There are some things in life that are worth waiting for...
A nicely brewed cup of coffee.
Muscles that finally develop after months of discipline and sweat.
Finding the right person and your wedding day.
I had the privilege one week ago to see a "worth waiting for" moment happen for my family.
Many of you were there as well...
One of the Garrett girls, my sister, found her soulmate. And they had their wedding day.
Seeing my sister get married was worth the wait. WHAT A DAY!!!
Seeing my Dad walk my sister down the aisle; Mike and Noel saying their vows and exchanging rings; my Dad and sister having a Father/Daughter dance ... all made me smile and I'm still smiling. I was deeply touched by God's provision and gift and it just felt right. Was that worth waiting for? Absolutely!!!!!! Congratulations Mike and Noel!!!
What in life is worth waiting for? We don't like to wait. We want things typically to happen fast and in our own way and time. But life doesn't work that way and either does God. So what do you do when God asks you to wait? When no door of exit opens... ?
Here are some things I've learned....
KEEP PERSPECTIVE... Waiting on God's timing is WORTH it. He nails the details in His time and in His way. Remember and hold to the promises of God. Stand on them, pray on them. Trust Him.
SEEK HIM. It's important to seek Him on the big steps and small steps as you wait. If He asks you to stay or hold, He has the extra strength you need. Often when we're stretched to the max is when God can do His greatest work in us and through us. In the hard places, in the waiting, ask God to help you. To use you. He will shock you at how He can do that. And He gets all the glory. He will give you what you need as you need it. Without Him, it's impossible.
2 Corinthians 12:9-10
My grace is sufficient for you, in your weakness, I am strong...
Isaiah 40:31
Those who wait on the Lord will renew their strength... they will soar... and not grow weary or faint
Lamentations 3:25
The Lord is good to those who wait on Him...
WHILE YOU'RE WAITING...BE CHANGED....My sister always wanted to be married. But she stayed active in her waiting. She focused on God... and loved Him and people. Instead of seeking the right person, she focused on being the right person...becoming the right person. And God used her and blessed her in this time around the world.
God has a plan for each of us. He loves us. But He's not just about saving us through Jesus, but transforming us as well. Healing us, growing us, to our full potential. Teaching victory over sin and self. Teaching us to be salt and light. To love, to give mercy, to teach truth and live it. Become who He has made us to be. God desires us to mature.
I was talking to someone a few days ago about the church globally. That person asked me what I saw as the major problem areas and issues. I believe in the local church and love the church. But we have problems. When a church tells you God loves you and accepts you... and tells you nothing else.... it's not the full truth... that's not the gospel. God does love you and have a plan for you- but you have a decision to make...to live for you or to live for God. To live according to what the Bible clearly says or not. There's a sin problem and a self problem that can only be remedied through Jesus Christ. If a church stops talking about Jesus, who He is, why He came, about sin and the cross, about victory over sin, about surrender... it's not the full truth. When churches become more about the culture and making people comfortable... it's not true love. It's not what people need to hear. Seeing Jesus change lives ... that's worth waiting for and praying for. For God is at work, ... He who began a good work in you will carry it out to the day of completion in Christ Jesus (Philippians 1:6). May God help our churches! As we're waiting on God in situations and circumstances...even for eternity with Him...may we change/transform while we wait... becoming more like Jesus...loving the least and the lost. Living what we preach... sharing the truth, living the truth. What I appreciated about Mike and Noel's wedding day was it was a very clear picture of true love, a love worth waiting for. Can the same be said of our churches today? Are we giving people a clear picture of true love... a clear picture of Jesus Christ... of truth, of transformation... of health? Again, we have to pray for churches!!!
More than anything I've found worth the wait for... is God's timing and plan.
Seek Him and you will Find Him. Wait on Him- but be active in the waiting. Not seeking the right job or right person to fulfill you... but focusing on becoming the right person as you wait. And to become the right person ... you have to BE WITH God. Spend time with Him. Listen to Him. Abide in Him and with Him. Nothing can separate you from Him. If you're with Him... darkness will be pushed back, victory will come, you will mature. God desires us to grow up in our faith and be more like Jesus. Don't just hear what He says, do what He says. Trust Him and watch the difference that makes!
