Sermon: Waiting

10 Bible verses about waiting on the Lord from the King James Version:

    Psalm 27:14 - "Wait on the Lord: be strong, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord."

    Psalm 37:7 - "Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass."   

Psalm 37:9 - "For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the Lord, they shall inherit the earth."

Psalm 40:1 - "I waited patiently for the Lord, and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry."

Psalm 62:1 - "Truly my soul waiteth upon God; from him cometh my salvation."

Isaiah 40:31 - "But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint."  

Lamentations 3:25 - "The Lord is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him."

Micah 7:7 - "Therefore I will look unto the Lord; I will wait for the God of my salvation: my God will hear me."

Habakkuk 2:3 - "For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry."  

James 5:7 - "Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.

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Here are 5 Bible examples of people who waited on the Lord:

1. Abraham: Waited 25 years for the promised child, Isaac, demonstrating unwavering faith in God's timing. (Genesis 15-21)
2. Joseph: Endured years of unjust imprisonment, maintaining his integrity and trusting in God's plan, which ultimately led to him saving lives during a famine. (Genesis 37-50)
3. David: Waited years to become king, facing numerous trials and enemies, but remaining faithful to God's anointing. (1 Samuel 16-31)
4. The Israelites: Waited 40 years in the wilderness, learning to depend on God for their daily needs and ultimately entering the Promised Land. (Exodus 19-Deuteronomy 34)
5. Jesus: Waited 30 years before beginning his public ministry, demonstrating obedience and trust in the Father's timing. (Luke 2)

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Impatience can have a significant negative impact on various aspects of life:

• Increased Stress and Anxiety: Constantly feeling rushed and frustrated leads to elevated stress levels and anxiety. This can manifest physically as headaches, muscle tension, and digestive problems.
• Damaged Relationships: Impatience can strain relationships with friends, family, and colleagues. It can lead to outbursts, arguments, and a general feeling of negativity.
• Poor Decision-Making: When we're impatient, we're more likely to make hasty and impulsive decisions without fully considering the consequences.
• Reduced Productivity: Ironically, impatience can actually decrease productivity. Trying to rush through tasks often leads to mistakes and the need to redo work, ultimately wasting more time.
• Health Problems: Studies have linked impatience to increased risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, and other health issues.

In essence, impatience often leads to a cycle of negativity: frustration breeds more impatience, which in turn leads to further stress and negative outcomes.

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Here are the lyrics to the song "He Was There All the Time" by Sammy Hall:

Verse 1
I was lost and I was blind
I thought I'd never find my way
But then you came along
And you showed me the light
And I found my way

Chorus
He was there all the time
He was there all the time
He was there all the time
He never left my side

Verse 2
I was down and out
I was feeling so alone
But then you came along
And you picked me up
And you made me strong

Chorus
He was there all the time
He was there all the time
He was there all the time
He never left my side

Bridge
When I thought I couldn't go on
You gave me the strength to carry on
When I thought I couldn't see
You opened my eyes
And I could see

Chorus
He was there all the time
He was there all the time
He was there all the time
He never left my side

Outro
He was there all the time
He was there all the time
He was there all the time
He never left my side

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The Parable of the Ten Virgins is found in Matthew 25:1-13. Here's an outline:

1. The Setup:

• Ten Virgins: Ten young women, likely bridesmaids, are waiting for the arrival of the bridegroom.
• Lamps and Oil: All ten virgins have lamps, but only five have brought extra oil in their vessels.

2. The Wait and the Unexpected Delay:

• Anticipation: The virgins await the bridegroom's arrival.
• Drowsiness: While waiting, they all become drowsy and fall asleep.

3. The Arrival of the Bridegroom:

• Midnight Call: At midnight, a cry is heard: "Behold, the bridegroom is coming!"
• Awakening: The virgins awaken and prepare their lamps.

4. The Foolish Virgins' Dilemma:

• Empty Lamps: The five foolish virgins discover their lamps are going out because they have no extra oil.
• Request for Oil: They ask the wise virgins for some of their oil.

5. The Wise Virgins' Response:

• Caution: The wise virgins refuse, saying they may not have enough oil for themselves and the foolish virgins.
• Advice: They advise the foolish virgins to go buy their own oil.

6. The Missed Opportunity:

• Departure of the Bridegroom: While the foolish virgins go to buy oil, the bridegroom arrives.
• Exclusion: The door is shut, and the foolish virgins are not allowed to enter the wedding feast.

