A Timing Chain???  A Word from THE WORD!!! #16

Most of us who drive cars have probably heard that dreaded phrase, “You need a new ‘timing chain’!”; but I want us to consider a different ‘timing chain’ today—God’s “Timing Chain”!

“But when the fulness of the time was come,

God sent forth his Son,

made of a woman,

made under the law,

5 To redeem them that were under the law,

that we might receive

the adoption of sons.”  Galatians 4:4-5

God, in HIS own time, sent Jesus—I am amazed at the timing– God’s timing—think about it!  The Romans had built roads and travel was more common than ever before, there was a common language of business, Greek—one of the most precise and lovely languages for communicating God’s love and salvation to a lost and dying world.  Israel was in her land, and Jesus’ birth, life, and death were all accomplished “according to the scripture”, for our salvation!  Not one day late—not one day early!  Oh, to learn to rest in God’s timing chain—the timing chain for “my life” and for “your life”, when we will but learn to hear, heed, and WAIT!

“But they that wait upon the LORD

shall renew their strength;

they shall mount up

with wings as eagles;

they shall run,

and not be weary;

and they shall walk,

and not faint.”  Isaiah 40:31

Oh, that we could learn to “wait upon the LORD” in our daily lives!  We are so rushed, consumed with getting somewhere else, getting ahead!  For what?  When will we learn?  Paul told his son-in-the-ministry, Timothy, that contentment in God and HIS plan should be our way of life, rather than the hustle and bustle of the world!

“But godliness with contentment

is great gain.

7 For we brought nothing into this world,

and it is certain

we can carry nothing out.”  1 Timothy 6:6-7

Ouch!  This disproves the common adage, “The one who dies with the most toys, wins!”; not so!  Jesus sums it all up for us today—for the toys, and the times are in God’s hand, not ours!  And without Jesus, it doesn’t matter how many ‘toys’ you have—alive or dead!

“Then said Jesus unto his disciples,

If any man will come after me,

let him deny himself,

and take up his cross,

and follow me.

25 For whosoever will save his life

shall lose it:

and whosoever will lose his life

for my sake

shall find it.

26 For what is a man profited,

if he shall gain the whole world,

and lose his own soul?

or what shall a man give

in exchange for his soul?

27 For the Son of man

shall come in the glory of his Father

with his angels;

and then he shall reward every man

according to his works.”  Matthew 16:24-27

What are you doing with your soul?  Will you heed the call of God upon your heart?  If you are already born again, are you living like God’s child?  Are you waiting on HIS timing, or running ahead rather than waiting on God?  I’d like to share a simple testimony this morning—for the awe of it amazes me to my toes!

As some of you already know, due some health issues we moved into an assisted living facility some time ago, so that I could have the help I needed with my husband.  It was a difficult move, but one that we knew God was leading us to; and HE was!  I was really struggling with trying to minister to those there, I was trying to be God’s witness in a very sad place, and it was a lot to carry; and I had no close friend there.  BUT GOD!  God, with HIS “timing chain” brought about events that I truly didn’t understand at the time, but they have become so clear in recent days.  God sent me a friend—a sister in The Lord—one who seemed to come ‘just for me”!  Yet, God had even more!  We became true and fast friends very quickly, and I often told her that she came just for me; to which she’d always reply, no, God sent me there for her!  Needless to say, we enjoyed one another and thanked God often for His sweet care of our heart’s desire for fellowship with one of like-mind!

To make a “long story short” (as they say), my friend declined, and we talked and prayed and knew her time was probably short.  About that time God opened a door for us to be on our own again, and when I told her we would be leaving it was difficult for both of us—yet little did we know that God would change her address as well!  Within a week of each other, she went to be with Jesus, and we moved to our next place of service.  Oh, how grieved I was to lose her—and then it came to me, GOD had it all in HIS amazing hands of love, and HE knew the times, which we didn’t know when we met, and HE had put us together to care each for the other for this brief time—but such a sweet and purposeful time!

How I thank HIM for my friend and the joy that we shared—though often through tears!  How could we know that God’s timing included encouraging two little ‘grandmothers’ who were in need of a friend and one to walk beside each other through the times and circumstances that we were in!

Oh Jesus, praise to YOU in all your care for us, if we will but take the time to see Your hand in all things!  And I thank You JESUS, for my sweet friend, and YOUR loving care to send us each to the other when we had no clue of what would transpire in a relatively short time!  Don’t miss the blessings of God my friends, by spending your time “missing” God’s ‘timing chain’ of events!  HE’s at work if we’ll but ‘stop, look, and listen’!  What blessings are you not recognizing?  Wake up!  God loves you, and He is working on your behalf and mine!  Praise Him, wait on Him, and walk forward!

Don’t miss the blessings of today, by spending all your time running ahead to tomorrow.  Live today—no one is promised tomorrow!  Enjoy the opportunities and blessings that God is sending—don’t miss today’s gifts!  His ‘timing chain’ is at work!

“Boast not thyself of to morrow;

for thou knowest not

what a day may bring forth.”   Proverbs 27:1

“This is the day

which the LORD hath made;

we will rejoice

and be glad in it.”  Psalm 118:24

Amen and Amen!!!