November 13, 2013 - "God Waits"

Another week moving along quickly, and another calendar "biggy" completed. The date yesterday certainly offered lot's of discussion - 11/12/13. People were saying that we won't see anything like this for years but what about next year - 12/13/14? Hum? And four blood moons set to occur in the next 18 months, what a great time to be alive? I want to chat this morning about God's journey toward mankind over and over when our loyalty and humility before God were certainly never solid. I wish I could so say that my life was completely humble or completely trusting, but often the Holy Spirit shows me days, times, circumstances where the Spirit of God was overshadowed by my own way. Last week we spoke about God pursuing a relationship with each of us. LOVED that! And the good part of that statement is that it happens more than once. God's intentional pursuing speaks volumes to me. I am amazed that the scripture confirms that while I was yet a sinner God loved me - chose me - pursued me. Isaiah 30:18 reads: "And therefore the Lord [earnestly] waits [expecting, looking, and longing] to be gracious to you; and therefore He lifts Himself up, that He may have mercy on you and show loving-kindness to you. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) are all those who [earnestly] wait for Him, who expect and look andlong for Him [for His victory, His favor, His love, His peace, His joy, and His matchless, unbroken companionship]." So, we can add waits to the above-listed verbs that describe the awesomeness of our God. The story in Isaiah details the Children of Israel desiring to return to Egypt for their covering and security because their journey didn't go as they thought it would. They were willing to return to slavery instead of embracing freedom in whatever circumstances God was bringing them through. At first, I'm like "really?" But how often do we look back, even though it was horrific, because our "expectations" of God look different? Or we see God doing something in someone's life differently than ours? The above verse does speak to a group of those (children of Israel) who chose to stay on the mountain, with all of the unknown, trusting a God they had never seen as opposed to returning to the covering of Egypt. I want the Holy Spirit to show me any area of my life in which looking back SEEMS easier than trusting forward. That will preach! Then, let me reread Isaiah 30:18 and smile as I connect with the fact that God WAITS to be gracious to a sinner like me, even when I think stupid things. Have an awesome day, PK