Many of you have been waiting for my return to the blogosphere. I thank you for being patient with me.
Waiting with Your Head Under the Gate
I’ve been doing some thinking as of late about how much time we put into waiting in our lives. We wait in long line-ups at the grocery store, for a package to come in the mail, for ‘the’ phone call from a certain someone, for a great promotion at work, and even to collect enough money in our savings to buy that special item or go on that vacation we’ve dreamed of.
Last fall our hearts went out the the Cirillo family of Hamilton, Ontario after Corporal Nathan Cirillo was gunned down buy a senseless madman in the Canadian capitol of Ottawa. One of the many sad scenes we saw surrounding this incident was the photo of Cirillo's dogs waiting at the gate for him to return home. My heart went out to those dogs when I saw their little noses under the gate.
I know how deeply dogs can feel, how much they love their families, and how much emotion they can show; I’ve seen it. I’m a pet-parent myself to a cute little shih-tzu named Maggie (who will be 2 in April 2015). However, there are some things that animals just can’t comprehend. I wish it was possible to help Cirillo’s dogs understand what had happened.
Jesus IS Coming
When I saw those sad dogs, I couldn’t help but think that they are just like Christians. As children of God, we wait, and wait for Jesus’ return. Every generation has hoped that they would see His return in their lifetime. One cannot help but wonder “How much longer will it be, Lord?”. We long to be with Him, to see His face. “What’s taking so long?”, “Where is He?” we ask. Just like those dogs waiting for their Daddy by the gate, we wait and wait, to no avail it seems sometimes.
As Christians, though, we know that He will be here one day. All things come in God’s time, not ours. However, my blog followers, Cirillo’s dogs, and Christians aren’t the only ones who wait and wait. God is also waiting. He’s waiting on those people He loves that have gone astray. He’s waiting on those that don’t know Him, and who are searching for something to fill their hearts, searching for true happiness somewhere in the world. God wants them to come home to Him.
We have a Purpose While We Wait
We can help in the waiting time by telling others about what Jesus did for them on the cross; by spreading the gospel. So many people in the world haven’t heard about the Messiah who came and saved the world from our sins. Matthew 24:14 (NKJV) says “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.” We must do our parts to teach the world, to get the gospel heard in all corners of the earth. In Matthew 28:19 (NKJV) Jesus told us “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit”.
Keeping busy doing this while we wait is a good thing. Psalm 27:14 (NKJV) tells us to “Wait on the Lord; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the Lord!”. The benefits of waiting patiently on the Lord are astronomical. “The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, To the soul who seeks Him.” (Lamentations 3:25 (NKJV)). “But those who wait on the Lord Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.” (Isaiah 40:31 (NKJV)).
So blog followers, wait no more. Thank you again for sticking with me. Cirillo’s dogs? I believe that they will be reunited in Heaven one day with their Daddy. And Jesus return? Well, “Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect” (Matthew 24:44 (NKJV)). It’s closer than you think!
Let’s Pray
Dear God ~~ Graceful, merciful, loving and patient Father: We try so hard sometimes to take your lead and be patient as we wait, but it never seems to be enough. In the end we come out feeling drained, frustrated, angry, sad, depressed, at our wits end. Thank You for giving us Jesus as our perfect example of how to wait and how to be patient. Jesus accepted His fate and lived His life knowing that He was the Lamb. Please help us to be like Him more and more every day. Give us the the words to say to plant seeds in others as we do our parts to spread the gospel, open our eyes to to new opportunities to share, and give us the courage to do so when we need it. In Jesus name, AMEN.
PS: Please pray that I will be well soon. Thank you, Carley.
Now It’s Your Turn
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