Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV)
As Christians we know we should trust in the Lord with all our hearts. But do we really?
We make our financial plans, travel plans, food plans, exercise plans, relationship plans, emotional plans, and so on, but do we confer with God first? Do we lay these strategies out then ask God for His blessing instead?
When God gives us a plan for whatever, He doesn’t ask us first how we like the plan. We simply need to take the first steps He gives us and then the next step as it comes. This is real trust because we don’t know specifically where He is taking us. We only know He wants us to go, do, say, whatever as part of His plan not ours.
Anytime God tells me to do something nine times out of ten, I say, “Really? You want me to do what?” Anytime He commands me to do something it is never easy, never logical, and sometimes not even pleasant. But He says go do and it always turns out to be more than I can imagine for my good or the good of someone else.
There are times I want to resist because I am either reluctant to trust in His call to do, or I want to make sure He is speaking. Satan is a trickster and he can make ideas seem so enticing or for a greater good, but it is not what God wants me to do. In those times I have done the Gideon move. I throw down a form of a fleece for conformation that He is speaking (Judges 6). If I get confirmation from three different angles I am all in and ready to act. Other times there is no doubt and I am ready to act right away. I have learned when I hesitated or refused to answer His call the consequences was not pleasant like it was with Jonah (Jonah 1 and 2). Immediate obedience is the only way to go and trust that God will not leave or forsake me.
What it is God calling us to do that we are hesitating or refusing to do? What amazing things have we seen because we followed God’s will and not our own?
“Do you know anyone who would be available to be a cabin mate with me on a cruise?” Elaine asked me early in the year.
“I might be interested depending on the cost and when the cruise is.” I answered.
Dan and I love to travel. One of our favorite forms of travel are on a cruise. however we not been on a cruise since 2019 due to the pandemic and the number of cases being so high on cruises. We have flown on planes and drove during the pandemic. I have been on several international trips during this pandemic. But cruises we have said no to until we felt comfortable about going.
When I was asked about this cruise the COVID-19 virus was more of a factor than the cost and the date. After prayer, the Holy Spirit made it clear I was to go. Dan and I agreed it was an opportunity for me to go to scout out the experience. We have plans to celebrate our fiftieth anniversary on a cruise.
So, I went ready to wear my KN95 mask anytime I was inside and not while outside. The first day of the cruise I prayed to God about what I should do. I found it cumbersome to wear the mask up inside and then down outside, especially when walking through the ship in and out, in and out. The mask was only worn part of that first day. “If I get COVID-19, I get it! If I don’t, Hallelujah!” I told our third cabin mate, Nancy that I had decided to not wear it. So, during the week I used my Navage Nasal System in the morning and evening because of my allergies and to flush out any viruses that might get into my sinuses. Daily garlic, honey, probiotics, Liposomol Vitamin C, Quercetin, and Vitamin D also remained in my diet as if I were home.
This was my first girls trip. I had seen many of my friends on these and have wanted to do the same, but it never happened until God sent three of us along with three others who were in two other cabins. God knew I needed the week away from my regular routine and as a transition from one function He had me serve in for twelve years into something else. It was a time to relax, refresh, and reflect.
Anytime God enables me to travel He always reveals, instructions, and encourages me about something. He loves taking me away so I can hear clearly about what He wants me to know and do. He did a lot of that in these eight days away from home. I have directions on a few of my issues, deeper relationships with my cabin mates, and insight. We arrived home today. I took a home COVID-19 test and was negative. I will take another test later in the week.
Praises to God for memories on the high seas and in His nature on land. Thank you Lord, for this time away with You and the changes to come.
Links for those articles written during those days can be found here:
I don’t like being late. I have a tendency to be early. My husband has told me sometimes we are so early that we end up setting up chairs or some other tasks to prepare for the event. I learned to be early but not too early.
One time I was early for a Bible Study with a potential new member. I drove around the neighborhood so as not to sit parked in front of their house. Because of my wandering around a police office pulled me over and asked what I was about. I told him I was too early for a Bible Study and was roaming the neighborhood. He told me he wanted me to step out the car because he wanted to show me something. Oh no! Step out the car? Here? Why? He took me to the rear of my car and asked me what did I see.
“I don’t know? What am I looking for?” Is my tail light out? This is not good outside the car with a police officer. He has profiled me for some reason. Maybe he thinks I was casing the neighborhood.
“Your license plate. It is rusted out.” he said.
What? Rusted out? What does that have to do with anything? “Yes, I see.” What kinda charge is this?
