Are We There yet?

1. Are We There yet? Mother’s Day 2014

2. Questions we ask • Are we there yet?

3. Questions we ask • Are we there yet? • How much longer ‘til we’re there?

4. Questions we ask • Are we there yet? • How much longer ‘til we’re there? • I can’t handle this for much longer!

5. Questions we ask • Are we there yet? • How much longer ‘til we’re there? • I can’t handle this for much longer! • This waiting is going on forever!

6. Questions we ask • Are we there yet? • How much longer ‘til we’re there? • I can’t handle this for much longer! • This waiting is going on forever! • God what’s going on?

7. Waiting mode • It can dominate our thoughts

8. Waiting mode • It can dominate our thoughts • It can side track us from Life

9. Waiting mode • It can dominate our thoughts • It can side track us from Life • It can drag us into a negative self-obsessed mode

10. Waiting mode Gen.15.3, " ...You have given me no offspring ... ”

11. Waiting mode Gen.15.3, " ...You have given me no offspring ... ” Gen.15.5 " ... Look toward heaven and number the stars ... so shall your offspring be.”

12. Waiting Mode Gen. 17.1-8, "When Abraham was 99 years old the Lord appeared to Abraham and said to him, "I am God Almighty, walk before me and be blameless, that I may make My covenant between you and me and may multiply you greatly … behold my covenant ... (my promise to you) - you shall be the father of a multitude of nations.”

13. Waiting Mode Gen. 17.1-8, "When Abraham was 99 years old the Lord appeared to Abraham and said to him, "I am God Almighty, walk before me and be blameless, that I may make My covenant between you and me and may multiply you greatly … behold my covenant ... (my promise to you) - you shall be the father of a multitude of nations.” v17, Then Abraham fell on his face and laughed and said to himself, "Shall a child be born to a man who is 100 years old? Shall Sarah who is 90 years old bear a child?

14. Waiting Mode Gen.18.13, "The Lord said to Abraham, "Why did Sarah laugh and say, "Shall I indeed bear a child now that I am old?”

15. Waiting Mode Gen.18.13, "The Lord said to Abraham, "Why did Sarah laugh and say, "Shall I indeed bear a child now that I am old?” Gen.18.14, "Is anything too hard for the Lord?”

16. Waiting Mode Gen.18.13, "The Lord said to Abraham, "Why did Sarah laugh and say, "Shall I indeed bear a child now that I am old?” Gen.18.14, "Is anything too hard for the Lord?” Matt.19.26, "With man this is impossible, but with God, all things are possible."

17. What Are You waiting for god to do? • healing, • finances, • a better job, • a restored relationship, • prodigal children coming home …

18. What Are You waiting for god to do? • healing, • finances, • a better job, • a restored relationship, • prodigal children coming home … Matt.19.26, "With man this is impossible, but with God, all things are possible."

19. God’s timing - Abraham Gen.18.14, "At the appointed time I will return to you, about this time next year, and Sarah shall have a son.” Gen.21.1, "The Lord visited Sarah has he had said, and the Lord did to Sarah as he had promised.” v2, "And Sarah conceived and bore Abraham a son in his old age at the time of which God had spoken to him.” v5, "Abraham was 100 years old when his son Isaac was born to him.”

20. God’s timing - Abraham Gen.18.14, "At the appointed time I will return to you, about this time next year, and Sarah shall have a son.” Gen.21.1, "The Lord visited Sarah has he had said, and the Lord did to Sarah as he had promised.” v2, "And Sarah conceived and bore Abraham a son in his old age at the time of which God had spoken to him.” v5, "Abraham was 100 years old when his son Isaac was born to him." From the promise to the fruition – 25 years!!!!

21. God’s timing - Joseph Joseph was 17 when he had a dream…..and about 30 when it was fulfilled.

22. God’s timing - Joseph Joseph was 17 when he had a dream…..and about 30 when it was fulfilled. Gen.29vv21 & 23, "But the Lord was with Joseph ....the Lord was with him ... "

23. God’s timing - Mary Luke 1.30-33, "And the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid Mary for you have found favour with God. And behold you will conceive in your womb and bear a son and call his name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord will give to him the throne of his father David and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom, there will be no end.”

