Wednesday
Feb252009
Now is the Time!
Posted on 
Wednesday, February 25, 2009 at 2:53AM
Wednesday, February 25, 2009 at 2:53AM 
Greetings, Dear Friends!
And to those visiting, I say welcome! I post every Wednesday and my sole purpose is to nourish your soul along the way.
Each month I give away a $10.00 gift card to someone who posts on my blog. This month I'll give away a gift card from Starbucks. So leave a post, share a story or comment, and bless lots of people!
Now on to my topic...
Years ago I worked as an aerobic coordinator for a large health club system. The owners were meticulous when it came to excellence and customer service. We were drilled every which way about our mission, our customer, our goals, and how to implement those ideals into our specific departments. So, when we received some kind of recognition for excellent customer service, we weren't exactly surprised because it was something we worked hard at, something we had been aiming for. As you know, you don't just happen on upon excellence, you aim for it.
For those of you who've heard me speak or read this blog with some regularity, you've probably heard me say to 'get out your buckets!' About seven years ago the Lord spoke to my heart that in the future, He planned to release a great outpouring on the 'expectant' Church. His word to me: Get out your buckets! Prepare for rain! Prepare the soil. Remove the rocks of bitterness or the weeds of wasted time and cultivate an atmosphere for growth in your life. Plant lots of seeds of faith on behalf of your family, your nation, and the world. Be ready so that when the spring rain comes your planted seeds will spring up and produce a mighty harvest.
As I spend time with the Lord, I so strongly sense the urgency of the hour. While the world is running to and fro, completely freaked out by this economy (it is troublesome, that's for sure), a remnant of the Church will see its finest hour.
In the Gospels we read about the virgins who had oil in their lamps (they were expecting their Groom to return), and the virgins who didn't have enough oil in their lamps (they got tided up in the affairs of life and were not prepared or expectant). Now is the time to fill our lamps with the oil of an intimate walk with God! Now is the time to plant seeds of faith by giving to those in need, fully believing that God supplies all of our needs. This is not a time to shrink back, it's a time to step up!
Just as I worked very hard at excellent customer service and aimed for the target set by my employer, I work specifically to cultivate a listening lifestyle. I'm not surprised when God speaks to me because I order my whole day around giving Him room to communicate with me. Always, I try to keep an ear bent toward Heaven. Not that I do it perfectly, but I'm aiming at intimacy, I make choices to that end, and I know I have oil in my lamp.
Things are going to get tougher before they get easier and we don't want the church running scared with the rest of the unbelievers. God's promises are true! He gave us plenty of warning and instruction not to get tangled up and bogged down by the cares of this earth.
No matter your situation, stop for a moment today and set out your buckets of expectancy. Name them. Find Scripture to support your requests. Bring them before the Lord every morning. Give to the poor and to those who have less than you. Pray for your family and for the lost around you. Stand on the side of justice. Walk in faith, hope, and love.
God is about to pour out a fresh and powerful time of refreshment for the Believer and I believe, to the extent that you prepare your soil now, will be the extent that you'll reap a harvest of righteousness later.
God bless you, dear friend!
PS - If you haven't signed up for my quarterly Ezine, you might want to. A bunch of my author friends give away some of their books, I write a devotional thought, offer great book recommendations, and give you a prayer to send you on your way. Here's the link:
Reader Comments (42)
Thanks for your post! Here's to living a life of faithful expectancy.Be blessed!
I'm so glad to know that you enjoyed the E-note. I felt so strongly about sending out that word of encouragement. I knew it was for more than just a few people. Have a blessed and faith-filled day!
Great to hear from you! And why am I not surprised that God is busy and active in your life? You have quite the ministry to the many people in your world. May God continue to enlarge your territory. You are a blessing to me. :)
I love it when God speaks and we get to hear Him with such clarity. Like rivers running parallel at first and then coming together to form a great and mighty current, He gave you one passage after another, all pointing in the same direction - all speaking a message about what He is doing in you and all around you. Don't you just love it? Bless you for sharing!
Glad to hear it! God is drawing you to Himself in a deeper way because He draws those He loves and He knows we need Him in order to stand strong in this hour. May your prayer times comes alive like never before! Bless you~
I can just picture you all fired up! You are a forerunner of the faith - that is for sure. Keep on keeping on! Thanks for cheering me on too, by the way. I couldn't have written this most recent book without you. Blessings!
You make such a good, good point. The waiting part of expectancy can at first be excruciating. But when we press on past our desire for a gift from His hand, to the greater desire of knowing His heart, waiting then becomes sheer delight. It becomes a time of intimacy and growth. The Bible promises us that He works for those who wait for Him. He strengthens those who wait for Him. So when we lean in and enjoy a more intimate walk of faith, He activates His resources to make provision for us. Isn't it amazing?
I'm thrilled to know that you are enjoying your way through the Uncommon book! I have to say, I do love that book and I'm so thankful that the Lord allowed me to write it. May you continue to grow in your walk of faith and be a shining example of what it means to be uncommon! Be blessed!
You are so right. We can either focus on the negative and get swallowed up by it, or we can take God at His Word. We can't please Him without faith, and the times call for great faith. May our sturdy trust in Him bring Him great pleasure! Be blessed!
How fun to have you visit my blog! Thanks for your post. I'm excited for you. May God grant your efforts success in every way. Keep singing. You're amazing.
So nice to have you stop by. I hope all is well with you. Here's to living with expectancy! Blessings to you~
Thanks for your post. You are right, uncertain times are the perfect opportunity for God to show the world His great power and provision. And may your Father-in-law say yes to Jesus!
Thanks for your post. May we all listen to the Lord and do what He says. God bless you back!
I SO agree with you about the journal thing. My friend Lisa tells her audiences that when we don't journal, we forget that God is good. But when we chronicle the ways He has come through for us, we have a written testimony of His faithfulness. Amen and amen.
Your post blessed me so much! I pray that other visitors took the time to read it as well. Your passion is contagious. And may God bless your commitment to live the uncommon life! Thanks for your kind and encouraging words. Blessings to you~
First of all, I'm late in posting a reply to your amazing post - forgive me! - I was 500 emails behind today :)
Thank you, thank you for sharing such a wonderful testimony and story about the way God worked in your life. I'll tell you, it's those divine encounters that encourage me to walk forward in faith and keep writing. Your post encouraged me more than I can express. Thank you!