“Your plates should be visible and clear for any police officer to see! You are getting a ticket for a rusted plate. You must also go to the BMV and purchase a new plate.”
“Thank you, officer. I didn’t know. I will buy one as soon as possible.” I said as he gave me the ticket and I got back into the car.
Inside the car I sighed with relief while keeping my anger from boiling to the surface. That could have been so much worse. Now if, I am early, I park in a lot and do something constructive while I wait.
Being on time or early for church, work, events, and other activities has been grilled into my DNA. So, when I am late because of my own doing or someone’s else’s doing I get a little anxious. Recently, I almost got a speeding ticket for running late to pick up two ladies from church for an event. Thanks only to God, the police officer got the person in front of me. Whoosh! Paying for a ticket and then being even later was not something I desired. I praised God for sparing me and I slowed down. After all I was already late. Rushing wasn’t going to make me any earlier.
In those few times I am late, I wonder: Should I go? I hate walking in after the service has started. No one will miss me anyway.Is it really all that important that I be there? Even with the option to watch church services on Zoom when I am late I’d rather be there with the Body of Christ. Being home alone watching and not partaking withmy Lord is always the better way to go – better late than not at all.
They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. Acts 2:42-47 (NIV)
Years ago, my friend from India drove me to a speaking engagement in Dallas. When he heard the music and saw the lights, he said, “You Americans are funny. You won’t show up unless there’s a good speaker or band. In India, people get excited just to pray.” He proceeded to tell me how believers back home love Communion and how they flock to simple prayer gatherings. I imagined God looking down on the earth and seeing people on one side of the planet gatheirng expectantly whenever prayer was happening. Meanwhile, on the other side of the planet, people show up only for the most talented people and the “atmosphere”. It’s embarrassing.
Sunday is full of churches all over the world. What draws people to them? Francis talks about how he asked his daughter if she had a birthday party where only cake was served and friends came to visit her and bring her gifts, how many would come? She responded probably a couple. Then he asked if the party was at Dave & Buster’s, unlimited tokens, food, and prizes, how many would come. She said, the whole school would come. They then had a discussion about whether these “friends” came to be with her or just for the fun.
What draws us to church? How content are we with a church whose main focus is on prayer and communion? How eager are we to run to church to sit at the feet of Jesus and hear the Word He has for us? Can we enjoy being in His presence without the eloquent speaking minister, foot stomping concert-type bands, and large tone perfect choirs? All those are wonderful forms of worship, but is that the only reason we go? Are we going to be entertained or to be in the presence of our Lord and His people? Does the thought of prayer, reading His Word, communing with other believers to break bread and drink His blood a turn off for us or a mere tradition with no meaning?
At our Women’s Retreat in our church. We are staying one night. We will spend time listening to His Word, time in small groups, singing, praying, talking, playing games, laughing, crying, in the pool, prayer walking, and an assortment of other activities to draw closer to each other individually and closer to our Lord collectively. I can hardly wait to get there! It is always such a joy to be wherever The Body of Christ is so that He can sharpen me for His purpose and so I can be a source of encouragement to another sister. I love it when I get to travel to one of our international conferences and hear world ministers speak, large bands, and song leaders lead. But those smaller group times with other praying, Word reading, and serving believers brings me closer to Him and His family.
May our reason for attending any church be solely for spending quality time with Him and His family as He modes us individually into His united Body.
They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. Acts 2:42-47 (NIV)
“Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen.” I John 4:20 (NIV). This scripture is directed at the church about relationships between brothers and sisters in the church. However, God commands us to love all His creations.
What a tall command from God. How in the world are we supposed to love people who are a source of frustration, negativity, hate, evil, annoyance, hurtfulness, and a list of other behaviors that drive us crazy? For those who have the same negative behaviors we have we hate more because they are just like us. It is pure science opposites attract and likes repel.
Yet as Christians we are to love everyone, not just the ones we like. If we don’t love everyone then are we really children of God? “Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.” I John 4:7-8 (NIV).
I pray often that God give me the heart of compassion He has for all His creations. Loving someone who rubs me the wrong way is not the first thought in my mind. Pride goes before me and I want to think or respond in a negative way to that person who is disrupting my joy level. More times than not when someone frustrates me, it is because I have that same behavior or sin in me; I don’t like it in me and seeing it in them makes it worse. So, I want to fix them instead of me first. “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?” Matthew 7:3 (NIV).
God says nothing about we have to like people. He says we have to love them despite their flaws. We are all flawed people. We must also love ourselves. Sometimes loving ourselves is the root cause of why we can’t love others. If we don’t love ourselves then it is harder to love others or God. Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” Matthew 22:37-39 (NIV).
