The Waiting Room

You're in the waiting room anticipating an appointment with a doctor to get an issue examined that's been plaguing you for some time. Maybe you're sitting. Maybe you're pacing. Whatever it is you're doing you're anxious for your turn. Ready to hear your named called. This is a place almost everyone has been and I'm pretty sure no one has enjoyed. No one likes being in the waiting room.

Some of us are in the waiting room of life. Waiting for a miracle. Waiting for an answered prayer. We are pacing our way through each day anticipating our name to be called.

It's a tough place to be. It takes enormous amounts of patience. It's so easy to get frustrated. To feel forgotten and downtrodden. Or to even grow angry when things don't happen in our own timing.

But, what if there was joy found in the waiting room. For children, they put tables with lego tops, wall mazes or play kitchens in the waiting room to keep them occupied during those long waits. And for them the time passes more quickly.  For adults they put magazines or books and almost all of us carry a phone we can turn to for distraction and if we put those things to good use time can go more quickly for us as well. But we have to have the right attitude. If we grumble and complain it makes no difference what we do, we will have a miserable time. But if we choose to make the best of it, there is joy to be found.

I believe there's joy to be found in the waiting room of life as well. 

"Wait on the Lord;

Be of good courage,

And He shall strengthen your heart;

Wait, I say, on the Lord!" Psalms 27:14 NKJV

Now, what if that verse means more than just sit and wait for the Lord to do what He is going to do. I like this version because it says "wait ON the Lord" while some say "FOR". I like to believe this means more than just twiddling our thumbs as we wait but that we should literally, serve the Lord as we are waiting.

Praise Him in the waiting room. Worship Him. Pray. Sing. Share. Every day. Every moment you are waiting on that answer, that miracle.

We should be filled with hope and joy as we wait. After all, we are waiting to be ministered to by the Great Physician. The One who has unlimited knowledge and wisdom. The One who knows EXACTLY what the problem is, knows EXACTLY what to administer for the solution and is ever faithful to answer the prayers of those that are earnestly seeking Him!

I encourage you, whatever it is you are waiting for, the salvation of a loved one, chains of affliction or addiction to be broken, a home, healing, whatever it happens to be, wait ON Him, with joy and gratefulness, as you wait FOR Him and rest in the assurance that it may not be in our timing but it will be in the best timing!

A real beauty workout

I'll tell you the truth. I have struggled my whole life with not fitting in the mold of what the world says is attractive. I was unhappy, constantly seeking attention to try and convince myself that I was good enough. Honestly, though, no matter what anyone said I didn't believe it anyway.

I've grown a lot in my perspective, though. We were created in God's image. We are each fearfully and wonderfully created by His mighty hands. That's beautiful.

 But there's more to it than that.

When I think of the most beautiful women I've had in my life they are all very different in appearance. Tall, thick, fair, dark, short, thin... but there are definately similarities. They all had beautiful smiles, and not just because their teeth were perfect or their lips were just right but because they are always smiling. They are kind, gentle, fun, loving... That's what has stuck with me all through the years and gets my attention in the present when I think of beauty.

I've come to the realization that we hear all the time but rarely truly get, and that is that beauty isn't just defined by our outward appearance alone but most importantly by our attitudes, behaviors and spirit. And that is a choice!

How wonderful that we can choose how beautiful we want to be by the way we live and act!

God is so faithful that He has even given us a layout of what beautiful looks like in His Word. If you want to leave an impression on someone practice these things: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, goodness, faithfulness and self control. I guarantee that a soul workout can and will impact those around you far deeper and far longer than any workout you do with your body!