John 15
Remain in me, abide. Apart from me, you can do nothing.
Psalm 40:31
Wait for the Lord, be strong and let your heart take courage.
Proverbs 3:5-6
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight.
As I head back to Ethiopia tomorrow ... not to be stateside again until Christmas... my prayer is that I will seek God and find Him in a new way this summer season and fall.. That I will wait for Him and focus on becoming the right person... all He has made me to be. That He will use me and teach me and help me. May His will be done!
Amen! May God help us all!!!
Prayer Requests
-Pray for my return to Ethiopia... as I head back- for God to give me safety in travel and a great rainy season time and for a fall schedule to come together where I can be maximized for God.
-For Hope College's Graduation on July 6- that all goes well. I love this graduating class over 200 of them I will be cheering for ... That God will bless their lives ahead...
-As our Student Parliament at Hope College finishes the semester on my return- that it will be a great finale!
-For my language learning, that God gives me extra focus to learn as I add hours to this plan
-For Ethiopia- the past few days saw a coup attempt foiled and internet is now blocked. Power is also on/off throughout the city- this not related to the past few days. That there will be peace and endurance and a new time of blessing for this country and people I love. That in weakness, we are strong and that in darkness and in hard times, the church will be light and God's name will be great and Jesus will be proclaimed- the true gospel!
-For Bible studies - I hope to start and lead this summer and into the fall- that God will bless those.
-For the global church- that Jesus will be the focus and the true/full gospel will be preached and lived out
-For continued health for my family- my dad will have a second hip replacement surgery in the coming months... that God will help that go well
-For Mr. and Mrs Martin (my sister and her husband)- that God will help them transition from Ginghamsburg Church to their new church in the southern part of Ohio, that God will give them peace and provision as they continue their life and ministry together. We're so excited to see what God does through them as two big lights for the Kingdom have merged into ONE
-That I will become all God made me to be, for Him and by Him! And that these coming months are my best yet for God!
How can I pray for you? Please write me and let me know.
Blessings this summer season and always..
With Love and Gratitude,
Holly
A nicely brewed cup of coffee.
Muscles that finally develop after months of discipline and sweat.
Finding the right person and your wedding day.
I had the privilege one week ago to see a "worth waiting for" moment happen for my family.
Many of you were there as well...
One of the Garrett girls, my sister, found her soulmate. And they had their wedding day.
Seeing my sister get married was worth the wait. WHAT A DAY!!!
 |
| Mr. and Mrs Mike Martin |
What in life is worth waiting for? We don't like to wait. We want things typically to happen fast and in our own way and time. But life doesn't work that way and either does God. So what do you do when God asks you to wait? When no door of exit opens... ?
Here are some things I've learned....
KEEP PERSPECTIVE... Waiting on God's timing is WORTH it. He nails the details in His time and in His way. Remember and hold to the promises of God. Stand on them, pray on them. Trust Him.
SEEK HIM. It's important to seek Him on the big steps and small steps as you wait. If He asks you to stay or hold, He has the extra strength you need. Often when we're stretched to the max is when God can do His greatest work in us and through us. In the hard places, in the waiting, ask God to help you. To use you. He will shock you at how He can do that. And He gets all the glory. He will give you what you need as you need it. Without Him, it's impossible.
2 Corinthians 12:9-10
My grace is sufficient for you, in your weakness, I am strong...
Isaiah 40:31
Those who wait on the Lord will renew their strength... they will soar... and not grow weary or faint
Lamentations 3:25
The Lord is good to those who wait on Him...
WHILE YOU'RE WAITING...BE CHANGED....My sister always wanted to be married. But she stayed active in her waiting. She focused on God... and loved Him and people. Instead of seeking the right person, she focused on being the right person...becoming the right person. And God used her and blessed her in this time around the world.
God has a plan for each of us. He loves us. But He's not just about saving us through Jesus, but transforming us as well. Healing us, growing us, to our full potential. Teaching victory over sin and self. Teaching us to be salt and light. To love, to give mercy, to teach truth and live it. Become who He has made us to be. God desires us to mature.
