Waiting…
Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your
heart take courage; wait for the Lord!
Psalm 27:14
heart take courage; wait for the Lord!
Psalm 27:14
Waiting is hard for me
when I don’t know the ‘when’ of waiting.
Remembering a question from a stranger across the picket fence when I
was about 4 years old. “When is your
birthday?” I thought about that
question, and sighed from the remembrance of the long wait, “I don’t know, it was
on Sunday last year.”
when I don’t know the ‘when’ of waiting.
Remembering a question from a stranger across the picket fence when I
was about 4 years old. “When is your
birthday?” I thought about that
question, and sighed from the remembrance of the long wait, “I don’t know, it was
on Sunday last year.”
Life is filled with
many ‘waiting fors’. And time passes so
slowly when one waits. Waiting to grow
up to begin living, waiting for the prince of my dreams, waiting for desires
and hopes to be fulfilled, and the waiting for nine months for the arrival of
babies that are a gift from God. Waiting
to hear news of a loved one, waiting for answers to prayers, waiting for what
one hopes for, waiting… If there is
ever a difficult time, it is the time of waiting.
many ‘waiting fors’. And time passes so
slowly when one waits. Waiting to grow
up to begin living, waiting for the prince of my dreams, waiting for desires
and hopes to be fulfilled, and the waiting for nine months for the arrival of
babies that are a gift from God. Waiting
to hear news of a loved one, waiting for answers to prayers, waiting for what
one hopes for, waiting… If there is
ever a difficult time, it is the time of waiting.
It is difficult to
wait and even more difficult when we forget what it is that we are waiting
for. When I was a child, I didn’t know
what “advent” meant. When I learned that
God’s people waited for the Messiah to arrive, and many did not recognize the
Only Son of God, born in a manger, I was sad. Then I hear the words, ‘Second Advent’. No candles need to be lit or named, for this
Advent is a heart-wait for the Second Coming of The Lord Jesus Christ. Celebration
of the Second Advent has no day designated, but a waiting and watching each day
for the arrival of the Son of God, Jesus, who conquered death, and through whom we are
assured of a resurrection.
wait and even more difficult when we forget what it is that we are waiting
for. When I was a child, I didn’t know
what “advent” meant. When I learned that
God’s people waited for the Messiah to arrive, and many did not recognize the
Only Son of God, born in a manger, I was sad. Then I hear the words, ‘Second Advent’. No candles need to be lit or named, for this
Advent is a heart-wait for the Second Coming of The Lord Jesus Christ. Celebration
of the Second Advent has no day designated, but a waiting and watching each day
for the arrival of the Son of God, Jesus, who conquered death, and through whom we are
assured of a resurrection.
Never before had I
considered Mary’s waiting time for her baby boy to be born. What did she think,
this young lass, as she waited? Did the time of waiting seem slow for her? Or did it pass quickly? Whom did she talk to
besides Elizabeth, her cousin? How did
her relationship with God change? God busily prepared his Son for a life on the
earth in Mary’s womb. For you formed
my inward parts; you knitted me together
in my mother’s womb. Psalm 139:13
considered Mary’s waiting time for her baby boy to be born. What did she think,
this young lass, as she waited? Did the time of waiting seem slow for her? Or did it pass quickly? Whom did she talk to
besides Elizabeth, her cousin? How did
her relationship with God change? God busily prepared his Son for a life on the
earth in Mary’s womb. For you formed
my inward parts; you knitted me together
in my mother’s womb. Psalm 139:13
Mary didn’t attend a
baby shower. Instead there was a long
journey to Bethlehem. There were no
conveyances, but a bumpy ride on a donkey, mile after mile. Did Mary’s back hurt? Did the baby Jesus turn somersaults or lie
quietly in Mary’sd womb?
baby shower. Instead there was a long
journey to Bethlehem. There were no
conveyances, but a bumpy ride on a donkey, mile after mile. Did Mary’s back hurt? Did the baby Jesus turn somersaults or lie
quietly in Mary’sd womb?
