JOY- WAITING ROOM

Decisions, Decisions, Decisions...we have them daily don't we? Those decisions can wreak havoc on us...ugh...some would say they are paralyze me...they control my thoughts...they won't let me find joy...the hold me back...a big UGH!

How do we make them stop!!

Put yourself in a time out, put on a dunce or dumb hat and cry?

Maybe we should make it a comedic moment. The idea of a dunce hat came from a comedian who puts on the cone hat and makes fun of those who are slow to get things.

But in these days I would like to suggest what God taught me. I had a decision that kept creeping up on me and the decision did not need to be made for months. So either I was going to waste the next two months, days, hours and precious seconds trying to...surmise with all of my imagination thinking or I am going to GIVE IT TO GOD and ask for HELP!

Humbly I write my prayers these days. Help what do I do?

Then...the tune comes to mind...strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord...You go Chris Tomlin. You go Chris using scripture to let us know Our God will reign forever, He is the everlasting God...He won't faint...He won't grow weary (of me)...We will wait upon the Lord...we wait upon the Lord...My strong deliverer...defender of the weak...you lift us...you lift us up like eagles. 

It comes from Isaiah 40:31-"But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint."

Come on sing it with me. Find it. Play it! Don't faint on me watch!

Next day.

I open a email called "You'll Get Through this." by Max Lucado. You go Max.

God using the saints to help me find a Remedy. I use the word Remedy because that is the word that constantly comes to mind since the Pandemic struck us all down. Lord what is the remedy? Oh Lord show yourself strong and bless us with a remedy just as you did for King Hezekiah! God used another saint in the beginning of the Pandemic to preach on the King H. and his abrupt shock of an illness. (Wait, I am getting off topic...this is enough for you to know on that for now).

Getting back to Max...in the article he gives an analogy of him in a waiting room where he sits strangled with many thoughts of what's on the other side of the door once he is called.

Imagination thinking!

Dilemma...sit and over think something or sit in joy? Crossroad.

There is a clear path based on all that I have learned in scripture....walk, see, talk with Jesus a gentle and humble, creator of my soul, who loves me and wants to give me rest for my soul. Soul talk!

Yes! Yes! Yes! Give me that soul talk Lord! He does. With the song and this message of Max sitting in a waiting room. What do you do in a waiting room?

So I ask you? What do you do in a waiting room?

Live out what God teaches us.

2 Cor. 10:5-captivate every thought in obedience to Christ. In Obedience to Christ I will give my time to Him. 

This is not legalism...I am talking about realism...real life with a real Jesus who gave us the Holy Spirit to have life to the full. With that said that does not mean a uninterrupted life with messy situations...it mean help...help to get through things.

Rest in HIM!

During this time I read three times (that's a practice I recommend) each time observing what stands out in the verse. The final time of reciting the verse wait on the Lord for a message. 

This is what the Lord says: "Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls. NIV Jeremiah 6:16.

When I closed my eyes and read this verse

clearly with all confidence I did not see a choice. I saw blackness and in that blackness I saw this bright glowing path and it led in true peace. This was not a shaming forceful path. This was a illuminated path that led to joy, peace and hope for my soul.

Each part of that path is full of wisdom. Look, see, ask, good way, walk...result...rest.

Do you have rest?

Check it out...you pray and find out!

JOY-ABSOLUTE TRUST IN GOD

 I was sitting in the parking lot of the medical center second guessing, should I go in to get lab work done on my blood . It was going to be a cost out of my pocket so this action weighed even heavier on my mind. I prayed and felt the Holy Spirit direct me to the check with the MD and he directed me to go to the lab. It was almost 12n and I had fasted for the test. I was doubting the whole decision,  had I really heard from God?

