wilderness

Have you ever felt called by God to fulfill a role? Ministers, missionaries, teachers, doctors...God calls people to so many different roles. I've never felt "called" by God to take any specific career path. That is, until I began to feel the strongest instinct I've ever felt - a desire to become a mother (yes, I do consider motherhood a career!). Almost 2 years ago, Baron & I decided it was time to start a family. God had a different plan for our lives. So, I have felt this calling from God...and I have to wait for it. Have you ever experienced that? It's like when you answer the phone, and the person on the other end says "hang on" as soon as you answer. Wait a minute - you called me! Why do I have to "hang on"? What sense does it make for God to call me to something and then make me wait for it? I thought about this question the other day, and it suddenly hit me that Baron has been through that same experience, and he was much more patient than I was. While he was working at Alfa, he knew that God wanted him to be in ministry. But at the same time, he also heard God telling him "Wait." So Baron waited, and God provided. I had no idea at the time what a wonderful example he would be for me. It is a little easier for me to "wait" on God having seen an example (through Baron's life) of the awesome blessings on the other side of waiting.


Please continue to pray for us. In my head & my heart I know this is God's will for our lives, and that provides me with so much peace...but I still get frustrated, upset, and confused at times. Thanks for the continued prayers!

in God's waiting room

I received this daily devotional from The Purpose Driven Life, and it really speaks to me. It's something I know in my head, but I'm still trying to grasp in my heart. I need reminders like this throughout my journey as Baron & I wait for a baby.

Risks in Faith: When God Delays
by Rick Warren

For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay. Habakkuk 2:3 (NIV)

If you ever find yourself in God’s waiting room – waiting for an answer, a change, or a miracle – you just need to stop and trust God. He’s never late or in a hurry, because his timing is perfect.

When I started Saddleback Church, I had no idea that it would take 15 years and 10,000 weekly attenders for us to have our own land and our own building. At Saddleback’s very first church service I said, “Someday we’re going to buy at least 50 acres. But we’re not going to do it for the first five years because we’re going to put all our money into people and programs.”

Seven years after that first worship service it looked like we were well on our way to having our own building. Our people had sacrificed to raise money for land – canceling vacations, working second jobs, selling diamond rings, and giving from their pensions.

We finally found the right piece of land but we needed another $1.2 million to close the deal. In the last 60 days of 1987, the people in this church gave the needed funds and the land was ours.

Two years later, though, we still were working out zoning details with the county supervisors and they decided to delay us indefinitely.

My wife, Kay, was upset with me – and with God. She prayed: “God, you have been unfair to us. We have tried to do this exactly the way you told us with faith, honesty, and integrity. God, I don’t know what game you’re playing, but let me in on it because I don’t get it!”

God responded: “Kay, what is it to you if I allow every church on the face of the earth to have a building and land and Saddleback never does? Will you still follow me?”

She answered, “Yes, Lord, I will.”

That experience helped me really know the truth of John 13:7, when Jesus said: “You do not realize now what I'm doing but later you will understand” (NIV).

That same truth is communicated in 2 Corinthians 1:9: “This happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead” (NIV).

So often it looks like God is delaying or denying us, but his timing is perfect. Next time you feel like you’re in God’s waiting room, trust that God is working in his own perfect time on his own perfect plan – which is so much better than anything we can plan or dream.

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