Did Mary wonder if she
should have said, no, to the man who told her about the coming baby? But she
said, “Yes!” In reading “The Greatest Gift” by Ann Voskamp, she words it this
way. Mary became a space… Beneath her heart — in
one yielded space — beats the drumming love of God.
should have said, no, to the man who told her about the coming baby? But she
said, “Yes!” In reading “The Greatest Gift” by Ann Voskamp, she words it this
way. Mary became a space… Beneath her heart — in
one yielded space — beats the drumming love of God.
Ann continues writing,
There is no need to produce, or perform, or perfect
— simply become a place for God. That is all.
There is no need to produce, or perform, or perfect
— simply become a place for God. That is all.
So
this Christmas I do not wait for earthly gifts or riches that can quickly be
gone in an instant, but I wait for the Second Advent. For my children and grandchildren and great
grandchildren, I pray for an eternal ‘YES’
to Jesus.
this Christmas I do not wait for earthly gifts or riches that can quickly be
gone in an instant, but I wait for the Second Advent. For my children and grandchildren and great
grandchildren, I pray for an eternal ‘YES’
to Jesus.
How
will we know Jesus? Will he come again
as a tiny babe in a manger, announced by a star and angels in the sky…. “Glory to God in
the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” Luke
2:14.
will we know Jesus? Will he come again
as a tiny babe in a manger, announced by a star and angels in the sky…. “Glory to God in
the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” Luke
2:14.
This is how Jesus
returned to Heaven.
returned to Heaven.
• And
when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up,
and a cloud took him out of their sight. And while they were gazing into heaven as he went,
behold, two men stood by them in white robes, and said, “Men of
Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up
from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go
into heaven.” Acts 1:9-11
when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up,
and a cloud took him out of their sight. And while they were gazing into heaven as he went,
behold, two men stood by them in white robes, and said, “Men of
Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up
from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go
into heaven.” Acts 1:9-11
These are some of the verses that tell us
of the Second Advent:
of the Second Advent:
• Now, brothers and sisters, about times and dates we do
not need to write to you, for you know very well
that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. I
Thessalonians 5:1-2
not need to write to you, for you know very well
that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. I
Thessalonians 5:1-2
• Then I saw heaven opened, and behold,
a white horse! The one sitting on it is called
Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. Revelation
19:11
a white horse! The one sitting on it is called
Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. Revelation
19:11
• In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last
trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable,
and we shall be changed. I Corinthians 15:52.
trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable,
and we shall be changed. I Corinthians 15:52.
Is it any wonder that the verses that bring me
the most peace and assurance as I wait. Whether I live or die, they are true….
the most peace and assurance as I wait. Whether I live or die, they are true….
• “Don’t be troubled. You trust God, now trust
in me. There are many rooms in my
Father’s home, and I am going to prepare a place for you. If this were not so, I would tell you
plainly. When everything is ready, I
will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am.” John 14:1-4
in me. There are many rooms in my
Father’s home, and I am going to prepare a place for you. If this were not so, I would tell you
plainly. When everything is ready, I
will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am.” John 14:1-4
And while waiting for that instant to come, I will
serve Him with all my heart and mind and soul. I will make space for Him in my heart
and life. Everything I do here on earth,
I do to the best of my ability and to His glory. Waiting does not mean a cessation
of labor, but it is a focused, alert watching for the eternal.
serve Him with all my heart and mind and soul. I will make space for Him in my heart
and life. Everything I do here on earth,
I do to the best of my ability and to His glory. Waiting does not mean a cessation
of labor, but it is a focused, alert watching for the eternal.
As we celebrate Christmas and the birth of the
Christ Child, let us celebrate the coming Advent and rejoice in the waiting as
we make a ‘space’ for Jesus in our hearts and lives.
Christ Child, let us celebrate the coming Advent and rejoice in the waiting as
we make a ‘space’ for Jesus in our hearts and lives.
Comments? eacombs@att.net
"There is no need to produce, or perform, or perfect — simply become a place for God. That is all."
Simply be. I needed that reminder. Thank you. Love you so much!
Belva
"There is no need to produce, or perform, or perfect — simply become a place for God. That is all."
Simply be. I needed that reminder. Thank you. Love you so much!
Belva