|
|
GLEANINGS FROM THE WORD
Encountering an extraordinary God in ordinary life
Issue # 163 June 09, 2001
Last Minute Preparations
It was an hectic day around the Corbin household yesterday. My eldest son (Kris) and a friend (Jeff) were finalizing the last minute details of their overseas mission trips.
They are heading out for Florida with a well known mission group for some training and then off overseas to their respective destinations. Both will be gone the bulk of the summer, returning in late August.
Kris will be training national teens in evangelism, and basic construction skills in one country and Jeff will be working with orphans in another.
Both trips are combination work trips/evangelism trips. For Kris, it is his second overseas venture, for Jeff it is his first.
It has been a wearying, yet wonderful few months as the boys (well, I call them boys, but they are really young men as Kris is 20 and Jeff 21) prepared. They were funds to raise, things to buy, travel arrangements to make, churches to speak and what seemed like a million other details to arrange.
Every time we hit some form of insurmountable roadblock along the way, God was faithful in providing a solution from an unexpected source at exactly the right time. It was the same last year, and the year before when my other son (Kyle) went out on a short term mission trip.
I know from experiencing it before and from the Scriptures that God is faithful and will provide. I have seen it over and over again.
I confess though, that I am always amazed when it happens and the ways He makes it happen. Unexpected cheques, items lost in the mail showing up at the last possible moment, someone you never thought of, or met before, facilitating things happening.
It has been a several month joy roller coaster ride of sheer panic combined with the absolute sovereignty of God’s provision.
The human side of me panics, worries and doubts. The father in me alternates between pride that the boys are going and the sadness that comes from knowing I will miss them. The believer part of me knows God has it all planned out, and He will use their willingness to go in ways that will last for eternity.
Overall though, the power of God always wins out and I know, I believe and I trust.
"Consider how the lilies grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith! And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.
Luke 12:27-31 NIV
I know deep in my heart that when we walk in obedience and faith, He looks after the details.
He’s proven it time after time.
Until next time, may you heed the calling of God for your life and trust in Him for the details.
God bless.
Kevin
© 2001 K.F. "Kevin" Corbin
All Rights Reserved