We can’t love others on our own. God gives us the Holy Spirit dwelling within us to guide us into the responses we should have in order to love God, others, and ourselves. Being in His Word, prayer, and connections within His Body will enable us to love in ways we fight against. God is love and walking with Him means we love like He does. Let us allow the Holy Spirit to be our Counselor to love those we don’t like.
The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery;idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factionsand envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other. Galatians 5:19-26 (NIV).
According to loneliness statistics, “58%of Americans felt lonely in 2021. (US, Cigna, 2021) That number was 61% in 2019 and 54% in 2018. (US, Cigna, 2020)”. Studies also show that younger people between 18 and 22 were more lonely than adults over 65 years old.
The problem with smartphones that keep us connected to everything and everywhere, says Turkle, is that they eliminate boredom. Moments of silent boredom are when we face what’s really inside of us–our fears, joys, beliefs, and struggles. In other words, boredom is necessary for self-awareness. This self-awareness, Turkle argues, then equips us to have intimate connections with others. Only when I know who I am can I share the deepest parts of myself with another. The constant stimulation of mobile tech is interrupting this process.
Turkle says we must “cultivate the capacity for solitude, the ability to be separate, to gather yourself. Solitude is where you find yourself so that you can reach out to other people and form real attachments. When we don’t have the capacity for solititude, we turn to other people in order to feel less anxious or in order to feel alive. When this happens, we’re not able to appreciate who they are. It’s as though we’re using them as spare parts to support our fragile sense of self. We slip into thinking that always being connected is going to make us feel less alone. But we’re at risk, because actually it’s the opposite that’s true. If we’re not able to be alone, we’re going to be more lonely. And if we don’t teach our children to be alone, they’re only going to know how to be lonely.”
Turkle’ research illuminates a truth about life with God as well. If we don’t cultivate solitude and silence, we won’t have a sense of self to share with God. We won’t know what’s really inside us to be able to identify the fears, joys, and struggles that ought to fill our prayers. And if we are never alone with God, it is unlikely that we will come to recognize the presence of God in others.
When I read this chapter in Skye’s book, I underlined most of the words he wrote. He showed how a person who was always lonely was a fully social person and the person who was not lonely had times with others and times of solitude. This was so encouraging. I am in the over 65 year old group and I love my times alone. I love spending time with no television or radio on just to sit, read, write, day dream, or do nothing at all. When I spend alone time with God reading His Word and in prayer that is an added bonus. Rarely do I feel alone. I may feel misunderstood, but not lonely.
I remember being with people who were unable to take long backpack hikes because they could not stand the noise in their own head about themselves. They must talk, make noise, play music, whatever to break the silence of listening to themselves. They didn’t like what they heard in their heads about themselves and needed to squash it by bringing in the distractions of life. How are we allowing the feeling of loneliness to slip into our life by not spending time alone and hearing ourselves speak? Jesus often separated Himself from His disciples to be alone. Let’s be like Him and be alone.
“But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.” Luke 5:16 (NIV)
Before every student behind-the-wheel drive I pray. I pray for safety, great conversations, and learning for the student and me. Recently a forecast for wind gusts from 30 to 60 mile-an-hour was issued. High profile vehicles were prohibited from driving the turnpike and walking or hiking was discouraged. With two student drivers I was prepared to cancel or shorten our drive if proven too dangerous to drive.
Under cloudy gloomy skies driver one and I rode in a residential area for about an hour. During that ride we took note of a high school parking lot that was good for maneuverability training. As the hour wound down we drove to that empty parking lot and set up cones. Since this was the first lesson and the first time practicing this task it took a few moments to complete the first move up and back after knocking over several cones. As the student was backing to the start position, drops slowly fell from the sky. As the student attempted to do another pass, the floodgates opened up. The winds picked up, lightening struck, and small white pellets beat down on the car.
“Oh my gosh! Hail! I hope this is not indications of a tornado! Let’s sit for a minute!” I said.
Then before I barely finished my sentence all the cones, blew away to the right!
“No way! Cut the car off! I need to get those cones.” I cried putting on my jacket.
Lord protect me! I can’t let those cones get away! The cones were half way across the parking lot and heading for the street. I ran. As I tried to reach the first cone, wind would grab it and snatch it out of my reach. The five cones appeared to be playing dodge ball with me as I grabbed, they sped up or darted in an opposite direction. What the heck am I doing? It’s raining, hailing, lightening, the wind is pushing me forward, and the parking lot is full of water? Lord protect me!Too late to turn back now!
