Thank you, Lord.

I hit the power button and waited for the three lights to announce that the machine was ready to brew. I was irritated that it took a whole minute for the welcoming blue lights to start blinking and another 30 seconds to brew my morning delight. “Give it to me now!” I thought to myself.

That’s when it dawned on me: my ability to wait has certainly changed since I moved to America. I remember the shock I experienced on my first American dining experience eighteen years ago.

My husband picked me up at the airport and we stopped at a restaurant for lunch. The waiter was at our table in 30 seconds. We were served in 10 minutes. The bill was delivered while our food was still hot on the plates. I felt rushed. Surprised. Outraged, almost. I was used to the Brazilian way, where dining is an event to be savored, enjoyed, relished. We take our time. We talk a lot. Eat a lot. Seize the moment.

Rushing isn’t confined to the United States of America, though. My once laid-back Brazil has also quickly morphed into a fast-paced, impatient society in the past decade. Rushing is not the American way. It’s the millennium way. We want it and we want it now. We rush success, we rush intimacy and, invariably, we rush God.

Rushing is not the American way. It’s the millennium way. We want it and we want it now. We rush success, we rush intimacy and, invariably, we rush God. #RechargeWednesday
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The problem with the concept is in the very nature of God. God is patient. He can’t be rushed. He does not believe in instant anything. Rather, he believes in process. It takes time to listen to him. It takes effort and time to know him. And, in my experience, he certainly never seems to be in a hurry to deliver his promises.

God is patient. He can’t be rushed. He does not believe in instant anything. Rather, he believes in process. #RechargeWednesday
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Waiting is a difficult task. Depending on your personality, it’s nearly impossible. If you are a go-getter like me, it probably kills you not being able to control the timing and outcome of your projects and dreams. Waiting on true love. Waiting on that promotion. Waiting to conceive. It stinks, really. Our flesh screams: “Hurry up with the lesson, already. Just tell me what I need to learn. I’m ready to move on!” However, I believe that the reason for the waiting is often beyond our realm of understanding. Because it’s really not just about us.

In retrospect, I realize that I have often waited on something because the people involved in my prayer request were not ready. Or the situation wasn’t ready. Or I wasn’t ready.  I also realize how God has used the time I waited to strengthen me. Mature me. Change me. Change others around me.

In retrospect, I realize that I have often waited on something because the people involved in my prayer request were not ready. Or the situation wasn’t ready. Or I wasn’t ready.
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Indeed, when we fully grasp that God is a good Father, and, as such, He seeks to make us better people…When we realize that the process of waiting is one of His tools to accomplish just that, we stop expecting Him to act as a one-cup coffee machine. We understand that the rewards of a life of trust far surpass the gifts we seek.

Better yet, we realize that, as long as we listen and obey, He never fails us and always delivers on time.

For from days of old they have not heard or perceived by ear, Nor has the eye seen a God besides You, Who acts in behalf of one who waits for Him. ~ Isaiah 64:4
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LINKUP is open! Today, I share a reflection on one of the most important ingredients to be able to follow God's plan: Patience. Join us and share your blog!
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The post Patience = Secret Ingredient to Follow God’s Plan {Recharge Wednesday} appeared first on Soaring With Him Ministries.

A father loses his job. Again. An airplane falls, killing a loved one. A young mother loses her baby. A fire assails a home where a couple and their three young children sleep. The children escape, but their mother dies.

Hurricane Dorian devastates the beautiful Bahamas, leaving a pathway of death, loss and unimaginable pain behind.

“I don’t understand the purpose in this. Do you?”

A dear friend asked me this very question recently.  This sweet and godly woman has gone through unimaginable pain and suffering for the past several years. Her honest question echoes in the hearts of all of us when life doesn’t make sense. When it feels like God has forgotten us. When we can’t find the purpose behind the pain.

Whether we voice it or not, the question remains: “What’s your purpose in this, Father?”

“No, I don’t understand it. I don’t. But I have to trust that God has a purpose. We just can’t see it yet,” I said.

Her question caught me off guard, but I answered her with strong conviction. I have walked with Jesus for long enough to know that He does have a purpose for every suffering He allows in His children’s lives. Indeed, I have experienced His purposeful design through pain and loss, and I can testify that He does make all things work together for our good and for His glory. I’ve proven this truth. I believe it.

