And God said: "I can wait."

And apparently you have waited too! It has been quite some time since my last blog post, so here we go…

I want to share what happened on a trip a while back when visiting my in-laws in Florida. It was Sunday and we went to their local church. Having attended this church on many previous occasions I can attest that the sermons are always quite good. However, on this particular day I was thinking about my life, and how I desperately want to live a life of eternal significance.

I’m sure that you know of people, that when the subject comes up of Jesus’ future return to earth, they respond with “I can’t wait.” Let me assure you that I am not that person. My internal response is always “Nooooooo! I want to go to heaven, but I don’t want to go right now.” You see, when I get to heaven and am greeted by God, I want to hear “Well done good and faithful servant!”, and not “Well at least you made it.” For me that means that I have completed everything that God has planned for my life in big ways. Now granted I don’t exactly know how that will manifest itself, but I do know some things. I know that God has given me a family, friends, and some artistic talent. I think there is a lot of opportunity for God to work in meaningful ways through what he has placed in my life if I am willing. After all He took a kid’s few small fish and a few loaves of bread and fed thousands. I desperately want to accomplish God’s plans for my life in a way that not only will impact others in this life but in eternity. Yes indeed, I desperately want to live a life of eternal significance which I can only do with God.

While I sat in the pew, I was thinking about how I’d like for the beauty in the abstract art that I create to touch others and draw them to God. I was thinking of how my church could use offerings generated from my art sales to reach others to come into a relationship with God. I was thinking about how the stories of how God has showed up in my life can encourage others.

Then I prayed a prayer of a desperate woman: “Please God do not take me from this earth until I have completed all of your plans for my life and that my life with have big- time eternal significance, for not only myself but others. Please wait until this has been accomplished.” Meanwhile as I had been contemplating, dreaming big, and then praying for God to wait, the minister was telling some sort of story and walking around the congregation while telling it. I had no earthly idea what he was talking about. Apparently, he had gotten to the main point in his message, and he was heading back to the pulpit to make it. So, I figured it was about time I started paying attention. At least I might learn something through the main point that he was about to relay. He approached the pulpit, stood there for a few moments, and said only following words: “And God said: “I can wait.”

Yay!!! Answered prayer!

I often get discouraged wishing my progress in accomplishing his plans for me was faster. (No, I'm not trying to hurry my death date.) And yes, I know His timing is perfect. I’m taking a course entitled Created to Thrive by Matt Tommey. Today Matt said: “Don’t try to accomplish everything at once.” I interpret that as God’s encouragement. God has also encouraged me in the following ways: According Thibault Gallery, the purchaser of the abstract art painting "Blissful Moments" relayed: “Every time I look at it, it makes me happy.” A friend at Bible Study Fellowship, said that my Blog posts have encouraged her and her family. Another buyer said that the scripture reference under my signature touched her heart after she looked it up. Recently when I was the featured artist at Thibault gallery, many people were interested in learning how God is showing up through my abstract art.

Blissful Moments large format prints are available for purchase. The Original is sold.