One by one I was enabled to grab a cone and then push the next one into the hole of the cone before. Soon I had all five cones in an orange stacked pyramid as the last one was just about to leave the parking lot. I turned back to the car. Oh my gosh! The hail and wind sand blasted me and choked my breath away. The fast chase turned into a slow push into the wind. Turn around; walk backwards! I did. What a relief! I was able to pick up the pace running backwards with eyes looking here and there for the five sticks still out there. I hit the car. “Open the trunk!” I slammed the cones in.
I saw the five sticks laying near where they initially fell hugging the ground in the water of the lot. I ran to them and grabbed four, but lost sight of the fifth one. What? I just saw it here somewhere! I need to get rid of these four and come back! The wind tried to whip the four from my hands as they too joined the cones. Where is that fifth stick? Is it lost forever? In the driving rain I scanned this way and that and just when I was ready to quit, the stick showed itself. I grabbed it, threw it in the trunk, slammed the lid, and threw myself in the front seat passenger side.
“Whoosh! What a work out!” I panted. We sat there for a few minutes while I caught my breath and allowed my heart to slow down. “Thank you, God!”
The rest of the journey was uneventful as the rains slowed down, the lightening and hail stopped. Well, not really, we had to drive around streets that were littered with limbs and branches. “Well you get the opportunity to do real maneuverability without cones.” I smiled.
By the time I met the second driver, there was no precipitation of any kind. An occasional cloud parted and allowed the sun in. We rode the freeway with hardly any people on it. I guess everyone had stayed home because of the storm.
“Let’s try maneuverability in the lot where there are already cones. Hopefully they are still standing.” I directed the student to the location. All the cones were down and I couldn’t tell where the sticks were. “Well, let’s put out our cones and see what happens.” I said.
I put down the cones and the student put the sticks in the cones. Before the student had a chance to put in the third stick an invisible force came and blew what we were trying to construct down and away. “Grab any cones and sticks and get back to the car!” The easy part was grabbing the cones and sticks. The hard part was pushing against the wind back to the car. With hair, sticks flapping, and cones trying to fly we struggled back. Thank goodness the distance was only a car length away, but it felt like a football field. The wind fought us as we put the cones and sticks in the trunk, It felt like the sticks and cones were pushing back at us so not be imprisoned in the trunk. Slam! went the trunk with my two hands!
We sat there panting. “I was hoping to get a run before this drive, but after that I got my work out in for today!” the student gasped.
“Me too!”
The ride back with this student was met with down trees and telephone poles. We drove down streets and then had to turn around for downed trees. We couldn’t get back to the meeting place soon enough. We laughed because it took us longer to get back than planned because of all the debris. It seemed like we saw police officers from every community we drove through blocking streets or because of darkened traffic lights. After the rides I saw a telephone down in my own community with the street blocked.
Thanks only to God the three of us made it safely through the crazy weather, had some fantastically conversations, learned at lot, and the students have great stories to tell about the adventure in the car as they saw God’s glory and His protection.
“The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!” Matthew 8:27 (NIV).
“Why do that?” “God knows; why do others need to know?”
Confessing our sins to people is not encouraged. In fact keeping our lives private is the way to go. No one needs to know how we treat others verbally or physically bad. No one needs to know our secret desires to hurt, harm, or abuse. No one needs to know how our sexual needs are met. No one needs to know how we lied, stole, or deceived. No one needs to know anything that makes us look bad.
Yet the Bible is clear about confessing our sins to one another so that we can be healed. Confession to a trusted friend who will pray with us and encourage us to repent is best. I love how Sisters in the church have been a balm and advisors that helped me to turn away from ungodly thoughts and behaviors. With confession I have been freed to do God’s will for me.
How are we avoiding confession and allowing Satan to keep us in the dark with him?
“Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” James 5:16 (NIV).
When we pray what is our response? Do we pray and then wait and wait to hear or see what God is going to do? Or do we pray and we do what He says to do?
