Provision

If I could sum up the last three months in one word it would be provision. Provision in the sense that God has known exactly what I/we/they have needed and provided for it ahead of time/on time/when no one expected it.  And I have been constantly reminded of His goodness and mercy through all these provisions. I can't go into too many specific details but here is a summary of what I've been digesting lately.

He is always working.  Even when we aren't thinking He is or see no reason why something happened the way it did - He is always planning and present.  All things are accounted for under His authority.  This includes people, timing, resources, where you work/play/fellowship, etc.  A few weeks ago at Bethel, Pastor Dave spoke about the invisible hand of God and how even though we don't see Him working He always is. And I can tell you I have seen evidence of that in my life. 

He brings people into our lives with purpose.  Do you ever wonder why you met that one person when you did?  I can say with confidence that we would not be where we are today (Steven and I, that is) without the people God has brought into our lives over the past two years.  John & Jessica, Scott, Guy, Dave - the list goes on and on.  Hopefully within the next 10 months we will continue to transition and then move overseas and it is through those people listed (and many others) that God opened the door for us to go.  It is amazing to me how He prompts people to action.  From a simple statement from John, "Hey, you guys should meet Scott."  To Scott saying, "yeah, I'll talk to Guy when I see him next."  The Lord works in wondrous ways using the right person at the right time.

His ways are greater.  This past year as we planned for the Chinese students who interned this summer we put a lot of time and work into those four weeks they were here.  It was a mountain of hours between everyone on the committee - not to mention there was over 10 of us planning!  When the final number fell and only four came over I was discouraged.  Why would we only have four when we have put in this much work?  But the Lord knew and provided the perfect number for the perfect summer.  It allowed for deeper and more meaningful fellowship, the host families totally rocked and besides the mayhem with finding new internships for several of them it was a home run.  I couldn't have imagined it any better - but God did.  And He knew from day one.  It took me a lot longer...

What does all this mean?  When I step back and look at it I see that the Lord moves mightily in our lives and in the lives of others.  In the sermon I referenced up in point one, Pastor Dave spoke about how God uses our decisions (whether good or bad) for His purposes.  Every decision. Every move, word, deed, thought, action, etc.  He works it out for His will.  Wow.  Proverbs 19:21 states, "You can make many plans, but the Lord's purpose will prevail."  And it does. Amen!  So this morning when it was only supposed to take me 10 minutes to drive from my home to a meeting and it took 20 because of a seven car train (yes, seriously - it was crazy), I wanted to get mad.  I wanted to be upset and angry.  I'm sure that car behind me was!  Instead, I stopped and thought about all those cool things God has been showing me above.  I prayed that God would help me see the bigger picture.  That whatever reason I/the train/the car behind me had for being late or taking a long time worked out for His greater purpose.  In that is provision.  Not only because I took the focus off myself and went into the meeting with a peaceful mindset (even though I was late), but through that process I learned to trust Him a little more today.  And hopefully each day after.