ready

God is pretty dang cool.

A friend asked me to be praying for her last night because she was getting together with someone. I prayed for her but was soooo very expectant for good news. She texted me this morning with news beyond my expectations!!! I am so filled with joy for her. Truly my soul sang the chorus to All Creatures of Our God and King … Oooh praise Him, Ooooh praise Him, Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

The reason it was so cool was because God gave me a prophecy about this very thing happening … and NOW it is happening!!! And He confirmed the prophecy in another friend … and then too, in this dear friend with the glorious news!! God is so amazing and good. He turned this mess of a story into something so crazy and full of redemption that it is truly unbelievable!

So I am rejoicing with my dear friend who has so opened her heart to God that God is now showering blessings down on her. Not because she has done anything to deserve it … but just because HIS LOVE is so big and awesome and this is what makes Him smile!!!

This encourages me so much … that waiting for the good that God brings - that ONLY He can bring … IS INDEED worth the wait!

As I continue to wait on God … now I am waiting with expectation. He gave a verse as I was crying out to Him again yesterday. A friend texted me while I was praying with a passage in Hosea let led me to a passage in Isaiah … both were promises from God - that He is at work, He is up to something new!

...I will answer the prayers of my people.
    I will take good care of them.
I will be like a green pine tree to them.
    All of the fruit they bear will come from me.”
If you are wise, you will realize
    that what I’ve said is true.
If you have understanding,
    you will know what it means.
The ways of the Lord are right.
    People who are right with God live the way he wants them to.
    But those who refuse to obey him trip and fall. Hosea 14:8-10

I asked what He could possibly mean by calling himself a 'green pine tree' … and my friend and I texted back and forth … I looked it up in the ESV and it said 'evergreen cypress' and then went to do a word search. My friend said that cypress trees grow in harsh climates … I speculated that evergreen referred to God's unchanging character and then I read this:

When the poor and needy seek water,
    and there is none,
    and their tongue is parched with thirst,
I the Lord will answer them;
    I the God of Israel will not forsake them.
I will open rivers on the bare heights,
    and fountains in the midst of the valleys.
I will make the wilderness a pool of water,
    and the dry land springs of water.
I will put in the wilderness the cedar,
    the acacia, the myrtle, and the olive.
I will set in the desert the cypress,
    the plane and the pine together,
that they may see and know,
    may consider and understand together,
that the hand of the Lord has done this,
    the Holy One of Israel has created it. Isaiah 41:17-20

Can I just tell you how thirsty I am? My heart longs all day for the Lord to break down the wall that is keeping Him hidden from me. I want Him to come and pour over me, and over me, and over me. I long for Him. I want His nearness - I ache for it. This scripture passage answered my longing right in the middle of my prayer … GOD said HE would ANSWER. HE will NOT FORSAKE.

Praise Him - He is so good.

And all of this waiting will have been to see His Hand do something AMAZING … that only He can do. My friends answer to prophecy speaks not only to her … but to me… it was revealed NOW - not just for her … but for me too… in this time… to bolster me while I wait … to keep me expectant - ready to watch as the Lord does the incredible. And I will be ready!

I AM ready!!!