The Rut of Routine

When we wait on the Lord it helps to know what we are waiting for. One of the keys to the ongoing process of waiting is to learn to keep a single and consistent focus on God as the source of life. Secondly, our motivation must be high when waiting for God to speak into our lives. Without motivation to wait we can fall into what I call the, "rut of routine."  An old bible teacher long ago taught us, "the only difference between a grave and a rut, is a rut has the ends knocked out." Waiting on God can bring about terrible boredom, apathy, and complacency. Seemingly traveling down the road to nowhere. To focus and recite who God is and what He is, can motivate us to actually enjoy waiting for Him to speak into our situation. But, we must be patient and excited about the opportunity before us. The Psalmist once again gives us direction when he sets the agenda for us, "for I will wait on thy name, for it is good."(Ps 52:9)  There is something in the name!

Do you have anything to wait on God for? Do you wait with a sense of motivation to do so? If you do, then I might suggest that waiting is your opportunity to see God at work, focusing on the opportunity until God becomes clear.  God is more interested in what we are doing and thinking of Him, and for Him while we wait, and not as concerned for the destination we seek. Enjoy the ride. "Therefore, return to your God, observe kindness and justice, and wait continuously for your God."(Hosea  12:6)  The benefits to waiting on God are many. Waiting strengthens, enables, sustains and satisfies. Lets get going!!

Pastor Jim

Focus on God

There is a very interesting text found in the Old Testament book of Numbers, where God's wrath was poured out on Israel in the wilderness. The result was a leanness of soul that is reiterated in Psalm 106:15. This leanness of soul represents what happens when we do not recognize that what God has for us is better than what we can hope for ourselves. Like a child who says he does not like his vegetables. No matter how good a vegetable is, he refuses to eat it. Rather than being nourished by it he would rather starve than submit to what is good for him. The children of Israel were testing God's grace and love, and it resulted in their lack of focus on God. Instead, they were trapped with desires other than God's desire which would lead them to their ultimate inheritance. The Hebrew translates “greedy desires,” as “they craved intensely.” (Psalm 106:14) The point is they were being controlled by their desires because they believed the delusion that happiness comes in having one's wants met. This shows how we are easily and wrongly influenced when we are not personally in touch with the Lord. A wrong focus can get us into deep trouble.

Do you stumble because of desires? Do you have a wrong focus when it comes to God's extended plan for you? Is it hard for you to wait on the Lord? Paul makes it clear to us that we should not look at the things which are seen but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.(2 Corinthians 4:18) Let's examine the potential problem here and see if our waiting process is more effective when we have a right focus on what God wants for us.

Pastor Jim

The Waiting Room

Waiting can be very difficult to do. In the fast-paced world in which we live, we are hurried through life most of the time. We are prone to take matters into our own hands and at times our lives become the result of many decisions that God had never intended for us. Here lies the test of what it means to wait on God. Waiting necessitates the passage of time for most everything in our lives. How we use the time waiting is crucial in hearing God's voice. Waiting means being focused on who God is and what God is doing. Why is it so hard to wait? Part of the answer is hidden in our fallen nature, where we are so prone to take matters into our own hands. We follow our own schemes in masterminding our lives, plotting, and planning. In a society where we are accustomed to immediate gratification, waiting can be a frustrating experience. However, the remedy for our dilemma is understanding that waiting involves resting in God's timing. As a result the benefits of waiting on the Lord are many. Being content in ever circumstance, getting along with humble means, and in prosperity.

Do you find yourself unable to wait for almost anything? This is a fault that can be remedied when we learn to rest in God's timing. Does the passage of time make you feel like you have wasted that time, or do you see it as an opportunity for God to speak? Waiting can bring excitement and anticipation of God's blessing. As the psalmist says, “but those who wait in the Lord will inherit the land.” (Psalm 37: 9)

Pastor Jim

Waiting on God

The art of waiting is sometimes misunderstood and ignored. The Word of God tells us that if we wait upon the Lord our strength shall be renewed. No one likes to wait, especially when we feel inconvenienced because we have more important things to do. God obviously has built into the the idea of "waiting" unappreciated blessing and life-changing opportunities for those who master the art. The prophet Isaiah concluded this thought by saying, “teach me Lord to wait”. If this is true, then there is an underlying blessing in taking the time necessary to wait on God and listen for his instruction.

Do you find it frustrating when you have to wait, and do you become agitated beyond control when faced with a waiting situation? Consider a different viewpoint, and take the opportunity when confronted with waiting to hear from God. Why not ask God what the wait is for and see if he will not give a new perspective on the art of waiting!

Pastor Jim

Advent III

Will Durrant, popular historian and philosopher has appropriately categorized the greatest question of our time.  "can a man live without God"? God sees that in man, and works opposite of man's pride for life. Should we fall victim to such a posture, the appropriate word to describe that self exultation is hubris, translated into English from the Greek As pride. Man has always had an insatiable need for power and the insistence of worldly wisdom and knowledge. There are two basic idolatries against God, the need for power and the insistance of worldly wisdom and knowledge. We need to be rescued from this appetite for worldly power, wisdom and knowledge thus the premise for why Christ came in the first place.

Do you struggle in these areas and often find yourself struggling in life because of these tendencies. If so let's see what the word of God tells us about being rescued by the rescuer. Colossians 1:13-22

Pastor Jim