My husband was scheduled for a colonoscopy at 8:30 this morning. We arrived early and went to the place we thought his procedure was to be done. We were sent to another part of the hospital which was quite a walk. I will spare the details, but there was huge mix-up, and at 9:45 we were still waiting. As it turned out we should have stayed at the first office. By the time we got to the right place it was 10:00 and we were afraid they might not even be able to do it. Fortunately they were still able to take Gaylon.

I was a bit frustrated because I had a busy day ahead and that hour and a half was precious to me. Now, I was wondering if there was any way I could make my next appointment scheduled for 12:45.

Why, why, why?

As I sat in the waiting room of the hospital once Gaylon was taken back, I watched two older woman sitting beside each other laughing and enjoying each others’ company. They seemed like close friends. One of them even asked me were they too loud. I grinned and said, not at all. It was actually entertaining to watch the two white-haired, seventy-something year old friends.

I left the room to go meet with the doctor to get Gaylon’s results, which were great. Afterward I returned to the waiting room until my husband was officially discharged. About fifteen minutes later, one of the women went back to get her husband’s results. She hobbled past me walking with her cane, but took time to shoot me a huge grin. In about fifteen minutes she hobbled back by with tears streaming down her face and her countenance so downcast. She sat down by her friend and began to tell her the bad report that she had just received from the doctor concerning her husband. She wept, and her friend hugged her tightly for quite some time. They literally wiped each others’ tears.

My heart was gripped for this woman. She continued to cry for a while, as her friend patted her hand and tried to console her.

As I sat watching this woman, I felt like God said, “Pray for her.”  So, I began to pray for her. Then I felt God clarified what He meant, “Go over and pray for her.”  Lord, this is awkward.

Finally, I walked over and said, “Do you mind if I pray for you and your husband?” She said, “Please do!” After my time with them, I got their names and promised that she and her husband would be on my prayer list. Those two women were beyond grateful. Immediately after this divine encounter, my husband was ready to go home.

I did not like the delay I experienced. After all, I am a busy woman! Today I was reminded that the delays of life are often orchestrated by God. Without that delay, I would not have been in the waiting room at the same time as the grieving woman who needed a touch from God. Thank God for delays.

“God, forgive my grumbling when I am inconvenienced. I trust you with the delays of my life.”

The LORD directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives. – Psalm 37:23 NLT

I have been on the road for quite a few weekends, with little time at home. When I was home, there was time to study, get ready for the next trip and spend a little time with family.

Today, I finally ventured out into the Birmingham metro to do a little shopping. I was amazed at some of the things I saw. While I was away, much work had been going on. What had previously been a cleared field being prepared for construction, now had the walls of a building going up. As I got off the interstate, there were no longer signs saying “Work Zone,” for the road and intersection were completed.

How amazing it is that while I was going about God’s will for my life, lots of work was happening without me being aware of it!

This is a great picture of how God is at work in our lives. He is doing far more than we comprehend. He is building things and tending to details on our behalf. There will be times when it seems like nothing is changing, nothing good is happening and there is little hope. BUT GOD … is working behind the scenes. He has never let you out of His sight. He is doing things for your good that you aren’t even aware of. He is working out situations. He is lining up details. He is giving you favor. He is protecting you from the enemy. God is at work!

Child of God, be encouraged today. As we continue to walk faithfully with Him, He is faithful to us. Farther down the line you will look back and see that God was putting all the pieces of your puzzle together.

“And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.” – Romans 8:28 NLT

Yuck! Yuck! Yuck!

That’s the way I feel when I drink Starbucks coffee, but I constantly hear that it’s the best coffee around, and the cool coffee to drink. I never drink the stuff unless there is no alternative. While staying in a hotel in California, the only coffee offered for guests was Starbucks. I do love my morning coffee! So, each morning, I worked at adapting a taste for the strong, bitter-tasting Starbucks. By the fifth morning, I had gotten so used to it, that I found myself saying this isn’t so bad.

I learned to swallow something that previously I shoved away. Why? I kept exposing myself to it. I kept taking it in, even though my tongue kept rejecting it. Over time, my tongue began to say this isn’t so bad.

As I look around the Body of Christ today, I see too many of God’s people “adapting to the taste of Starbucks.” Things that would have been previously shoved away are now being taken in as okay – things that absolutely don’t line up with the Word of God.

At this point in the blog, I usually pontificate a bit, but this time, I ask you to ponder deeply:  Are you in danger of swallowing the Starbucks issues of life because it’s the popular thing to do?  Are you even developing a taste for it?

For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear. –  2 Timothy 4:3