Waitin'...

Psalm 27:14 "Wait on the LORD; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart ; Wait, I say, on the LORD!"




It has been said, “Patience is giving the opportunity for God to work according to His timetable.” Don’t you despise waiting, though? It’s amazing how I’ll check multiple lines in a grocery store just to make sure that I get in the shortest one. No doubt, change in perspective surely takes place when the fulfillment of a desire hasn’t arrived, but…we’ve all been there, haven’t we? Maybe we wait on the birth of offspring, a loved one to change and place trust in Christ, or we wait to find fulfillment in our job or an opportunity to travel to a dreamed of destination. No one escapes time in deliberation over an unfulfilled desire.



Have you ever noticed that main characters of the Bible spent a lot of time waiting? Noah waited on rain. Abraham and Sarah waited on the fulfillment of a promise and even tried to rush the process. The children of Israel awaited freedom from Egyptian bondage and, later, entrance into the “promised land.” Moses longed to see that land but wasn’t permitted. Joseph spent time in undeserved imprisonment. Hannah waited for a son to be born. David trusted in the LORD for HIS timing in the transition from Saul’s kingship. Like Joseph, prophets and apostles alike spent time in prison (one in a cistern) waiting for a fair trial or release. The Jews awaited the promised Messiah, and Simeon announced that he’d finally seen the consummation of that desire fulfilled when he laid eyes upon Jesus.



In this verse from Psalm twenty seven, two times the reader is commanded to wait. One time he is commanded to “be of good courage.” These are not suggestions, but rather, imperatives. And, the instruction to wait means to wait in expectation, looking for something. Interestingly, a secondary meaning of this Hebrew word for wait is to “bind together” or “collect.” Also, imperfect tense in the verb "strengthen” denotes that there is a process involved in the waiting to be strengthened. What may God desire to deposit into our lives that is our responsibility to collect and allow HIM to bind up (pull together) in our waiting period? He goes about transforming us as we follow HIS command to look to Him. As we obey HIS voice, HE promises to strengthen us -- something you and I NEED as we wait.



Though a different Hebrew word for "wait" is used in Lamentations 3:26, it sums up what is revealed in our verse from Psalm 27. “It is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD.” God is doing good things as we are following His commands to wait and be of good courage.

Lee Christmas Letter 2009

Dear Friends and Family –

Merry Christmas! The Christmas lights, fattening desserts, and full shopping malls are signs that the season is in full swing. At this time we reflect on all that transpired in the past year and attempt to update you in brief. We are so grateful for friends, family, and our faith in Jesus as we recollect.

John was working for World Gospel Mission until August when restructuring resulted in the loss of his position. Since then he has been staying home taking care of Jace while searching for a new job. The job hunt tends to be discouraging as doors close yet we are trusting that the right door will open in the near future. John’s mom recently underwent a second surgery for melanoma and we are hopeful that the surgeons were able to get all the cancer out of her body.

Sarah continues to work for Fishers Veterinary Hospital as a veterinarian. She has been learning to juggle motherhood and working life and is grateful that she can work part time to spend more time with family. She found out in April that there would be an addition to the family so she was able to enjoy the summer anticipating the arrival of a new little Lee.

Jace is now 18 months old and is growing and developing with lightening speed. It is delightful to watch him grow. He is running around the house, developing his own personality, and experimenting with words . He absolutely loves ‘Diggers and Dumpers’ and all sorts of bulldozer type equipment. Whenever he sees one he will exclaim, “Guck, Guck!!” (truck, truck)

On December 6th, we welcomed a little girl, Gwyneth Rose, to our family. She has a head full of dark hair and has truly been a blessing in our lives. She weighed in at 6 lbs. and 13 oz., 19 ½ inches long. To quote a t-shirt she was given, “all mommy wants for Christmas is a silent night...”

For the past several years, John and Sarah have been involved with Pathway Church – a church plant in the Fishers area. The people and the church were a huge blessing in their lives and they were saddened to see God close the doors to this church in October. For this reason, they are now in the process of hunting for a new church where they can invest and call home.

As you can see, the year has been eventful. We treasure the memory making and our Savior, Jesus Christ. May HIS goodness be felt in your home this Christmas season and in the New Year.

With thankful hearts,



John, Sarah, Jace, Gwyneth

Focus!

“Our thoughts create reality-where we put our focus is the direction we tend to go.”
- Peter McWilliams

During the transition into a new year, vacation time is savored as we spend time with family and friends. But amidst the rush, if you are like me, margins to focus are difficult to find. At the onset of each new year I try to focus on where I want to go and what I want to do.

Have you thought about your life, your church, your family, your occupation, etc… as we enter this new year? Increasingly, I’m more aware of so many options that tap at my life’s front door, desiring my attention and focus, that aren’t visitors that I should host. If I’m careful about the new year, the decisions I’ve made about what to focus on can direct my actions and thoughts in the new year.

Wasn’t it Jesus who said that your heart will follow your treasure and focus? Let’s resolve to be focused on moving towards Christ in every area of our lives this year, and we’ll see the fruit in our church.