Wait by Russell Kelfer

Desperately, helplessly, longingly, I cried;
Quietly, patiently, lovingly, God replied.
I pled and I wept for a clue to my fate . . .
And the Master so gently said, "Wait."

"Wait? You say wait?" my indignant reply.
"Lord, I need answers, I need to know why!
Is Your hand shortened? Or have You not heard?
By faith I have asked, and I'm claiming Your word.

"My future and all to which I relate
Hangs in the balance, and You tell me to wait?
I'm needing a 'yes', a go-ahead sign,
Or even a 'no' to which I can resign.

"You promised, dear Lord, that if we believe,
We need but to ask, and we shall receive.
And Lord I've been asking, and this is my cry:
I'm weary of asking! I need a reply."

Then quietly, softly, I learned of my fate,
As my Master replied again, "Wait."
So I slumped in my chair, defeated and taut,
And grumbled to God, "So, I'm waiting for what?"

He seemed then to kneel, and His eyes met with mine . . .
and He tenderly said, "I could give you a sign.
I could shake the heavens and darken the sun.
I could raise the dead and cause mountains to run.

"I could give all you seek and pleased you would be.
You'd have what you want, but you wouldn't know Me.
You'd not know the depth of my love for each saint.
You'd not know the power that I give to the faint.

"You'd not learn to see through clouds of despair;
You'd not learn to trust just by knowing I'm there.
You'd not know the joy of resting in Me
When darkness and silence are all you can see.

"You'd never experience the fullness of love
When the peace of My spirit descends like a dove.
You would know that I give, and I save, for a start,
But you'd not know the depth of the beat of My heart.

"The glow of My comfort late into the night,
The faith that I give when you walk without sight.
The depth that's beyond getting just what you ask
From an infinite God who makes what you have last.

"You'd never know, should your pain quickly flee,
What it means that My grace is sufficient for thee.
Yes, your dearest dreams overnight would come true,
But, oh, the loss, if you missed what I'm doing in you.

"So, be silent, my child, and in time you will see
That the greatest of gifts is to truly know Me.
And though oft My answers seem terribly late,
My most precious answer of all is still . . . Wait."

Wait

These past few weeks have been nonstop. Interviews, photo editing, figuring out those ever so illusive "life plans", time with JWF family, etc. Sometimes, I wish life would come to a screeching halt and allow me to catch up, but unfortunately that isn't the reality.

While time continues to run away, there are things in my mind and heart that I pray the Lord is changing... For instance, the patience I fail to exhibit when circumstances don't go as planned. I can't say that I'm very good at waiting on anything, and that quality only grows more sour as I get older. Things that I wish were in my grasp feel like they are unattainable sometimes... a relationship, a job, clarity...

I sometimes forget that when I ask my Father to teach me to wait, He's not likely to just drop that attitude of patience right into my heart... but instead, He often allows those who are His to go through the fire and learn the attitude of patience. Simply put: it's the process of refinement.

During these past few weeks... during the times when I've cried out to my beloved Lord as I've never cried out before... He's given me those little bursts of strength through His word and has reminded me time and time again that- He works all things out for good, that He'll be faithful to complete the work that He began, and that He has a plan for a hope and a future.

More than anything, He continues to whisper that bittersweet word that is oh so hard to hear: wait.

Architectural Wonder

So, I found this bit of splendor tonight while exploring... It caught my eye, and I simply had to take a picture. The camera couldn't come out for long due to the rain, so perhaps I'll venture out again sometime soon, and take some more shots of this magnificent place along with other neighboring venues.

I felt like I was in a different world tonight, taking pictures of exotic, new sights missed by those who are too busy to stop and notice. So, I'm giving you the opportunity to see through the eyes of someone who did stop and notice. :)

I don't know that I've ever posted this photo. As I was sorting folders, pictures and such on the computer, I found it and decided to share it. :) The peacock had been lingering around Hilltop for some time, but has since gone back to it's home.

Love these...

Laura and I visited the conservancy in Germantown earlier this afternoon, and as usual, I couldn't stay away from taking a few pictures of the loveliest medicinal plant around... :)





Here are some facts for your reading pleasure... :)

Life Cycle: Perennial
Planting Time: Spring or Fall
Height: 3' to 4'(dwarf from to 24")
Exposure: Full sun or light shade
Soil: well drained; fertile - you may need to use an organic fertilizer
Hardiness: Zones 3 to 9
Bloom Time: Midsummer to fall
Propagation: Purchased seeds and divisions. Seeds collected from the garden often do not come true.
Uses: Beds, borders, wildflower meadows. Drought resistant.

* New plants and seedlings will need to be watered until they are established. Once they are growing well, they will thrive on the available moisture from rain except in extremely dry areas.
* Rabbits and hedgehogs think new echinacea shoots are a tasty treat, so protect seedlings and young plants.
* The only thing echinacea can be somewhat fussy about is too much moisture. It likes a fairly dry soil, and should never have to sit very long with it's roots in wet, soggy soil.

(http://www.gardenguides.com/plants/info/flowers/perennials/coneflower.asp)

Hmm...

This would be an interesting way to be proposed to...

Just A Few...

I had the urge to "Picnik" tonight, so here are the slim results... Hope you enjoy... :)