If I just touch his clothes...

 If I just touch his clothes.....

I am making my way through Leviticus right now...rules and regulations, clean and unclean....

As a woman, I was caught up again in the rules of uncleanness...but more, the woman who suffered 12 years who came to Jesus.

It is not fun being ill, going from doctor to doctor with no help...no hope...rejected, unclean, put aside ...walking alone...wondering, “will I even find a cure or is this my destiny?” Been  there, done that...but, her’s kept her not only unwell, but also apart...can you imagine, not mater what you touched, there was constant cleaning, constant care, constant doctoring, constant hope deferred, constant let downs...for 12 years...

I can almost hear her saying/thinking, “ I have heard of this man’s healing...would he be able to heal me, unclean that I am...maybe if I just touch his garment,  that might be enough...how can I get closer without too much attention from those constantly surrounding him......there, there is an opportunity...” and she silently moves in to touch,  just to  touch Jesus’ garment to immediately feel healed...what immense joy, what relief, what awe...

Then  to be called out....”who has touched my clothes?”

Did she cower, hiding her face, trying to look small amongst the crowd...fearing retribution...falling at his feet...telling him her story...

Instead, I can imagine He looked at her with his infinite compassion...

Saying, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.”

Daughter...how personal

Peace and be freed...how caring ...no more seeking...She found her answer...

Thank YOU....

“‘When a woman has a discharge of blood for many days at a time other than her monthly period or has a discharge that continues beyond her period, she will be unclean as long as she has the discharge, just as in the days of her period. Any bed she lies on while her discharge continues will be unclean, as is her bed during her monthly period, and anything she sits on will be unclean, as during her period. Anyone who touches them will be unclean; they must wash their clothes and bathe with water, and they will be unclean till evening. “‘When she is cleansed from her discharge, she must count off seven days, and after that she will be ceremonially clean. On the eighth day she must take two doves or two young pigeons and bring them to the priest at the entrance to the tent of meeting. The priest is to sacrifice one for a sin offering and the other for a burnt offering. In this way he will make atonement for her before the Lord for the uncleanness of her discharge.

Leviticus 15:25-30

And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years. She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse. When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, because she thought, “If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed.” Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering. 

At once Jesus realized that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who touched my clothes?” 

“You see the people crowding against you,” his disciples answered, “and yet you can ask, ‘Who touched me?’ ” 

But Jesus kept looking around to see who had done it. 

Then the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell at his feet and, trembling with fear, told him the whole truth. 

He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.”

Mark 5:25-34 

Immersed...gifted...

 Immersed....gifted...

In Exodus God lays out the plans for the portable Tabernacle in minute details....the colors, the sizes, the designs, the materials....all part of a huge “tent” with layers and layers of meanings...down to the clothing the priests would wear... which the Israelites carried with them throughout their wanderings in the wilderness...

The Lord said to Moses, “Speak to the people of Israel, that they take for me a contribution. From every man whose heart moves him you shall receive the contribution for me. And this is the contribution that you shall receive from them: gold, silver, and bronze, blue and purple and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen, goats' hair, tanned rams' skins, goatskins, acacia wood, oil for the lamps, spices for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense, onyx stones, and stones for setting, for the ephod and for the breastpiece. And let them make me a sanctuary, that I may dwell in their midst. Exactly as I show you concerning the pattern of the tabernacle, and of all its furniture, so you shall make it.

Exodus 25:1-9

They gave their offerings to the making of it...probably using the riches of their former slave owners...making something new ...replacing the old things with new ....looking to, honoring, worshiping their God who brought them out of slavery, redeemed...heading toward the promised land...

...using this abundance of resources....He even had the artisans named who would carry out this tremendous task of designing, implementing His details...

I was thinking about these artisans...the abundance of resources...

plans...

Sentence after sentence, paragraph after paragraph records what the workmen did, what they created, designed until it was finished... Exodus 35-40...

Those workers, called by name, each were gifted with a skill...

