I’ve found in my life when God speaks there is often a time of darkness that follows… A time of testing and trial… A season of waiting.

When God gives you a vision and darkness follows, wait. God will bring the vision He has given you to reality in your life if you will wait on His timing. Never try to help God fulfill His word. (Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest, January 19).

How do you handle those dark moments when silence is all your hear?  Jesus tells us in Matthew 6:33, “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all of these things will be given to you as well” (NIV). 

“Be still and know I am God.” Psalm 46:10.

Maybe you are a lot like me and you have experienced the highs and lows of waiting.  The one thing I am so glad I can say is that I haven’t given up.  I haven’t quit pressing on and looking to God for strength and wisdom. Despite my resolve to finish this race strong, I have gone through moments of whining and complaining the past several years.  I told one friend recently that it is time for a change… just to hear him say, “That’s what your baby will be crying for after she is born. (Due in September).

Waiting is an interesting activity.  There are times of waiting and being still before the Lord.  And at the other extreme there are those times where it is necessary to break down some walls and get busy… put your hands to the plow and work.  During this season of waiting I’ve done a little of both.  But each time I begin to get busy I keep hearing this voice say, “This isn’t it.”  I heard those all familiar words at the first of this year. It was once again very frustrating for me.  What did I do?  I obeyed what I believed the Holy Spirit was telling me to do.  I totally backed off and stopped volunteering what I was doing at a particular church.

I haven’t arrived at where I desire and believe I will be one day…  I have a lot of hopes and dreams…  But I do believe I am exactly where I am supposed to be.  I’m taking in everything I can as I continue to wait and seek the Lord. 

The following message by Brian Bloye, “When Life Makes You Wait.”  Has been one of those moments where God has affirmed His presence in my life.  This message really inspired me.  I hope it will you too.

This is from March 13, 2009:
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I’m in the midst of a project with the company I work for. It’s called a “Kaizen Event.” Kaizen = incremental changes for the better. So far, our meeting has transpired over five days. (With several more weeks to go). After a week of this my brain is fried! This event has really challenged my thinking about the processes that we were asked to evaluate and to bring about change.

During my drive time home each day I have debriefed the days discussions, this process, and my own life in the light of this process. Before going to bed each night I have been reading Erwin McManus’ book Wide Awake. I have been in Chapter 3, Adapt,all week long. The focus of this chapter has been on change or as McManus writes, “reinventing yourself” by the power of the Holy Spirit. See 2 Corinthians 5:17 and Romans 12:1-2.

What is it about change that you like or dislike?

At work we are wanting to take something that is a good thing and make it better by walking through this process. As I look at my own life and evaluate it – I want to bring my good life to the foot of the Cross and give it to my Lord and say, “Jesus, bring about the incremental changes in my life for the better so that I may be pleasing in your eyes.” In this chapter McManus challenges,

“If you’re not living the life of your dreams, if you wake up with that little bit of sadness in the mornings because you know you’re underachieving, living a life of mediority, and chooosing average, it’s easy to blame everyone else for your condition. Especially when your condition is really good, but not the dream God has for you. You’re not called to settle for the good life; you are called to a life of greatness.” (Wide Awake, 67).

What is it that you must do to bring your life from good to great? Living the dream is to live a life of greatness. It’s a humbling invitation given by God to be transformed by the renewing of your mind so that you can live, test, and approve what His perfect will is for your life.

Are you living the dream?

Did you know that you can’t have an encounter with God and walk away the same? When you have an encounter with God your life is going to change. Moses spent 40 days on the mountain with God his face radiated with the glory of God. When you spend time with the LORD people are going to know it.

I called a friend a couple of weeks ago and when he heard my voice he said, “I must have made an impression on you back in college.” I asked, “Why are you saying that?” He replied, “Those you leave an impression on will always remember you.”

What sort of impression do you leave on others?

“You were not created to be normal. God’s desire for you is not compliance and conformity. You have been baptized by Spirit and fire. Asleep within you is a barbarian a savage to all who love the prim and proper. You must go to the primal place and enter the presence of the Most High God, for there you will be changed by His presence. Let Him unleash the untamed faith within you.” (Erwin McManus, The Barbarian Way, 82).

In the later chapters of Acts Paul is repeatedly told by other Christians not to go to Jerusalem. Paul’s response,

“What matters most to me is to finish what God started: the job the Master Jesus gave me of letting everyone I meet know all about this incredibly extravagant generosity of God.” (Acts 20:24, The Message).

What is it you are destined to finish in Jesus Name? Work at it with all your heart. Give God your best effort – the Holy Spirit will empower you and others will hear His message.

Has something or someone hindered your efforts? Has that circumstance told you, “You can’t do that.”? Give to Jesus whatever or whomever has stepped into your life to disqualify you.

Make these words of Paul your words, “What matters most to me is to finish what God started…”

In Andy Stanley’s message, “Pray until the peace comes,” he asks, “What drives your prayers?” I answered, “Fear and worry.”

As my daughter got behind the wheel for the first time I know she was afraid. I’m not sure what she was most afraid of (the car, messing up, or how I might react to her messing up). Over several days she has gotten better with more and more confidence.

As I’ve observed and coached my daughter, I’ve thought about my own fears and how often I don’t allow God to coach and train me through my fears. I am not like my daughter learning to drive as I tend to grip the steering wheel of life too tightly, step on the gas too hard, and when it comes to braking – I haven’t quite managed how to delicately apply them. I’m getting concerned that maybe I’m frustrating God with my inability to overcome my fears.

“If you don’t know what you’re doing, pray to the Father. He loves to help. You’ll get his help, and want be condescended to when you ask for it. Ask boldly, believingly, without a second thought. People who ‘worry their prayers’ are like wind-whipped waves.” (James 1:5-7, The Message).

