wait

A phrase in a worship song recently caught my attention – "Wait upon the Lord."  Waiting upon the Lord is often isn’t easy. 

I stood still with the word “wait”.  I discovered wait doesn’t just mean to pause, to linger or remain inactive – it also means to look forward to eagerly. So as we struggle to wait upon the Lord with hearts pondering questions such as “Where do I go from here?” “What is God calling me to do?” “What is God’s will for me in this situation?”and  “How long – Oh Lord?”  We can rest assured and eagerly look forward to His answer knowing He will provide clarity in line with His good and perfect will.  Psalms 27:14  tells us  “Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.”

 As we quiet our hearts, and stand still – we hear His voice.  When we seek the Lord and yield our will to His, clarity happens. Proverbs 3 states "Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight". 

Life may seem to be filled with cross roads, forks in the road and detours – But we have this promise of straight paths – clarity.

And so I will WAIT - I will LOOK FORWARD TO EAGERLY.

It is a case of scratched vinyl?

   Do you remember what it was like to listen to music played from a record?  Each of us had our favorite records – those black vinyl circular things before digital music on ipods, or laser read cd’s, or heads that passed over the tape in a cassette (we won’t even mention an 8-track). We’d place the record on the stereo table and the needle would follow the subtle track of the grooves and the music would play.  Some were played till it seemed the grooves wore out.
But the most dreaded event was the scratch.  And at some point there always came “the scratch” on one of the favored records. 
As your favorite music played, the needle following the track hit the scratch.  The music was never the same.  Sometimes it would continue to play but you would hear the click of the bump of the scratch made again...again….again…until the music got past the area affected by the scratch.  The worst scratches brought the needle hitting the scratch and being stuck in the same groove causing that particular ridge of music to play again… and causing that particular ridge of music to play again… and causing that particular ridge of music to play again…UNTIL the needle was bumped over to continue on an unaffected piece of music.

I recently read a book that quoted Katherine Walden – “Unforgiveness is like a scratch on an old record; the song never goes on to the end.  It keeps the beautiful music yet to be released unheard and all that resounds are the same old three or four chords again, and again, and again.”

 I’ve been witness to this scratch of unforgiveness too many times:

A beautiful family song is playing.  The daughter chose to leave her husband and two children and follow another man. The song never goes on to it’s beautiful melody of lives shared moments, growth, celebrations, grandkids, anniversaries, stable foundations that build lifetimes of God’s intended experiences of love shared
Another family’s song plays. A son off to college and meets others who point out faults here (skip) and there (skip) in his family relationship.  Nothing really meets expectations of either side.  Words are said. Hurt is formed.  Efforts go unmade or unrecognized.  Intentions are misinterpreted.  The song ends abruptly – the beautiful music of relationships experiencing life’s joys and sorrow together with love, support, encouragement, traditions….will never be played.

I’ve experienced this scratch of unforgiveness;
A song of Hope began with curly brown hair and quiet smiles.  A certain doctor refused an appointment.  Illness later was quickly recognized. Realization hit hard when it was time to let go…that song ended.
There was the silence of grief, frustration, anger, anxiety, hate, disbelief (so much more) that grew into nothing but noise – not the song that had begun.  One day the noise had grown too loud – I knew I had to stop the noise of the scratch of being angry and anxious and lift the needle off the scratched song. I had to forgive; forgive the doctor and his refusal; forgive the people who told us if we had enough faith…; forgive those who not knowing what to say stayed away; forgive those who stayed but said such wrongness; forgive myself...

Ephesians says, ‘but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God’.  Not a verse you would think to give to a frustrated, angry, hateful, anxious, mourning woman. I took the verse knowing I needed to give and experience forgiveness and prayed -  BUT pray with thanksgiving?!?  The noise slowly dissipated as I prayed for help in forgiving, as I prayed to forgive and I prayed with thanksgiving for the doctor, the people, myself, the blessings of time given……….Then I heard a melody begin, and grow, and heard the beauty and have felt the peace that transcends understanding coming with the song.  I now have blessings that I otherwise never would’ve dreamed of with the new song…because I forgave.
Please pray for those whose songs have the scratch of unforgiveness.   Encourage them…Find encouragement in scripture yourself to stop the scratch from not allowing the music waiting to be played. Be the one to pray with a repent heart and true thanksgiving and then listen to and experience the beautiful song God has intended.