Then Moses said to the people of Israel, “See, the Lord has called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah; and he has filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, with intelligence, with knowledge, and with all craftsmanship, to devise artistic designs, to work in gold and silver and bronze, in cutting stones for setting, and in carving wood, for work in every skilled craft. And he has inspired him to teach, both him and Oholiab the son of Ahisamach of the tribe of Dan. He has filled them with skill to do every sort of work done by an engraver or by a designer or by an embroiderer in blue and purple and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen, or by a weaver—by any sort of workman or skilled designer. “Bezalel and Oholiab and every craftsman in whom the Lord has put skill and intelligence to know how to do any work in the construction of the sanctuary shall work in accordance with all that the Lord has commanded.” And Moses called Bezalel and Oholiab and every craftsman in whose mind the Lord had put skill, everyone whose heart stirred him up to come to do the work. And they received from Moses all the contribution that the people of Israel had brought for doing the work on the sanctuary. They still kept bringing him freewill offerings every morning, so that all the craftsmen who were doing every sort of task on the sanctuary came, each from the task that he was doing,

Exodus 35:30-36:4 

The tabernacle is finished...putting all the pieces together...

“So Moses finished the work. Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. And Moses was not able to enter the tent of meeting because the cloud settled on it, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. Throughout all their journeys, whenever the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the people of Israel would set out. But if the cloud was not taken up, then they did not set out till the day that it was taken up. For the cloud of the Lord was on the tabernacle by day, and fire was in it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel throughout all their journeys.”

Exodus 40:33b-38 

This just calls to mind the New Testament...we each are gifted as well...given spiritual gifts to use to build the kingdom...and we are each called temples...

Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you? If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him. For God's temple is holy, and you are that temple.

1 Corinthians 3:16-17

It is beyond my comprehension that the God of the Universe would choose to indwell me with His Spirit...that He would give me gifts to build His kingdom...until such time that He deems it is finished...

And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.

Philippians 1:6 

Thank YOU....

Out of bondage...Into the riches...

 Out of bondage...into the riches....

To me, there are so many pictures in the Bible...

The Israelites were held in bondage, enslaved to work for Egyptians for four hundred years plus...so poor at the end, they had to gather straw to make the bricks that were demanded...probably a few sheep and garden areas..for their own sustenance...after the favor granted earlier by Joseph’s pharaoh...shepherding flocks which the Egyptians despised...used, beaten, and feared because of their strength in numbers...

Then, through the very intervention of God who tore down all of their idols in the various plagues He sent upon the land, showing Himself mightier than any of their manmade gods, Pharaoh finally let the people go...begging them to leave...

The Egyptians were urgent with the people to send them out of the land in haste. For they said, “We shall all be dead.”

 So the people took their dough before it was leavened, their kneading bowls being bound up in their cloaks on their shoulders. 

The people of Israel had also done as Moses told them, for they had asked the Egyptians for silver and gold jewelry and for clothing. 

And the Lord had given the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they let them have what they asked. 

Thus they plundered the Egyptians. 

And the people of Israel journeyed from Rameses to Succoth, about six hundred thousand men on foot, besides women and children. 

A mixed multitude also went up with them, and very much livestock, both flocks and herds. 

And they baked unleavened cakes of the dough that they had brought out of Egypt, for it was not leavened, because they were thrust out of Egypt and could not wait, nor had they prepared any provisions for themselves. 

The time that the people of Israel lived in Egypt was 430 years. At the end of 430 years, on that very day, all the hosts of the Lord went out from the land of Egypt. 

It was a night of watching by the Lord, to bring them out of the land of Egypt; so this same night is a night of watching kept to the Lord by all the people of Israel throughout their generations. 

All the people of Israel did just as the Lord commanded Moses and Aaron. 

And on that very day the Lord brought the people of Israel out of the land of Egypt by their hosts.

Exodus 12:33-42,50-51

Fast forward a bit... to the preparation to the building of the Tabernacle...

The Lord said to Moses, “Speak to the people of Israel, that they take for me a contribution. From every man whose heart moves him you shall receive the contribution for me. And this is the contribution that you shall receive from them: gold, silver, and bronze, blue and purple and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen, goats' hair, tanned rams' skins, goatskins, acacia wood, oil for the lamps, spices for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense, onyx stones, and stones for setting, for the ephod and for the breastpiece. And let them make me a sanctuary, that I may dwell in their midst. Exactly as I show you concerning the pattern of the tabernacle, and of all its furniture, so you shall make it.

Exodus 25:1-9 

God gives Moses plans for the tabernacle, each piece of furnishings, the tent itself...everything...made of various wood, pieces overlaid with pure gold, stones, fabrics, colors...and even craftsman to accomplish this feat...

The golden Lampstand potentially weighing over 55 pounds...

The plunders, spoils of the Egyptians...all prepared, given in advance for the use of the Israelites’ journey and building of the tabernacle in the wilderness...

