By Cheri Bunch
When my children were little, it seemed like I was always replying with those three words to one of my kids.
My son, Luke, age 4 at the time, once replied back, “Mom, do you mean your minute or my minute?”
Our minutes were different. My minute was very long to him. Do you know that child got my attention and I tended to his needs right away?
Have you noticed that the Lord says “Just a minute” sometimes? He does not seem to get in a hurry. I think He desires to be known as the God of “just in the nick of time!” He desires to get all the glory for His work. When it is just in time, it testifies to the world that it had to be Him. So, sometimes we must wait.
Sometimes when I am waiting on the Lord for an answer to prayer, I just want to say, “Lord, I know you said to wait just a minute, but is it Your minute or my minute we are talking about here?” His minutes seem so much longer to me. Sometimes His minutes test my heart. Sometimes His minutes are necessary to carry out a bigger plan. But sometimes I begin to wonder if He doesn’t delight in watching me sweat a bit! (Big smile.)
Several times David prayed: “Make haste, O Lord, make haste!” Please allow me to paraphrase, “Hurry up, Lord! Now would be a good time! This minute! My minute, Lord!”
If the man after God’s own heart can petition for the Lord to expedite the situation, then I think we can as well.
Below are some petitions that were intended to speed up the Lord’s intervention.
Psalm 38:22 “Make haste to help me, O Lord, my salvation” (NKJV). (My paraphrase is, “Remember, Lord, You are my Savior!”)
Psalm 40:13 “Be pleased, O Lord, to deliver me; O Lord, make haste to help me!” (NKJV).
Psalm 141:1 “Lord, I cry out to You, Make haste to me! Give ear to my voice when I cry to You” (NKJV).
Have you been praying for a situation for a very long time? Perhaps the Spirit is prompting you to ask for the Lord to hurry things up a bit.
Let’s pray together: Lord, we have been waiting to witness Your mighty arm of deliverance. Would You please come quickly and do Your work as only You can? We trust You, Lord. Your timing is perfect. We know our times are in Your hand. Your children wait for You. All love to you, Sweet Jesus! Amen.
Friday, September 25, 2009
Thursday, September 17, 2009
A Bigger Reason
By Cheri Bunch
Going out for football for the first time in your senior year of high school is probably not the best idea. If you want to get to play at all, that is. A lot of people were encouraging our son, Josiah (a senior), that he should play. He is a big guy and would surely be an asset to the team. He likes football, so he decided to give it a shot.
He was picked to play defense on the second string, which means he doesn’t get to play much, if at all. Day after day, Josiah goes to practice, runs extra laps if the team is punished for penalties, works hard and comes home knowing that he probably will stand on the sidelines at game time, watching his team win or lose.
It is hard, even mundane. He would rather be out there playing every minute of the game, or if not every minute, he would settle even for a couple of minutes of playing time.
He wears a shroud of heaviness after a game. I try to break the silence with positive comments like, “I am so proud of you! It is hard to stay in there when you don’t get to play. Your commitment to the team will pay off.”
Taking the field under the big lights on Friday nights would be a high for Josiah, but he has a bigger reason for playing football. He wants to go into the Navy and become a Seal. He knows that it will be tough and he must physically prepare himself for the application tests. Football is a great way to get into shape.
To persevere spiritually when all is going well and we are in the limelight, with everyone watching and applauding our success, proves beneficial. Persevering when no one is watching, or at least noticing, or calling us out to “perform,” reveals to us and to the Lord that we have a higher purpose, a greater cause, an eternal reason beyond the glory of the spotlight.
I have a plaque hanging above the shower head in my shower that reads: “A person’s true character is revealed by what he does when he thinks no one is watching.”
There will be moments of spotlighted glory for a few of us, but the majority of our days on this eternal journey will be spent serving the Lord and our families during the mundane, hidden hours of life. For this reason, it is imperative that we have a bigger, eternal purpose and recognize that serving is the higher calling and perseverance will be rewarded.
For me, I am finding it difficult to watch Josiah wait on the sidelines at the football games hoping that he will get to play. I want him to get to go in and show his stuff! But I have to keep in mind there is a bigger purpose, a more important goal, something greater to be gained from his experience. His dedication will not be without reward. He will gain endurance, he will grow in perseverance, he will be disciplined, and he will grow in compassion. So I am choosing to rejoice in what will be gained and realize a larger purpose is being fulfilled.
2 Timothy 4:7-8 (The Message)
“This is the only race worth running. I’ve run hard right to the finish, believed all the way. All that’s left now is the shouting--God’s applause! Depend on it, he’s an honest judge. He’ll do right not only by me, but by everyone eager for his coming.”
Going out for football for the first time in your senior year of high school is probably not the best idea. If you want to get to play at all, that is. A lot of people were encouraging our son, Josiah (a senior), that he should play. He is a big guy and would surely be an asset to the team. He likes football, so he decided to give it a shot.
