My Forty Years

I am so excited. I get to head to Indiana tomorrow! Not only do I get to see my family but I finally get to be a part of Second Chance. I know I'm part of it now, but I'll actually get to be there physically. I'll attend the bible study on Thursday and the meeting on Saturday. Pastor Matt always emails out what is being studied at the Thursday night bible study and I have been studying the same chapters, even though I won't be there. Well, guess what chapter it is this week? Acts 3! I read and blogged about the first 10 verses back in May. I think about this story so often and at this point in my life it's probably one of my favorites. It just pictures us as believers so well, especially where I'm at right now. Here's a refresher:

Acts 3:1-10 (New King James Version)

A Lame Man Healed

1 Now Peter and John went up together to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. 2 And a certain man lame from his mother’s womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms from those who entered the temple; 3 who, seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked for alms. 4 And fixing his eyes on him, with John, Peter said, “Look at us.” 5 So he gave them his attention, expecting to receive something from them. 6 Then Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.” 7 And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. 8 So he, leaping up, stood and walked and entered the temple with them—walking, leaping, and praising God. 9 And all the people saw him walking and praising God. 10 Then they knew that it was he who sat begging alms at the Beautiful Gate of the temple; and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

I wrote back in May about how we have God in this box and He wants to do so much more in our lives. Today, God showed me something else. Commentary says that this man was probably over 40 years old. He had been lame since birth so he had been begging for a very long time! When Peter and John come along and heal him, he starts walking and leaping and praising God. Now, I don't go around leaping and praising God because I can walk. Why? Because I can. It's seems like I've been able to walk forever and it's just not that big of deal. Well, it was a big deal to him. Why? Because he couldn't walk for 40 years!

We are praying daily, almost hourly for our house to sell. We are just so ready to be in Fishers. We are ready to be a part of what God is doing there. We are ready to be walking and leaping and praising God as we see with our own eyes the amazing, miraculous things He is doing and is going to do. But you know what God says? You need to experience your 40 years first. You need to sit and pray a little longer. You need to seek My will just for a little while more. Why? Oh so that we actually leap and praise God when the time comes. God doesn't want a few high fives. A few back slaps. He wants us leaping for joy at how He worked everything out. When that lame man was healed and started walking, everyone knew who he was. And you know what? They all rejoiced and praised God with him. That's what God wants as well. There are so many people watching us. We get asked all the time if we're still going. Our answer? We're just waiting for our house to sell. Well, when God does this amazing thing and gets us to Fishers, everyone will know. There won't be a doubt that God did it and hopefully it will affect a few others and they'll be leaping and praising God as well.

I know this is going to happen with Hamilton County. We are expecting God to do amazing things there. And once He does, there will be a whole team of us Walking and Leaping and Praising God, together!