Tuesday, June 26, 2012

Timing is Everything

As most of you know, I have been anxiously awaiting the arrival of our sixth child. Today is our due date (June 26th), but so far no progress.

I have been trying to be patient. It's not easy.

I am trying to remind myself that God's timing is better than mine. Also hard to do when I have plans and things I want to do. BUT I am determined to rest in HIS timing and not be so wrapped up in mine.

Ecclesiastes 31:1-14 has been a huge help in this:

1There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under heaven:
2a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
3a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
4a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
5a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain,
6a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
7a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
8a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.
9What does the worker gain from his toil? 10I have seen the burden God has laid on men. 11He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end. 12I know that there is nothing better for men than to be happy and do good while they live. 13That everyone may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all his toil—this is the gift of God. 14I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that men will revere him.


So often we want everything to happen in our time. Then there's those who tell us, "Good things come to those who wait". I've been doing a lot of waiting lately, and in that process I've had a lot of time to think about waiting. What I think that saying leaves out is that it's not just waiting that brings good things, it's how we wait and what we are waiting for. If I'm going to wait for something, it should be because I am waiting on God's timing. While I'm waiting, I should be resting in the Lord, trusting that His timing is perfect and is for the best. 

My flesh tells me to be impatient and anxious. My spirit tells me to patiently rest in the Lord. 

I already know that there is much blessing in store - I am waiting on the arrival of a child! My children have been huge blessings in my life, and that's part of why I'm getting impatient - I am so excited to welcome this child into the world and into our lives. However, I also know that whatever plans I have do not compare to God's plan. He knows everything from beginning to end, while I am limited in my sight. 

To trust in God is my resolve. Pray for me.

Sunday, June 10, 2012

It's Not Fair!

This week's lesson from a four year old. 

Earlier this week, we were having a snack and my daughters were upset that I would not let them have more. They expressed their feelings by whining, "That's not fair!" My four year old, Jade, replied to their whining, "The only thing that is not fair is that Jesus had to die on the cross." 

Wow. That was way more profound than what I was going to say, which was something along the lines of "Too bad." or "Life's not fair." 

I was glad she replied first, because then we got to talk about why that is the only thing that is not fair, and it became a reminder for the whole family for the rest of the week. Any time someone said, "It's not fair!" We reminded them what really wasn't fair. 

It made me think about all the things I act like are not fair in my life. Maybe I don't cross my arms and stomp my foot and whine "It's not fair!" But I might still act like it's not fair by not responding to every circumstance in life with worship and praise to the Creator, the One who was willing to die to take on my sin so that I can have renewed life. 

Sometimes I need to take a lesson from a four year old. That's ok, cuz I love that they can teach me and remind me just as I teach them. It certainly has a way of keeping this girl humbled. Thank you Lord, for such wonderful blessings!