7. The Moral of the Story:

• Importance of Preparation: The parable emphasizes the importance of being spiritually prepared for the return of Christ.
• Wise vs. Foolish: The wise virgins represent those who are spiritually prepared, while the foolish virgins represent those who are not.
• Urgency: The parable highlights the urgency of being prepared, as the return of Christ may be unexpected.

Key Symbols:

• Virgin: Represents believers.
• Lamp: Represents the Word of God and a person's spiritual light.
• Oil: Represents the Holy Spirit, faith, and good works.
• Bridegroom: Represents Jesus Christ.
• Wedding Feast: Represents eternal life in heaven.

This parable serves as a warning to be vigilant and spiritually prepared for the return of Christ. It encourages believers to cultivate a strong relationship with God and live a life that reflects their faith.

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The proverb "a watched pot never boils" is attributed to Benjamin Franklin.

• Origin: He included a variation of the proverb in his Poor Richard's Almanack, published from 1732 to 1758.
• Meaning: The proverb highlights the psychological phenomenon that time seems to pass more slowly when we are anxiously waiting for something to happen.

While Franklin popularized the saying, it's likely that the idea existed before his time.

Key takeaway: The proverb serves as a reminder that impatience doesn't speed things up and can actually make the wait feel longer.

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    "Patience is bitter, but its fruit is sweet." - Jean-Jacques Rousseau
    "Patience is a virtue; virtue is a grace." - Jacob Rees-Mogg
    "To lose patience is to lose the battle." - Mahatma Gandhi
    "Patience is the companion of wisdom." - Saint Augustine
    "Our patience will achieve more than our force." - Edmund Burke
    "The two most powerful warriors are patience and time." - Leo Tolstoy
    "He that can have patience can have what he will." - Benjamin Franklin
    "Patience is the art of hoping." - Luc de Clapiers
    "Adopt the pace of nature: her secret is patience." - Ralph Waldo Emerson
    "Endurance is nobler than strength, and patience than beauty." - John Ruskin

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The word "wait" has its roots in the Germanic languages.

• Origin: It comes from the Old French word "waitier," which meant "to watch with hostile intent."
• Connection: This connection suggests that originally, "waiting" involved a degree of vigilance and attentiveness, perhaps while guarding something or someone.

Over time, the meaning of "wait" evolved to encompass the more general sense of staying in expectation of something.

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14-day pickles refer to a specific method of pickling cucumbers that involves a two-stage process:

    Brining: Cucumbers are submerged in a salt brine for the first 7 days. This stage helps to draw out moisture and firm up the cucumbers.   

    Sweetening: After brining, the cucumbers are transferred to a sweet vinegar solution for the remaining 7 days. This stage infuses the pickles with a sweet and tangy flavor.

Key Characteristics:

    Crisp Texture: 14-day pickles are known for their exceptionally crisp texture.
    Sweet and Tangy Flavor: The combination of brining and sweetening creates a balanced flavor profile that is both sweet and tangy.
    Versatility: They can be enjoyed on their own, used in sandwiches and salads, or added to relish trays.

Making 14-day Pickles:

While the exact recipes can vary, the basic process involves:

    Preparing the Cucumbers: Washing and preparing the cucumbers (often slicing or cutting them into spears).   

Brining: Submerging the cucumbers in a salt brine solution for 7 days.  

    Sweetening: Transferring the cucumbers to a sweet vinegar solution for the remaining 7 days.

Note: 14-day pickles are a type of quick pickle, meaning they don't require long-term fermentation. 

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Here's a list of gestation periods for some common animals:

• Cat: 63-65 days
• Dog: 58-65 days
• Horse: 335-345 days
• Cow: 283 days
• Pig: 112-115 days
• Sheep: 147-150 days
• Goat: 145-150 days
• Rabbit: 28-32 days
• Elephant: 640-660 days (African), 624-647 days (Asian)
• Giraffe: 385-460 days
• Human: 266 days (approximately 9 months)

Note: These are average ranges, and there can be some variation within species.

Gestation periods are generally longer for larger animals.

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Fruit flies don't have a gestation period in the same way mammals do. Here's a breakdown of their life cycle:

    Egg: Fruit fly eggs hatch within 12-24 hours.
    Larva: The larvae (maggots) feed and grow for about 4-5 days.   

Pupa: The larvae then enter a pupal stage, forming a hard casing around themselves, lasting for another 4-5 days.
Adult: The adult fruit fly emerges from the pupa.  

So, from egg to adult, the entire process takes about 8-10 days under ideal conditions.

This rapid life cycle is why fruit fly infestations can become a problem so quickly!

 

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