Dreamers

One of my favorite places to worship God is in my car-singing without reserve. Praising God with heart, soul, mind and body. It doesn't matter that I can't carry a tune or that I might look like a lunatic with my hand lifted high. It is just me and God. (And all the other cars on the road, but so what?)

Today I was listening to Jeremy Camp and his song "We Are the Dreamers" was on. The words capture what God has been speaking to me and to the work He has been doing in my heart. This is my dream and I know my God can do anything! 

I have a dream

That the Earth would shake with the sound of Heaven

I have a dream

That the world would know the kind of freedom

That breaks through every chain

With every doubt erased

With hearts that are wide awake

We are the dreamers 

All things are possible

You are Redeemer

You're working miracles

Let's rise, rise

Rise to our feet 

And proclaim the name of Jesus

I have a dream

That hearts for You would thirst and hunger

I have a dream

We would reach our hands to help our brothers 

Where perfect love is found

The world would hear the sound

Of hearts that are wide awake

I can see the walls are breaking

The captives running free

We will walk and not be shaken

The doubting will believe 

Linking with Faith-Filled Friday, Inspire Me Monday, Monday's Musings, Sharing His Beauty and Titus 2 Tuesday 

Off the Map

Another vacation Bible school (VBS) has finished for the summer at my church. It was a great week with a fun theme that the kids really enjoyed. I had the pleasure of teaching the kindergarten age group. Fun, but exhausting. It was only from 9-12, but I came home each day (especially the first two days) hurting and falling into bed for a nap after eating lunch. 

Not exactly what I pictured my life being. Not exactly what I pictured my summer looking like either. I planned for VBS-that was a given, but my health spiraling downhill was a surprise. I thought that my health would improve when school ended, but there have been so many doctors appointments that I haven't really slowed down. But I know God wants me right where I am. VBS is for the kids, but the message this week has been more for me. 

The theme is "Journey Off the Map" and it is all about following your guide (God) no matter where He leads and no matter what He asks you to do. Through the music and lessons (about Daniel Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego), God is working in my heart and head to "stay the course." To trust, obey and follow Him. No matter where He leads, no matter what He asks me to do. 

I just don't know what that is yet. I know He is preparing me for the future. At this time of uncertainty in life (where I definitely feel "off the map") I have never felt calmer or more at peace. Spending time in His word, through prayer, through books and sermons, I am finding that transformation and renewing of my mind that is spoken of in Romans 12:2. 

Living life in the power of His transforming and amazing grace, fixing my eyes on Him and learning that each season of life is a gift from Him. Truly living life for Jesus, running hard after Him and leaving it all in His more than capable hands brings peace that only He can give. The future: "Unknown to us, known to Him." 

Our VBS Bible verse for this week: 

Linking with Faith-Filled Fridays, Inspire Me Monday, Monday's Musings, Sharing His Beauty and Titus 2 Tuesday

God- "I Am Always With You"

Linking with Wordless Wednesday  , Titus 2 Tuesday and Monday's Musings

Waiting Patiently?

While I'm Waiting...that is the name of my blog, right? If you have been with me since the beginning of my writing journey then you know that I am ultimately waiting for Jesus' return. At times I am anxiously awaiting, sometimes searching the sky, looking through the clouds, daydreaming about His  glorious arrival. Come, Lord Jesus, Come! 

I am also waiting for the time that God, if it be His will, will bring a godly man into my life. To serve God with, to start a family with, to raise this family in His truths and to do more together for the Lord than we could ever do apart. 

I know God has me right where He wants me. 32 years old, single, living at home, teaching in a public school and working in the nursery at my church. Right where He wants me. Do I know all the whys? Nope. Do I need to know? Nope. That's where faith comes in. Faith and trust in my Heavenly Father and His sovereign plan for my life. But I don't always wait so patiently. The struggle is real. It can be difficult. I am currently reading Elisabeth Elliot's The Path of Loneliness. I highly recommend it no matter what season of life God has you in. 

Chapter 22 is titled "How Do I Do This Waiting Stuff?" I love the answer and so I thought I would share it with you today. Elisabeth's answer comes straight from God's Word-Psalm 37. She describes this list as the principal elements from this Psalm of David (New English Bible translation). This list is straight from the book (parentheses added by Elisabeth and italics also). 

Trust in the Lord and do good. 

