Comments on: Waiting

By: End of Week Round Up | Byrnesys Blabberings

End of Week Round Up | Byrnesys Blabberings — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 19:32:36 +0000

[...] Jim Martin shared some excellent insights on waiting as a spiritual discipline from Richard Foster. [...]

By: Michelle Van Loon

Michelle Van Loon — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 21:10:26 +0000

Referring to Thomas Kelly, Foster uses an arresting phrase in this article: "the flaming last fourth of his life".
Learning to wait with and on God, it seems, set Kelly’s autumn years on fire.
There’s a lesson here for all of us, but perhaps especially for those of us in the second-clumsy-adolescence of our lives, middle age.

By: preacherman

preacherman — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 17:49:26 +0000

Jim,
I believe in life we wait it teaches us to follow God’s timing in life. It develops with in us patience to understand that God will provide. He always take care of the needs we have in his own time. Abraham and Sarah had to wait a long time for the blessing to finally come. The temple didn’t come in David’s time but God’s. I believe it teachers us trust and dependance. "I want patience and I want it now" ideology just doesn’t work in the will of God. Thanks for making us think about our lives. God bless you brother!

By: Liam Byrnes

Liam Byrnes — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 10:57:12 +0000

Jim, Thanks for sharing this, some realy excellent insights. I have been a bit bemused before when trying to navigate the renovare website, there doesn;t seem to be clear sections of new material? Thanks again, Liam

By: Jim Martin

Jim Martin — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 19:48:05 +0000

Frank—Well said! I felt the same way when I read Foster’s words.

By: Jim Martin

Jim Martin — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 19:42:47 +0000

Thank you Doug. Well said. I often "stub my toe" on this one.

By: Jim Martin

Jim Martin — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 19:41:32 +0000

L.L.–Now that is a good question! What is the opposite of waiting? Is it forcing the issue? Is it insisting that things work out a certain way? Is it deciding that I will not be content or happy unless things go according to My plan?

By: Jim Martin

Jim Martin — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 19:33:26 +0000

Drew–I like what you say regarding the impact of Foster’s writing. "Clears the fog." I agree.

By: Frank

Frank — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 18:56:50 +0000

Waiting while I figure out how to speak half as eloquently about things so important.

By: Doug Jones

Doug Jones — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 14:43:57 +0000

waiting seems to be that place which is between here and there…that space that is on the threshold of what could be a glorious beginning or a return to the past way… what many have called a liminal space. A place clearly of faith or a place where we begin to doubt and become embittered. We must reacquaint ourselves with this oft neglected but essential facet of our common faith in God. For when we read the Psalms we stub our toes often on that four letter word.