Unfulfilled Expectations

One of the main causes for breakdowns in relationships is unfulfilled expectations; times in relationships where one person or the other has their dreams, hopes, and or expectations dashed because their “significant other” fails them. It happens daily in marriages. When a wife doesn’t live up to everything her husband dreamed of, or if she changes from the ‘model’ he married to something more like “Carolyn ‘Ma’ Ingles”. Or when the daring, adventurous, mans’ man that she married carries those traits into the marriage, what once drew her to him now is viewed as irresponsibility and non-caring and putting her behind all others. Unmet expectations can kill a relationship.

This doesn’t only happen in human relationships. This is true with many of us in our relationship with our Heavenly Father. Just as many marriages had their best times together during the dating years and on the honeymoon and the few months after, many of us have never recaptured the ecstasy of the first days of our new-found faith. Why? Because of expectations, which in both case, were unrealistic. We are selfish by nature and if we don’t get our way then we feel like it’s over. God has disappointed you and so, although you still have salvation, you have no relationship. Just as many couples are still married, but have no life together.

The health and strength in any relationship, including ours with Father God, is based on faith and trust. Do you only trust what you see, or in what he says?

Habakkuk had many reasons to question God, however, in his journey we see God take Habakkuk from asking, “How long, O Lord, must I call for help? But You do not listen?” and hearing God’s response, “…Watch and be astounded at what I will do! For I am doing something in your own day, something you wouldn’t believe even if someone told you about it!” (Habakkuk 1:2-5), witnessing Habakkuk’s faith in that relationship taking him from despair to being able to say with confidence,

“Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vine; even though the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; even though the flocks die in the fields, and the cattle barns are empty, yet I will rejoice in the Lord! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation. The Sovereign Lord is my strength! He will make me as sure-footed as a deer and bring me safely over the mountains.”

(Habakkuk 3:17-19)

What are you expecting from God? Have you failed to relate to Him because He’s seemingly not meeting your expectations? Remember, as the song says, “when you don’t understand, when you can’t see His plan, when you can’t trace His hand, trust His heart.” And we know His heart from knowing His Word. And His Word proclaims His faithfulness.

Why trust Him? Because He is worthy!

Preparation

It’s a concept that when followed will enhance every activity. In every situation from a barbeque to a war, preparation is not only good, but success is almost always dependant on it. As we look at our men and women in the desert of Iraq right now, what if they had not prepared for dusty hot conditions and dressed for the beach? What if the infantry only brought enough supplies for a week? When I do a barbecue I take time to make sure that I have everything I need. All of the utensils, condiments, food, paper towels, foil, water spray can, and apron, extra fuel, etc. are all in place before the cooking begins. Not being prepared at a cookout can mean having to drive far to get more propane; not being prepared for war can mean death. In both cases preparation is essential.
In a way that I think we often forget or unaware of, preparation is also necessary in worship. Many times we don’t think about this because in some situations worship is looked at as something that we come to and that is brought to us. In reality, it is quite the opposite. Worship is something that we bring, something that we are responsible for and something that we must prepare for. Paul even reminds us that we need to be prepared to take the Lord’s supper, an act of worship, in a way that is worthy before we come. (1 Cor. 11:28)
How do we prepare for worship? Since worship is a lifestyle it is a daily occupation. As we walk with the Lord during the week and talk with Him giving Him praise, adoration and thanksgiving our hearts are being prepared. As we meet with other believers to pray, be encouraged and bring encouragement, we become more prepared. As we spend time in God’s Word and make it’s truths a part of our daily walk we deepen our preparation. As we think and meditate on His goodness, faithfulness, mercy, love, grace and provision and take time to acknowledge our gratitude to Him for those things, we add to our preparation. All of those elements are the “utensils” of worship, or as I’ve describe it in the past, our “torches”. And then when we meet together in our corporate gatherings we, having prepared all week long, come together and celebrate at the “worship gathering” the “bond-fire” of praise!
Are you prepared today? Do you have your tools? Are your torches lit and ready to enter in? It makes a world of difference in how you’ll walk away from our gathering today. And for every gathering here you prepare for it adds to your lifestyle of worship which is preparation for our eternal worship gathering! What a day that will be!! Are you preparing for that day?
MJ

F.A.I.T.H. – Forsaking All, I Trust Him

What a powerful statement, one that is packed with truth, yet one that is not easy to accomplish. I was reminded some time ago of the need for faith as I saw a picture from New Orleans, during the aftermath of Katrina of a car with a bumper sticker that had the word faith in bold letters written on it, and right below the bottom of the sticker was about 4 and a half feet of water. The need for faith for those affected by Katrina was huge. But how do you have faith when all is lost? How do you have faith when there is not even the smallest glimmer of hope from the way that your present circumstances look?

True faith is indeed forsaking everything else and trusting completely in God, however, there is another requirement of faith that we must commit to. The disciples had to completely trust Jesus to feed the 5,000, but they also had to pick up the baskets that were once empty, walk around and by faith begin feeding the people. Earlier in their ministry they had to have faith that Jesus could turn the water into wine, but they also had to pick up the containers and have faith that every cup of “water” would now be wine. Peter knew that he could completely trust Jesus to save him from drowning, but he had to step out of the boat and begin walking on the water.

Faith requires complete trust, believing that even though you don’t see it now, that it is as well as done. But it also requires as some one has said that, “we are to pray as if everything depended on God, and work as though everything depended on us.” We work believing that every action, every step is ordered by God to accomplish what will bring Him the most honor and glory. Abraham knew and believed that God would make him be the father of many nations, but that morning as he woke up to walk Isaac up to the mountain to kill him, his circumstances spoke everything but that. But forsaking all, he trusted God and he woke up early in the morning and went to the mountain to do business with God.

Where is faith an issue in your life? Is it your health, your job, your finances, your relationships, weight loss, etc? Lay down your doubts and fears and apprehensions and trust in the one who is not seen and ask Him to order every step you take to please Him as you await,

“the evidence of things not seen”.“…blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
John 20:29b

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year! Can you believe that it’s 2010? It’s seems like just yesterday that we entered into the 21^st century.

What a wonderful time we had last Sunday morning spending our final Sunday in 2009 in a service of prayer and praise. I hope you were blessed and encouraged to daily, Adore the Lord, Confess your short-comings, Be Thankful in all things and Cry out to Him in Supplication for all of your needs and the needs of others.

As I mentioned in the services, the time we spent together in prayer and praise is continued each and every Wednesday evening during the year. Except for a few weeks during the course of the year we meet in the fellowship hall from 6:00-7:00 and spend quantity and quality time praising the Lord and praying to the Lord.

I would like to invite and encourage you to come and join us during this time. As prayer is one of the most important and vital aspects in our relationship with the Lord, when we do so together we are able to encourage and be encouraged as we seek God’s face together and see God work in answer to our prayers. We are also blessed as we unveil God’s attributes through our times of praise and worship. Singing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs together help remind us of who God is and that we are all in this journey together.

As you are putting together your list of “New Year’s resolutions” and goals for the year, why not include coming together with your TBC and Greater Richardson family to a time of praise and prayer on Wednesday nights?

We will be starting back from our Christmas/New Year’s break on Wednesday night, January 6^th, at 7:00. I hope to see you there, and bring a friend. Come ready to enter into His presence with Thanksgiving in your heart!

Happy New Year and God bless you!

MJ