The Package: Arrival

I just checked a tracking number prior to writing this post. I am awaiting the arrival of a package that has Christmas gifts for both of our kids. We lucked in to a good deal and it is supposed to be here the middle part of this week. My anticipation of this and other gifts to arrive will be heightened as the week continues.

When this package arrives I will be excited. I look forward to being able to give them away to my children…even if one is too young to enjoy the receiving of their gift. I wonder if God ever thought of this when He was planning out giving up Jesus for us?

Sunday, we looked into Jesus’ arrival, as He is our “package” whose arrival we were anticipating. Here are some applications to choose from to use this week…

• Open It Up ~ The natural action following receiving a package is to open it up. I really enjoy the mystery of Christ. The depth of His life and God’s Word are mind blowing! Take time to “open” Him up and discover what’s inside!
• Show It Off ~ We are generally very excited about what we have received. If you’re like me you like to show it off. If it is clothes/hat/jewelry, wear it right away. If it is a game, you play with it soon. As you receive Christ, take time to show what He’s brought to your life to others.  Maybe he’s brought patience or forgiveness to your life – those are good things to “show off” to others.
• Appreciate It ~ It can be tempting to put what we receive to the side after it has lost its luster. However, the more we see it and are using it the more we appreciate it. May we be renewed with our appreciation of the Package, that being Christ!

This Package is the greatest “presents” we’ll ever receive!  Now, let’s open it up, show it off, and appreciate it long after the season passes!

Merry Christmas!

 

The Package: Waiting

I am in the middle of waiting on God. Which, I would presume many are in a similar situation. I am waiting to see how certain situations work out. Maybe they will be a “no” or maybe a “yes” by the time it is all completed. However, in the middle of it, it is a “not at this time” answer.

God is truly amazing and “His ways are higher than my ways” and I say, “thank goodness” to that. I duff things up enough in my own life, I am glad that I have Him to be the constant in my life that never “duffs”.

How God deals with the distance between a point A and point B may surprise us sometimes. It may not be linear and/or it may be filled with several additional points of stop offs in the middle (i.e. A1, A2, A3,…)

Sunday we discussed waiting, from the point of view of waiting for a package. Hypothetically, the concept of the series, thus far, is…we order the item and we wait for it to arrive. What do you do in the waiting? That is a key part of this lesson. As we explore that, here are some applications to choose from to use this week…

• Hopeful in the Waiting ~ Waiting on someone to show up can be frustrating. You may give them the benefit of the doubt initially but as the minutes continue you realize they are not going to arrive. Sometimes, we treat God like that. If He doesn’t show up in our time frame, then we start to doubt that He is going to. In any given situation, He may not show up, like you prefer. However, our preference is not His. May we submit to His timing and remain hopeful in our times of waiting.
• Serving Him in the Waiting ~ When frustration sets in, the desire to quit increases. If you think you cannot get a bolt loosened, you may want to quit. If you are not getting the playing time you think you deserve, you may want to quit. If you are not getting the answers from God, you may want to quit. To continue on through the waiting process is important. May we serve Him while we wait for the answers.
• Worshiping Him in the Waiting ~ Waiting can be a very positive experience, depending on your perspective. Waiting enables time to pray, evaluate yourself, write a note, make a visit/phone call, read the Word, to get things done you have been putting off, etc. There are all kinds of ways to use our time of waiting. Each one can be used to worship Him. Let’s use it to our advantage but for His glory!

While you wait, may you utilize the time by doing things for Him!  The package is coming!

Waiting for Him - Luke 3:15

When was the last time you had to wait on the phone for someone to help you? The week before last, I had a day where I was trying to get our internet hooked up and I was on hold a lot. I was being referred from one person to another. On top of that, I was cut off three or four times and had to call back. Each time, I had to plead my case to try to establish internet in our house. It was very frustrating, not to mention time consuming.

Yesterday, we examined how those before Jesus had to wait on the Messiah. Many waited their whole lifetime. They didn't get the chance to see the promised Messiah. How sad. They didn't get to experience what it was like to have him be in their life, whether it was literally, for those who walked when He walked, or in the form we have Him today. They simply looked forward. Today, there are several that are waiting for Him, still. They may not even know it, but they are waiting. How long will you keep them waiting? Here are some applications to choose from to use in applying this lesson...

1. Pray for God to help you see those who you come in contact with that are waiting for Him.
2. As you are waiting in line, strike up a conversation with someone around, asking if they're ready for Christmas, what they want for Christmas, what their favorite thing is about Christmas, etc.
3. If you are waiting in line or behind someone in traffic, pray for the one ahead or behind you that they may have Jesus in their life. Ask of God, if it is His will, that you will get opportunity to be the messenger.
4. Do something kind (a fruit of the Spirit) for a neighbor this season by taking them something. Preferably, the neighbor that you haven't ever or don't normally talk/visit with.
   

Don't keep people waiting for Him!

Looking for those who are waiting...