When I think of these events...Enslavement, the bondage that we as people in this world endure..we run after manmade gods in our lives, all of which have no real power...we let them...but 

God reaches into our lives seeking to free us from slavery as well, giving us the riches unmeasurable through our Redeemer, Christ...building us into Temples housing the very Holy Spirit of the living God...preparing us for the promised land, in eternity with Him...

Out of bondage...Into the riches...with a learning journey along the way...thank YOU for Your Word  which richly teaches...redeems, frees ....

2 In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.

John 14:2-3 

Of this gospel I was made a minister according to the gift of God's grace, which was given me by the working of his power. To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God, who created all things, so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him. For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

Ephesians 3:7-12,14-21

And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:19 

Here I am...

 “Here I am...”

There are several times in the Scriptures that the phrase , “here I am” or “here am I “ is recorded...included in a command, recognition, a plea...

I wonder how many times over the years I have said that same thing...when my parents, husband , children were calling, or when God was calling...did I hear each call and immediately attend or ignore and go my way...it probably depended on the intonation, desperation of the call...and there many times I wish  I hadn’t heard the call...and wanted to ignore it, hiding my head in the  sand, so to speak....

Was Isaac a little desperate when he looked around wondered where the burnt offering was as he was being lain on the alter...or Moses a little shaken when he saw a  burning bush that wasn’t consumed...or Eli questioning why God was speaking to a mere boy instead of he, the adult....or Isaiah, in his plea to be sent...or Ananias...what were their thoughts...

I want to be sure I am listening or answering with the right heart attitude when I have to answer, “here I am”...to various calls of obedience, to people, to events ...with right motives....carrying through the tasks set before me, with diligence, with gratitude....in a variety of settings...

“Here I am”....thank YOU...

After these things God tested Abraham and said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” He said, “Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.” 

And Isaac said to his father Abraham, “My father!” And he said, “Here I am, my son.” He said, “Behold, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?” 

But the angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham, Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” 

So Abraham called the name of that place, “The Lord will provide”; as it is said to this day, “On the mount of the Lord it shall be provided.”

Genesis 22:1-2,7,11,14

When the Lord saw that he turned aside to see, God called to him out of the bush, “Moses, Moses!” And he said, “Here I am.” And he said, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God.

Exodus 3:4,6

And the Lord called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” Then Eli perceived that the Lord was calling the boy. Therefore Eli said to Samuel, “Go, lie down, and if he calls you, you shall say, ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant hears.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place.

1 Samuel 3:8-9 

And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then I said, “Here I am! Send me.”

Isaiah 6:8 

Therefore my people shall know my name. Therefore in that day they shall know that it is I who speak; here I am.”

Isaiah 52:6 

Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.”

Acts 9:10 

Gardens along the way...41...dreaming..hope

 Gardens along the way... 41...dreaming...hope...

I am getting daily advertisements for trees, shrubs, seeds, winterizing and prepping fruit trees, spring gardens....etc. ...etc...etc...I haven’t been

to Costco lately, but am sure their huge bulb selection isn’t too far away...

The snow is falling, especially in the mountains nearby, it is cold here, the ground is an hard as a rock, yet we are already preparing for the sunny spring and warm summer,  gardens and orchards unleashed from their frozen state after a winter’s nap....

Hope...that’s what those advertisements are selling... for a productive year...a better year....where we are free to roam, free to greet...free to live unbound...free to be “normal”...free to grow....

We do have a hope in Christ...He is the best hope we have...thank YOU.... 

“And now, O Lord, for what do I wait? My hope is in you.

Psalm 39:7

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; 

his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; 

great is your faithfulness. 

“The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in him.” 

The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him. 

It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.

Lamentations 3:22-26 

Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

Romans 5:1-5

Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.

Romans 12:12 

For through the Spirit, by faith, we ourselves eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness.

Galatians 5:5 

Years of famine...years of plenty...

Years of famine...years of plenty...

Joseph, of old, foretold years of plenty and years of famine to the Pharaoh in Old Testament...after experiencing some famine times in his own life...sold as a slave, he prospered as He followed for Lord in his servitude...then taken as prisoner, He still serves the Lord in his time of famine...his service in these times was a training ground for his eventual    leadership of all of Egypt in their years of plenty and years of need...saving his own family from their own famine...

