God's Not in a Hurry

From my journal on 9/20/24:

"It seems God is speaking to me today about His timing.  Nicky and I are at a couples getaway with our church in Glen Rose.  This afternoon while riding around with another couple, she and I were talking about how busy we always are. I shared with her something I had read recently in a time management Bible Study about how Jesus was always busy but never in a hurry. In Mark 11:11 Jesus went into the temple courts, looked around, but since "it was already late" he waited until the next day to drive out the money  changers.  She brought up how Jesus didn't go to Lazurus' house until Lazarus had already died. He then went to the tomb and commanded he come out. Tonight at "The Promise", a reenactment of Jesus' life, there was a scene where Jairus asked Jesus to come to his house and heal his daughter. On the way, Jesus was talking with  and healing others. Jairus' daughter died before Jesus got there. Jesus continued to his house and healed her. There was also the scene of Jesus bringing Lazarus from the dead. I was so moved by these scenes. The Holy Spirit was impressing on me so strongly that Jesus does everything  in His time! Even when it seems too late. Lazarus was already dead, Jairus' daughter was already dead, Jesus  didn't seem to hurry to get there, everything happened according to His plan and His timing. Death was not the end, it just wasn't His time yet. And like Karen Wheaton's podcast a friend sent me this morning said, when it seems like things are darker than they have ever been, like all hope is gone, that is when Jesus shows up on the scene. It's not that He's not coming... it's just not time for His miracle yet!!

Who Are "Your People""

 I love this devotional from Katie Majors blog...

Thursday, Romans 16

I love the way Paul loves his people. I found myself asking myself as I was reading: Do we love people this much? 

This is how it should be. Not only does Paul love his people but he acknowledges their shared ministry – Paul cannot share the Gospel like he does without the help of all his beloved friends and co-ministers. These people have worked hard and some even risked their lives for the sake of the Gospel and Paul honors them. Paul acknowledges that it hasn’t been his effort alone that has advanced the Gospel, but the collective work of many who have gone before him, walked beside him, or who will come behind him.

Because of our current circumstance, God has been impressing this on my heart often lately. The amazing friends-turned-family we left in Uganda for this season not only continue to share the Gospel with our community, but have encouraged me in the Gospel on countless occasions. Ministry wasn’t meant to be done alone, but in community. And as I think of our church and as I think of Paul, I know this is how I want to love and minister no matter where God sends us – together. With His people. With our people.

If you left your workplace, your church, your school, or your community right now, do you have a list like Paul of those you would send greetings to, those you would honor, those who helped you along the way?

First of all, if the answer for any of us is no, I pray we would be encouraged by Paul’s example to cultivate a lifestyle and community where we could begin to have a long list like this.

If your answer is yes like mine is (by the grace of God alone – thank you Jesus for our people!), reach out today to your people. Remind them of how they have loved you, encouraged you, spurred you on. Remind them of how you couldn’t do it without them.

Spend some time thanking Jesus for His body. The Gospel goes forth in community."

This got me thinking... "Who are my people?" A lady at church last night let me know she was praying for my son, I thought, she is "my people". I began to think of others who have made an impact on my life or who I have close relationships with. Those who have helped me in some way, those who when I have had to move I have truly missed. I am about to start my own list.

Who are your people?

Holy Conversation

I read once of a young lady who was just getting off work as a nurse, and was walking down the street behind a man and wife who had just come from church service. The couple were talking about Jesus and his uttermost salvation. The nurse was so filled with desire to save souls that she left her work and became a missionary. There is power in holy conversation...we are the salt of the earth, the light of the world. May our words be full of Life today.

Ecclesiastes 9:17 "The words of the wise heard in quiet are better than the shouting of a ruler among fools."

Hospitality Site

https://acandle.wildapricot.org/
I found this hospitality site on-line. Have you ever used this type of resource, or do you have any others of this type to share?

Heaven

   This morning I've been thinking about Heaven. Last night my husband and I stayed up late watching The Gaither Homecoming, and it was highlighting Howard and Vestal Goodman. Almost every song they sang, if not every song, was about going to Heaven. It was so beautiful and inspiring! I got to thinking about how few of the new songs of our day, talk about Heaven. It reminded me of the words of the sermon I heard last Sunday, by Jason Morris. He said "...the fewer sermons that are preached about holiness, the fewer are preached about Heaven." A person is not very likely to want to think about the coming of the Lord, or where they will go when they die, if they are not living life sold out to God.
   As I sat on the couch and listened to song after song about the day God calls us home, my spirit was so uplifted and encouraged just to keep drawing nearer to Him.

2 Timothy 4:8 "Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love His appearing."

Precious to God

"How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them!
If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee."
Psalm 139:17-18

Take Time to be Holy

Take time to be holy, Speak oft with thy Lord.
Abide in Him always, and feed on His word:
Make friends of God's children, Help those who are weak,
Forgetting in nothing His blessings to seek.

Take time to be holy, the world rushes on
Spend time in secret with Jesus alone
By looking to Jesus like Him thou shalt be
Thy friends in thy conduct His likeness shall see.

Take time to be Holy, let Him be thy guide,
And run not before Him whatever betide;
In joy or in sorrow still follow thy Lord,
And looking to Jesus, still trust in His word.

Take time to be holy, Be calm in thy soul;
Each thought and each motive beneath His control
Thus led by His Spirit to fountains of love
Thou soon shalt be fitted for service above.

The devotional that I am reading right now is titled "Take time to be Holy". It reminded me of this old hymn, which I've been meditating on a lot lately. It does take time to be holy, to become more like Jesus. But if you're pressed for time, it's just the few minutes here and there that we take to say a prayer, read a scripture, sing a song of worship, speak a word of praise, that keep us in His presence all day long. Take the time, all of the time, "to be holy".