NOTE: If you missed Chapters 1-10 of Building a Doll House, you can find it in the column under “blog archive” to the right.

After several months of working on the doll house, it was finally beginning to look like a house. The roof was coming along…although it was the longest, most tedious, most painstaking work done on the entire house. The electrical system was hooked up. The wall paper, ceilings and floors were complete.

It was beautiful!

On Christmas Eve as the final touches were being put into place, anticipation set in. How would it be when it was finally finished and Joy saw her doll house for the first time? Would she like it? Would it be exactly what she hoped for?

Of course, nothing could prepare us for her reaction (which you’ll read about in the next chapter), but we were certainly nervous and filled with anticipation.

You know exactly what I’m talking about. That long, almost unbearable waiting for something. At each thought of what is to come, a zap of excitement shoots through your body and you cannot keep that smile from bursting forth. Perhaps you might even giggle. We’ve all been there. Anticipating.

I have anticipated some exciting events in my lifetime. The birth of my children and grandchildren are high on the list. Of course, their first birthdays were also times of anticipation. Seeing what they each had accomplished in that first year leading up that first birthday was exciting. I wouldn’t have traded any of those times for anything.

But there have been others. Moving to a new city or state. Before I moved to Colorado, I had the months of the calendar plastered on my bedroom wall…each day I would cross off a day, and eventually, the date came when I could load the truck and head to this beautiful state and my husband.

The start of a new job. There have been plenty of those. The months preparing for a trip to Daytona Beach and my first NASCAR race…why I could hardly contain myself!

And today, I’m anxiously awaiting the birth of my fourth grandchild.

Yes, waiting for Christmas morning was exciting for me. But was that where my focus should have been?

Some synonyms of anticipation are expectation, prospect, eagerness, hope, or contemplation. The very nature of the word allows for those giddy feelings to surface. Contemplating the “what ifs” or believing there is hope fuels excitement. Expecting a good outcome brings peace during times of anticipation.

Anticipation has been around a long time and can be linked to our faith in God. Just as those living under the old covenant eagerly waited for the coming of the Messiah, we too, eagerly await the second coming of Jesus, the Messiah. It brings hope to this otherwise hopeless world. But that must not be our only focus. We must anticipate the good things that God desires to add to our lives in the present.

Philippians 1:6 (NIV)  assures us that we should be anticipating what God is doing in our lives. “For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.”

I am so thankful that God isn’t finished with me yet. He still has a long way to go. I still encounter feelings of jealousy, rebellion, insecurity, depression and many more. Anticipating a life free of these emotions is exciting for me. So I’ll continue to allow God to do His work until He says “Perfect!”

And Ephesians 2:10 (NIV) gives us insight into what we should be doing with what God has done within us while awaiting the second coming. “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.”

Waiting goes much faster when we have something to do. So while we are waiting and anticipating, God has prepared a few things for us to do while we wait. There are good works to be done. And we are called to be doing them.

Waiting for Joy to arrive that Christmas morning was very exciting. Waiting to open presents was thrilling. Expectations were high. Each of us filled with the splendor of Christmas. Anticipating.

Yes, anticipation is exciting. In our physical lives, but also in our spiritual lives. Oh, I pray that you will anticipate what God is doing in your life. Watch for His workings. Anticipate what He will do with it. And of course, eagerly wait for His return. I know I can hardly wait!

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

Donna

I have a favorite restaurant here in Colorado. They serve fried chicken that is moist and juicy on the inside and crispy on the outside. There is also kidney bean salad, pickled beets, cottage cheese, coleslaw and corn fritters served family style and unlimited. And don’t forget the shops, a petting zoo, and live music throughout the week.

whitefencefarm.com

There are two problems however, I have with this restaurant. First, it is pretty far from where we live and there is really no reason to be “passing by.” It takes at least 45 minutes to get there. So a planned trip to dine on this delectable fair is a must.

The second problem is that they close down the restaurant for the whole month of January. With my birthday in January, my favorite restaurant is always off the list for a place to celebrate. How disappointing!

The good news? The restaurant is still open 11 months of the year and we make several trips during those 11 months to get our fill of this great food.

More good news? God doesn’t take time off from caring about you and me. He is always there when we need Him…and when we think we don’t need Him.

Just read through some of the promises found in Scripture to gain a deeper understanding of how God will always be there for us. He is an amazing God!

In the Old Testament we find God reminding His people of His dedication to them. God promised to be with them. And He always kept His promise. We can believe that when God promises to be with us, we know He will be.

The Hebrew nation received word of this promise as they were preparing to enter the Promised Land. Not only was God with them (Deuteronomy 31:6), but they were assured by Moses that God was going before them. “The Lord your God himself will cross over ahead of you. He will destroy these nations before you and you will take possession of their land. Joshua also will cross over ahead of you, as the Lord said.” (Deuteronomy 31:3 – NIV)

Joshua also received this promise as he prepared to take over leadership of this great nation. “No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Joshua 1:5 – NIV) With God on his side, Joshua certainly had nothing to fear.

King David assured his son, Solomon, that just as God had been with him through his life, God would be with Solomon as he ruled Israel (1 Chronicles 28:20).

David also shared some of his feelings through the Book of Psalm. How God was with him each step of the way. We can be assured that God will be with us, just as He was with David.

God was with David as he dealt with the pain of death. In Psalm 23:4 (NIV), David shared his assurance of this fact. “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”

David also assured others that God would be there continuously. Psalm 121:3-4 (NIV) says, “He will not let your foot slip—he who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.”

In Psalm 139:7-12, David stated that he could not hide from God’s Spirit. Wherever he went, God was with him. Whatever situation he faced, God was there.

Isaiah proclaimed to Israel that God would be there for them in Isaiah 41. Throughout this chapter, God recounts His actions. What He had accomplished and would accomplish through Israel. And God also declared, “Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” (Isaiah 41:10 – NIV)

In the New Testament, we see more promises of God’s presence. Jesus, speaking to His disciples, told them, “And surely I am with you always to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20b – NIV)

We find in 2 Corinthians 1:3-5 that God will be with us to comfort us. Just as we have been comforted by God, we are then able to comfort others.

And we see in the Book of Hebrews a reminder of God’s words. “Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.’” (Hebrews 13:5 – NIV)

God will be with us. We never have to wait for Him to return from vacation or re-appear after a break. We can hold onto the promise that God is with us.

There are more Scripture about this particular promise from God. Do you have a favorite? What verse speaks to you and assures you that God is always with you? What passage do you grip tightly when everything seems to falling apart around you? I would love to hear what you have to say.

The restaurant, White Fence Farm, will continue to be on my “I cannot wait until February” list. Just as sure as I know that, I know that God has been and will be with me through it all.

He’s been with me through the rough times. He’s been with me through the rebellious times. He’s been with me through the joyous times. And He isn’t going to stop for all eternity. God is so faithful. And for His faithfulness, I’m eternally grateful.

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

Donna