Beyond Stinking

Here's a few new things about the kids:
1. Malachi climbed up into my lap Monday and gave me the sweetest little kiss EVER. When I smiled at him he smiled back and did it again. He's so precious. This is the first time he's given mommy a kiss willingly! LOL.

2. My daughter is so afraid of deer now that she's afraid to be anywhere else but inside our house when it's dark. Seriously. She looked out the door last night while we were visiting with Uncle and Lacey and started crying and telling me to take her home "cuz it is dawk." I know it's not funny because obviously the child is traumatized by the deer hitting our van. But what IS funny is the whole time we were walking to the van last night she kept saying "I hate them ol' deahs." "Jesus will keep them ol' deahs back from hitting our van." "Them ol' deahs broke you headlight, mommy." It's pitiful that she's scared of the "deahs" but it's so funny to hear her talk about them. She asks me at least 3-100 times on the way to work or anywhere if we're gonna hit a deer. Bless her heart. She needs prayer. :)

Now for the stinky stuff. This could get lengthy, so hang on. I'm not very good with words so I hope you can understand this and it actually helps someone.

John 11:39 ...Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days.

This is the story about Lazarus, of course. The Lord didn't show up until he had been dead FOUR days. His sister was like "Uh, Jesus, he stinks now. It's been four days. You're a tad late."
In talking to my friend, Tonya, she said something that made me put my thinking cap on. She said "I know that the Lord always shows up on time even when it seems that He is 4 days late. But right now this certain situation is beyond stinking..."
But then Tonya said something else: "I just have a promise to HOLD ON and it's enough to get me through the day and God knows EXACTLY where I am even when I can't feel Him."
Wowzers. To know that our situation is so desperate, so hurtful, so IN NEED of the Lord to move....yet to have God wait. Why does He wait? It's not for us to ask. It's only for us to trust Him. Why does He not reveal His plans to us? We have to learn to believe that He'll somehow work the whole situation for our good.
Back to Martha.
John 11:40 Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?
Then He says something else:
John 11:42 (this is Jesus talking to his heavenly Father) And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me.

Jesus waited 4 whole days AFTER Lazarus was dead to even come to Martha and Mary and the rest. Surely they must have wondered, why didn't you come BEFORE we had to see him die?
Then Jesus tells Martha that it's for the glory of God.
THEN....Jesus says it's for the benefit of those that stand by watching.

For those of us that have been going through something for a while this should be an encouragement. Hang on because the Lord knows what He's doing. If we wait, trust and believe then we'll see the glory of God work in our situation. But not only will we see it, those around us will see it. The unbelievers, the family and friends that look at the hopelessness of the situation....they will see God move in a mighty way.

If you're in a worse than stinky situation, take courage!!! God holds us, the problem and the answer in the palm of His hand.
Here's a few lyrics from a new song I heard. It was such an encouragement and I want to share a few phrases:

Do you wonder why you have to
Feel the things that hurt you
If there's a God who loves you
Where is He now

Maybe there are things you can't see
And all those things are happening
To bring a better ending
Someday somehow you'll see

Would you dare to believe
That you still have a reason to sing
Cause the pain that you've been feeling
It can't compare to the joy that's coming
So hold on you gotta wait for the light
Press on and just fight the good fight
Cause the pain that you've been feeling
It's just the dark before the morning

:)