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Remember when your children were little…I mean really little?

2 Samuel 22:7 “In my distress I called to the Lord; I called out to my God. From his temple he heard my voice; my cry came to his ears.”

I remember well those sleepless nights during the first few weeks of life with my children. Every cry resonated the night causing light sleep and lots of prayer that maybe they would settle right back down and I wouldn’t have to get up. Those times were few and far between, but occasionally they would let out a cry that was so out of the ordinary that I would jump out of bed and rush to pick them up. I especially happened with my oldest son, who was so sick as a preemie. Something was truly wrong beyond the usual ailments. As I would hold them in my arms they were content that they were safe and going to be okay and the sobs would slowly quiet and their breathing become normal once again. I laugh now when I think that we usually ended up sleeping quietly in the rocking chair together that night!

Aren’t we just like newborns as we trudge through life? We groan and complain often, but there are those times when we scream out to God because of the circumstances in our lives. When we are really hurting and we cry out to God to save us from danger, has He ever just left us to die? He knows our cry, just like I know my children’s voices, and you probably know yours. He knows when we need to settle down and quit worrying about the insignificant or to just wait on Him, but He will not leave us when we are broken and lay at His feet crying for deliverance.

As worship leaders and teams, we need to share this with our congregations. God is there all the time.

Amen.

Here’s a thouht for some of you. How many of you have thankfully moved on to powerpoint words for display during worship, and away from the old overhead projector sheets? Here’s the question: what’s easier for you: typing in a powerpoint presentation for each week of worship, or subscribing to a service online (providing you have wifi or internet connections in your church) where you can just type in the title, and it all pops up for you? For those of you who do use services, what are your favorite? Whichones work the best? As the church finally comes into the 21st century with media and worship, let’s share with one another what we have found works the best, and most importantly, why.

More later….

Shari

My family and I have had a very interesting few days…not exactly the kind of days that you want to repeat often.  The former husband of my husband’s first cousin (got that…we’re still all so close) was found last Friday behind his garage, out cold, not responsive.  Yes, there are questionable circumstances (and Chris lived quite the troubled life), but that’s not what my story is about.

We’ve spent hours together, especially yesterday, with Chris in the past week or so.  Yesterday the decision was made to pull life support.  On a side note, it gave me a strange sense of closure since I was not with either of my parents when they died.  It gave me a new sense of peace that I have never had.  Nevertheless, Chris held on for around six hours before passing on.  At times, it seemed the waiting was painful and endless.

I read a devotion about waiting the other day.  We’ve all had to wait a time or two, right?  So here is my version of that other writing…

Faith and Patience Inherit the Promises

Heb 6: 12 ; ” Be imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises ”
There has been a lot of teaching on faith in recent years but very little about patience.

True faith cannot be separated from patience.

Patience is the evidence of true faith.

Time is an unfailing test of faith.

If our faith is the true faith of God it will grow stronger, regardless of what it looks like in the natural or the outward point of view.

If it is not true faith, time will make it pass away and it will be forgotten.

God said it would take faith and patience to inherit his promises.

Time will remove that which is not true and stengthen that which is true!

I know this to be true in my own life when the many of God’s promises to me sometimes comes more quickly than other times.

Some examples are when it came to healing in my body, when the doctors said, sorry, we can’t help you with this. One time it took 1 week to be healed and another time about a year but God has been faithful to His word. I had to hold on to His word and see it before my eyes, see it for myself.

Then there is another promise I have been waiting on for 23 yrs and I know what He has promised me. I stand in faith on what He has spoken to me over the years.

I said then why, God, I have been waiting so long.  He answered I waited 30yrs, Moses waited 40 yrs, David waited 13yrs.

He said I have a timing and what I have started I will fulfill in your life. Just be patient, it is all in my hands and in my timing.

He says to all those that have been waiting: stand in faith for if I said it shall come to pass, it will come to pass all in good time.

Back to Shari now….This past Sunday we sang the older chorus “They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength (from Isaiah 40)….They shall mount up with wings as eagles.  They shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.  Teach me, Lord, teach me, Lord to wait”.  Isn’t that where the key lies?  Ask God to help you through the waiting times.  As I sat or stood by Chris’ body yesterday, I just kept asking Jesus in my heart for peace, for patience.  Do you know that there were family members there who had been fighting for years, and no one was fighting?  Everyone was at peace, laughing, crying, remembering Chris.  It was exactly the way Chris would have wanted his passing to be, even with the hard rock and oldies rock station playing in the background.

We waited, God gave peace, and at the perfect time, Chris passed peacefully away.  God answered my silent prayers at the perfect time.

 

More later…..

A wonderful devotional writer, Terri Pettijohn, wrote this short paragraph for worship teams just a few weeks ago.  Even as someone who grew up in churches that easily lifted out hands in praise to the Lord, I think we all sometimes forget, especially in the day and age when so many churches now experience the lifting of hands in worship, that the act of worship is so much more…..

Take it away, Terri,…

Lamentations 3:40-42 “Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the
Lord. Let us lift up our hearts and our hands to God in heaven………”

It’s a hard thing to get past, especially if you’ve been raised in a traditional, conservative
church. You know what I’m talking about – raising your hands when you’re praising God. Is it
because we’re still focusing on us and those around us, or has our praise truly left the
building and ascended to the throne of God? Please don’t make the mistake of only lifting
your hands to God, also remember to lift your heart. Our hands should just be an extension
of our heart. What a cleansing we receive when we confess our sins and He washes us and
gives us the privilege of standing before Him. I stand in awe of all that is holy and righteous
and I give Him my praise because nothing else matters.

More later…