Two Promises

Waiting is an act of worship. It's hard, it requires discipline, and it's even painful at times, but with God, timing is everything! How many times in your own life have you said, the timing isn't right for this now. Because we all know that execution in God's perfect timing will bear the most fruit.

The bible is full of examples of our forefathers who exercised patience to the extreme - Jacob labored 14 years for Rachel, David waited years to become king, and Joseph whiled away his  years in slavery before ascending to his anointed place. Paul was patient as he was in shackles waiting for Jesus' ministry in his own life to bear out. The importance of waiting on God's timing by practicing patience, and its sister-virtue self control, is so important to God that they are included in the fruits of spirit. (I just made up that word, sister-virtue, I like it!)

There are TWO THINGS in my life where waiting has become an act of worship. I'm having to exercise patience to the extreme, and man, is it hard!

Crazy Praise Club

The book/ministry I've been working on, which is inspired by my own faith journey, has been a long birthing process. God has lined things up in my world so that I am completely, wholly and undeniably dependent upon Him for every single thing. I mean every one. Not a shred of this project is in my own strength. But that has meant waiting. And we He delivers an answer, it's obvious that He is orchestrating it.

This is a highly abbreviated list of what God has delivered SO FAR:

• Mentors and counselors to help guide me in this process, exactly when needed

• Guidelines and opportunities for my own spiritual growth

• People who have given of their time and resources to move this project forward (God even moved on one friend's heart to donate a laptop which was badly needed!)

• Financial resources as needed along the way

• Talent as needed along the way

• Time - there were seasons of isolation orchestrated by God so I could immerse myself in this work

• Humility, humility and more humility......DAILY!

In short, I could write a book about the writing of the book, which would be every bit as exciting and inspiring as the book itself. Hey, maybe I'll do that for book #3. God has already told me what to do for book #2, but I digress.

Waiting for this project to develop, and now it's so close, has become an act of worship for me. Because, quite simply, it's GOD'S book, workshop and ministry.....NOT MINE! When I get frustrated or try to tell God to speed things up, I know it's time to get on my knees. He wants excellence, and that takes time.

Marriage

Singles out there, this part is for you. One of the HARDEST THINGS I've had to do it navigate through this season of singleness when I want to be married. (BTW, my season of singleness has lasted 20+ years!) But God has shown me, through some mistakes on my part I freely admit, what a man of God looks like, and what to expect for my marriage. And I will not settle for less than God's best for me.

I came to this realization about 6 years ago, that I had A LOT of work to do on myself in my own service to God. There were areas of my life, like my health and nutrition, where God wanted me to worship Him, but I was not doing so. So I began working on myself, to become the kind of person I want to attract. In August 2016 I attended a 3-day retreat called Tres Dias, and I was finally able to lay this down, once and for all, on God's alter. I felt a physical release when I did it, and I've had freedom like never before since I did it.

That's not to say that I don't still deeply desire to marry one day, but I am freed up to focus on my personal growth in God to become the person that I want to attract. My ministry, small group leadership, and friendships have flourished. I've delved into training, conferences, the word and prayer like never before. I need to do that so that I will be ready and able to be the wife, help meet, and partner that my husband desires and needs.

Did I stumble and date the wrong people sometimes? Yes. (Thankfully, not for awhile now, but it did happen!) Were some of those choices motivated by loneliness? Absolutely. Did I cry out of frustration and kick and scream like a junior high school girl because I didn't get what I want? Well,maybe.....

But you know what? God matured my faith through my journey of singleness. He taught me to allow Him to be my husband, to fill my loneliness, and mostly, to trust HIM to provide for me. And boy, did He do it, time and again! Since laying my singleness down on God's alter, I've had a peace and joy like no other.

Two Promises

In my prayer time and communion with Him, God recently made me two promises. First, He will send the Holy Spirit to guide me in finishing the project, and it will be soon. He promised me that, as long as I remain completely dependent on Him, Crazy Praise Club will soon be a reality. Second, God told me I will meet someone, an incredible man of God, and be married one day. When and how that will all play out is only for God to know. But He  has timing in mind, and He's asking me to trust Him in it.

So, in the meantime, waiting is an act of worship. God, help me to do it well. Ask God how you can worship Him while you wait, resting in His goodness and provision for your life.

And while you wait, Praise Crazy!