anticipating... His return...

Anticipating the return of a loved one currently traveling abroad...
following him and his friends on Instagram...
as they post snaps of their adventures...
each brings joy... and questions...
(where exactly...? who...? what in the world...?!)

I dreamed of him last night...
his return...
the tales he would tell...
the hugs given...
his smell...
his laugh...

And I wake wondering...
Do I anticipate His return...? Jesus's...? do you...?
Am I following Him...? while I wait...?

Following His Way... increases anticipation...
deepens connection... desire...

I see how following brings joy...
reveals bits of who He is... what He's doing...

But following also raises questions...
what is He up to...? when...? why...?

I know the better I follow...
the more I know... and see...
the greater urgency I feel...
that His return could be...
any moment...

I used to fret over His coming back...
knowing all will be fixed...

When you have loved ones far from Him...
lost...
their eternal destiny being fixed...
at this moment...
causes angst...

Yet... I've grown to trust Him more...
I know His desire for all to be saved...
He will not return... till all He knows are coming...
have returned to Him...

His judgment... His timing... perfect...

I trust... and anticipate... (to some degree...) His return...
not as much as I should...

So... I will continue to follow...
hopefully closer... better...
and maybe one day...
I'll dream of His return...

...so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many,

will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save

those who are eagerly waiting for him.

Hebrews 9:28 ESV

just a question...

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds,

for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.

And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect

and complete, lacking nothing.

James 1:2-4 ESV

Why...? if trials... inconveniences to great suffering... are good for us... do we need to be told... commanded... to consider it... count it... all joy...?

In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary,

you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested

genuineness of your faith --- more precious than gold

that perishes though it is tested by fire --- may be found

to result in praise and glory and honor 

at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

1 Peter 1:6-7 ESV

Just a question....

The Journey Readings: Week 55... and a sign of spiritual maturity...

And the disciples were continually filled

with joy and the Holy Spirit.

Acts 13:52 ESV

On the reading through of Acts... disciples of Jesus... preach with power... and perform miracles...

Yet... they also... endure... persecution... conflict... and stoning...

No matter their circumstances... they were... continually filled with joy...

And I wonder... Are we...? am I...? are you...?

It seems... when disciples are obedient to His call... surrendered to His will... we should be filled... both with joy... and the Holy Spirit...

Is this filling... a sign of spiritual maturity...?

Do I have growing to do...? do you...?

Am I obedient...? in His will...?

What about you...?

A question needing to be considered... Am I continually filled with joy...? if not... why not...?

Find other questions to consider... come along on The Journey...

This week's readings...

Monday                Acts 15:22 - 16:15

Tuesday                Acts 16:16 - 17:15

Wednesday          Acts 17:16 - 18:28

Thursday               Acts 19

Friday                  Acts 20

a question... about the Father...

As I consider waiting... watching... for loved ones to fully walk in freedom... the thought of the father who waited on the lost son... comes to mind...

What was the father's stance... attitude... while he waited...?

But while [the son] was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him.

Luke 15:20 ESV

What does this verse... reveal about the father... as he waited...?
What does it reveal about our heavenly Father...?
How am I to wait... in a way... that glorifies Him...?

perfecting...

The verse from yesterday... the one He led me to in response to questions... arising from the quiet...

The Lord will perfect that which concerns me;

Your mercy and loving-kindness, O Lord, endure forever...

Psalm 138:8 Amp

The perfecting... of what concerns me... He will perfect that which concerns me... continues to echo...

So many concerns... things that... bear on... cares... troubles... engage... occupy... my mind... heart... will... emotions...

And the comfort and peace... that is found... in the truth... He will perfect... bring to completion... straighten out what's wrong... that which concerns me...

As only He can... He laid rest... to the questions... that arose... in the quiet...

His mercy... and loving-kindness... they come... through unexpected means... but He is always faithful... to encourage... in just the right way... at just the right time... 

For the word of the Lord is right and true;

he is faithful in all he does.

Psalm 33:4

questions...

Questions... they arise in the quiet...

The nest empty... children growing... grown... to find life outside...

But the questions... they come... in their absence...

Have I been enough...?
Did I teach... the right things...?
Did I love well... do they know... my heart for them...?

The questions arise... as each one's story has yet to unfold...

Unknowns... they make a heart wonder...

In wonder... I turn to Him...

The Lord will perfect that which concerns me;

Your mercy and loving-kindness, O Lord, endure forever...

Psalm 138:8 Amp