As I backed the Lolly bus from the garage, I looked up to see if Thomas’s little face was pressed to the window below the blind upstairs. He sleeps in his race car bed in the room above the garage when he visits and he had just told me the previous morning that he peeked out the window to see who opened the garage door when his Poppy left for work, otherwise I wouldn’t have known to look. I leaned forward to wave, all smiles because there he was, waving back.
When I arrived at my morning meeting, I texted his mom so she could tell him thank you for waving to me, but she said he had been crying as I left. I hadn’t told him the night before that I would be leaving early, thinking he would still be sleeping until I returned. She assured him that I wouldn’t be gone long and I was coming right back. He was calmed and I got the biggest hug when I returned. These babies keep my heart full to overflowing! Every time I think I couldn’t possibly love them more, they surprise me.
Jesus walked so closely with His followers for three years, they were literally in the dust stirred up by his sandals. After his resurrection and ascension, they may have been unsure of what to do with themselves had Jesus not given them specific instructions, but His instructions were not just for those first followers. Jesus’s words offer direction and hope to every generation of believers, and we no longer need to wait for the gift of God’s Spirit.
“Jesus instructed them, “Don’t leave Jerusalem, but wait here until you receive the gift I told you about, the gift the Father has promised.
For John baptized you in water, but in a few days from now you will be baptized in the Holy Spirit!”
But I promise you this—the Holy Spirit will come upon you, and you will be seized with power.
You will be my messengers to Jerusalem, throughout Judea, the distant provinces —even to the remotest places on earth!””
Acts 1:4-5, 8 TPT
https://bible.com/bible/1849/act.1.8.TPT
Those first disciples faced seemingly insurmountable odds. We have the idea that things have gotten much worse in our day but we have not yet faced the type of persecution endured by the early church, and we have the benefit of the entire Biblical canon. Many of the first Christians lost their homes or their lives for their faith in Jesus. Some were forced from their family inheritance to pagan lands but like us, they carried the seed of the gospel. They were spurred on by Christ’s promise to return, this time as conquering King, and of His continual presence with them until they received their eternal reward.
““Don’t worry or surrender to your fear. For you’ve believed in God, now trust and believe in me also.
My Father’s house has many dwelling places.
If it were otherwise, I would tell you plainly, because I go to prepare a place for you.
And when everything is ready, I will come back and take you to myself so that you will be where I am.
And you already know the way to the place where I’m going.”
Jesus explained, “I am the Way, I am the Truth, and I am the Life.
No one comes next to the Father except through union with me.
To know me is to know my Father too.
I promise that I will never leave you helpless or abandon you as orphans—I will come back to you!”
John 14:1-4, 6, 18 TPT
https://bible.com/bible/1849/jhn.14.1-18.TPT
“Beloved friends, this is now the second letter I have written to you in which I’ve attempted to stir you up and awaken you to a proper mind-set.
So never forget both the prophecies spoken by the holy prophets of old and the teaching of our Lord and Savior spoken by your apostles.
Above all, you must understand that in the last days mockers will multiply, chasing after their evil desires.
They will say, “So what about this promise of his coming? Our ancestors are dead and buried, yet everything is still the same as it was since from the beginning of time until now.”
So, dear friends, don’t let this one thing escape your notice: a single day counts like a thousand years to the Lord Yahweh, and a thousand years counts as one day.
This means that, contrary to man’s perspective, the Lord is not late with his promise to return, as some measure lateness.
But rather, his “delay” simply reveals his loving patience toward you, because he does not want any to perish but all to come to repentance.”
2 Peter 3:1-4, 8-9 TPT
https://bible.com/bible/1849/2pe.3.1-9.TPT
If you’re just getting to know God, here are some basic things you need to remember. God never sleeps, He never leaves or forsakes, and He always keeps His promises.
“I look up to the mountains and hills, longing for God’s help. But then I realize that our true help and protection is only from the Lord, our Creator who made the heavens and the earth.
He will guard and guide me, never letting me stumble or fall.
God is my keeper; he will never forget nor ignore me.
He will never slumber nor sleep; he is the Guardian-God for his people, Israel.
Yahweh himself will watch over you; he’s always at your side to shelter you safely in his presence.
He’s protecting you from all danger both day and night.
He will keep you from every form of evil or calamity as he continuously watches over you.
You will be guarded by God himself.
You will be safe when you leave your home, and safely you will return.
He will protect you now, and he’ll protect you forevermore!”
Psalms 121:1-8 TPT
https://bible.com/bible/1849/psa.121.1-6.TPT
“Don’t be obsessed with money but live content with what you have, for you always have God’s presence.
For hasn’t he promised you, “I will never leave you, never! And I will not loosen my grip on your life!””
Hebrews 13:5 TPT
https://bible.com/bible/1849/heb.13.5.TPT
If you know Him well, you know He is faithful! You know He has forgiven you more than you will ever be required to forgive another. You know He heals, He continually shines His light in darkness, and He gives peace beyond our ability to comprehend. You are sure of this truth- His love is everlasting, and His truth endures to all generations. You have staked your life on it by obediently walking in the Light regardless of the cost because the One who promised is Faithful.
“Lift up a great shout of joy to Yahweh! Go ahead and do it—everyone, everywhere!
Worship Yahweh with gladness.
Sing your way into his presence with joy! And realize what this really means— we have the privilege of worshiping Yahweh our God.
For he is our Creator and we belong to him. We are the people of his pleasure.
You can pass through his open gates with the password of praise.
Come right into his presence with thanksgiving.
Come bring your thank offering to him and affectionately bless his beautiful name!
For Yahweh is always good and ready to receive you.
He’s so loving that it will amaze you— so kind that it will astound you!
And he is famous for his faithfulness toward all.
Everyone knows our God can be trusted, for he keeps his promises to every generation!”
Psalms 100:1-5 TPT
https://bible.com/bible/1849/psa.100.5.TPT
“For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ.
And so through him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God.”
2 Corinthians 1:20 NIV
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