Oh gosh! I heard the arguments firing in my head. Are you trusting God with your health? What a waste of money! One person even said to me why are you going to the MD, you can not trust DR.'s today (conspiracy that they are all against us and have a global agenda to derail all of America on a path of mind control). Will I be conforming to the world and their agenda or is this really even an agenda and is the whole medical world (everyone) part of this one world global agenda? (I honestly and humbly add this thought because I believe the division in the world is real and the pressure to conform to certain thoughts is tremendous. It is in the Christian realm as much as the secular. Don't judge, because I believe there is truth on both sides and we need Jesus to speak first because it is such a confusing time!)

Obedience, come and see, listen....pop in my head! Where did those words come from?

All are invitations from Jesus...my master, my teacher, my creator, my lover of my soul!

(I am typing very fast right, not because of the caffeine I had, but because I can not wait to impart the bottom line of this story to you!)

I pray.

I wait a moment.

Phone a reliable friend and go over this situation for confirmation. She agrees, go in! Go in!

Enter in! Come on in! All Jesus' invitations!

I shut out the outside voices and reach for the Prince of Peace!

I enter...filled with peace. I sit and roll up my sleeve and wait for the needle, looking away I see a strip of stickers ready to be given out to the children as a reward for sitting still. Which sticker do I gravitate to? Mickey Mouse. I know my grandkids would relate to playful Mickey Mouse. I just paused and looked up the character qualities of Mickey and it says...enjoys adventure, but his personality is calm and kind. He is optimistic, brave, and lovable. Hmmm. I was drawn to the character qualities that I admire about Jesus. Upon completion of the blood draw...I ask for the stickers...one for each grandchild and one for me.

I left in peace. Thanking God for the friend on the phone, the efficient service, the nurse, the Mickey sticker, the day, my life. Praying for good results and Jesus constant care while waiting for the results.

My mind wandered to where do I go next. I end up in at a resale shop in the book section looking for a new summer read and I notice a lady and we talk and the conversation leads to spiritual things. We acknowledge we are Christians. Another lady interrupts politely, wants to be included in the conversation, however, she is searching for what we already had...a relationship with Christ. She had be prepped by another and was ready for commitment. The conversation was salted with personal testimony, scripture, listening, identifying loneliness, empathy and especially love. We parted with a prayer of surrender and scripture written down and assurance that the women owned a bible to look up the scripture. What a joy!

"You have made known to me the paths of life; you will fill me with JOY in your presence." Acts. 2:28

You know what...this type of Holy conversation with a stranger has not happened in a while.

The very next day I was it happened again this time with the new prospective Dentist I was visiting.

JOY down in my heart!

Even when I doubt, consider, struggle. Jesus is faithful to always keep to His promise of faithfulness. He won't let go, He won't leave me alone, He won't dismiss me even though I have dismissed Him.

Teary eyed now as I review these last days of experiences...God uses Dr.'s to alleviate us from guessing, God uses trustworthy friends, God shows Himself in conversations. He blesses us with moments to see Him at work. When we turn from our own head wandering, knowledge and listen, go and see....we are given assurance and confirmation that He is alive, living and active and there will be a path to follow and everyone in the world is not out to get us. Even if a MD is leaning toward the other side of purpose to live...God can still cause them to use their education to help us with our physical health. 

Bottom line...(here it friends...right after Jesus ascension into heaven the book of Acts records...relationship...Holy Spirit...community. HELP! A way out! Here on earth and finally someday in glorious reunion for eternity with HIM.

Don't isolate! LIVE! Live in the power of the HOLY SPIRIT, which God promised upon HIS ascension into HEAVEN! He will return and take us back with HIM. Until then...do not dismiss your PERSONAL JOURNEY. Do not allow others to speak into your journey...the Holy Spirit can use others. He will help you decipher Him verses the flesh. Watch out for the intruders...even people close to you...your time spent with Jesus can never be wasted. It confirms the flame within you that works to guide you.

Be led by the HOLY SPIRIT, do not let others tell you or scare you into believing differently. A person who knows you and that you are seeking the Lord will not discount your own listening and what you are hearing. We must be careful in this time, but we must trust our relationship with Christ. Grow in the power of the word....Absolutely Trust in God and that means HIs words!