It May Not Happen Overnight

{print available from the wheatfield}

Our world is one of instant gratification. I can have popcorn in two minutes and the response to a text in seconds. Thanks to my fancy phone, I never have to wait until I get home to check my e-mail, and I can update twitter whenever it strikes my fancy. I grow annoyed at red lights and frustrated at train tracks. Waiting is not something I do well.

I know I'm not alone in this. Go on, admit it. You're not good at waiting either. You know what you want, and like Veruca Salt on Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (the original version), you want it now.

The fast-paced-have-it-your-way-in-five-minutes-or-less culture that we live in has bred us to expect instant results. And most of the time, that's fine. Except, of course, when we're required to wait.

This week, I've been studying the Old Testament story of Abraham and Sarah. God promised them something big, and they waited a looooooooong time - 25 years to be exact - for it to happen.

Have you ever been there? Stuck in a holding pattern, waiting for something more? I am so there, y'all. I know how they felt. God promised me something a long time ago, and I'm wondering how long it will take for it to happen.

A couple of months ago, I went to Nashville with some other women from my church to attend a leadership forum. As I listened to some really fabulous women speak and teach, I was reminded of how badly I desire that kind of ministry. I recalled the moments in my life when I have felt God's firm hand tugging me in that direction...and yet...I wait.

Don't get me wrong - God has always been faithful to me. He has provided writing projects that have stretched and challenged me. I am currently overwhelmed by offers from editors, and that's a good thing. Three years ago, with my brand new M.Div. gathering dust in the closet, it took me months to generate any sort of interest in my work. Months. I am thankful and grateful for the editors who have taken chances on me and allowed me to contribute to their publications. They have helped me get this train rolling.

But I'm still not satisfied. I want more. The prophet Jeremiah famously said that the word of God burned in him like a fire that he simply could not hold in.

I'm weary of holding it in, y'all.

And yet, in six short months, I will give birth to a brand new baby. My sweet little toddler is turning into quite a handful. I can't even manage to go to the grocery store most weeks, much less travel across the country teaching the word of God. It's just not time for that dream to become a reality. As much as I long for God to use me in such extraordinary ways, I feel like He is first calling me to be faithful in the place I am right now. In this stage of life. To raise my babies and serve in my church and write when I can.

God's delay in fulfilling His promises is not His denial of their eventual realization.

Abraham and Sarah learned that by waiting. As for me, well, I'm trying. Patience takes practice, you know. I'm learning that just because it may not happen overnight doesn't mean that it won't happen at all. I'm taking it one step at a time and one assignment after another, all the while trusting that God's timing is impeccable.

Until next time, grace and peace.

Review: Saint Francis (Christian Encounters Series)

Book: Saint Francis: Christian Encounter Series

Author: Robert West

You may or may not remember that one of my goals for 2011 was to read more consistently. I've always loved reading, but in recent years, my reading has been practically nonexistent. That needed to change. It took me a while to get back in the swing of things, but during the last half of 2011, I started reading again.

One of the first books I read was Robert West's biography on Saint Francis. I've always been fascinated by the saint who stripped down to his birthday suit and renounced his former life of wealth, and West's biography gave me greater insight into the life and theology of a man who would do such a thing.

I read Saint Francis immediately following my reading of David Platt's Radical, and while it may seem like the books have nothing in common, together, they challenged me to do life differently. After reading these books and discussing them with Dennis, we decided to adjust our finances in order to give more freely. It may not seem like much, but it's a start.

At only 221 pages, Saint Francis is a quick read, but the story was bogged down at times by West's writing style. He meticulously describes the historical and cultural world that Francis lived in, but he could have done a better job of weaving those details into Francis' actual story. As it stands, the historical passages seem a bit disjointed from the overall thrust of the book.

All of that said, I would still recommend this book to anyone who is curious about Francis of Assisi, a man whose great concern for the poor and personal vow of poverty literally changed the world.

This book was provided to me free of charge by Thomas Nelson publishers in exchange for my honest review. If you're interested in becoming a reviewer for Thomas Nelson, check out BookSneeze.

Until next time, grace and peace.

Expecting

(print available from Red Letter Words)

Surprise, surprise. It's me again. Look out world, I've posted two days in a row :)

I've been thinking a lot about yesterday's post, and I realize that it could have come across as a bit, well, depressing.

Rest assured that Peanut (our temporary name for bambino numero dos) is not unwanted. To the contrary, we have talked about Peanut since before Micah was born. Peanut is most definitely wanted and loved. That said, Peanut's emergence into our lives is unexpected and unplanned at the moment.

And in case you were wondering, unplanned pregnancy is hard. Period. Yes, this child is a blessing, and I am thankful that we have the means to care for and nurture Peanut. I am overwhelmed by the idea that God has entrusted yet another human being to our care, and yet, now that I've had a few months to get used to the idea, our lives would somehow be incomplete without this baby. This unplanned, unexpected baby is most certainly loved and wanted.

And so, life goes on. I am adjusting to the idea that Micah will be a big sister soon - even if I have absolutely no idea where Peanut is going to sleep. We've got some time to figure all that out.

I'm also learning that there's some wisdom in adding "God willing," to all your future plans. God willing, Peanut will arrive into this world a happy and healthy child. God willing, Micah will be the best big sister there ever was. And God willing, Dennis and I will be the kind of parents that God created us to be.

Until next time (God willing), grace and peace.