We spend one third of our life waiting. We wait in line at the groceries, we wait in traffic, we wait at the post office, and how about waiting at a doctor's office. "Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him" those are the words I hear. Seems simple enough, right. In a society where we wait for nothing it's nearly impossible to be still and wait, although it can be done.
As a kid I had the most fun while waiting, well while my parents waited. I remember waiting to cross the bridge from Juarez, while my parents were frustrated waiting, the kids had fun singing, counting cars, and eating ice cream from the bridge vendors. Moving forward 20 years to when my mother was first diagnosed with cancer we spent three weeks in the hospital waiting room and a lot of those moments were the best times we had as a family. We cried, we laughed, we fought, we held our children close, and we prayed together while we were waiting.
Waiting is obedience. There is a relief in waiting for the Lord because it takes off all the worry in us and places in the only place it should be, in our Father's hands. There is no place safer. I have learned more in the waiting periods than when I am in church, bible study, or everyday life. Waiting and being still causes us to look up, the only place we should be looking. It has made me look to the Word for peace and it makes me pray which in turn brings me closer to God. It places our trust in Him, Job prayed, "If a man dies, will he live again? All the days of my hard service I will wait for my renewal to come."
There is a reason God tells us to wait, there is power in waiting. Over and over God had his people wait on Him and every time they were saved. There is so much to learn from Job, he waited and endured faithfully and in the end "the LORD blessed the latter part of Job's life more than the first." Why is it that we are so impatient when it comes to waiting on God? If we knew we were going to get a million dollars and the only stipulation was to wait, would we wait? Of course we would, so why can't we be still and wait when God can offer us so much more than a million dollars? He offers us eternal life, peace, joy, and to supply all our needs.
Believe me it's not easy, we are human and in a society where we rush in the morning, rush to work, rush the kids to school, and then rush home at night; being still is something we have to learn. It's something we have to make into a habit. When we let go of the life we planned, when we let go of the circumstances around us, and we begin to accept the plan God has us waiting on for our lives we will be blessed. A good friend reminds me all the time, "We don't see the big picture but He does, so wait."
We wait in hope for the LORD; he is our help and our shield. Psalm 33:20
Marisol
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Greater things are yet to come: The Prayer
Aron Rolston " My tragedy was the greatest blessing of my life, to have been a part of a miracle is something I wouldn't give back to have my hand again." Aron Rolston is rock climber who had to amputate his own hand to survive. My reaction to his quote is wow...wow.
When I was fifteen years old, I attended a youth trip in Kansas. On the drive up there I sat in the front seat and while everyone slept I kept our youth pastor company. I don't remember any of the conversations but I do remember at 2:00 am we stopped to pray. My youth pastor was a friend of our family and he knew divorce ran rampant in our family.
I remember as if it was yesterday, he turned to me and said, "Marisol, I am going to pray for your marriage." I answered in a shout, "What, I'm not going get married!". He said, "I'm going to pray for your future marriage that you will be the one to break the chain of divorce in your family." I have told this story hundreds of times and each time I told it I felt protected. I am the second to youngest of five daughters in our family and I have been married the longest, 16 years. My younger sister comes in second within 10 months behind me, both our marriages have been hit hard this past year and I do believe it's a spiritual warfare. The enemy doesn't want to see that prayer come to pass, but God has already won the battle.
Isaiah 55:11 So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.
Beck Weathers is best known for the 1996 Everest disaster. During the climb he was left for dead, but survived with severe frost bite. He lost his right arm, his left hand, parts of his feet, and his nose was amputated and reconstructed. He is happier and more peaceful after his tragedy. "Would I love to have my hands back? Sure. Would I like to have my hands back enough to go back to who I was? No." quote from Beck Weathers. Another, wow!
If you are going through some trials or storms in your life, be still and trust God is working. Both these men should have been dead, but God had something better in store for their lives.
Marisol
When I was fifteen years old, I attended a youth trip in Kansas. On the drive up there I sat in the front seat and while everyone slept I kept our youth pastor company. I don't remember any of the conversations but I do remember at 2:00 am we stopped to pray. My youth pastor was a friend of our family and he knew divorce ran rampant in our family.
I remember as if it was yesterday, he turned to me and said, "Marisol, I am going to pray for your marriage." I answered in a shout, "What, I'm not going get married!". He said, "I'm going to pray for your future marriage that you will be the one to break the chain of divorce in your family." I have told this story hundreds of times and each time I told it I felt protected. I am the second to youngest of five daughters in our family and I have been married the longest, 16 years. My younger sister comes in second within 10 months behind me, both our marriages have been hit hard this past year and I do believe it's a spiritual warfare. The enemy doesn't want to see that prayer come to pass, but God has already won the battle.
