Friday, December 31, 2010

The Church / Waiting

THE CHURCH
Author unknown - Thanks to Jalisa Wenger in Pennsylvania for passing this along.
The Church needs youth and older folks too.
The Church needs Timothys to succeed Paul to carry on the work of the Church.
The Church needs Moseses who use what capabilities God has given them.
The Church needs Daniels who have purpose of heart.
The Church needs people such as the Hebrew boys who will neither bend, budge nor burn.
The Church needs Lydias who are hospitable.
The Church needs Joshuas who are strong and courageous.
The Church needs Ruths who determine to take the right course.
The Church needs Samuels who will hear the voice of God.
The Church needs Davids who are men after God's own heart.
The Church needs Jonathan's with a working trust in God.
The Church needs Jeremiahs who will weep for lost souls.
The Church needs Agabuses who see the need of the Church to stay close to the Word.
The Church needs Barnabuses who are good men and full of the Holy Spirit.
The Church needs Marys who will sit at the feet of Jesus, who are willing to be taught by the Word.
The Church needs pillars and not leaners.
The church needs ... YOU!


WAITING
The Circuit 'Riter, Michael Ullrich
http://www.In-His-Steps.com - Used by permission

Isaiah 40:28-31 "Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint."

Waiting is one of the hardest things for many in the western culture to do. Remember the "good old days" when it might take a week to get a letter from a loved one? I made regular stops each day at my college mailbox hoping that a letter had arrived from the young woman who is now my wife. One time her letter got lost in the mail. Oh, the agony of that week!

Now days, I have trouble waiting for my e-mail to download. Somehow, I don't seem to have as much time as I used to, in spite of quicker communications.

Someone has said, "the only thing harder than waiting for God, is wishing you had!" God's people down through the ages have learned this, often the hard way. Isaiah had probably been through it himself as he prayed that Israel would listen to God's message and respond, but nothing seemed to happen.

Isaiah wrote, "but those who hope (put waiting trust) in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint" (Is. 40:31).

Although waiting can be very hard, the consequences of hurrying before the Lord will far outweigh the pain of waiting. Additionally, the benefits are based in the promises of God! It is hard to wait, but, oh to know what it means to soar like an eagle!

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