prayer

In His Time

For those of you who are following my home-buying saga, let me be transparent. After looking at over thirty-five homes and losing eight that we loved, I’m tempted to say, “this stinks.”

Let me tell you about one of my favorite houses. Most of the homes we’ve made offers on have been brick, but one was a pale blue vinyl and the smallest home we’ve considered. The one-acre yard screamed my name with a lovely view just over the back fence. Two cows enjoyed their afternoon rest. My heart leapt for joy when I saw them. I squealed and called out, “Hello cows! How are you today?” One stood and stared at me. I don’t think she’s had many strangers say hello, but I love cows. We lived on a farm for a few years with Kenn’s parents and raised lots of them. Although I walked through the house, I didn’t need to. The cows convinced me to make an offer.

I stated this in my last blog: “But we persevere. We strive to find a home despite these difficulties. God is still in control and knows where our house is located and when we’ll find it. He has a plan for us, and we trust He will provide us a home soon.”

Do I still believe that? Yes! But I need to reevaluate the word, soon. How long is that? Does it mean any of these?

  • Before long

  • Any old day now

  • Before you know it

  • Lickity-split

  • In no time

We moved to Tennessee eight weeks ago. Maybe I should have used one of these instead.

  • Sooner or later

  • Sometime

  • Eventually

  • In the long run

  • In the course of time

Instead of using the word “soon,” or any of those above, a better way for me to state this would be, “in His time.” God will provide us a home when He’s ready and when we’re where He wants us to be.

In the meantime, we’re not giving up. We’ll continue to look for a house and walk in faith. We want to be in His perfect will and place.

When disappointment and discouragement creep in and I’m tempted to say, “this stinks,” I read my Bible aloud to increase my faith and spend extra time in prayer. I know that in His time we will find our home.

Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message,
and the message is heard through the word about Christ. 
Romans 10:17, NIV

Photo by Priscilla Du Preez - Unsplash

A New Year Filled With Joy

I’m looking forward to a new year filled with joy. It’s a choice I’m choosing to make. A year filled with gratitude and prayer.

At the beginning of 2020, I selected the word “trust” as my “word of the year.” My verse was Philippians 4:6:

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation,
by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving,
present your requests to God (NIV).

I read and quoted that scripture over and over during the past year. Not only because of Covid but also with the selling of our home—something I thought would take a week ended up taking over two months.

For 2021 my word is “joy,” and my verses are 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18:

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances;
for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus (NIV).

There’s a common theme of always thanking God in my 2020 verse and for 2021. Joy and thanksgiving go hand in hand. To receive joy, I must have a grateful heart. In the past, I tried to incorporate an app-based gratitude journal but only kept it going for about a month. I purchased a planner a few weeks ago, and so far, it’s working for me. I’m using a section for words of thanksgiving each day.

My verse also includes prayer again this year. Prayer is an important part of my daily walk with Christ. There are many people who suffer deep sorrow and pain, and God has called me to pray for them. And when I do, joy fills my heart knowing I’m a part of something that pleases the Lord and benefits those in need.

By choosing joy, praying always, and giving thanks in all things, I’m following God’s will for my life. Although you may not have a “word of the year” or yours may differ from mine, I pray you’re looking forward to a new year filled with joy too.

The Waiting

In my blog post, Personal Blessings, I shared how my husband and I have wanted to move back to Tennessee for several years, but we were hesitant to leave our youngest daughter in New Mexico. We believe that God opened the door six weeks ago for our move, when our daughter stated she was ready. Now that we’ve decided to relocate, I don’t enjoy the waiting. I want to hurry back to where the rest of our family lives so we can be together again.

We’d heard stories of offers accepted within ten days when we put our house on the market here in New Mexico three weeks ago. And while the market in middle Tennessee is hot, and they list homes one day and receive an offer within two, we hoped for similar results here. But God has a different plan for us.

After I sent a text to my children in Tennessee expressing my discouragement, I realized I sent that message without forethought. I’d experienced disappointment, not discouragement. I know God is working His plan, and His timing is better than mine. Maybe the home the Lord has for us in Tennessee isn’t available yet. The best thing for me to do is wait and trust.

At the start of 2020, I selected Philippians 4:6 as my verse for the year. I’ve referred to it often.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

Verse 7 states the benefit of not worrying but praying instead.

And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

The word I selected for 2020 was “trust.” Fits in with my verse, doesn’t it? And appropriate for this year with several travel plans canceled because of COVID-19 and living life outside of any normalcy for the past seven months. Trusting God is the only way to endure these crazy times.

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight (Proverbs 3:5-6).

I find peace by seeking God’s guidance through prayer and thanksgiving instead of worrying about tomorrow. My focus is on Christ, and I choose to trust Him.

Disappointed, but filled with peace. That’s a good place to be and where I find myself today during the waiting.

What are you trusting and waiting for today?

All scripture references are from the New International Version.

Photo by Anvesh Uppunuthula - Unsplash.

Benedictions and Farewell Greetings

In previous blog posts, I mentioned that the word bless can signify a prayer of benediction. One of those is Numbers 6:24-26. I love the way it reads in the New Living Translation.

May the Lord bless you and protect you. May the Lord smile on you and be gracious to you. May the Lord show you his favor and give you his peace.

You’ve possibly heard a pastor say this or another version of it at the end of a worship service. They are speaking a blessing over you for protection, and for the Lord’s mercy, favor, and peace to rest upon you. Receive these words and hold on to them with your whole heart.

One of my pastors often shared this benediction at the close of a service.

Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.
Hebrews 13:20-21, NKJV

The writer of Hebrews used this benediction in his closing remarks. Paul, Peter, and John spoke blessings in their farewell greetings to the churches too. These are available for us to pray or speak over others and even for ourselves.

Paul ended his letter in 2 Corinthians 13:14 with this verse from the New International Version.

May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

Christ’s grace, God’s love, and fellowship with the Holy Spirit are ours.

As 2 Thessalonians 3 wraps up, Paul gives this greeting in verse 16 from the New King James Version.

Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace always in every way. The Lord be with you all.

He’s offering peace and reminding us that the Lord is near.

Here’s my farewell greeting for you today:

May you find peace, joy, and comfort in the Lord. May your walk be blessed with God’s guidance through whatever situations you face today. May you be filled with His wisdom and love.

Photo by Frank McKenna - Unsplash

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