Ahead.
In case you hadn’t noticed,
I like to plan.
I like to be organised.
I like to be prepared.
Yes, I frequently find myself late and dashing to an event, hastily running towards something, speeding across town.
But I go with a clipboard of notes in hand.
I want to be ready.
I know bad stuff will happen, things won’t quite work out, things will go wrong
But I will be ready for it.
I will be prepared.
So I’m superhuman mode at the moment.
Last week I:
- Planned and taught two sessions for two girls in two different grades, to teach them English writing skills
- Prepared 50-60 word biographies on 20+ speakers teaching at Pais training
- Finalised the printing and delivery of over 300 items of uniform for Pais training
- Cooked dinner and dad a girls sleepover (Mean Girls was included and two were vegetarian so I had to learn how to cook tofu)
- Finishing editing pictures from Treslyn’s birthday, graduation and baptism
- Editing some additional newborn baby photos for a friend
- Taught a session to 12 year olds on ‘Girl vs. Girl Crime’ (i.e. Gossip and bullying)
- Helped promote the book launch of ‘The Cloud and the Line’ and was at two events selling books
- Preparing three talks for Foundational Training (Adjusting to a new culture, Creative ministry and The Kingdom Principle of ‘Humbling and Exalting’)
- Planning my preach for Lakehouse Church (August 28th) on ‘Arlington: A Certain Place’
- Grocery Shopping
- Packing for four weeks away from home
- Tidying my house
I tried to wash and go to the toilet too.
So here we are facing four weeks of training (three in San Antonio, and one in Monument, Colorado)…and three weeks after that we will leave our apartment in Arlington, for a new unknown home in Birmingham. There is so very much to do.
But I have to let go.
I can’t do everything.
I can’t put 100% into training and simultaneously plan and prepare all that needs to be done for England.
I just can’t.
Even if I don’t wash or go to the toilet.
Sometimes, you have to look at what is laid before you, and just do the next thing.
Father’s words etch into me:
“Be still and know that I am God”
The song writers interpretation stands firm:
“When the oceans rise, and thunders roar // I will soar with you, above the storm // Father you are King over the storm // I will be still and know you are God.
Right now, Foundational Training needs my attention.
Foundational Training needs the best sessions I have to offer.
Steve needs me to assist and help in any and every way.
Leaders need my support and help.
New apprentices need my bubbly personality to help them settle in.
Hopefully no one will need my shoulder to cry on, but I will have tissues ready just in case.
I am believing and trusting in Father God for all the numerous things that are too long to list that we need in the time training.
I am choosing to be still in those areas.
And in my stillness, Father God will work.
He, Jehovah Jireh
the Lord God who provides
whose name is inscribed in our wedding rings
will work.
He will work on our behalf and organise that which needs to be sorted.
He will go ahead of us.
The verse continues to say:
“Be still and Know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”
God will be glorified in all of our future plans.
I know that when everything all falls into place with houses and jobs and everything else, that we will know that it didn’t happen because of our striving.
It happened because of Him.
“What I’m trying to do here is get you to relax, to not be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to God’s giving. People who don’t know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works. Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provision. Don’t worry about missing out. You’ll find all your everyday human concerns will be met.
Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow.
God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes.”
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{verses taken from: Psalm 46:10; Matthew:32-33}