He was picked to play defense on the second string, which means he doesn’t get to play much, if at all. Day after day, Josiah goes to practice, runs extra laps if the team is punished for penalties, works hard and comes home knowing that he probably will stand on the sidelines at game time, watching his team win or lose.
It is hard, even mundane. He would rather be out there playing every minute of the game, or if not every minute, he would settle even for a couple of minutes of playing time.
He wears a shroud of heaviness after a game. I try to break the silence with positive comments like, “I am so proud of you! It is hard to stay in there when you don’t get to play. Your commitment to the team will pay off.”
Taking the field under the big lights on Friday nights would be a high for Josiah, but he has a bigger reason for playing football. He wants to go into the Navy and become a Seal. He knows that it will be tough and he must physically prepare himself for the application tests. Football is a great way to get into shape.
To persevere spiritually when all is going well and we are in the limelight, with everyone watching and applauding our success, proves beneficial. Persevering when no one is watching, or at least noticing, or calling us out to “perform,” reveals to us and to the Lord that we have a higher purpose, a greater cause, an eternal reason beyond the glory of the spotlight.
I have a plaque hanging above the shower head in my shower that reads: “A person’s true character is revealed by what he does when he thinks no one is watching.”
There will be moments of spotlighted glory for a few of us, but the majority of our days on this eternal journey will be spent serving the Lord and our families during the mundane, hidden hours of life. For this reason, it is imperative that we have a bigger, eternal purpose and recognize that serving is the higher calling and perseverance will be rewarded.
For me, I am finding it difficult to watch Josiah wait on the sidelines at the football games hoping that he will get to play. I want him to get to go in and show his stuff! But I have to keep in mind there is a bigger purpose, a more important goal, something greater to be gained from his experience. His dedication will not be without reward. He will gain endurance, he will grow in perseverance, he will be disciplined, and he will grow in compassion. So I am choosing to rejoice in what will be gained and realize a larger purpose is being fulfilled.
2 Timothy 4:7-8 (The Message)
“This is the only race worth running. I’ve run hard right to the finish, believed all the way. All that’s left now is the shouting--God’s applause! Depend on it, he’s an honest judge. He’ll do right not only by me, but by everyone eager for his coming.”
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Hair
By Cheri Bunch
As parents, we should choose our battles wisely . . . especially when it comes to hair!
Our son Caleb has long hair. Everywhere that he goes, people think that he looks like Jesus. The truth is that he resembles the Hollywood version of Jesus. He has beautiful piercing blue eyes that seem to see right into your inner most being. He has a gentle spirit, very loving, so kind and compassionate. Most of the time, Caleb acts like Jesus!
Caleb was called to the mission field at a very young age and has served many places in the world. One of his favorite mission sites is in Brazil.
One day Caleb was waiting for a bus in Brazil. A family was sitting on the ground also waiting for a bus, but they were having a supper of cheese and crackers as they waited. A little girl in the family noticed Caleb and began to beckon him, “Come, come, you must come and eat with us!”
The little girl’s daddy frowned at her, but his look of disdain did not deter her. “Please, oh, won’t you please come and eat with us. We want to share with you!” The little girl’s daddy shook his head “No.”
She would not stop, “Hey, come here and eat with my family!”
Her daddy finally spoke, “Honey, we cannot feed every stranger that comes along!”
She replied, “Daddy, he can make more!”
She thought Caleb was Jesus.
When Caleb was in high school, there were battles over his hair. Board meetings were held at the Christian school, meetings that went late into the night, to determine if his sideburns were too long.
I was wondering what you might think of this. Do we, as Christians, major on minors? Do we make a big deal out of hair, clothes, rules, etc., and totally miss the point?
Caleb is getting married in October. His hair will be long. I would love for him to get it cut for the wedding. That is what I want. But you know, there might be someone at the wedding that needs a visual of Jesus . . . to be reminded!
What are your thoughts?
As parents, we should choose our battles wisely . . . especially when it comes to hair!
Our son Caleb has long hair. Everywhere that he goes, people think that he looks like Jesus. The truth is that he resembles the Hollywood version of Jesus. He has beautiful piercing blue eyes that seem to see right into your inner most being. He has a gentle spirit, very loving, so kind and compassionate. Most of the time, Caleb acts like Jesus!
Caleb was called to the mission field at a very young age and has served many places in the world. One of his favorite mission sites is in Brazil.
One day Caleb was waiting for a bus in Brazil. A family was sitting on the ground also waiting for a bus, but they were having a supper of cheese and crackers as they waited. A little girl in the family noticed Caleb and began to beckon him, “Come, come, you must come and eat with us!”
The little girl’s daddy frowned at her, but his look of disdain did not deter her. “Please, oh, won’t you please come and eat with us. We want to share with you!” The little girl’s daddy shook his head “No.”
