In The Waiting...

This morning I woke up and found myself in a flare. A flare is the term used when you are in pain with flu-like symptoms, muscles and joints in tremendous pain...sometimes numbness of face and limbs. If the heat is not too extreme today, I think I'll consider going to the pool for a swim. When I am in a flare, being in the water is helpful and does not cause more pain/inflammation.

Last night I took two Tylenol PM, and prayed myself to sleep. I slept well through the night, so this will help that I had a full night of sleep. Most of the time when in a flare, rest is in order. Swimming seems to help as well. It can be so frustrating at times, but then I am thankful to God that it is not a life threatening syndrome. So many people are facing far worse.

We have about 1 week left before husband graduates from the Chaplain Residency Program. We are down to the wire with no job secured as of today. Of course, this can change within a moment! He does have a few interviews lined up (two were scheduled yesterday, and one we are waiting on for the definite interview time from a call the day before). God amazes me...how we can go from one day or moment of having nothing lined up, to the next day or next two days having 3 interviews. :)

Isn't this how God words so often? I mean, His time table is way different than ours. This is something that husband and I have a challenge with. Mainly, because we have folks asking us if we have anything lined up, (AND the bills will not stop coming in either) We are getting questions that we are not qualified to answer at this moment, because we are waiting on God for the answers. :)

From a world's perspective, we should already have a job secured and plans laid out. From a God-centered perspective it is all about the unknown, faith and trusting in Him completely.

Trusting in God completely means...not worrying about tomorrow. Worry is a huge sin in my life that I desire to be rid of! I know God is able, and that it takes a choice on my part as to if I am going to keep on worrying about these things and frantically trying to fix it, or if I am going to do all I can do, and "stand"...enter in with God's plan. He is ready and willing to take these burdens, and to lead us on the path we should go.

Matthew 6:24-29 (New Living Translation)

24 “No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.

25 “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? 27 Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?

28 “And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, 29 yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are.

1 Peter 5:8-10 (New Living Translation)

8 Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. 9 Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your Christian brothers and sisters all over the world are going through the same kind of suffering you are.

10 In his kindness God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation.

Does anyone else struggle with truly "letting go" of situations or concerns, and truly giving them over to God to handle?

I'm not saying to sit back and do nothing. We can seek the Lord on it by reading the Bible, praying, searching for the job...applying everywhere possible (believe me, husband has applied to HUNDREDS; ever day he is on the computer, in the newspaper, talking with other folks about leads), making calls, and checking every possible lead. We've lost count after all of these months of searching for a job!!

However from our experience with it...most of our plans are usually fruitless. Often times what we think to be God's plan, is actually not His plan at all.

Most of the jobs or ministry situations we have been a part of, were not part of "our" plans. Heck, they weren't even in places he had ever thought about. They were opportunities that came to us right at the last minute, in places we had never thought about going...places we couldn't even remember applying to...or opportunity brought to us from a totally different avenue.

God is so amazing. He holds the answers, and as I type this I am reminded of how much lack of trust I have in the Lord when I worry over something.

The children are doing well, but a little anxious about where we may be living. They are hoping we stay here, because we are beginning to meet new friends. However, they understand, and are flexible to the fact that we could very well be moving away.

I love this song. It is from the movie, "Fireproof". A great moving!!