All In His Timing

Oh, what a wonderful God we have!

How great are His riches

and wisdom

and knowledge!

How impossible it is for us to understand

His decisions and His methods!

For who can know what Lord is thinking?...Romans 11:33 - 34a

Today, my son, Tim and daughter-in-law, Rachel, will sign papers on their first house. What an exciting time for them. Their home will have a yard, a laundry room, several bedrooms, and, plenty of room for their three cats - yes, THREE cats.

While this has been going on in their lives, I have been trying to find a good home for Bailey, my canine pal of three+ years. Then, he got sick with one of his pancreatitis bouts. A retired couple was contemplating taking him but I could not let them take him if he was going to have episodes that would stain their carpet. So, I prayed for wisdom and had the kids, family members, and several friends pray too. I needed wisdom. That evening, Tim texted and said that he and Rachel had been thinking/praying for a month or so, about taking Bailey. The decision would be decided when they found a house.

I was totally shocked and thoroughly excited, when he texted and said, "We will take Bailey!" Wow! I did not need to know God's plan. I was not even aware that Tim and Rachel were contemplating having him join their family. All I knew was that the Lord has been in all of the plans and arrangements about teaching in India. Only ten hours after people specifically prayed about Bailey's health and wisdom for me, my mind was set at ease about my precious pal. Why should I doubt that He would guide me when I asked? Why should I doubt His understanding of the importance of Bailey's future? Why should I doubt...

God knows best and His timing is always perfect. What a miraculous way for the Lord to show me His wisdom, His provisions, His timing. Every time He reveals His plan to me, I am amazed, excited, grateful, and blessed. What a wonderful, loving, wise God we have!

Leave All to Follow

While reading and studying Matthew 4:18 - 22, I realized how often people who love Jesus are asked to follow. Following Him can mean leaving all behind, like James and John who left their fishing boat AND their father. Or, like Simon (Peter) and Andrew, we leave our jobs and tools to follow Him.

Right now I am in the process of packing and giving Bailey to a retired couple. Emotionally, I have been doing a lot of grieving, which is part of the preparation. This really spoke to me as we don't see their process, just the result of getting up, following, and leaving behind...All four disciples left immediately, apparently without question, and followed Him. Something in the Lord's presence gave them peace and assurance that this was what they were to do. They had no reservations.

I want to go to India. I know that in this experience the Lord will draw closer to me. I am excited when I look ahead. I realize that there will be grief and a time when I will say, "What did I do?!!" But, His presence drives me to go. His peace is even in the grieving. His plan is always exciting when I obey. So, like Simon and Andrew, like James and John, I will get up, look ahead, and follow our loving, wise Lord.