God's Provision

It's interesting how opportunities come at the oddest of times but, when examined closely, it becomes obvious that God was involved all the way and just wants to take us along for the ride!

This past Thursday, my co-worker found out that the meal provider for his group's monthly euchre tournament (which was to be held Friday) had to cancel. He wondered how and where he could find a replacement on such short notice. His group uses volunteer organizations, on a rotating basis, to provide meals to raise funds for their respective organizations.

The timing seemed quite the coincidence (OK, God-incidence) since Penny and I are engaged in raising public awareness and funds for Casa Hogar Vida to support their immediate and ongoing financial needs. I called Penny to get her opinion and right away she said "of course" ~ not knowing what we were going to serve or who would be available to help us. Neither was a consideration in the decision. We recruited friends from work/church, Penny put together a menu, and we were on our way. Of course, that meant making a few extra shopping trips and procuring the use of some roasters, but arrangements fell easily into place.

Of course, obstacles will arise at inopportune times (are there opportune times for obstacles?) to take our eyes off of what God wants to accomplish. On this same Friday, I had to pick up our daughter from Winter Camp at an (as of yet) unknown time Friday afternoon. I was notified pick-up time was 5:00 - 5:30pm ~ two hours from home. We were to start serving the meal around 6:30pm. No problem ~ we recruited our son and with the help of a couple from church ~ Penny thought they could pull it off.

Looking back, we were supposed to go to a surveyor's conference in Columbus, OH from Wednesday through Saturday (as we have for the past two decades) but, because of various other issues, we did not attend. This left me open to pick-up our daughter and, as it turns out, left us available to work the meal (Proverbs 3.5-6, anyone?).

I often wonder how many times God is right there making all of the provisions for us ~ time, funds, people ~ that we just pass off as "coincidence"? How often do we take God for granted or miss His plan because we don't have the faith or understanding to be aware of our Provider?

The group made a significant contribution to Casa Hogar.

God and the Detroit Tigers

Anyone who knows me, knows that I like baseball, specifically the Detroit Tigers, particularly the 1968 Detroit Tigers.

The '68 Tigers were a group of below-average to very good baseball players who, when brought together with each one's particular skills and the proper leadership, became World Champions.

That year the Tigers starting lineup combined for a .250 batting average, with no individual batting over .290 and two batting below .200. Despite these statistics, the Tigers had two great reasons for being winners ~ 1) They had a leader who played each one where they fit best, and 2) Nobody had to be a star.

Using unconventional wisdom, the manager pulled his starting shortstop from the lineup and moved his All-Star center-fielder into play shortstop. This meant that he needed to move his starting right-fielder into center-field and played his star player, who had been hurt for a large part of the year in right-field. These moves could have had a terrible effect on the team, however; they saw the need and did what it took to win as a team.

Much the same way, Paul exhorts us in 1 Corinthians 12:12-26 that the Church of Jesus Christ needs all aspects of the Body to function together in order to accomplish His desires. Verse 18 tells us "But, in fact, God has arranged the parts of the body, everyone of them, just as He wanted them to be." While I'm sure that this happens throughout the world, I have seen it first-hand in Choluteca, with GCLA and Gran Comision Church serving the poor and HIV+ - this is their common goal, to participate in what Christ is doing there, without the need for personal attention. I have not seen anyone putting his or her self-interest ahead of the the common goal - to embody Jesus' love.

I pray that someday, I, too, will be wise enough to put the needs of others ahead of my personal goals. ~ K

God's Reliability

Talking with Joanna the other day started me thinking about Proverbs 3.5-6 (NKJV):

Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding;
In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.

Looking back over the past few years, the instances where God directed our paths toward Honduras is humbling. What would have happened if we hadn't begun to attend Cedar Creek Church (who introduced us to Choluteca)? What would have happened if Ken and I hadn't talked about the dream that showed us working with children in Honduras being pursued by a monster (HIV)? What would have happened if Ken hadn't verbalized the interpretation of the dream? Why did God arrange for me go to Choluteca without Ken the first trip (without Ken on the trip, was I more vulnerable, more open?)? While God assures that He will work everything to good, who'd a thought the last several months of heart-wrenching pain would be used to offer positive, hopeful direction? Am I asking enough questions?!?

While dwelling on all the questions can make one nuts (or anxious, at best), there's no need to continually rehearse the "What ifs...?". When He is our focus, God will direct our paths - period. He is faithful...He is sovereign...He is trustworthy...He knows everything! He doesn't have to ask my permission or tell me "Penny, I'm directing you!"...He directs my paths - period. It's wonderful to understand that when I invest my energy seeking and listening to God...He'll faithfully do the rest! What a great God!!! ~ P