She would not stop, “Hey, come here and eat with my family!”
Her daddy finally spoke, “Honey, we cannot feed every stranger that comes along!”
She replied, “Daddy, he can make more!”
She thought Caleb was Jesus.
When Caleb was in high school, there were battles over his hair. Board meetings were held at the Christian school, meetings that went late into the night, to determine if his sideburns were too long.
I was wondering what you might think of this. Do we, as Christians, major on minors? Do we make a big deal out of hair, clothes, rules, etc., and totally miss the point?
Caleb is getting married in October. His hair will be long. I would love for him to get it cut for the wedding. That is what I want. But you know, there might be someone at the wedding that needs a visual of Jesus . . . to be reminded!
What are your thoughts?
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Possibility
By Cheri Bunch
There is one word that the enemy hates. When we use the word “possible” it is like holding a firey shield in his face. When he launches his firey darts at our shields of faith he can hardly see to shoot straight. His flaming darts are extinguished when they hit the shields of our faith.
However, he thrives on the word “impossible.” He would love to get this powerful word launched from his arsenal into our minds so that it could begin to douse our shield of faith until the fire no longer remains and our shield loses its power against him.
After the word impossible has taken root in our minds, then he can launch the words “unable,” “loser,” “too weak,” “hopeless,” “I can’t,” etc. We must remember the words of Jesus and not let these despairing words take over our thoughts.
Let’s meditate on these words of Jesus:
“But Jesus looked at them and said to them, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26, NKJV).
“Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes” (Mark 9:23, NKJV).
“And He said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for You. Take this cup away from Me; nevertheless, not what I will, but what You will” (Mark 14:36, NKJV).
Even before Jesus went to the Cross, He reminded the Father that with Him all things are possible. All things!
How is your shield of faith doing? Is it glowing bright hurting the enemy’s eyes, discouraging his aim? Is your mind filled with thoughts that “all things are possible with God”?
It is so easy to lose hope and let despair take over when our marriage is being threatened, when a child wanders, when illness afflicts, when conflict arises, when finances are shaken. Our minds can easily slip into fearful mode. Our faith wanes and we begin to wonder . . .
“Can our marriage survive?”
“Will my child come back to faith?”
“Can there be healing?”
“Can this relationship possibly be restored?”
“Will God provide?”
It is such a challenge because the enemy does not want us to have faith! He keeps launching his favorite word “impossible” at us. We don’t have to embrace that word! We can refuse to let it in by refusing to think it, say it, and especially believe it! Launch your favorite word back at him by saying, “It IS possible!” Say it, pray it, sing it, think it and believe it!.
Our enemy gets weary when challenged by this kind of faith. Let’s not allow him to wear us down! Let’s be on the offense and wear him down. Let’s keep these words ringing in our minds: “with God all things are possible!”
There is one word that the enemy hates. When we use the word “possible” it is like holding a firey shield in his face. When he launches his firey darts at our shields of faith he can hardly see to shoot straight. His flaming darts are extinguished when they hit the shields of our faith.
However, he thrives on the word “impossible.” He would love to get this powerful word launched from his arsenal into our minds so that it could begin to douse our shield of faith until the fire no longer remains and our shield loses its power against him.
After the word impossible has taken root in our minds, then he can launch the words “unable,” “loser,” “too weak,” “hopeless,” “I can’t,” etc. We must remember the words of Jesus and not let these despairing words take over our thoughts.
Let’s meditate on these words of Jesus:
“But Jesus looked at them and said to them, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26, NKJV).
“Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes” (Mark 9:23, NKJV).
“And He said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for You. Take this cup away from Me; nevertheless, not what I will, but what You will” (Mark 14:36, NKJV).
Even before Jesus went to the Cross, He reminded the Father that with Him all things are possible. All things!
How is your shield of faith doing? Is it glowing bright hurting the enemy’s eyes, discouraging his aim? Is your mind filled with thoughts that “all things are possible with God”?
It is so easy to lose hope and let despair take over when our marriage is being threatened, when a child wanders, when illness afflicts, when conflict arises, when finances are shaken. Our minds can easily slip into fearful mode. Our faith wanes and we begin to wonder . . .
“Can our marriage survive?”
“Will my child come back to faith?”
“Can there be healing?”
“Can this relationship possibly be restored?”
“Will God provide?”
It is such a challenge because the enemy does not want us to have faith! He keeps launching his favorite word “impossible” at us. We don’t have to embrace that word! We can refuse to let it in by refusing to think it, say it, and especially believe it! Launch your favorite word back at him by saying, “It IS possible!” Say it, pray it, sing it, think it and believe it!.
Our enemy gets weary when challenged by this kind of faith. Let’s not allow him to wear us down! Let’s be on the offense and wear him down. Let’s keep these words ringing in our minds: “with God all things are possible!”
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