The Waiter Sets the Tone

I’m onto this waiter theme again…

Our family was recently at a restaurant and the waiter showed us to our table which I immediately didn’t like; it was right in the middle and we would probably have to keep moving for people to go by. So I asked for another table and she immediately replied that none was available.

Another waiter came by and suggested she take us to another section where corner tables were, but she wasn’t eager to do this and eventually my hungry husband went off to help himself to the enticing buffet not understanding what the fuss was about, while I sat down reluctantly with an increasingly sulky attitude….did I enjoy the rest of the lunch? You guessed it, no!

The waiter had set the tone for me and it hindered my appetite or “receiving mode”. That’s how it is when we wait on the Lord with a grumpy and ungrateful attitude, there’s less chance of receiving anything from Him. Also, the blessings go right over your head when they come because you’re too busy making a fuss over what you didn’t get in the past, that you miss the new things He's doing.

Hebrews 6:15 - And so after waiting patiently, Abraham received what was promised.

The Waiter Serves the Wine

I'm onto this waiter thing again; that's because I was at a restaurant recently and watched a waiter serving wine. Now that is an ordinary everytime-task for a waiter but if you consider yourself a waiter, who waits on His promises, here are some tips I picked up watching the waiter, yet again...

• Serve the wine openly - let the joy of the Spirit overflow in public worship not only in private worship.
• Let the guests taste the wine - let the people partake of His Spirit by introducing them to the river of His presence and let them rejoice in Him by having longer worship times.
• Fill up their glasses intermittently - don't have a one-time revival worship and expect the people to be continuously joyful, fill them up to overflowing like Jesus did at Cana, and let the revival be endless.
• Ask them if they enjoyed the drink - the joy on their faces will let you know and they will do the evangelizing for you as they invite their friends to "come and see", like the woman at the well.

So go ahead and practise being an excellent waiter while you wait on His promises to be fulfilled....have another drink!

Fullness of Time

All my waiting
has not been in vain
a lot of praying
and not without pain,
hoping and trusting
in Jesus my Lord
watching and fasting
while the enemy roared,
now that I know
the end is in sight
soon it will show
manifestations of light,
when it comes forth
it won't be sublime
they will be birthed
in the fullness of time...

JP copyright 2000

Watching the Waiter

Have you ever watched a waiter at a restaurant? It is a very enduring task; the waiter assigned to your table has to always have his eyes in your direction for any sign you may give. Sometimes he anticipates your needs by refilling your water; they are always prepared to serve you in any way...



I guess that's how we should be waiting on His promises. I have quite a few unfulfilled promises given to me by the Lord and waiting has been an expectant joy in the beginning, then as the months and years went by and the promises were unfulfilled, waiting became a task. I have to learn to be like the waiter and fix my eyes on Him as I wait so that I'll see when the sign for the arrival of the promise is given....and even as I wait, I have to be prepared to serve Him in any way He asks of me, this actually makes the time of waiting seem to pass faster.

When I think of Abraham waiting for the promise of Isaac for so many years, I know that waiting is top on the Father's list of disciplines for us to learn and grow in. But when I read the 9 chapters of his waiting period in Genesis 12 to 20....that gives me strength also as I wait, knowing that despite my mistakes along the way, He sees my heart and at the right time will bring the promises to pass.

So the next time you go to a restaurant, watch the waiter, you may learn a few more things about waiting...