The Art of Waiting (May - June 2025)

The Art of Waiting…

(May - June 2025)

It’s funny how God always answers our prayers, but rarely in the way we expect.  After desperately begging Him for a solution to our financial situation, God gave me an unexpected answer:  Waiting is good for you; here’s how to do it well.  Due to several last-minute schedule changes (a.k.a., divine appointments), I ended up preaching online two Wednesdays in a row.  Both passages from James 5 spoke in detail about HOW to wait on the Lord. In the first, God clearly taught me that godly waiting requires steadfast patience, applied wisdom (DO what the Bible says in the meantime), and an unshakable faith. What great advice!

In the second passage, God taught me “3 Mistakes We Make While Waiting and How to Avoid Them,” in James 5:9-12.

1.     Instead of taking out your frustration on others, apply the golden rule.

2.     Instead of forging your own path, follow in Jesus’ footsteps.

3.     Instead of looking for the easy way out, guard your integrity.

So, how did I put that into practice?  Through patient, faithful obedience to the Word of God!  While waiting for Him to supply our needs, I got to work obeying the Great Commission:  “… and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”  Acts 1:8b

“WAITING” IN JERUSALEM (on the home front)

Idónea, our women’s ministry, is under new management, and I was invited to join the team.  Starting with a special Mother’s Day celebration, we will now have a perpetual monthly event.  On May 17, we learned how to be virtuous women and made clay birds.  The bird reminded me of Matthew 6:26 which says, “Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?”  God’s reassurance in the waiting!

On June 21, I was privileged to share the first teaching in a new series entitled, “Women of the Bible.”  I got to preach about Abigail, one of my favorite Bible characters. Her life clearly teaches us to be God-dependent rather than codependent – another applicable truth for waiting! Her story and example ministered not only to me, but to many other women, including Dora, who gave her life to Christ. Praying with her gave me great joy!

Mother’s Day celebration on May 17 (top right), Ruby and I with our finished clay birds (left), and Dora and Bertha (right).  I had the privilege to pray with Dora to receive Christ on June 21.

Our church is also stepping out in faith as we restart our Wednesday night services – in person instead of online.  Though the violence continues, our pastors made the bold decision that it was time to stop living in fear and take our first baby step of faith. On May 28, we had our first in-person service where we will be studying the very applicable book of Nehemiah: a story of great restoration and new beginnings.  While we are using an earlier time slot and a shorter service so everyone can make it home early, it felt wonderful to be able to meet together for a mid-week service again.

May 28 – At “home” at Calvary Culiacán North on a Wednesday night for the first time in 9 months!

“WAITING” IN JUDEA AND SAMARIA (reaching outward…)

The month of May started with a homeschool conference in Mazatlán.  These events are always laden with blessings – seeing far-away friends, learning, improving our teaching, parenting, and organizational skills, and having fun, family fellowship.  It’s an all-day field trip loaded with Christ-centered teaching and encouragement!  I translated for several incredible workshops, including one where the teens were taught to use apologetics to confront societal wrongs.  What a blessing!

Sammy discussing apologetics with other teens at the homeschool conference (left) and Jenna participating in a wake-up dance after a long teaching session (right).

In a sad turn of events, our ministry in Valle de Agua may have to be put on hold again.  May went on more or less as usual but with only half of our usual attendance.  In spite of the small numbers, several women and children made first-time professions of faith.

In June, however, we found one lone boy waiting for us.  He tried to help us invite the rest of the community, but in the end, only 5 children and 2 adults came.  The rest said it was too hot to be out in the sun… and they were right!  With summer temperatures between 100-110o and heat indexes well over 120o, having an outdoor, afternoon activity is… well, less than ideal.

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