Waiting

Went camping this weekend and it was fantastic. I got to hang out with Josh, Amber, Kyle, Maddie, Mark, Lindsay, and Aimee. Good stuff.

Aimee and I made it back for church in Clemson and got to hear a really good sermon and waiting for God. Kelly Cambell came down from Tenn Tech. It's weird sometimes how sermons seem to come at just the right time. Kelly preached on the idea of waiting for God. He pointed out that in a culture of express lanes and fast food that the idea of waiting for God is easily lost. And it is.

Waiting is tough. But its amazing to me how often God expects people to wait on him. There's probably something to be noted that the word "wait" shows up most in the books of Job and Psalms, two books about struggle and a desperate desire to feel God.

It hit me in the shower this morning. Waiting may be one of the greatest acts of love. Now sacrifice is up there, but the people who loved God the most were generally the ones called to wait on him. David who loved God with all of his heart writes on several occasions about waiting for God. Job was called to wait on God's relief.

Then there's the story of Lazarus. Here are two women who love Jesus and whom Jesus loves. Also John says when they sent a message to Jesus they didn't say "Lazarus is sick;" the phrasing was "the one you love is sick." But Jesus makes them wait. He doesn't make anyone else wait in all of his miracles. Blind man- BAM! mud and he can see. Centurion- go back your son is well. Lame Man- Take up your mat and walk. His friends he loved- wait.

Waiting is one of the greatest acts of love. There's no reward in site with waiting. Job doesn't know God will rescue him. David only has hope that God will comfort him. Mary, who washed Jesus' feet, saw her brother die while Jesus wouldn't come. Waiting is tough and requires something different then service.

What's probably most amazing about all of this isn't how much love people show toward God, but the other way around. It's amazing to me how hard waiting is, even for a relatively short amount of time. But what's more amazing is how long God is willing to wait on me. I think after a while I'd probably give up on God. But God will never give up on me. He'll wait as long as it takes, and that's is unbelievable.

So here's some Coldplay as I wait.

'Til Kingdom Come

Steal my heart... and hold my tongue
I feel my time... my time has come
Let me in... unlock the door
I never felt this way before

And the wheels just keep on turning
The drummer begins to drum
I don't know which way I'm going
I don't know which way I've come

Hold my head... inside your hands
I need someone... who understands
I need someone... someone who hears
For you I've waited all these years

For you I'd wait... 'Til Kingdom Come
Until my day... my day is done
and say you'll come... and set me free
just say you'll wait... you'll wait for me

In your tears... and in your blood
In your fire... and in your flood
I hear you laugh... I heard you sing
I wouldn't change a single thing

And the wheels just keep on turning
The drummers begin to drum
I don't know which way I'm going
I don't know what I've become

For you I'd wait... 'Til kingdom come
Until my days... my days are done
Say you'll come... and set me free
Just say you'll wait... you'll wait for me

Just say you'll wait... you'll wait for me
Just say you'll wait... you'll wait for me

Paul "Being still" Murphy

I've got a job interview tomorrow