Abraham

Friends, you are so appreciated.  I'm smiling this morning to see how God spurred three of you over the past couple weeks, completely unaware of the others, to send me a note.  Each one said basically the same thing:  I was reading the story of Abraham, and I noticed how long it was between the promise of a son and its fulfillment.

For Abraham, the promise is confirmed multiple times, but over a broad span of years.  At first it is somewhat unclear how he will have a son, and Sarah decides to speed up the process by offering her servant to Abraham.  As one of the notes pointed out, it was then 14 long years between Ishmael's birth and that of Isaac.  In our instant access world of today, it's hard to wait 14 minutes at times, and even 14 days seems nearly unthinkable.  14 years? 

This story, each time I read it, reminds me how important it is to draw close to God so that I can trust in His timing.  Because on my own, I am far too impatient.  I would jump ahead into situations that weren't God's plan because *I* felt it was time. 

So thank you, friends, for your prayers, and for sending along those little notes.  The way the Holy Spirit prompts you to reach out at the times that you do is perfectly God timing, and sends such a big message.