WAITING 101: STAND-BY
Share Da Aloha is a different experience each time. For me, it was a different challenge to get on a flight. I was flying stand-by. A practice of patience. A lesson in Waiting 101.
Wednesday, there weren’t any open seating for those on stand-by. I was pretty much bummed & worried.
Before this weekend, the devotional verse our group reviewed for Share Da Aloha was Proverbs 3:5-8: “Trust God from the bottom of your heart. Don’t try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for God’s voice in everything you do and everywhere you go. Don’t assume you know it all. Run to God! Run from evil! Then you will have healing for your body and strength to your bones.”
Trusting is waiting. Trusting is standing by. I was tested to practice that very verse. I wasn’t trusting. Oh I prayed. I had many people praying for me. But maybe I relied too much on praying instead of whom I was praying to.
Thursday, I finally surrendered to and said that He is in control. The flight load was full that morning. It would take a miracle. My husband and I were already discussing Plan B, just in case. Then! They called our names. Thank you Jesus! We’re on board.
Fast forward to Friday, the day of Share Da Aloha. Hanging out with our team; waiting to dress up in our outfits because we go after intermission. We were waiting. In the waiting ~ we were blessed by a pleasant surprise.
You see… usually we look to long-time mentors, Pastor Caron & Aunty Radiant to pray for us and pray with us before going on stage. They were on the other side of the auditorium; assigned to their dressing rooms there.
However, God is so faithful; He brought a special team to bless us: Aunty Neolani from Oahu & Aunty Tarita from Tahiti. Susan, leader of our team, Ohana O Ke Akua, asked them to pray for us.
Next thing we knew, this team surrounded us with their support and we were circled up in prayer. Aunty Tarita was on fire with her encouraging words and powerful blessing. She chanted, “WE ARE NOT WORRIERS; WE ARE WARRIORS!” Susan and I were in tears of joy, awe; humbled before the Lord God; that He would send us grace and love through these hula sisters to pray for us. Aunty Noelani chanted her favorite phrase: HALLELUJAH!
Aunty Tarita was telling us that it was providential that before they saw us, they were saying that we are all in the same canoe. They didn’t know a team would be dancing with paddles as we were. Aunty Noelani told us to hold up our paddles as we prayed and be warriors for the Lord.
This theme of warriors for our Lord Jesus rang throughout this year’s Share Da Aloha. Aunty Radiant’s team (Island Praise & Worship from Tacoma, Washington) went on stage and as usual but even stronger, they brought powerful worship to all of us. Their men’s group is called “Warrior’s Cry”. So there you go. Enough said. Any questions?
Pastor Caron’s team went on stage and they danced to the song, “Waging War.” Again, God’s power and powerful praise was displayed. Super anointed teams worshiped. When we grow up, we want to be like them =)
It’s Sunday now, I’m waiting once again on stand-by to go home. Didn’t get on the first flight. It was full. There was another possibility for a later flight that day. It gave me time to write this devotional =)
Waiting is oftentimes frustrating. I learned not to waste time worrying. In life, we shouldn’t worry about the past, present, nor future. I remember Aunty Tarita saying: “This is a new season! Whatever you were dealing with, is over! Time to rebuild!”
With that said, I also learned that while I’m waiting, I might as well enjoy the time while I’m waiting. Do something positive and keep on hoping for possibilities. As much as possible, surround yourself with those who genuinely and faithfully believe in you/me and who can/will breathe encouragement and inspiration into your/our life in Christ.
Isaiah 40:31 “...but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
Isaiah 30:18 “Yet the LORD longs to be gracious to you; therefore he will rise up to show you compassion. For the LORD is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him!”
Isaiah26:8 “Yes, LORD, walking in the way of your laws, we wait for you; your name and renown are the desire of our hearts.”
Romans 11:20 ”…stand by faith…”
Dancing with God
DEVOTIONAL: DANCING WITH GOD
When I meditated on the word Guidance
I kept seeing “dance” at the end of the word.
I remember reading that doing God’s will is a lot like dancing.
When two people try to lead, nothing feels right.
The movement doesn’t flow with the music,
and everything is quite uncomfortable and jerky.
When one person realizes that, and lets the other lead,
both bodies begin to flow with the music.
One gives gentle cues, perhaps with a nudge to the back or by pressing lightly in one direction or another.
It’s as if two become one body, moving beautifully.
The dance takes surrender, willingness,
and attentiveness from one person
and gentle guidance and skill from the other.
My eyes drew back to the word, Guidance.
When I saw “G: I thought of God,
followed by “u” and “i”
“God, “u” and “i” dance.”
God, you, and I dance.
As I lowered my head, I became willing to trust
that I would get guidance about my life. Once again,
I became willing to let God lead.
My prayer for you today is that God’s blessings
and mercies be upon you on this day and everyday.
May you abide in God as God abides in you.
Dance together with God, trusting God to lead
and to guide you through each season of your life.