But that does not ease the pain when we’re going through the valley. When life doesn’t make sense and seems to be getting worse instead of better.

Believing God works everything together for our good does not ease the pain when we're going through the valley.
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As I continued talking to my friend, Paul’s words in 2 Corinthians 12:8-9 came to mind:

“Concerning this I implored the Lord three times that it might leave me. And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.”

Among all New Testament characters, the dear apostle knew pain like no other follower of Jesus at that time. He was blind, beaten, scorned, persecuted, shipwrecked, imprisoned and tempted. Even so, he responded with steadfast faith throughout each trial: “we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed.” 2 Corinthians 4:8-9

Therefore, it seems only fair that God would remove this one issue that plagued Paul. He seemed to have had enough when he pleaded with the Father to remove the thorn in his flesh, whatever that was. And yet, even though we never see this giant of faith ask for relief before, God told him he should just accept it.

That would have been a tough pill to swallow, had God not explained why the “thorn” had to remain: so that God’s power (and purpose) would be perfected in Paul’s weakness.

It’s hard to look past our pain…

Indeed, it’s humanly impossible to understand how a disease or a death in the family can work together for our good. Only when we look back in our lives can we understand the higher purpose beyond each valley we crossed:

… Like the people who are impacted by the way we respond; silent witnesses that draw strength from our testimony.

… Like the unnecessary things that we end up leaving behind in the valley: Materials possessions that we used to value become unimportant; little things that we used to sweat over gain new perspective. Shackles of pride crumble.

… Like the Fruit of the Spirit, which grows in us IF we allow God to shape us in each valley, thus finding ourselves growing in love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control (Galatians 5:22).

… Like the pockets of rest that we find in the most unusual, unexpected places… things we used to take for granted: The smile of a loved one. The encouraging words of a friend. The pleasure of laughter. The importance of a loving touch.

… Like God’s divine provision for our material needs, or for just enough strength to keep on keeping on.

All these things are a reflection of His love and supernatural power, being perfected in us as we walk through our desolate places.

But there’s one more thing – one of the most important gifts in the valley:

Fireproofing our faith.

You see, it’s easy to trust God at His Word when we don’t have to prove it. When life is all roses and no thorns.

Yes, singing His praises is a piece of cake when life is easy.  Reciting His Word is natural when the sun is shining outside.

But when the storms assail us… when our loved ones leave us, when our health fails us or our financial stability disappears… When there is no hope… and yet, we find hope against all odds and we can still find the strength to thank Him and praise Him…

Then and only then, can we say that our faith is true – tested and proven.

It’s when our everything runs out that we can prove Him enough.

It’s when our everything runs out that we can prove Him enough. #RechargeWednesday
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It’s through the trials and valleys that His power is perfected in our weakness… that His love is reinstated and our faith, refurbished.

You may not see it today, my friend. But you can trust that there’s a reason for your valley. One day you’ll look back and you’ll see the faces of the people you’ve impacted… … And the birth of a new purpose because you chose blind trust and kept walking, one step at a time, and against all odds.

LINKUP PARTY opens at 6 am EST!

Christian Bloggers, come share your Blog with our audience below:

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LINKUP is open! #HurricaneDorian made me think about the storms of life... and the despair and confusion that we find when we are blind to the purpose of the storms. Join us?
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“You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!” Isaiah 26:3

The ballerina’s elegant figure twirled around the stage with incredible ease. The Rio de Janeiro Ballet Company had come to town, and my parents bought tickets to take their aspiring ballerina to watch their performance. As a young girl, I remember watching her in awe, while dreaming of the day when I would be able to have the same technique and grace to become a Prima ballerina.

Oh, the spinning! That was my favorite. To be able to twirl around on my tiptoes for minutes, without losing my balance. That, to my young mind, was the pinnacle of ballet perfection.

And I failed. Every time I tried. I’d spin once around, maybe twice, and then, boom! I’d lose balance and trip or fall.

My French ballet instructor never took the time to teach me the secret of the perfect pirouette. She was too busy helping the girls who ‘had what it takes.’ And I certainly wasn’t on that list.

If I couldn’t master a pirouette, I could not become a ballerina. Thus my dream was shattered.