I imagine we all have years of famine and years of plenty... in the physical, emotional and spiritual realms...times when all may seem against us...times of darkness with no light, times when the answers seem hidden, times when our bodies are just don’t work...followed by each days marked with praise for the good...when our energy is boundless...when the heavens opened with bounty...

No matter where we are, serving the Lord is the key...whether in the dungeon or on the throne...obedience to what He has shown us in the light follows what He continues to show us in the dark...

I liked the phrases in Genesis...

The Lord was with Joseph, and he became a successful man, and he was in the house of his Egyptian master. 

But the Lord was with Joseph and showed him steadfast love and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison. 

The keeper of the prison paid no attention to anything that was in Joseph's charge, because the Lord was with him. 

And whatever he did, the Lord made it succeed. 

The name of the second he called Ephraim, “For God has made me fruitful in the land of my affliction.”

Genesis 39:2,21,23,41:52

Joseph was acknowledged over and over as a man whom God was with...

Fast forward...how can I show that same attitude?  

Grow in grace...

Exhibit the Fruit of the Spirit...love, joy, peace, Long suffering, patience, goodness, kindness..

Love my neighbor...love ...praise...be a light...

And so much more...

Thank YOU...help me to be an Ambassador of Christ in the famine and in the plenty...walking with You... 

On the third day....

 On the third day....

As I am reading, my mind has questions...I look for patterns, repetitions, or ask “what does this mean?” Or just, what  does this mean for me today...

Today I was in Genesis 22 and beyond until Abraham’s death...the phrase, “on the third day” popped up...now with modern technology I can ask where this phrase is repeated...knowing that it is repeated in the New Testament several times...does it connect with Genesis?...I know that scripture is there for me to teach among other things ...

Abraham is told by God to take his son and offer him as a sacrifice...(mind blowing...who wants to give up his only son as a sacrifice)... but Abraham is obedient, knowing that God will provide...which he does... with a ram, a lamb...on the third day...Isaac is saved from the alter to be replaced by the sacrificial lamb...

Now doesn’t that sound familiar? A Lamb sacrifice...hummm

Another “third day” example came out...Esther went before the king to beseech saving of the Jews from annihilation...

Jesus did his first miracle on the “third day”...

Jesus was raised on the third day...the most important “third day” event in history...John 3:16, God gave His one and only Son...a Lamb...

It is just fun to connect some dots of repeated phrases...remembering that God speaks to us in various ways...He knows our frame, thoughts...how we work, think...thank YOU for your eternal Word...How you use it to teach us, to bring us back to You...to the Lamb ...through your Holy Spirit ....

Good provides a lamb..

After these things God tested Abraham and said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” He said, “Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.” 

So Abraham rose early in the morning, saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and his son Isaac. 

And he cut the wood for the burnt offering and arose and went to the place of which God had told him. 

On the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes and saw the place from afar. 

Then Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey; I and the boy will go over there and worship and come again to you.” 

And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son. And he took in his hand the fire and the knife. 

So they went both of them together. And Isaac said to his father Abraham, “My father!” And he said, “Here I am, my son.” He said, “Behold, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?” Abraham said, “God will provide for himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son.” So they went both of them together. 

When they came to the place of which God had told him, Abraham built the altar there and laid the wood in order and bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. 

Then Abraham reached out his hand and took the knife to slaughter his son. 

But the angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham, Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” He said, “Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him, for now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me.” 

And Abraham lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him was a ram, caught in a thicket by his horns. 

And Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son. So Abraham called the name of that place, “The Lord will provide”; as it is said to this day, “On the mount of the Lord it shall be provided.” 

And the angel of the Lord called to Abraham a second time from heaven and said, “By myself I have sworn, declares the Lord, because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, I will surely bless you, and I will surely multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven and as the sand that is on the seashore. 

And your offspring shall possess the gate of his enemies, and in your offspring shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, because you have obeyed my voice.” So Abraham returned to his young men, and they arose and went together to Beersheba. And Abraham lived at Beersheba.

Genesis 22: 1-19

The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!

John 1:29

For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of living water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”

Revelation 7:17 

Esther saving her people...for a such a time as this... 

On the third day Esther put on her royal robes and stood in the inner court of the king's palace, in front of the king's quarters, while the king was sitting on his royal throne inside the throne room opposite the entrance to the palace. And when the king saw Queen Esther standing in the court, she won favor in his sight, and he held out to Esther the golden scepter that was in his hand. Then Esther approached and touched the tip of the scepter.