I was talking to someone a few days ago about the church globally. That person asked me what I saw as the major problem areas and issues. I believe in the local church and love the church. But we have problems. When a church tells you God loves you and accepts you... and tells you nothing else.... it's not the full truth... that's not the gospel. God does love you and have a plan for you- but you have a decision to make...to live for you or to live for God. To live according to what the Bible clearly says or not. There's a sin problem and a self problem that can only be remedied through Jesus Christ. If a church stops talking about Jesus, who He is, why He came, about sin and the cross, about victory over sin, about surrender... it's not the full truth. When churches become more about the culture and making people comfortable... it's not true love. It's not what people need to hear. Seeing Jesus change lives ... that's worth waiting for and praying for. For God is at work, ... He who began a good work in you will carry it out to the day of completion in Christ Jesus (Philippians 1:6). May God help our churches! As we're waiting on God in situations and circumstances...even for eternity with Him...may we change/transform while we wait... becoming more like Jesus...loving the least and the lost. Living what we preach... sharing the truth, living the truth. What I appreciated about Mike and Noel's wedding day was it was a very clear picture of true love, a love worth waiting for. Can the same be said of our churches today? Are we giving people a clear picture of true love... a clear picture of Jesus Christ... of truth, of transformation... of health? Again, we have to pray for churches!!!
More than anything I've found worth the wait for... is God's timing and plan.
Seek Him and you will Find Him. Wait on Him- but be active in the waiting. Not seeking the right job or right person to fulfill you... but focusing on becoming the right person as you wait. And to become the right person ... you have to BE WITH God. Spend time with Him. Listen to Him. Abide in Him and with Him. Nothing can separate you from Him. If you're with Him... darkness will be pushed back, victory will come, you will mature. God desires us to grow up in our faith and be more like Jesus. Don't just hear what He says, do what He says. Trust Him and watch the difference that makes!
John 15
Remain in me, abide. Apart from me, you can do nothing.
Psalm 40:31
Wait for the Lord, be strong and let your heart take courage.
Proverbs 3:5-6
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight.
As I head back to Ethiopia tomorrow ... not to be stateside again until Christmas... my prayer is that I will seek God and find Him in a new way this summer season and fall.. That I will wait for Him and focus on becoming the right person... all He has made me to be. That He will use me and teach me and help me. May His will be done!
Amen! May God help us all!!!
Prayer Requests
-Pray for my return to Ethiopia... as I head back- for God to give me safety in travel and a great rainy season time and for a fall schedule to come together where I can be maximized for God.
-For Hope College's Graduation on July 6- that all goes well. I love this graduating class over 200 of them I will be cheering for ... That God will bless their lives ahead...
 |
| Abebe...5th year Architecture Student...will graduate!!! yay! |
-As our Student Parliament at Hope College finishes the semester on my return- that it will be a great finale!
-For my language learning, that God gives me extra focus to learn as I add hours to this plan
-For Ethiopia- the past few days saw a coup attempt foiled and internet is now blocked. Power is also on/off throughout the city- this not related to the past few days. That there will be peace and endurance and a new time of blessing for this country and people I love. That in weakness, we are strong and that in darkness and in hard times, the church will be light and God's name will be great and Jesus will be proclaimed- the true gospel!
-For Bible studies - I hope to start and lead this summer and into the fall- that God will bless those.
-For the global church- that Jesus will be the focus and the true/full gospel will be preached and lived out
-For continued health for my family- my dad will have a second hip replacement surgery in the coming months... that God will help that go well
-For Mr. and Mrs Martin (my sister and her husband)- that God will help them transition from Ginghamsburg Church to their new church in the southern part of Ohio, that God will give them peace and provision as they continue their life and ministry together. We're so excited to see what God does through them as two big lights for the Kingdom have merged into ONE
-That I will become all God made me to be, for Him and by Him! And that these coming months are my best yet for God!
How can I pray for you? Please write me and let me know.
Blessings this summer season and always..
With Love and Gratitude,
Holly
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