From: "Beverly French" <frenchb@vcss.k12.ca.us>
To: "Heritage" <gheritage.ga@verizon.net>
Subject: Greetings To All
Date: Sunday, August 18, 2002 6:36 AM

"I waited patiently (intently) for the Lord;
 And He inclined to me, and heard my cry."  Psalm 40:1

Webster defines intently as: firmly or steadfastly fixed; having the
attention sharply focused; determined or resolved, having the mind or will
fixed on some goal.
Some other translations say:
"I waited and waited for the Lord..."
"I waited patiently and expectantly for the Lord..."

We sense the Psalmist is in a dire situation and only the Lord can bring
about the needed help.  Haven't we too been in hopeless circumstances that
needed the Lord's intervention?  Or have we not desired to do something and
the door was closed, therefore, came a time of waiting.  I dare say that in
those times, the waiting was not patient at all.  It is through these
situations that Omniscient God is teaching us to be patient.  How else can
we learn except through experiencing times that try our patience.  There are
two choices -- one that is disastrous; striking out on our own solutions or
the right choice; keeping our eyes on Lord and waiting upon Him!  We have
a promise concerning waiting on the Lord in Isaiah 40:31,
"Yet those who wait for the Lord
 Will renew their strength;
 They will mount up with wings like eagles,
 They will run and not get tired,
 They will walk and not become weary."

Psalm 37:23 tells us,
"The steps of a man are established by the Lord..."  This being so, when the
Lord brings into our lives those waiting experiences, it is to teach us
patience and endurance. Also, through them we learn to trust Him more and
more.  These trials and experiences are to fine tune our walk of faith --
looking always to Christ Jesus.

Hebrews 12:2 says,
"Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the
joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down
at the right hand of the throne of God."

Jesus endured suffering beyond anything we can even imagine; the physical
was beyond belief, but spiritually it is incomprehensible.  He took the sin

of the world on Himself; 2 Corinthians 5:21 says,
"He (God) made Him (Jesus) who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, that we
might become the righteousness of God in Him."

Scripture also says of us in 1 Peter 4:12 -13,
"Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes
upon you for your testing, as though some strange things were happening to
you; but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on
rejoicing so that also at the revelation of His glory, you may rejoice with
exultation."

Jesus Himself assures us in John 16:33 (at the end of His farewell
discourse),
"I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace
and confidence,  In the world you have tribulation and trials and distress
and frustration, but be of good cheer [take courage; be confident, certain,
undaunted]!  For I have overcome the world,  [I have deprived it of power to
harm you and have conquered it for you.]  The Amplified Bible

So as James 1:2-3 says,
"Consider it wholly joyful, my brethren, whenever you are enveloped in or
encounter trials of any sort or fall into various temptations.  Be assured
and understand that the trial and proving of your faith bring out endurance
and steadfastness and patience."  The Amplified Bible

"I waited patiently for the Lord;
 And He inclined to me, and heard my cry.
 He brought me up out of the pit of destruction, out of the miry clay;
 And He set my feet upon a rock making my footsteps firm."  Psalm 40:1-2

As does the Psalmist, we trust in the Lord!  And we give Him all thanks,
honor and glory!  Amen.