24. God’s timing - Mary Luke 1.30-33, "And the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid Mary for you have found favour with God. And behold you will conceive in your womb and bear a son and call his name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord will give to him the throne of his father David and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom, there will be no end.” She waited for 30 years

25. pregnancy “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth …” Genesis 1v8.

26. pregnancy “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth …” Genesis 1v8. • Children are a gift from God!

27. pregnancy “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth …” Genesis 1v8. • Children are a gift from God! • But not without waiting and not without pain!

28. Preparation and Pray • You took care of your nutrition • You educated yourself on what was happening inside of you. • You gathered together clothes etc. • You discussed names • You both went to ante-natal classes. • You laid hands together on your tummy and you prayed for that little gift from God.

29. Are you working with god? Gen.40.6, " ... he saw that they were troubled ... "Why are your faces downcast today? ... They said, "We've had dreams but there is no-one to interpret them” And Joseph said to them, "Do not interpretations belong to God?  Please tell them to me.”

30. Are you working with god? Gen.40.6, " ... he saw that they were troubled ... "Why are your faces downcast today? ... They said, "We've had dreams but there is no-one to interpret them” And Joseph said to them, "Do not interpretations belong to God?  Please tell them to me.” Gen.18.14, "Is anything too hard for the Lord? At the appointed time ..."

31. Perseverance Habakkuk 2.3, "For still the vision awaits its appointed time ... if it seems slow, wait for it, it will surely come, it will not delay."

32. Perseverance Habakkuk 2.3, "For still the vision awaits its appointed time ... if it seems slow, wait for it, it will surely come, it will not delay." To persevere – to maintain effort in the face of difficulties.

33. Perseverance Habakkuk 2.3, "For still the vision awaits its appointed time ... if it seems slow, wait for it, it will surely come, it will not delay." To persevere – to maintain effort in the face of difficulties. Romans 5.4, " ... endurance produces character ... "

34. Labour pains Heb.13.5, " ... he has said, I will never leave you nor forsake you."

35. Labour pains Heb.13.5, " ... he has said, I will never leave you nor forsake you." • Let Him do His work in you.

36. Labour pains Heb.13.5, " ... he has said, I will never leave you nor forsake you." • Let Him do His work in you. • Get into His Word

37. Labour pains Heb.13.5, " ... he has said, I will never leave you nor forsake you." • Let Him do His work in you. • Get into His Word • Tell Him all that’s in your heart.

38. Labour pains Heb.13.5, " ... he has said, I will never leave you nor forsake you." • Let Him do His work in you. • Get into His Word • Tell Him all that’s in your heart. • Trust Him maybe like never before.

39. Labour pains Heb.13.5, " ... he has said, I will never leave you nor forsake you." • Let Him do His work in you. • Get into His Word • Tell Him all that’s in your heart. • Trust Him maybe like never before. • Remind yourself of His character,

40. Labour pains Heb.13.5, " ... he has said, I will never leave you nor forsake you." • Let Him do His work in you. • Get into His Word • Tell Him all that’s in your heart. • Trust Him maybe like never before. • Remind yourself of His character, • Review His promises and watch for what He’s doing.

41. Labour pains Ps.37vv5 & 7, Commityour way to the Lord Trust in Him and He willact.

42. Labour pains Ps.37vv5 & 7, Commityour way to the Lord Trust in Him and He willact. Be stillbefore the Lord And waitpatiently for Him.

43. Labour pains Ps.37vv5 & 7, Commityour way to the Lord Trust in Him and He willact. Be stillbefore the Lord And waitpatiently for Him. Ps 46.10 "Be still and knowthat I amGod."

44. Labour pains Rom.23 "For the creation waits with eager longing ... For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now and not only creation but we ourselves ... also groan to be released from pain and suffering. We too wait anxiously for that day when God will give us our full rights as his children, including the new bodies he has promised us - bodies that will never be sick again and will never die." LB

45. Is god still waiting for you?

46. Is god still waiting for you? Be still and know that I am God. Nothing is impossible for Me. With man this is impossible, but with God nothing is impossible.