Matthew 6:14
For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.

Luke 7:48
Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”
Matthew 18:^21-22 Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?”  Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times

Preparing

I just got a “10 days ‘til Christmas” reminder.  I have to admit though that I am not fully prepared.  I have been busy – decorations are hung; the tree is up; I’ve done some gift planning and purchasing and even some wrapping; attended several holiday events.  But I’m not totally prepared. I stood still today with thoughts on what it takes to prepare.
Prepare.  To get ready.
Preparing for Christmas seems to have become an ordeal of sorts.  Decorating, planning, purchasing, attending, baking, cleaning, traveling…
I reflect on the hustle and bustle of those around me and yes, I’ve gotten caught up in it as well.
I wonder with all that we are preparing – am I preparing my heart for CHRISTmas?  Am I preparing for the coming of the babe in the manger – the coming of the Savior – not a holiday season but the REASON for the season?
For you see, prepare also means “to put in proper condition”.
How am I putting my heart in proper condition?
I think it is a matter of being still and drawing near.  In James, God promises that as we draw near to Him, He will draw nearer to us.  I will focus on the blessings of hope, peace and joy found in the manager.

Luke 2:8-14
And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
And the angel said unto them,
Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men

Appreciate

I find myself continuing to ponder on this season of Thanksgiving as I stand still. When I allow myself to really look at life, I am struck by the overwhelming number of all that is taken for granted day in day out.  Novelist and poet G.K. Chesterton wisely noted, “When it comes to life, the critical thing is whether you take things for granted or take them with gratitude.”  It is my daily intent and hope to daily possess an awareness of ‘taking with gratitude.’ I want to appreciate the daily, the ordinary, the small, the meager, the moments… all that comprise the bounty of blessing and richness of life. Appreciate.
This word stands out in my thoughts…
In considering why, I looked at what it means to appreciate…
“to be grateful or thankful for; to value or regard highly” - I am grateful – I am thankful for the many blessings God has granted in my life.  There are those that I value or regard highly – a loving spouse, beautiful children, family, friends, my faith, a merciful and loving Heavenly Father.
"to be fully conscious and aware of; to recognize” -  I am conscious of the fact that I am blessed with much and try to be aware and recognize those ‘for granted’ things.
“to raise in value” – this is the meaning I think about in more depth.  As life goes on, have I really appreciated the blessings – have I allowed and  shown in a tangible way or expressed that certain blessings in my life are growing in depth, meaning and value to me.  Do I express often enough the depth of gratitude to and for those closest to me?  Have I given of myself and my time to certain friendships nurturing them to show gratitude or increase in value?  Am I continuing to grow in my relationship with the Lord? 
I want to fully appreciate.  How about you?

Psalm 118:1  Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.
Psalm 107:15  Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind

Thanksgiving...

As I was Standing Still this morning, I paused to reflect on this season of Thanksgiving.  Many pause during this time to assess the things in their lives for which they are truly thankful.  There is often the realization of “bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come (-Abraham Lincoln, Proclamation Establishing Thanksgiving Day, October 3, 1863)”.  We take for granted what we have in life and who we have in our life as we go through the routines and get caught up in the distractions of our days.  There is often the lack of acknowledgement as to where these blessings originate – “No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy (op.cit.)”.

My hope and prayer is that as we all consider what we are thankful for during this season, it “cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever watchful providence of Almighty God (op.cit.)”.  As YOU list what you are thankful for, also recognize and state TO WHOM you are thankful – the Almighty, Everlasting, Merciful, Loving Father.  Oh give thanks unto the LORD!

Psalm 107:21 Let them give thanksto the LORD for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind.

Psalm 69:30 I will praise God’s name in song and glorify Him with thanksgiving.
Psalm 100:4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to Him and praise his name.
Psalm 106:1 Praise the LORD. Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.