Waiting...

Behind my house sits a quiet lagoon that is full of wild life.  I enjoy sitting on my back porch watching the Egrets fly over, frogs croaking and fish jumping.  It’s become an outdoor sanctuary with God for me.   I’ve missed this place since we moved and it is so good to have my tamien( Greek word meaning secret place-Matthew 6: 6) back again.

For the past couple of months, I’ve noticed a young boy who is about 12 years old fishing daily.  In fact, he’s out there several times a day for long hours at a time. I’ve seen him catch a few fish and some turtles too.  However, what strikes me the most about this young man is his tenacity to wait on his catch!  He never seems to grow impatient or bored.  He just sits day after, hour by hour and minute my minute waiting for something exciting to jump his line. Mostly, I’ve noticed he does it with such joy in his heart as if there was nothing more important to him.

I smile when I think about this because it reminds me of how I should be with God.  Like this young man, I too, need to be just as tenacious in my waiting on the Lord to complete great things in my life.  Just like this young man, I should know that without a shadow of a doubt something good is going to come in my waiting or if you will, jump on my line if I throw my prayer line out there! 

 Watching him these past weeks has really been a joy and a  great reminder that waiting on God is sometimes challenging , but that the hope of Him meeting me in that place far outweighs anything my flesh could endure.

As I close, I’m reminded of Psalm 130:

Waiting For the LORD Brings Redemption

1Out of the depths have I cried unto you, O LORD.

2Lord, hear my voice: let your ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications.

3If you, LORD, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand?

4But there is forgiveness with you, that you may be feared.

5I wait for the LORD, my soul does wait, and in his word do I hope.

6My soul waits for the Lord more than they that watch for the morning: I say, more than they that watch for the morning.

7Let Israel hope in the LORD: for with the LORD there is mercy, and with him is abundant redemption.

8And he shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities.

What is it that you are waiting on God for today? Finances? A renewed marriage or relationship? Healing or a new promotion?  Do you find yourself patiently and joyfully anticipating His answer to your need or are you weary in your wait?  I pray that your wait is one of great anticipation as Hope does not disappoint. Wait on Him today with a newness that makes you persevere to things you never dreamed of. Hope compels us to persevere for the things of God--  He’s SO worth the wait!

Teddy Bear Hugs

Unless, you're a military wife, it's hard to explain the feelings that stir inside of you before a deployment.  It doesn't matter how many deployments you've been through, it still tugs at your heart as if it was the first time!   For me the hardest part of the deployment are the weeks just before my soldier leaves. There is this anxious anticipation building.  I begin to ask God to  prepare my heart and mind for the dreaded goodbye. Without realizing it, I begin a countdown in my head and heart to the precious days we have left together as a family.  Ask any military spouse and I can guarantee you they do the same thing.

As I write this, my husband is preparing a message to the kids that he will later record for them inside their deployments bears that we bought them at Build a Bear store today.  What's more comforting than hearing their father's voice to help comfort them when they need that extra love and encouragement? 

The truth is, even as an adult, I'm not that much different   I'm one of those military wives who sleeps with her hubby's t-shirt after he leaves just so that I can smell his scent and feel a little closer to him.  Silly, huh? Judge me if you want, but until you've faced a long deployment, you don't realize the loneliness and vulnerability that you feel at times. Anything helps, even a smelly old t-shirt!-lol...However, I've learned to lean on something more secure than Hanes T-shirts these days.  I have God as my husband while my soldier is away. 

In the end, I'm no different than my sweet precious children.  I too, need that comfort of hearing daddy's voice telling me he loves me and that everything will be okay.  Thankfully, I have a supportive and loving earthly dad who does that but I'm even more grateful that my Father in heaven is the one who foresees what I need even before I ask and brings me that peace and comfort in abundance.

I may not have a bear to squeeze and listen to, but I have a God who I can call on and He will speak His truth's right into the depths of my heart that will sustain me this year! Even now, I can smile knowing full well that "Daddy" is there for me and my kiddos. After all His word promises to be close to the broken hearted and sometimes during a deployment your heart does break as you miss your loved one and your family is split apart for a time. I can honestly say that deployments are what you make of them.  I won't like, they are not easy but they can be the best year if you choose to allow it to be because you and your family grow in ways you never dreamed possible because God is in the midst of it all.  In a way, He truly is that squeezable teddy bear that can instantly bring us comfort!

To those of you facing a deployment or are currently in one now, know that you are not alone.  You have many sisters across the globe in your position.  Be strong and courageous.  I pray that your Heavenly Father will speak a comforting word to you today as you serve and sacrifice your spouses for this nation's freedom.  Remember that your making a difference as you spend this year raising your family alone.  God sees the sacrifice and He will bless you for it!:D

Be brave fearless warriors--love you all!:D