"..godliness with contentment is great gain..."
1 Timothy 6:6
For us, 2012 has been a year of waiting-- waiting on God to move, speak. Waiting. It seems to me that in our American culture, we expect things to happen yesterday. Things/life move(s) so fast. It seems there is never enough time, never enough to satisfy. I struggle with looking with anticipation to the next thing to be excited about, sometimes even before the exciting thing I am doing is even over. If that makes sense. Well, circumstances, along with a good friend, began to challenge me to take a few steps back and wait. Wait on God. At first, waiting a week was really hard for me. Now I think I can honestly say, waiting 6 months or longer is not nearly as hard as it once was. I think if I had known a year and a month ago (at our first fundraiser for this adoption) that we would not even be matched with kids over a year from then, I would have BEGGED to go in a different direction. However, the beautiful thing is, is that God is in charge and not me.
I am learning. I am learning to trust Him in ways I didn't know how to a year ago. I am learning patience (sadly, many times while complaining and dragging my feet, begging for another way). I am learning to listen. I am learning stillness. I am learning contentment. I am learning how deep sorrow can lead to joy. I am learning love. I am learning to be thankful.
There are times when God (painfully) uses almost every circumstance to lead me to what He wants me to learn. The past couple of weeks have been this way. I am currently reading the book One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp. I have been very encouraged while reading. It has challenged me to be thankful in every circumstance.
Our pastor has been preaching through Luke (although the past 3 months he has been cross referencing the beatitude "those who hunger and thirst for righteousness will be satisfied" with Psalm 60-69). This morning, he challenged us to "say to God- How awesome are Your deeds" (Ps. 66:3a). He cross referenced in Ps. 106: "they forgot His works.." (v 13). They forgot and rebelled (v 43). Forgetfulness.. unthankfulness.. discontentment. This led to rebellion. Again, I was challenged to be thankful.
At one point, as an introduction to the beatitudes, he talked about the word "blessing(s)" and how we often use this word to refer to things we want or want to happen. However, for believers, the word actually should be used in every circumstance, good or seemingly bad. This is because we are blessed: accepted, approved by God (saved). It is not often that we hear, "I am so blessed that my house burned down," or "I am so blessed to have lost someone I love," or "I am so blessed to have cancer." ..."Blessed are those who mourn.." This brings me to the last, obvious thing God has put in my path. A song.
You may have heard it. If you have or haven't, I recommend that you take a moment to listen and read the lyrics as you do. I hope it "blesses" you as it has me.
"Blessings" by Laura Story:
I feel as if on this life journey of sanctification until glory, I have been learning so vividly about God's sovereignty. I have been learning about His love. But what He is teaching me right now is to be thankful in every circumstance.
So here we are. Waiting. Learning. And being thankful.
What a journey.
Until they are home,
Kimberly ~for the Neelys
