In the waiting room

But they who wait upon the Lord will get new strength. They will rise up with wings like eagles. They will run and not get tired. They will walk and not become weak. Isaiah 40:31 (NLV)


I'm doing Grandma duty this week - hanging out with my daughter and her family until the new baby decides to make an appearance. Someone (AKA Grandma) needs to be here to stay with the 7 others when the time comes for mommy and daddy go to the hospital for the delivery.

But waiting for the new baby is a lot like watching a pot of water on the stove - you know it's going to boil eventually, but it just won't boil as long as you watch it. LOL!

It means that I don't have time for my usual morning routine of writing. It's hard to blog with little ones crawling on me at 7 AM. And of course, even though I'm so close to finishing my third novel, everything is on the back burner as long as there are little ones around.

But don't be fooled - I'm not complaining. The "wait" isn't bad at all since I love spending time with my grandkids. Today we're making paper conversation hearts and playing with Play Doh while the older ones are doing their home-school class work. Tomorrow? who know's - I'm sure we'll find some equally fun things to do.

No so when I'm waiting on the Lord for answers to prayer or guidance or healing, etc. I get impatient, frustrated and depressed,, the longer I have to wait. The difference is that it's fun to spend time with the grandkids, but not so fun to wait on the Lord for things to happen. Perhaps it's because when I ask the Lord for something, I'm in pain or needing an answer ASAP. Not so fun!

Yet it's during those times of waiting on him that my trust muscles are strengthened. I grow emotionally and spiritually. As I lean on him, I learn what it is to rely on his strength rather than my own. And I do survive - even thrive - when I thought I couldn't go another step or wait one more moment. In his time, the answer I seek is birthed in my life and I am better for the waiting time.

Lord, help me to embrace the waiting time as I learn to lean totally on you. Amen.

Find your strength in the Lord - Monday Moments with God

My Dearest Child,

Are you sad today?

Think about me and our relationship. Think about who I AM and my great power. Think about how much I love you - enough to leave all heaven's splendor to become like a human infant, helpless and dependent on my earthly parents for food and protection.

I know what it's like to feel limited and alone. As I hung on the cross, it felt like my heavenly Father looked the other way and for one awful, eternal moment, I hung there alone, forsaken. That's why I will never leave you or forsake you.

My Child, come to me. Look at me. Cry out to me. Tell me about your dreams, your hopes for the future. Confide your deepest hurts to me. I will listen to you and together we will work toward your future and your hope.

When you do this, I will help you grow strong and tall, like a mighty oak tree that's planted next to a cool refreshing stream of water. You won't lose your hope like the autumn leaves falling from the trees, but your hope will be firmly rooted in me and nothing will shake you.

Love,
Jesus

*Philippians 2:6-9, Jeremiah 11:29, Psalm 1, Psalm 22

Spiritual Strength Training

“Wait for the Lord. Be strong. Let your heart be strong. Yes, wait for the Lord.” Psalm 27:14 NLV

When women reach menopause, they are at higher risk for developing osteoporosis. But developing brittle bones really starts at a much younger age.
 
After we hit puberty , we begin to lose up to 1 % of our muscle and bone strength per year. Adding strength or resistance training to your workouts can prevent and even reverse the damage, according to health experts.

What makes it so effective is that when our muscles meet resistance in our workouts, such as weights or other immovable objects, there is a breaking down of the muscle fibers. But during a resting phase, new muscle fibers grow, strengthening, toning and trimming them. That's why experts recommend strength training on alternate days for the best results.

In addition to weight loss and help with diseases like arthritis, heart disease and diabetes, strength training can elevate a person's mood and help them to sleep better. No wonder doctors recommend adding strength training to our workouts, especially as we age.

But strength training is nothing new. God knew all along that we need to exercise our spiritual trust muscles to be strong and spiritually healthy.

We often come up against situations and difficulties which require us to use our spiritual trust muscles. They may even seem immovable or impossible. But trusting God through those circumstances helps breakdown our doubts and build up our faith in God's promises, just as effectively as strength training builds and strengthens muscle tissue in our physical bodies.

What's the phrase people use about physical exercise? No pain, no gain...

Father, help me to grow strong and healthy in you through the seeming impossibilities of life which stretch my trust and faith muscles. Amen.