A Little Encouragement

This last couple weeks have been kind of stressful as we've been trying to make a big decision about our short-term plans and wait for our home to sell (as well as a multitude of little things to do). I was reading through a short devotional going through Matthew. The last day of this devotional was just a couple days before we made the big decision. The text I read was Matt 6:25-34. It was just what I needed for that day and still have been meditating on.

²⁵ “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? ²⁶ Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? ²⁷ Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?
²⁸ “So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; ²⁹ and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. ³⁰ Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?
³¹ “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ ³² For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. ³³ But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. ³⁴ Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

The last two verses especially stood out to me. "Seek first the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness." Am I seeking that first? If so, then God will provide accordingly. Does that mean it'll always be exactly what I think, how I think it should happen, and when? No. But, seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added to you.

Our house is still for sale, when most of the people who are moving away have already sold theirs. But, I will not worry about this. Our heart is set on God's kingdom. He will provide as necessary and I will trust in Him. Our time frame to go to Southeast Asia to our hospital has lengthened. I am excited that God has provided for some very particular needs, but I am also sad that we are not going as soon as I would like. We have a Seminar in Pennsylvania for our mission organization in July. I have to find someone to watch our kids for 2 whole weeks (including weekends). I am trying not to stress about this, but to be confident in God providing accordingly.

Today has enough trouble of it's own. Don't worry about tomorrow's trouble. Seek Him first!

Welcome to April!

 

So, things have been a little quiet from us lately. We've done some traveling, done some work, and done a lot of other stuff. I haven't had much time to really write much on here. But, I will soon. Anyway, just so you all know we are still alive and kicking, I'm posting a short blurb and some pictures. Brett and I had the wonderful opportunity to take a vacation/work trip, with no kids! Brett's parents were so gracious as to take care of our 4 crazies for us. We spent about a day in southern Illinois and then went out to Las Vegas for a Trauma Surgery conference. Needless to say, we found what was outside of Vegas more interesting than what was in Vegas. The Red Rock Canyons were fantastic and we spent two days hiking in that area.

 

Here is a view of some of the gorgeous red rocks and the beautiful desert scenery! It was so nice to see mountains again, although they aren't quite the same as the beautiful Cascades in Washington that I grew up seeing every day.

 Ok, we climbed all the way to the top of this. Believe me it's higher than it looks. You have to hike down into a valley before you can climb up these rocks. The previous picture of us was taken when we reached the top.

The Grand Canyon! We did a once in a lifetime helicopter ride through the West Rim!