FAITHFUL

This past week was one that tried our patience to the max.  We had our summer pretty well laid out, with a timeline of things we wished to accomplished before we head to Kenya, exactly 15 days from now.  

Ordinarily, minor setbacks wouldn’t be such a big deal.  You just roll with the punches, be flexible with unexpected interruptions that life throws at you, go with the flow, Hakuna Mata - No worries, etc, etc....

However, for whatever reason it was this week, those unexpected “twist of events”, hit me like a ton of bricks.  

Much of my emotions were on the surface.  

Beloved friends of ours, said goodbye to their precious daughter, knowing it would be the last time they would see her - this side of eternity.

Our van which has been a source of transportation and great dependance to get us through this past two months, traveling many miles, decided to “break down” on us at the most in-opportune time.

The sense of urgency that “what if we couldn’t make it out to PA to see my family...would it be that last time that I would ever see some of them??”  

Plus add in the heightened awareness of time rapidly evaporating, and the longing to see my family, who I have not had the chance to see yet this summer, made me extremely emotional.  

I felt my determination to “roll with the punches” crumbling all around me and my normal calm demeanor breaking down in tears and wondering if God would be faithful to answer our prayers.

When I think of faithfulness, I tend to think of people who model that characteristic like my parents. They have been such an example of serving the Lord for all of my life.  Modeling selfless sacrifices with their children, demonstrating it with their words and with their actions and blessing the lives of countless people. Their quiet example of faithful obedience and steadfastness even in the midst of great trials and trusting in the Faithfulness of God.  

You see my Dad has Parkinson’s.  

Living with Parkinson’s is a lot like living with a villain and a thief.  

It robs him of his speech, memory loss, 
the ability to cope withstress, his strength, his manhood.
At times, it cause great despair and worry about the future.

I have seen them demonstrating their love and trust in God's faithfulness, which is but a mere reflection of God's never failing faithfulness towards His children.  
Even as I trust that my parents will try to be faithful to do what they say, they are still human and will fail at times.  

So, how much more will my heavenly Father, who loves me more than my parents, be all that much more faithful to do what He says He will do. He is the author of faithfulness and will always demonstrate His great love for me above and beyond what my parents can attain.   

Part of the enemy’s attack this past week was to put fear in my heart and doubt God’s faithfulness.  He knows what is important to me. His intentions for me are never good.  

But God says:  

"For I know the plans I have for you. Plans to prosper you, not to harm you....".  

This week was another reminder and opportunity to depend fully on God's Faithfulness

This week, I am thankful that my heavenly Father will ALWAYS prove to be

FAITHFUL!

“Yet we did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God.."

 At times, we find ourselves getting stuck in questioning God’s direction, wavering in unbelief, not sure if He will come through in all the details or even that He will be faithful to provide for us when it is blatantly evident that “God will do what He says He will do” which is right in front of us in His word.   

Its at that point that we begin to question our own ability to think clearly, or in some instances wondering “what in the world were we thinking”.  Did we actually hear from Him?  Have we made the right decision?  Inspite of the fact that over and over, time and time again, He has made it very clear to us that He has indeed called us out and that He IS faithful to fulfill his promises, even when we are not capable to keep our promises.

Having spent four weeks on the road, many miles traveled, left us much time for reflection, marveling at God’s love, His faithfulness.  In awe of His creation so evident and masterfully done and seeing Him present even in the midst of unknown danger, His protective hand stayed upon us, evidence of His faithful love and protection and provisions.

It also left time for notes of unwanted worry, fear, doubt, grief at the painful goodbyes to loved ones and loved things, a time for letting go...all those things, if not guarded against, can have such a subtle way of crowding in and intruding your thoughts and overshadowing the evidence of God’s presence.   

                                      

As we entered back into our home state of WI, a few days ago, we sighed a sigh of relief, welcoming the many familiar sights.  We were finally HOME!!  However, the dawning realization that even though we were returning “home”, we do not have a home to come home to.  At that moment, it became increasingly more evident of the sacrifices our family have made to follow the call God has on our lives was a stark reminder, that accentuated that unfamiliar and uncomfortable feeling with a raw sense of sacrificial loss.

What I love most about God is how in the moment of your greatest needs, His word is right there to encourage you, to strengthen you ….all for the sake of GLORIFYING Him in the midst of every situation. And so our prayer continues to be:

“Yet we did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God,  but was strengthened in our faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God has power to do what he has promised. “

Romans 4:20

“God is WHO He says He is

God will DO what He says He will do

We are WHO God says we are

We can do ALL things through Christ who strengthens us

We are BELIEVING GOD!!”