Esther 5:1-2

First miracle...

On the third day there was a wedding at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus also was invited to the wedding with his disciples. When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does this have to do with me? My hour has not yet come.” His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” Now there were six stone water jars there for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. And he said to them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the feast.” So they took it. When the master of the feast tasted the water now become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom and said to him, “Everyone serves the good wine first, and when people have drunk freely, then the poor wine. But you have kept the good wine until now.” This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory. And his disciples believed in him.

John 2:1-11 

Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, 47 and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. 49 And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.”

Luke 24:44-49

 

 

Abraham and waiting...blessings...

Abraham and waiting....blessings...

I am reading through the Old Testament this year...again...just to Abraham and his waiting...

The Lord said to Abram after Lot had parted from him, “Look around from where you are, to the north and south, to the east and west. 

All the land that you see I will give to you and your offspring forever. 

I will make your offspring like the dust of the earth, so that if anyone could count the dust, then your offspring could be counted. 

Go, walk through the length and breadth of the land, for I am giving it to you.”

Genesis 13:14-17 

After this, the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward. ” 

But Abram said, “Sovereign Lord, what can you give me since I remain childless and the one who will inherit my estate is Eliezer of Damascus? ” 

And Abram said, “You have given me no children; so a servant in my household will be my heir.” 

Then the word of the Lord came to him: “This man will not be your heir, but a son who is your own flesh and blood will be your heir. ” 

He took him outside and said, “Look up at the sky and count the stars —if indeed you can count them.” 

Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness. 

He also said to him, “I am the Lord, who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land to take possession of it.”

Genesis 15:1-7 

Now the Lord was gracious to Sarah as he had said, and the Lord did for Sarah what he had promised. 

Sarah became pregnant and bore a son to Abraham in his old age, at the very time God had promised him. 

Abraham gave the name Isaac to the son Sarah bore him. When his son Isaac was eight days old, Abraham circumcised him, as God commanded him. 

Abraham was a hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him. Sarah said, “God has brought me laughter, and everyone who hears about this will laugh with me.” 

And she added, “Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? Yet I have borne him a son in his old age.”

Genesis 21:1-7 

How I need to wait and be still when I really want to move ahead and “do” something...

I want the weight to go off fast...the house to be finished quickly, the sickness to go away...whatever...not years to finish...not be patiently waiting...get it done “now”...

But, Abraham believed and it was credited as righteousness...much more important than instant gratification...thank YOU...help me in the “wait”...the belief....

I have a flower that is doing the same this year...waiting ...to bloom, burst forth in it’s beauty...it will be worth the wait...

Written 7 years ago...

“A flower late(?) in blooming....waiting

In October, over two months ago, a friend gave me an amaryllis bulb for my birthday...I also bought 6 to grow and give away at the same time...the six promptly popped out, grew, bloomed for thanksgiving, Christmas and are gone....  I gave them all away to various people ...but here sat the first, a green leaf tip poking out until January 1... Then poof,it grew and grew and now January 19th, almost three months later, it burst forth into beautiful blooms, all by itself,not part of the "group", to be enjoyed singly on its own....so was it "late" or just waiting to shine on its own or just on time??....

It reminds me of the Samaritan woman, who coming to the well alone, found Jesus alone...to find his glory and ran to tell others... To bloom, as it were....where she was planted...she was waiting as well...for the Saviour.....as were others...

Or waiting for the perfect time...waiting

I heard a quote a long time ago, that there are more "waits" in the 

Bible than "goes".   Not sure if that is so,   But it is hard sometimes to wait...and wait ...and wait...many times alone...for that go signal .....

Expectantly...

Strong...

Taking heart...

In hope...

Still...

Patiently...

Knowing at sometime there will be an answer....in His timing....so that it is glorious, beautiful, honoring, glorifying, right....

Thank YOU, for the waiting....even when I don't want to wait...I want to go ahead....

You have a purpose for the wait that is so much better thank can even imagine...in the waiting....

Psalm 5:3

In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly.

Psalm 27:14

Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.

Psalm 33:20

We wait in hope for the Lord; he is our help and our shield.

Psalm 37:7a

Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; ...

Psalm 38:15

Lord, I wait for you; you will answer, Lord my God.

Psalm 119:166

I wait for your salvation, Lord, and I follow your commands.

Psalm 130:5

I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits, and in his word I put my hope.

Psalm 130:6

I wait for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning, more than watchmen wait for the morning.”