, rocks can be used to beautify and build, or to damage and destroy. Have you ever considered the rocks in the Bible? Stones of the Bible Stones and rocks form the foundations for buildings. Christ is called our Cornerstone (1 Peter 2:4). They also serve as pillows (Genesis 28:1-11) and memorials (Joshua 4:1-8). Not always shown in a positive light, rocks cause people to stumble (1 Peter 2:8). Moses even…
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Expect the Unexpected
I knew there was trouble when I saw my son’s phone number calling early in the morning. “I need dad,” he said when I answered. Ah! Must be a car thing. Yep. On his way to student teaching, the accelerator in my son’s car had stuck open. “And I am teaching today and being recorded!” he added. Unable to diagnose the car issue 1,000 miles away, we encouraged our son to seek another mode of transportation and worry about the car later. We hung up and prayers ensued. “God, help him to borrow a car. God, someone must have a car available! Help him find a generous person! Help him…
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Hold On Tight
Last month I touched on the subject of “letting go” -releasing all that we have no control over. Letting go of past events, situations, or worries. Letting go of guilt from sins that Jesus took care of 2000 years ago. Since then, I’ve been pondering the opposite view, because I realize that although there is much we need to let go of and release, there are also some things that are worth fighting for, worth hanging on to – as if life depended on it. What are those things deemed worthy of time, energy, and effort? Here’s a starter-list to get us thinking. 1. My marriage. I started with this…
