Provision

With all that Val and I have been through in our married life, not just 2016 in our battle with breast cancer, I am surprised at how often I am surprised by God’s provision.  As I think back to many, many situations, God’s hand directing and guiding can be clearly seen.  And several times, as I recognize His hand I am surprised….. Is that because I doubt that God will provide at all or in the way He provides?  If I am honest with myself, both.

If I challenge myself to really have my eyes open to looking for His hand in our lives, then being surprised by how He provides is interesting to see because very often it is much different from what we thought humanly possible.  I am also challenged in that God’s provision doesn’t always mean life is rosy.  In fact, often it means that it is far from rosy.  But just because things are not comfortable doesn’t mean God is not in them and actively working to build His kingdom and building His kingdom is way more important than building my kingdom……

The most recent example of this being surprised by how He provides is currently occurring.  Way back in the middle of September when Val was in the middle of chemo treatment, a good friend challenged us to pick a date and go away to celebrate being done with active treatment.  Having a good hand on her treatment schedule for chemo and then radiation, we picked this particular week to be away.  Remember, we picked this week out of the blue way back in September.

As time went along, I got involved in a very big project at work that had a big deadline to meet by January 24th.  In fact, we looked at needing to be out of town for a site visit with the client this exact week as it was the only time that would fit into everyone’s schedule but mine.  Early on I shared with the client that I was going to be off the grid this week and so my work would need to be completed a couple of weeks early.  That extra push had me going and going right up to the week before we were scheduled to leave.  Then during a meeting with the client, they determined that the project was not going to be pursued as we had planned and our work could stop for the time being while other options were being considered.

And just like that, I had not much to do the entire week before we were set to leave!  At the time it was frustrating that all the work we had been doing on one of the most important projects I have ever been involved with had ground to a halt.  By the way, it is still frustrating….  Like I said, His provision doesn’t always mean life is rosy.

Val and I have now been away in the Georgia mountains this entire week and for the first time in a long time, my deck is cleared.  This has really allowed us space to be away and just rest in a secluded cabin on a mountain side with a river nearby.  Rest and recuperate with no pressure that we are missing something or leaving something unattended while we are away.  What a gift!  Thank you God for your provision!

Here is another little fun story on God’s provision…… our cabin has a hot tub outside which we have had the pleasure of enjoying each evening.  The lock on the cabin is one of those time sensitive electric push button jobs with a custom code just for us.  Mind you this code is not just three numbers, it is something like nine.  Anyway the first night we went out to enjoy the hot tub I brought my phone along as a second thought.  We get all done and get out to go inside except our cool electronic door had decided to automatically lock!  Now mind you I do have a bathing suit on but not much more than that and a towel.  And we are out in the middle of nowhere.  Fortunately, God put in my head to save the door lock number on my phone along with the idea to have it outside with us.  What could have turned into a long walk to who knows where to get help so we could get back in was actually not much of a thing at all.  Thank you God for your provision!

Here are some pictures of our week, enjoy!