Just on Time

Different plants bloom at different times. I don’t if you ever noticed, but it is spring – so take a look around. There are some trees which have budded, bloomed, leafed out and look ready to go for another year. Others are somewhere mid-process, while still more are just beginning to bud. What would happen if we set up a timetable of when this should occur? All trees that are going to be productive are going to bud and be fully leafed out by April 24. If they are not, then they are just weaker or dying and we are cutting them all down.
That sounds rather foolish doesn’t it? We don’t do that with trees, flowers, but do with people. So, let’s change the metaphor just a bit. If someone is to bloom, I’m not talking about an age range or biological factors. Instead this is blooming by perceiving and then reaching towards meeting your potential and purposes. Society often has this preconceived timetable of when this should be, the mysterious and shrouded “they” are in charge of this time table. We know that when someone tries to bunk the myth and ask why, “because they say so....”. Who says you have to college at a certain age, who says you are going to learn a new skill, you have to learn it by a pre-appointed time. Does that mean if I don’t meet your timetable that my head will explode or the time continuum as we know it will shatter?
Sometimes, we need to just provide a little encouragement. Provide a bit of fertilizer and nourishment, a word or two of pep talk, and then sit back. After some time and lots of sunshine, you may find that this person is not only blooming, but is one of the best fruit producers of the whole lot.
In the church, do we put age limits on ourselves or others? I’m too young to do that. I’m too old to do that. I had my time, now I get to sit back on my laurels and just watch. No offense, but who really wants to sit on a laurel – ouch! Nonsense! There may be years and years of nourishment that has gone into this person that suddenly springs forward in a burst of blooms and ability that is absolutely breathtaking. Where would we be if we just cut them down? It is important to remember that our timeline is not God’s timeline. He will insist we bloom just on time.

Splinter

About a week ago, I felt the need to pray once again, Lord change me. It’s a prayer that focuses like a laser beam on my own heart and life. Finishing up reading in Isaiah, finishing up a book about God answering prayer, I was hearing repent and restoration over and over. What was it in me, in my life that I needed to address?

Ever seen a child with a splinter in their finger? They will quite often take off across the room, yard, house, to avoid having the splinter removed. It will hurt to have it removed, the pain from it being infected will be worse. I think that admitting sin and then asking for forgiveness can be kind of like that splinter. At least it was for me this week. Mulling this over, wrestling with it, asking and seeking after God, I asked Him to change me and grow me. What I found was that I needed to first ask for forgiveness of God, where I was holding a splinter of sin and trying to just ignore it. The word malice came up. Malice? That has such a Hollywood dark flavor to it. Malice – as in wickedness and spite? Surely not!  Pride? I thought I had addressed this hurt long before. Still, a splinter remained and I needed to let God remove it. Once that was done, then that left a hole.
What now God? Amazingly enough, the book I had already been reading and the verses I had been leading up to led me to this very time. God’s timing is so perfect. The hole that is left when we ask for the sin to be removed, when we repent , can also be filled by God! He will not leave us with an open wound that just anything can go and get stuck in. I was amazed at the peace and relinquishment I have had.

By preparing me for this week, by insisting that I read these things, I have found that splinter removed. Restoration to God by God, starting with God urging me to get better – what an amazing God we serve!

Acts 3: 19-20 "Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, and that he may send the Christ, who has been appointed for you—even Jesus."

The fourth time is the charm….

I had to laugh last night when I opened up my devotion to read and spend some time with God before shutting off the light and getting some sleep.  There it was, in black and white – Romans 12:2 – “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” 

I always pray that when God would like me to know or do something, I ask Him to please be very clear.  I have normal human hearing, normal human vision and so I can both be deaf, blind, and easily …. ooohhhhh shiny….. distracted.  This last weekend was the Missions Conference at church.  There were several speakers, fun music, fellowship, food, and a good time was had by most.  But, what I found so interesting and why I say the fourth time is the charm is because I heard Romans 12:2 in very personal and moving ways over three days – only to be followed up by this devotional by Evelyn Christenson. 

Over the last few months, I have been praying with increasing feelings of the importance to be more faithful in this, to seek God fervently.  Then, we started off on Saturday evening with Bread of Life missions.  There was an introduction of the mission, what they are going through and a little of the people they minister too.  I found myself moving to the edge of the pew, straining for the next word, wanting to know more.  The passion and faith which these men had was something that spread over the room like a sweet wind. 

The next morning, that evening, and then Monday at a Women’s Soup Supper, I heard speakers who had not collaborated individually speak on similar topics.  Each was building on the other; God had planned these messages so perfectly.  That led me to last night and opening up the next chapter of my devotion.  There the verse was again – four times in less than four days.  I had to laugh. 

But, what comfort there is in knowing that God is hearing me, that His will is not some hidden like some jester’s toy.  Instead, it was made abundantly clear.  I laughed with joy, and felt a rush inside my heart of hope that grew stronger.  Hope that will feed faith, trust, and joy inside me and allow me to grow, to seek, and learn.  And thankfully – while my vision, hearing, and attention span are not perfect, God will tell me the same thing over and over until I finally get it.