The Secret

It took me several decades to learn the secret of the technique. It was my older daughter who taught me. She had been taking dance for a while and came home very excited one day, eager to show me how she had mastered the perfect pirouette.

She straightened her posture, started a plié and whoosh! Beaming with pride, she smiled while turning 360 degrees several times before finally losing balance.

“Ooops. I lost my spot, mommy. Let me find a better one.”

Voila! Just like that, a mystery of decades was solved.

I found out that day that the secret of a perfectly balanced ballerina is finding ‘the SPOT’ – a place on stage (or on my living room wall,) at eye level, where the ballerina’s eyes will focus on, every time she makes a full circle. Her body goes around 360 degrees, and as her head turns, her eyes are always looking for the Spot at the end of that quick journey.

When she finds the Spot, she is able to stay balanced.

When she misses it, she loses the trajectory and, at least in the beginning of her journey as a dancer, will invariably fail at delivering perfect pirouettes.

When she misses the spot, her pirouette is less than perfect… which affects her next move, and the next.

The Spot centers her.

The Spot assures her.

The Spot refocuses her.

Wow.

I don’t know about you, but I need that spiritual spot every day.

I wake up in the morning and, after having a cup of (very strong) coffee to ensure my brain awakes (and I feel like a human again,) I usually open my Bible to spend time with the Lord.

Those precious moments are crucial for my day. They often give me direction… center my thoughts on Him… work on my weaknesses and convict me of my sins. I feel encouraged. Loved. And, on certain days, simply overwhelmed by His goodness and grace.

Then I close my Bible and start my activities.

I have a heart full of good intentions and a daily planner filled with appointments and to-do items.

And as the day starts, so does the spinning. And before I know it, while going from activity to activity, I lose my Spot.

And I fall. Or get discouraged… or lose my peace… or, worse yet, forget to feed the Fruit of the Spirit, if you know what I mean (and I know you do.)

I thought this exercise would get easier as time went by and the longer I lived with Jesus.

I thought once my kids were bigger and more independent, I would intuitively be more focused, as well as easily get better organized. But what I am finding out is that, the older they get and the more involved I become in ministry or other activities, the more I need that Spot.

Not just in the morning, no sire!

The morning time with the Lord is great. I wouldn’t change it for anything.

But unless I find the Spot throughout my day… I cannot stay focused, win my battles and overcome my weaknesses.

I need my ‘Jesus Spot’ to avoid losing balance.

Because it’s humanly impossible to stay focused at all times when life happens.

Of course I tremble. Of course I have moments of fear and doubt.  But what I can do is to make Him that Spot on the wall that I purposefully go back to, every time life spins me around.

It’s that Scripture that I placed on my kitchen window… a reminder of a promise that has still not come to pass…

It’s another Scripture on the same window, that reminds me that “the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen me and protect me from the evil one.” (2 Thessalonians 3:3)

It’s that exercise of looking back, realizing that God has never failed me in the many desserts I crossed… As I walked through cancer… financial troubles… loneliness… difficult relationships…

It’s that song that reminds me of who I am in Christ…

It’s that Scripture that just ‘happened’ to be on my reading that day, and knowing that nothing just ‘happens’ in the life of a child of God…

It’s that simple prayer in the midst of my crazy, which refocuses my heart and calms my anxiety…

It’s looking at my to-do list with grace, and forgiving myself for messy countertops and sticky floors…

It’s saying yes to changing my trajectory in order to help someone… or love my children, just because…

Those are some of my ‘Jesus Spots.’ And unless I focus on them in the midst of my busy days and life turmoils, I will certainly fall.

But realize this, my friend: Just as it goes for the ballerina, the Spot is a deliberate pursuit.

You must find yours.

And then embrace the spins of this world, eyes fixed on Jesus at every turn. When you do so, and even though the trickiest twirls of life will certainly scare you, they won’t stop you.

Although you may lose balance for a minute, the Spot will keep you standing… and going.

Mastering life’s dance without falling has one secret: remembering that Jesus is in the room
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Indeed, mastering life’s dance and twirling without falling has one simple secret – and that’s remembering that Jesus is in the room.

The Jesus Spot.

The post Staying Focused as Your World Spins Around appeared first on Soaring With Him Ministries.