Day Twenty

Day Twenty

Good afternoon!  It's the first day of summer and already I feel like it's been a long one.  How about you?  Does it seem like it should be closer to 4:00 pm than 1:00 pm?  Yeah, I think so too.

Wonder what it is about time that makes it either go so slowly or too quickly?  I guess that depends upon our attitudes toward upcoming events.  For instance, when it's time to go home, to play, to be with our special ones, the time can't get here soon enough, right?  But when homework, housework, duties, drudgeries, and the like are to be done the time seems to inch by second by long second.

Today's verses are from Micah 7:18-19.  Read them with me?  Thanks!  

Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity    and passing over transgression    for the remnant of His inheritance?He does not retain His anger forever,    because He delights in steadfast love.He will again have compassion on us;    He will tread our iniquities underfoot.You will cast all our sins    into the depths of the sea.

Did you notice how Micah begins talking about God to talking to Him?  Sometimes I'm like that; I'll use offhanded remarks when speaking of the Lord and then realize, hey:  He's actually here, beside of me, listening to what I say and what I wish I'd said.  I go from thinking about what He could do versus what He's really doing right now, this moment, as well as what He will do in the future--such as casting my sins in the depths of the sea.  Pretty groovy, huh?

Timing is everything.  From remembering the past glories of God to the future promises He made for us, His timing is always perfect.  He won't stay mad forever (and yes, friends, He does get angry).  He delights in love, compassion abounds in Him towards us, and those sins, trespasses, iniquities or whatever label we want to put on the things we do wrong?  Those too will be trampled under His feet!  They haven't been yet, for we keep on giving Him things to stomp out.  But one day, one time soon, He will come and get us, redeem us to perfection, and take us home.  I don't know when that time will be, but I'm impatient for it.  Hope you are too!

Let's pray!

Ahh, Lord, the singers of the group Chicago once asked "Does anybody really know what time it is?"  Styx sang of it being "The Best of Times" while Cyndi Lauper crooned about "Time After Time."  Green Day wished for us to have "The time of our lives"  while Michael Bolton crooned of "Time, Love, and Tenderness."  And of course, Lord, good ol' Bing Crosby sings of "The Most Wonderful Time of the Year" as he leads us into the Christmas season.  And there's the The Alan Parsons Project that wistfully sing of time flowing like a river, to the sea.  

Father (why did my fingers want to type "Father Time" ??), none of us knows when that "Shouting Time" that The Hoppers sang of will arrive; none but You, that is.  So many of us are waiting, watching, and wondering Lord how much longer that will be.  Grant to us patience, I ask, and help us to make the most of each moment You give to us and then, in due season, come and get us.  We want to see You, Lord God.  We want to revel in Your love and promises as they come to fruition and we see what You have prepared for us, sure, but mostly Father, we want to see You. We want to know so many things that there just isn't time to glean down here on earth but that will be answered once we reach the other side of eternity.

Come quickly, Lord?  May it be so!