Wait, Hope, Expect!

In my personal Bible study when a verse really speaks to me, I like to read it in many translations to deepen my understanding and my grasp on the message. Today, I want to share with you many translations of a verse I love so much - Psalm 27:14. The translations are all similar, but I want you to take note of the different word choices in each one. 

PSALM 27:14

Wait for the Lord.

Be strong and take heart

and wait for the Lord. 

NIV

Wait on the Lord;

Be of good courage,

And He shall strengthen your heart;

Wait, I say, on the Lord!

NKJV

Wait patiently for the Lord.

    Be brave and courageous.

    Yes, wait patiently for the Lord. 

NLT

Wait on the Lord: 

be of good courage, 

and he shall strengthen thine heart: 

wait, I say, on the Lord. 

KJV

Wait for the Lord;

    be strong, and let your heart take courage;

    wait for the Lord! 

ESV

Don’t be impatient. 

Wait for the Lord, and he will come and save you! 

Be brave, stouthearted, and courageous. 

Yes, wait and he will help you. 

TLB

Wait and hope for and expect the Lord; 

be brave and of good courage 

and let your heart be stout and enduring. 

Yes, wait for and hope for and expect the Lord. 

AMP

My life is in a stage of waiting, and I'm often reminded of the song "While I'm Waiting" from the movie Fireproof: http://youtu.be/i6X71sXagUY. Like the song says, I'm not going to let life pass me by while I wait for the next phase. I will BOLDLY and CONFIDENTLY take every step in obedience and faith, serving and worshiping with peace that His plan for my future is far greater than anything I can imagine on my own. Waiting is not easy, but the rewards are great. 

Confidence in Christ

I've recently joined with friends to start an online Bible study and accountability group, and I am very excited about the journey we are about to take! The topic of our study is "Confidence in Christ" where we learn to trust God and boldly live in His promises by examining issues that hinder our confidence, such as self-doubt, fear of failure, and worry. 

The intention of this study is to help each other develop effective Bible study habits and grow more confident in our walk with Christ. Each week, we will examine a specific issue that stands in the way of our confidence and discuss ways to overcome this in our everyday lives.

I will be blogging as we go, so stay tuned and grow with us! If you are interested in joining our Facebook discussion group, please email me waitingforpeace@outlook.com. As we begin our study, I'd like you to follow the link below and take some time to look at the list of verses presented there about the confidence we find in Christ. 

100 Verses about Confidence in the Lord

Our group will be discussing many of these verses over the next several weeks, and I will be sharing our discussion topics as we go along. Hope you check back and learn with us!

You ask me how I know He's real...

Some people claim to know God is real by the BIG things, 

the in-your-face miracles that have no other explanation, 

but I'm the opposite. 

I see God's handiwork in the tiniest parts of this world, 

and I see no other explanation for them other than 

an almighty Hand carefully crafting every detail. 

The grains of sand. 

The many seashells of all shapes and sizes. 

The tiniest little crab I've ever seen!!

 I don't need a BIG BANG to prove my God is real. 

I see it every day, in the little moments of undeniable truth. 

He is everywhere if we simply take time to look.

Sand Dollars and Seashells - The Works of His Hands

Psalm 139

For the director of music. Of David. A psalm.

1You have searched me, Lord,

and you know me.

2You know when I sit and when I rise;

you perceive my thoughts from afar.

3You discern my going out and my lying down;

you are familiar with all my ways.

4Before a word is on my tongue

you, Lord, know it completely.

5You hem me in behind and before,

and you lay your hand upon me.

6Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,

too lofty for me to attain.

7Where can I go from your Spirit?

Where can I flee from your presence?

8If I go up to the heavens, you are there;

if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.

9If I rise on the wings of the dawn,

if I settle on the far side of the sea,

10even there your hand will guide me,

your right hand will hold me fast.

11If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me

and the light become night around me,”

12even the darkness will not be dark to you;

the night will shine like the day,

for darkness is as light to you.

13For you created my inmost being;

you knit me together in my mother’s womb.

14I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;

your works are wonderful,

I know that full well.

15My frame was not hidden from you

when I was made in the secret place,

when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.

16Your eyes saw my unformed body;

all the days ordained for me were written in your book

before one of them came to be.

17How precious to me are your thoughts,^a God!

How vast is the sum of them!

18Were I to count them,

they would outnumber the grains of sand—

when I awake, I am still with you.

19If only you, God, would slay the wicked!

Away from me, you who are bloodthirsty!

20They speak of you with evil intent;

your adversaries misuse your name.

21Do I not hate those who hate you, Lord,

and abhor those who are in rebellion against you?

22I have nothing but hatred for them;

I count them my enemies.

23Search me, God, and know my heart;

test me and know my anxious thoughts.

24See if there is any offensive way in me,

and lead me in the way everlasting.

Sun, Sand, and a book in my hand

Lately, I've allowed myself to get wrapped up in how far my life is from the life I'd imagined having. It's gotten me pretty down, to be honest. My mind and body had been feeling quite weary, so I took a vacation -- ten amazing days at beautiful Panama City Beach where much of my time was spent on a lounge chair listening to the waves.  

Relaxation, reflection, and rediscovery of myself was exactly what I needed! The waves washed away the negative feelings that had been plaguing my heart, especially the insecurity and hurt of rejection we single gals often face in the dating world. I don't have to feel lonely just because I don't have a husband and family of my own.

I needed a reality check!!! Life could be a lot different, but different is just different... not better. My married friends with kids love their lives, but I'm sure they could look longingly at my week on the beach without a worry in the world in the same way that I look at them playing with their kids. 

Different... NOT better.

My life is amazing just the way it is, and I choose to embrace all of it! 

Especially Pina Coladas for lunch and bikinis on the beach.

It's great to be me :-)