Even youths will faint and be weary, and the young will fall exhausted; but those who wait for 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 40:30-31
It seems to me that there are two good reasons for us to spend a few days this July of 2010 waiting on the Lord. The first is that we are exhausted (see verse 30)! June has been a busy month and 2010 has been a busy year around here. In June alone, among other things, we had an intense week of Vacation Bible School, we went away with 14 of our young folks for church camp (primitive camping mind you), we had two weddings in the building, a funeral, made multiple trips to the nursing homes, several hospital visits, times spent in heart rending – and heart mending – conversations, made a trip with the saints to Montgomery Bell State Park to visit the place of our denomination’s birth, participated in our normal schedule of Bible Studies, Sunday Schools, and Worship services, enjoyed and worked at the fundraiser for Ray Poss and his family, a couple of CPWM gathers, Men’s Fellowship, Session meeting, and conversed on church issues more than 93 times via telephone. And that’s just me! Throw in the exponentially more sacrificial offerings you shared and join me in EXHAUSTION!
So let us take a few days this July to “renew our strength”. Our walk with the Lord stretches into eternity and therefore there is no rush. Rest a bit – please.
The other good reason for a season of waiting is to prepare for what’s next. God intends great things for his Church. We don’t know what these plans are but we can step forward in faith when we wait for the Lord, renew our strength, and take time to remember that he is good – all the time. There is a great excitement around Cumberland Country these days. We sense a risk as we step out in faith, adventures are that way. We know that whatever comes it will be the only time it will ever be offered to anyone in anyplace in all creation and we want to be ready to live it well.
And so we prepare. We wait. For soon enough WE SHALL FLY LIKE THE EAGLES!
Shalom y’all,
Pastor Pat