“…get serious, really serious. Get down on you knees before the Master; it’s the only way you’ll get on your feet,” (James 4:8b-9, The Message).

2009 has been a great year for me. It has also been a very difficult one. I know a week ago God began leading me to focus on prayer for the remainder of this year. A much different kind of prayer.

“The prayer of a person living right with God is something powerful to be reckoned with.” (James 5:16b, The Message).

The title of the talk I heard Andy Stanley give, “Pray until the peace comes” has become my personal theme for the rest of this year. I must let God in on what my deepest fears and desires are.

The words of Paul sum it up,

“Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers. Letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.” (Philippians 4:6-7, The Message).

I’m praying until the peace comes.

Putting all of this into one package equals WOW! I’m still in the midst of reading It and let me tell you it is challenging me to the core.

Donald Miller has shown me that I need to edit my life to write a better story. Because if I don’t I’m on a path that Andy Stanley has told me I’m on that has a destination. And when I look in my rear-view mirror I don’t like the wreckage that I see.

So, as I come to understand the path I’m on and that I’m in need if a better story for my life I realize that in the midst of it all that really at the center of it is God. Margaret Feinberg has given me the eyes to see I need to Scout the Divine in all things. (I have eaten honey all weekend… Get the book to know what I’m talking about).

Bring all of the things I’ve gained through Miller, Feinberg, and Stanley and wrap it all up with “It”. I know I’m on the right path for writing a better story. Because I know I have it and I have what it takes to make life around me better.

The Holy Spirit has spoken to me through Paul in 1 Thessalonians chapter 1, “God not only loves you very much but also has put his hand on you for something special.” (The Message)

Praise the Lord!

I hope that as you think about your life today I pray that others can say of you what Paul said of the Thessalonians in chapter 1, “The news of your faith in God is out. We don’t even have to say anything anymore – you’re the message.” (The Message).

So, what is it you are reading I must add to my library and life?

Let’s all live out that something special He has in mind for us!

On October 25, I will be sitting down with the students of Tapestry Church. The goal of our conversation will be to begin the dialogue of what the mission of this ministry is all about. As I’ve prayed and listened the following questions came to mind:

1. What if the world depended on ME to hear the Gospel?
2. How did the first disciples feel when Jesus ascended into heaven and were left with the task to spread the Good News?
3. What if the Tapestry Student ministry were the only one in town – what would we do to reach this generation?

Go back to my first question. How do you answer it?

Luke 24:45-49 in The Message reads:

45-49He went on to open their understanding of the Word of God, showing them how to read their Bibles this way. He said, “You can see now how it is written that the Messiah suffers, rises from the dead on the third day, and then a total life-change through the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed in his name to all nations—starting from here, from Jerusalem! You’re the first to hear and see it. You’re the witnesses. What comes next is very important: I am sending what my Father promised to you, so stay here in the city until he arrives, until you’re equipped with power from on high.”

Have you waited… Has the power of the wind passed you by… Have you been filled with the Holy Spirit?

We have been chosen to be God’s instruments to show the way to a complete life… A life in Jesus Christ.

Can the world look to you?

I’m worlds apart from the person I am to the person I dream of becoming. I wake everyday hoping that today I become more like the man I have entrusted every bit of hope I have… The man is Jesus Christ.

The lyrics of Worlds Apart by Jars of Clay are more beautiful than anything I could ever write on my own:

I pray… “To rid myself of all but love, to give and die… Take my world apart – I am on my knees – take my world apart – broken on my knees… All I am for all you are because what I need and what I believe are worlds apart.” (Jars of Clay).

I pray God takes my world apart and uses me for His glory. I ask him to use the breath He has given me to glorify Himself however he chooses.

I’m understanding today a little bit about obedience thanks to the leadership of the Holy Spirit. I am am rejoicing today with the words of David found in 2 Samuel 22:21-25,

“God made my life complete when I placed all the pieces before him. When I cleaned up my act, he gave me a fresh start. Indeed, I’ve kept alert to God’s ways; I haven’t taken God for granted. Every day I review the ways he works, I try not to miss a trick. I feel put back together, and I’m watching my step. God rewrote the text of my life when I opened the book of my heart to his eyes.”

God take my world apart and let me change the world for your glory…

• Grace and peace to you many times over as you deepen in your experience with God and Jesus, our Master (2 Peter 1:2).
• Jesus resplendent with light from God the Father as the voice of Majestic Glory spoke: “This is my Son, marked by my love, focus of all my delight.” (2 Peter 1:17).
• The main thing to keep in mind here is that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of private opinion.  And why? Because it’s not something concocted in the human heart. Prophecy resulted when the Holy Spirit prompted men and women to speak God’s Word. (2 Peter 1:20-21).

If we are to “Rise to the Occasion…“, we must have these three truths found in 2 Peter evident in our lives from the inside out:

1. We must be deepening in our experience with God and Jesus.
2. We must be marked by God’s love.
3. We must speak when prompted by the Holy Spirit. Not holding back but speaking God’s Message with love and grace.

I love these two words used together, “inside out”.  Our lives are hungry…  There is a deepening desire within us all to be changed from the inside out.  There is a hunger that can only be fulfilled by God’s love and grace found in Jesus. 

As I read 2 Peter this morning, I was reminded of the ways sin tries to destroy us and to keep us focused on feeding those desires of our flesh.  The Holy Spirit comes and changes us from the inside out.  I didn’t realize this until someone took the time to speak God’s love to me with love and grace.  Are you making the most of every opportunity?

As you go through this day and the rest of this week ask yourself:

1. Am I deepening in my experience with Jesus?
2. Is my life being marked by God’s love? 
3. How can I be used by the Holy Spirit to speak of God’s love and grace with words and actions?