Hurry Up Already!

  We are a busy people.  Humans have a way of filling every single moment of every single day with something.  We rush and rush, hoping to accomplish our goals.  Many people have read Isaiah 40:31.

"But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint."

What a beautiful picture.  The eagle soars on the unseen wind currents.  A humming bird flaps it wings almost continually.  Which bird would you like to be?  When we trust in the LORD we have an unseen hand holding us up.  Most of the time however, we are like the humming bird acting in our own strength.  When we do, we will get tired quickly.  Ever think this is why most people are suffering from some sort of fatigue?

There are other verses in Isaiah that I would also like to share with you today.  They are found back in chapter 30.  Isaiah 30:15 states, 

"For thus saith the LORD God, the Holy One of Israel; In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength: and ye would not."

Israel was facing an invading army. Instead of turning to God, and taking their rest in Him, they chose to solve their problems their own way.  In the following verses, God tells them that their choice actions will fail.  The neat thing is found in verse 18.  God tells Israel,

"And therefore will the LORD wait, that He may be gracious unto you, and therefore will He be exalted, that He may have mercy upon you: for the LORD is a God of judgment: blessed are all they that wait for Him."

God says, "OK, try your own thing.  When it fails I will be right here.  I won't say I told you so.  You will fail, but I will be successful.  I will be exalted. Learn to trust me and you will be happier."  God will never leave His children.  When we are facing a storm, even when we try to face it in our own strength, He will be there in the wings ready to catch us when we fall.  When we are His children, we are in His hand, and no man (not even ourselves) can get us out.  Don't we have a wonderful God!

I say all that to say this: Each day I have to learn to trust God more.  Working in my own power is a trap that it is easy to fall into.  Thankfully, I am never alone.  The LORD is there!  SO, I am learning to wait upon the LORD.  When I do, I will have the strength to soar.  When I don't, He's there to catch me when my wings get tired!  Won't you learn to slow down and wait on the LORD with me?

Live in the here and now

     The past is gone, the future is uncertain, the time we have now is a gift, that's why we call it the present.  I have heard this saying and repeated this saying many times.  It is true to a certain extent.  We need to make the best use of our time here.  In fact, Scripture commands such, "Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time." (Colossians 4:5)  Yet, there is sound wisdom in thinking about the future.  This is what I would like to deal with in this blog.

     There is a law of science that states; every action has an equal and opposite reaction.  Because we know this, we can be prepared for what the future holds.  In our world today, however, it seems like people want to live in the moment and then be rescued from the consequences of their choices.  My mind races considering all the examples that could be listed here.

     I also find that people are not concerned with precedents that are set.  How we do something is just as important as what we do!  Our society is acting so much on emotion and instant gratification we are not thinking through.  What will be the reaction to our action?  What will be the consequence of how we do what we do?  We need to act on rational and sound wisdom.  We need to think about the road we are starting down.

     "See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.  Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is." (Ephesians 5:15-17)

     "Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand." (Philippians 4:5)

     "Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap." (Galatians 6:7) 

     Please, to everyone that reads this, take a moment to think about why you are doing what you are.  Why are you making the choices that you are?  What goal do you hope to achieve and what lessons are you teaching in how you achieve it (especially to our children)?  Let sound wisdom prevail. "Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God." (I Corinthians 10:31)

"The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate. Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom: I am understanding; I have strength." (Proverbs 8:13-14)