Tammy On Tuesday – “Don’t Just Do Something. Stand There.”

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This week I have noticed a reoccurring message in my life.  I’m sitting here in our living room on the couch with my coffee.  The kids are off at school.  Mark is at the office.  All I can hear is the hum of the refrigerator.   It’s Monday and I have no message written for my blog.  Part of my Monday evening routine is to set up my blog on our website so that it is ready to post first thing Tuesday morning. That means the blog has to be ready ahead of time.  But here I sit with lunch time fast approaching and all is silent.

It’s been months now that I have prepared a blog for Tuesdays and what I’ve found is that I love when God gives me a message for the blog EARLY IN THE WEEK.  That means I can leisurely work to prepare the blog for Tuesday morning. But there are times, like today, that God has me wait.  He has me wait for Him to speak.  And, as I sit here in silence, He watches to see how I will react.  I’ll be honest.  Thoughts run through my mind, “Should I take things into my own hands here?  Should I scramble to come up with something that sounds good?”

While working this week through the Experiencing God Bible Study , I read the quote, “Don’t just do something. Stand there.”  Or in my case “sit there”.  Wait on the LORD.  So, I have been sitting here quietly.   And, as I wait,  I feel that God is speaking to me about this process…Waiting on Him in silence.

Earlier in the week, Mark and I attended a church planters assessment where we were able to share what God was doing in and through our lives. Mark was called by God over 2 years ago now to begin a church work in our community.  Just February 12 of this year was our first official Sunday service.  As you can imagine…with 2 years of preparing and working toward the church launch, there were many periods of waiting.  Monday we spent many hours sharing our story with the assessment panel.

While we were there, we were given wise advice.  Our new friend, John, told us…”You are an infant church with amazing things taking place.  This is, of course, bringing God glory.  Just be aware, as you see ‘gaps’ in all that is going on  (for instance – the great need for a youth pastor), fight the urge to just ‘fill the gaps’.  Wait on God.  Wait for Him to act.  If you do this, you’ll never go wrong.”

It’s in the waiting that questions arise.

Lord, Do You see me?

Lord, didn’t You promise?

Lord, have You forgotten?

Lord, can You do this?

Lord, don’t You care?

Lord, what’s taking so long?

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What are you waiting for God to do right now?

Are you experiencing a time of silence in your life?

How are you reacting to it?

Is God asking you to go deeper?  To wait on Him for a greater revelation?

 Oswald Chambers sums things up for us in My Utmost for His Highest:

Has God trusted you with His silence— a silence that has great meaning? God’s silences are actually His answers. Just think of those days of absolute silence in the home at Bethany:  (This was where Mary and Martha waited for Jesus to arrive and heal their brother Lazarus.  They waited and they waited.) 

Is there anything comparable to those days in your life? Can God trust you like that, or are you still asking Him for a visible answer? God will give you the very blessings you ask if you refuse to go any further without them, but His silence is the sign that He is bringing you into an even more wonderful understanding of Himself. (Jesus DID tarry when they beckoned him to come to Bethany and Lazarus died…If Jesus had only come when they called, He could’ve healed Lazarus.  But – don’t miss this – because Jesus tarried, they were able to see Him not only healed the sick; He could raise the dead!  After His silence, He did an even greater work than they were asking or hoping for.)

Are you mourning before God because you have not had an audible response (to your request)? When you cannot hear God, you will find that He has trusted you in the most intimate way possible— with absolute silence, not a silence of despair, but one of pleasure, because He saw that you could withstand an even bigger revelation. If God has given you a silence, then praise Him— He is bringing you into the mainstream of His purposes.

Today, let’s trust God in the silence.

Don’t just fill in the gaps of your life.

Wait for Him to pour Himself out into that gap.

You can count on this…He WILL do it!

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PINIMAGEMY CUP OF TEA:  Okay, here’s a crazy favorite.  I LOVE my Calling Levi hoodie.  If you had one yourself, you’d understand.  Back when we decided to offer a hoodie on the road, I looked long and hard for a hoodie that was comfortable and cool.  Well, now I have two.  And, honestly, I wear them all the time.  In fact, I see friends wearing theirs too and they tell me that it’s one of their favorites.  It really is one of the best hoodies around.   If you don’t believe me, comment on today’s blog, be entered into the drawing, and maybe you’ll see for yourself!

 

And the winner is….Fran Antonio, chosen by random generator!  Fran, I’m so glad you will have your very own Calling Levi hoodie to enjoy!  Please contact us so we can get your size and send your sweatshirt out to you!

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