Yesterday I had no idea I  would be sitting in the waiting room, waiting to hear word on a dear friend of mine. While I was there “waiting” I began noticing other people and how they were waiting in “the waiting room.” Have you ever paid attention to how others use their wait time? Perhaps you’ve found yourselves in the waiting room of a lawyer, court corridor, doctor’s office, or hospital, as I was; or somewhere waiting for a promotion, good news, or a situation to change. How did you wait? Honestly, sometimes I would only sit there waiting while others were on their cell phones, reading, tapping their feet, talking, watching the monitor, or even sleeping. I’m asking God to help me be more mindful as to how I wait.

Being observant of this, I’m suggesting while we’re in the waiting room of life, lets not waste our waiting. Time is precious. Use your wait time as an opportunity to be productive. Work while you wait, and watch for revelation. Especially when you’re waiting on the Lord, don’t just sit there. Whether you know it or not there is a lot you can do while in the waiting room. You can be prayerful, maintain a positive attitude, hope, strengthened your faith by reading God’s Word, or lend a helping hand by sharing a word of encouragement. Don’t just sit there and stare at the monitor, look to the Lord.

“I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in his word I hope; my soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen for the morning, more than watchmen for the morning (Psalm 130:5-6 ESV).

I will keep on thanking God for revealing to me ways to wait in Him. By Hertistine Washington/keeponthanking.com

In a classroom a student was being disruptive. The teacher quickly pointed at the student and said, “In the corner!” The Student immediately got up and stood in the corner. He knew He had been caught! While in grade school, did your teacher ever have you to stand in the corner? If so, (like me), you probably deserved  to be there. I’m sure you were a little embarrassed, and couldn’t wait to sit down and join the other students. Sometimes the punishment of standing in the corner could seem like forever.

Spiritually speaking, we don’t have to stand in the corner anymore. Jesus has come and taken our place “in the corner.” He took on our punishment of sin and made it possible for us to stand in the power of His Word. His Word will hold up. It will “stand” the test. It will “stand” forever. When we accept the Lord Jesus as our Savior, we will no longer have to stand in the corner; just repent, sit down and learn of Him. In His Word, you can now stand forever, never needing to be cornered again.

“The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever. ( Isaiah 40:8 ESV).

I will keep on thanking God for the endurance and strength in His Word.  By Hertistine Washington/keeponthanking.com

Antidotes are very much needed in this life. Their purpose is to fight or kill that which could cause harm or even death to the body. They are used to maintain life. Although the world has discovered many antidotes, it is still seeking the antidote for other diseases. I thank God that Jesus is the universal antidote for whatever ails us. He is the spiritual and the physical remedy for that which tries to runs rampant in our body and lives. He is the cure all.

As one who has been bitten by a snake would require an antidote, so do those who have been affected by sin. God’s Word lets us know that we all were bitten by sin and in need of an antidote. Jesus was that antidote, and still is today. I pray we let His healing serum or love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control, continue to penetrate our soul.

“Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases,” Psalms 103:2-3 ESV)

I will keep on thanking God for His physical and spiritual healing.  By Hertistine Washington/keeponthanking.com

“And the Lord said unto Moses. Wherefore criest thou unto me? speak unto the children of Israel, that they go forward:” (Exodus 14:15 KJV).What a command! To go forward! I can imagine how the Israelites must have felt as they were pursued by the Egyptian army, with nothing facing them but the wide open sea! Afraid. Crying. Complaining. Throwing accusations toward Moses. My God, what were they to do?

When faced with seemingly no way out, I’m sure many of us have shouted from one time or the other, “Oh, Lord, what am I to do?” Yet and still, when the Israelites had gone as far as their physical eyes could see, God told Moses to tell them to go forward! Isn’t that just like our God? He’s not a God that turns back. He will not lead us to the shore and leave us hanging, with no way of escape. As He was with the Israelites to open a way through the Red Sea, so is He with us.

So as you continue to press your way forward in spite of not seeing a way out, look to Jesus. He has a way for you and me, as we face the turbulent seas of life. God says go forward and see His Salvation; His deliverance. Keep going. Don’t turn back. It’s no time to retreat. If we keep the faith, we will discover God has a way out for us. He is the way, the truth. and the life.

I will keep on thanking God for encouraging me to keep going forward in Him.  By Hertistine Washington/keeponthanking.com

(A poem expressing joy over one’s Salvation)

I saw you blossom along the way;

Baby steps, wider steps, then running in the process.

So proud of you my dear child,

Thanking God for His grace all the while.

God’s spoken Word has touched your soul!

His written Word, your heart overflows!

His Word goes deep; way deep beyond the surface,

Always revealing His love and never-ending mercy.

Continue to soar and bloom my flower,

As in God’s garden so many do;

Never to forget, your root lies in the Creator,

and He will see you through.

“I went down to the nut orchard to look at the blossoms of the valley, to see whether the vines had budded, whether the pomegranates were in bloom” (Song of Solomon 6:11 ESV).

“I will be like the dew to Israel; he shall blossom like the lily; he shall take root like the trees of Lebanon;” (Hosea 14:5 ESV).

I will keep on thanking God for the blossoming of new souls.  By Hertistine Washington/keeponthanking.com

I’m so thankful  our loving and gracious Father woke me up this morning feeling alive! Not just alive, but feeling alive! Feeling rested and ready to get up. What an amazing and energetic feeling! Feeling thankful. Feeling purposeful. Feeling I can move mountains in Him. I pray that when God wakes you up this morning that you feel the same.