Dwell in the land (make your home, settle down, be at peace where God puts you)

Delight in the Lord (make the Lord your only joy)

 and He will give you what your heart desires. 

Commit your life to the Lord. 

Trust in Him and He will act. 

Be quiet before the Lord. 

Wait patiently for Him, not worrying about others. (pages 161 and 162)

There it is. The steps: trust, dwell, delight, commit, trust (again), be quiet and wait. Simple to write, hard to put into practice. Worth it? Most definitely! God is teaching me so much during this season of life. I have yet so much to learn, but I will continue to seek Him and I know that I will find Him as He promises in His Word. To God be the glory! 

Linking with Faith-Filled Friday, Inspire Me Monday, Monday's Musings and Titus 2 Tuesday

Oh What A Legacy!

Here is just a morsel from my reading today:

we give up all for the love of God? When the surrender of ourselves seems too much to ask, it is first of all because our thoughts about God Himself are paltry. We have not really seen Him, we have hardly tested Him at all and learned how good He is. In our blindness we approach Him with suspicious reserve. We ask how much of our fun He intends to spoil, how much He will demand from us, how high is the price we must pay before He is placated. 

If we had the least notion of His loving-kindness and tender mercy, His fatherly care for His poor children, His generosity, His beautiful plans for us; if we knew how patiently He waits for our turning to Him, how gently He means to lead us to green pastures and still waters, how carefully He is preparing a place for us, how ceaselessly He is ordering and ordaining and engineering His Master Plan for our good-if we had any inkling of all this, could we be reluctant to let go of our smashed dandelions or whatever we clutch so fiercely in our sweaty little hands?

If with courage and joy we pour ourselves out for Him and for others for His sake, it is not possible to lose, in any final sense, anything worth keeping. We will lose ourselves and our selfishness. We will gain everything worth having. 

The Path of Loneliness 

Elisabeth Elliot

pages 123-124

Linking with Titus 2 Tuesday, Inspire Me Monday, Monday's Musings 

Be Still

I started this blog 3 years ago. Last year I did not write any posts as I was happily living out my dream. I thought I had met the man I was going to marry and I was done blogging for a while. That all changed almost a year later and my dream crashed and burned. 

God performed a miracle to bring me to where I am now in life. I have learned the height, depth and breadth of the everlasting love of God. I have felt His comfort, His peace and His mercy. I have learned the truth Paul writes about in 2 Corinthians 9-His grace is sufficient. 

This is my 100th post. It excites me and humbles me to see how God has used this blog in my own life and in the lives of others. As this world continues to reject God and His truth, He calls us as believers to be still. He is sovereign. He is still in control-always! Song Sunday comes from Jeremy Camp's album I Will Follow and is aptly titled "Be Still." 

Be still and know that I am God. 

I will be exalted among the nations, 

I will be exalted in the earth! 

Psalm 46:10

Linking with Inspire Me Monday, Monday's Musings,

 Titus 2 Tuesday and Faith-Filled Friday

#LoveWins

Yes love does win, but not with a Supreme Court decision that marriage is no longer just between a man and a woman. Love won a long time ago on a cross. Love won when Jesus Christ willingly laid down his life and was crucified for every person's sins (yes, EVERYONE). Love won when Jesus rose from the grave conquering sin and death. Love wins everyday when people turn from their sin, repent and receive Christ as their Lord and Savior, surrendering their lives to Him. Love will win again when Jesus returns to rule and reign. 

Love always wins! 

Yesterday I had to repent and ask God to forgive my initial reaction of anger and worry. I was wrong in my reaction and God revealed that to me throughout the day and night. As I saw pictures of the White House lit up in rainbow colors, I was speechless. Then God reminded me today that someday that house will crumble. It is temporary. It is not eternal. The people in it, however, still need a Savior. They need the eternal love that does not depend on a Supreme Court ruling. So do the millions of others caught in the lies of enemy. 

So yes I will stand on God's word and speak His truth in love for that is what He calls all believers to do. I will not be silent because I love you too much. I want to see all people turn to a saving knowledge of Christ, to live for Him and to spend eternity with Him. Yes, love does win. 

It will always win- here and in eternity! 

Below is a response from Nancy Leigh DeMoss about the Supreme Court ruling and how believers should respond to this decision by the court. Great listen! 

Linking with Inspire Me Monday, Monday's Musings, Titus 2 Tuesday, Come Follow Me Friday and Faith-Filled Friday