Waiting like a crazy person.

I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the Living. Wait for the Lord: be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.
Psalm 27:13-14

Ask yourself this question: “How long am I willing to wait for God?” With this question comes a challenge of the heart. Can we endure His timing? God’s timing is so odd to us. He seems to take forever but then without notice, He swoops in with such power and effectiveness we wonder why we ever worried about the situation in the first place.

Near a place I used to work was a homeless lady. She lived on the corner, and her home consisted of tarps, blankets, and a giant umbrella. Not to mentions all the bags of “who knows what” that was around her as a fortress. Many have tried to help her. I myself have given her food, spoke with her about Jesus and gave her a book on salvation. Others have offered to take her to a shelter or find a warm place to stay. Her answer was always the same. “No, I am waiting for somebody.”

We were all baffled as to who she was waiting for. Somebody left her there and told her they would be back to pick her up, so she waits. Years have gone by, and she still waits. If the weather gets cold, the law forces her to seek shelter, but as soon as it was considered warm enough to be back on the streets, she was out there on her tarps, waiting. My mind would spin when I would see her. You could see she was not well mentally, but with that aside, I was amazed at her fierceness to wait for her promised one who said, “I will be back.”

In the natural it seems insane, but let’s take it to another level: to fiercely wait for a promise to be fulfilled so much so, that one looks crazy. When I see this precious woman, I am challenged with the question “Are you willing to look ridiculous for Me?” I have stood and waited for promises from God to be fulfilled to the point of feeling foolish. I have proclaimed them, planted myself on them, declared them and wept for them. I have cried out to my Father to fulfill His Word and hold me to His plan.

Hosea 12:4 tells us how Jacob struggled and wept for God’s blessing and favor. Yes, he wrestled with the angel and won. He wept and pleaded for a blessing from him. Here at Bethel he met God face to face, and God spoke to him.

Like Jacob and our little homeless lady, I too have waited for promises to be fulfilled. I even tried to fulfill them myself (not a good idea). So I lay my tarps down, stack my bags of promise around me, and place the umbrella of God’s goodness over me and wait. I wait in the storms that bully me to run away. I wait in the bitter cold of watching others receive. I wait during the scorching heat of trials. I wait while others watch me wait. Maybe I look foolish, ridiculous, and crazy. Then in a blink of an eye, an answer will come, a word of hope will refresh, I will be encouraged in my waiting, and I m reminded once again of the beautiful promise when it was first spoken.

Friend, don’t give up, His Promises are yes and amen. You will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the Living. Wait for the Lord: be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord

Excerpts from Life in Your Losses

Just a Military Mom

I'm not political; I’m just a mom whose children serve. I'm partnering in prayer for our country with several other thousand people. Never have I felt a need to intercede as I do now. To pray for those who are serving, sacrificing and dedicating their lives. To make sure my vote is cast for them and their well being, their future, their lives. That if they are unable to vote, I would pray that every person who knows a serviceman or woman, would rise up and vote on their behalf. Don’t throw this privilege away because you're not political, that matters not: what matters is, one day you will wish you were at least in the loop. Regret will haunt you because you allowed others to make decisions for you, for your friends and family who have sacrificed their lives for you. I have good reason to Pray for our nation and its leaders. For our president and the soon to be president. For him to concern himself with our military. For him to care for and respect our troops. For him to look after those are serving their Commander and Chief. Our next president must be a person who loves this country, for what it was founded on and who it was founded for. We must pray for our next president; that he values family and the core of it, who values life and the beginning of it, to knows who God is, that his heart and mouth declare "there is a God" and his name is Jesus! We must pray our next president believes in the country he leads. He believes in its beginning and has vision for its future. Who believes in its people, the poor, middle class and elite. Believes that each have a part to play. Each has a part to serve. Each has a part to invest equally. No agenda, no special interest, just Americans doing there part. Remember, I'm not political; I just have children that serve. Children who have vowed to protect this country, to defend its people and fight for our freedom. Children who believe in this country and for what it stands for. Children who believe in its roots, it foundation, its core. Children who serve a president that should believe in the same. Who should defend and protect those who defend and protect. Unapologetic and proud. I believe our country should have a leader who remembers what holds our flag together. The breaths that have been given that cause it to wave. The lives that have been sacrificed to give a platform to an elected individual. The blood that has been shed for a freedom to love their God. To believe that when a person, a group, religion or country threatens the liberty that has been fought for, our leader should stand tall in the biblical foundation of our beloved land. His words should be fierce and manners unwavering, his conviction unmovable and his beliefs unshakeable. His speech should be absolute truth and precise. There should be no backing down, no bowing and no apologies to those who threaten our people. If a knee is to be bent it is in the presence of God, asking for His direction and wisdom to lead. It’s not arrogant conceit when you believe in your OWN country, its honorable pride. We must humble ourselves and pray for our country, this election, for the next president, to be a man of his word. Honesty in his eyes, truth on his lips and conviction in his heart. As King Jehoshaphat prayed so I pray, "We don't know what to do but our eyes are on you." Signed, Holly S. Ruddock