I say this with gratitude because there has been times (like many of us) I have awakened and just wanted to lay there, not feeling like getting up at all. I might have been focusing too much on the tasks that lie before me, a lack of sleep, sickness, worriedness, or feeling bound by heavy burdens. Nevertheless, still thankful to see another day. Yet, if you are experiencing one or more of these, I pray that whatever care you have, you will lifted it to Jesus. He is there to make you feel alive, rested and ready to get up in Him and for Him.

“Arise and shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you” (Isaiah 60:1 ESV).

I will keep on thanking God that my rest is in Him.  By Hertistine Washington /keeponthanking.com

Some of us like making our own moves. Sometimes they make us feel good… if it works out for us. They can make us feel proud and accomplished and provide a sense of independence. But if we’re not careful, we can make the wrong move.

I beg you, be prayerful so that you don’t make the wrong move. You may asked, how can I know this is a right or wrong move? I acknowledge, sometimes we really don’t know. But my best advice to anyone is, first, ask God. Consult Him, then trust Him in prayer. He’ll surely lead us in the right direction.

Secondly, know that God has never made a wrong move, and it’s impossible for Him to do so. His Word verifies that if we stick with Him, we’re sure to make the right move. And lastly, stop depending on your gut, and depend on God. The difference being, your gut feels, God knows. Trust the one who knows. So as you go about your day, making all kinds of moves, seek God first. He’s sure to guide you on what moves to make.

“I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go. I will guide thee with mine eye” (Psalm 32:8 KJV).

I will keep on thanking God for guiding my footsteps. By Hertistine Washington/keeponthanking.com

These days we hear a lot of talk about old news, fake news, political news, and social news. Although there were no newspapers, media, or telephones in Jesus’s day, there was still plenty of news. I’m thinking of the two guys that were walking on the road to Emmaus, who were unaware that it was Jesus who drew near to them. He began talking and walking with them also.

Jesus wanted to know what they were talking about. They began telling him about the news of the day (in the Jerusalem Chronicle, i.e.,); how Jesus was led from judgement hall to judgement hall, suffered, and been crucified. They didn’t neglect to share with Him the information the women at Jesus burial site had said, that He was no longer there. All this is fine and dandy, but these guys weren’t really keeping up with the good news. If they were, they would have known they were talking with the best news of that day, and the one who made the headlines… JESUS IS RISEN!

Not until they had invited Jesus to their home, did they really get the scoop. They realized it was Jesus all along. Are you aware that Jesus is the good news of today? Are you aware that Jesus died for our sins, and rose again. More good news… He’s coming back to receive us into His kingdom. Now that’s good news!

“When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them.  And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him” (Luke 24:30-31 ESV).

I will keep on thanking God for the good news that Jesus Christ is alive and coming back again!  By Hertistine Washington/keeponthanking.com

The Word of Jesus says, “And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself” (John 12:32 ESV)

Like some people, I too enjoy watching weightlifting. But one thing I’ve notice is that people who lift weights for a living, or just for showing off, have all of the stress or weight of the lift on themselves. They’re not only lifting, they’re also baring the weight of the lift. No so with Jesus. He only says for us to lift Him. We don’t have to bare the weight. He’s mighty enough and will do the drawing work of Salvation. Isn’t it good to know that we don’t have to try to draw anyone to Jesus? He said, “I’ll draw all people to myself.” Aren’t you glad Jesus took the load of lifting onto Himself?

To lift Jesus is simply to use our voices to tell the world about Him; His gracious plan of Salvation. It means to let others know that it was Jesus who came and died, and rose again to save us from our sin. May it be your aim today and everyday to share Him to someone else. Ask God to open a door for you to share Jesus through an encouraging word or deed, with the purpose of leading others to Him. With Jesus, it’s in the lift, not the weight of the lift.

Father God, we thank Jesus for what He has done. We pray for ways to lift Him in our home, on our job, and in our community. We pray to exalt Him in everything. Since Jesus did all the ground work, help us lift Him to the world and throughout the church. Help us to lift Him in our praise by the way we talk and walk, as we travel these dark and evil days. In Jesus, amen.

I will keep on thanking God for making it easy to lift Jesus. By Hertistine Washington/keeponthanking.com

Has anyone ever invited you to a special or expensive trip or event? What if they said, “Just come,” and it won’t cost you a cent?” How would that make you feel? Excited, I’m sure. Would you be more inclined to go, than not? Like most of us, we would feel so grateful that someone cared enough to offer such a grand invitation. That’s exactly what Jesus did for me and you. He invited us to come to Him, without money and without price. He said, “Come everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come buy wine and milk without money and without price” (Isaiah 55:1 ESV). Jesus is that Living water, and He has graciously invited us to come to Him for Salvation, free of charge.

After receiving such a grand invitation, I’m encouraging you to gladly… “Come, bless the LORD, all you servants of the LORD who stand by night in the house of the LORD” (Psalm 134:1)! I’m also encouraging you to shout with me… “Oh come let us sing unto the LORD, let us make a joyful noise unto the rock of our salvation!” (Psalm 95:1) and, “Oh come let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the LORD our Maker!” (Psalm 95:6). Just come.

“Come unto me, all who labor are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”  Mathew 28:11 ESV.

I will keep on thanking God for His gracious standing invitation for salvation to everyone.  By Hertistine Washington/keeponthanking.com.