Isaiah 55:11 So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.
Beck Weathers is best known for the 1996 Everest disaster. During the climb he was left for dead, but survived with severe frost bite. He lost his right arm, his left hand, parts of his feet, and his nose was amputated and reconstructed. He is happier and more peaceful after his tragedy. "Would I love to have my hands back? Sure. Would I like to have my hands back enough to go back to who I was? No." quote from Beck Weathers. Another, wow!
Today God showed me the purpose that my youth pastor prayed for me on that dark highway. It was a prayer to protect my marriage from the trials of today. God wants us all to prosper and have hope for the future. I would like to thank my former youth pastor for being obedient that faithful night. I want to thank our Lord Jesus for this trial in our life, better things are yet to come.
If you are going through some trials or storms in your life, be still and trust God is working. Both these men should have been dead, but God had something better in store for their lives.
Marisol
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Are you there God, it's me Mari?
Do you remember the book "Are you there God, it's me Margaret?" by Judy Blume. The character Margaret had constant communication with God. If I remember correctly Margaret was a pre-teen and throughout the book she mentions that her family is not religious but feels a connection with God. The last six months of my life a day doesn't go by without prayer; now my whole day is filled with prayer. When does prayer become conversation? When we realize that we don't have to come into His presence because we are always in His presence. As a child, prayer was the what we did at meal times and before bed. As a teenager and young adult my prayers were "get me out of this mess, God". As a mom and wife I wanted prayer to be more effective but I wasn't dedicated enough to grow in Christ. I know God was always besides me whether or not I spoke to Him, now my prayers are so much more.
There is a bible character that reminds of the fictional character Margaret, Enoch in Genesis 5:21-24. Enoch was dedicated to have a fellowship with God and walked with God for 365 years. His relationship was habitual and he pleased God. The bible doesn't explain why God took Enoch without experiencing death, I believe it was the faithful relationship Enoch had with God.
Matthew 22:36 -38 Tells us about the greatest commandment. "Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' "This is the first and greatest commandment.
Do we not long to be spend time with our spouse, our children, our friends, or our relatives? When there is a party or get together planned, does our heart fill with anticipation? At the dinner table, isn't the best when everyone is sharing and laughing? This is exactly how God feels about us. He longs with anticipation to spend time with us. He created us to have fellowship with Him.
How do we begin this relationship? Day by day, reading our bible daily, getting into the habit of speaking directly to our Father God, and asking Him to show us the best way to start this relationship. I know someone who texts God. I always picture Him next to me where ever I am. When I am driving alone I clear the front the seat for Jesus. When I go for walks He walks with me. I even talk to Him out loud. Begin first thing in the morning, start on your knees with thanking Him for a new day and new mercies and then go from there.
If I remember correctly I believe somewhere in the book Margaret gets upset with God and the last line of book reads, Are you still there God? It's me, Margaret. I know you're there God. I know you wouldn't have missed this for anything! Thank you God. Thanks an awful lot....
God is there for you, talk to Him.
Marisol
There is a bible character that reminds of the fictional character Margaret, Enoch in Genesis 5:21-24. Enoch was dedicated to have a fellowship with God and walked with God for 365 years. His relationship was habitual and he pleased God. The bible doesn't explain why God took Enoch without experiencing death, I believe it was the faithful relationship Enoch had with God.
Matthew 22:36 -38 Tells us about the greatest commandment. "Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' "This is the first and greatest commandment.
Do we not long to be spend time with our spouse, our children, our friends, or our relatives? When there is a party or get together planned, does our heart fill with anticipation? At the dinner table, isn't the best when everyone is sharing and laughing? This is exactly how God feels about us. He longs with anticipation to spend time with us. He created us to have fellowship with Him.
How do we begin this relationship? Day by day, reading our bible daily, getting into the habit of speaking directly to our Father God, and asking Him to show us the best way to start this relationship. I know someone who texts God. I always picture Him next to me where ever I am. When I am driving alone I clear the front the seat for Jesus. When I go for walks He walks with me. I even talk to Him out loud. Begin first thing in the morning, start on your knees with thanking Him for a new day and new mercies and then go from there.
If I remember correctly I believe somewhere in the book Margaret gets upset with God and the last line of book reads, Are you still there God? It's me, Margaret. I know you're there God. I know you wouldn't have missed this for anything! Thank you God. Thanks an awful lot....
God is there for you, talk to Him.
Marisol
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