There is a common story about a drowning man that goes like this according to the Truth Book:
The Drowning Man A fellow was stuck on his rooftop in a flood. He was praying to God for help. Soon a man in a rowboat came by and the fellow shouted to the man on the roof, “Jump in, I can save you.” The stranded fellow shouted back, “No, it’s OK, I’m praying to God and he is going to save me.” So the rowboat went on. Then a motorboat came by. “The fellow in the motorboat shouted, “Jump in, I can save you.” To this the stranded man said, “No thanks, I’m praying to God and he is going to save me. I have faith.” So the motorboat went on. Then a helicopter came by and the pilot shouted down, “Grab this rope and I will lift you to safety.” To this the stranded man again replied, “No thanks, I’m praying to God and he is going to save me. I have faith.” So the helicopter reluctantly flew away. Soon the water rose above the rooftop and the man drowned. He went to Heaven. He finally got his chance to discuss this whole situation with God, at which point he exclaimed, “I had faith in you but you didn’t save me, you let me drown. I don’t understand why!” To this God replied, “I sent you a rowboat and a motorboat and a helicopter, what more did you expect?”
When we pray and God gives us the answer are we discarding that answer and waiting for something else? Prayer means when God gives us the answer we are to respond immediately and do what He says. Let us not be like the drowning man and miss our blessing from God.
“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.” Matthew 7:7-8 (NIV).
“What have you been doing all day?” I asked my husband, who was sitting in his pajamas in his man cave.
His heavy lidded eyes and down crested mouth opened and said, “Nothing. I have been so drained. Working in the cold on the garage opener must have given me a cold.”
“You were out there a long time.” How unusual. Working as a union pipefitter in the cold never did this to him before; he has all the proper cold wear clothing. Maybe he didn’t dress as warm this time. “You need me to give you some tea or something?”
“Yes, please.”
That was Friday. He mentioned it started on Thursday. He wasn’t sleepy. He just didn’t feel like doing anything.
On Saturday while I was at work, he called me and said he used one of the home COVID-19 test for giggles. By then he had flu-like symptoms and a cough. He was positive for COVID-19. By the time he picked me up from work he said he took a second test just in case and it too was positive. The KN95 mask I wore at work, jumped on my face before getting in the car with him. My COVID-19 test was negative. That night we slept in separate bedrooms.
The next day was Sunday. I was scheduled to be communion and offering speaker at church. I shouldn’t be going, I might expose someone!This shouldn’t be happening right not! The Holy Spirit encouraged me to contact several church leaders. One of them was a Cleveland Clinic doctor and she assured me that exposed people no longer have to quarantine, but had to wear a mask and retest in five days. Thanks only to God those two messages happened.
Sunday and Monday went as scheduled while I wore a mask every where. However laying in bed Monday night, I thought, Is my chest a little tight? Was that a whiz?Why am I having a headache? I have had pneumonia and I have eosinophil asthma but had not had a tight chest or a whiz since 2020.
Tuesday morning I felt nothing, however during an in-person meeting with Bible leaders my body told me something wasn’t quite right. It was achy, I was sleepy, and had an occasional cough. I hadn’t coughed since 2021. Later after this meeting I was supposed to go to work, but the Holy Spirit said, “go home and take a COVID-19 test now.” Aww man, really? Not now, I am supposed to ride with two student drivers today and two on Thursday. Plus by the end of the week travel out of town with family for my sister-in-law’s 70 birthday celebration!No way! I knew in my spirit this time I was positive and the test confirmed it. Within a few hours a low grade fever joined the party.
“I hope your doctor recommends Paxlovid.” My daughter texted me.
My Cleveland Clinic church doctor texted, “I recommend you take Paxlovid because of your age and lung issues.”
By the time my doctor prescribed Paxlovid I had already researched the drug. I don’t like using drugs. Despite the potential side effects, I was going to take it. “Pray for no side effects for this drug”, I texted to all my prayer warriors.
Within twenty-four hours all my developing symptoms disappeared! The occasional cough remains. But this dry cough is nothing like a pneumonia cough. In fact I gained energy by Wednesday. From Wednesday to Saturday I attended three Zoom meetings, baked homemade bread for five meals of pizza, baked twelve homemade buttermilk biscuits, and made ten meals of buttermilk homemade pancakes. Our freezer is full. Then I wrote a blog article on my author website and walked with my husband on our street with our KN95 masks on in the sunshine.
Any time God takes me through some sort of illness or situation, I ask “what do you want me to learn through this.” Every time he reveals a behavior that has to change or tweaks a good behavior. This is what happened. A few days before Dan got sick I started using Steve Harvey’s L’Evate You. After Dan got sick I doubled up on my daily garlic, honey, and yogurt. Then when I started the Paxlovid I added Liposomal Vitamin C and Quercetin into my daily diet. Daily use of prebiotic and probiotic foods along with some supplements are necessary to prevent or reduce ailments. However, prayers and God’s healing power healed me.
However, my release date was Sunday, too late to go to my sister-in-law’s 70 birthday party.
“Darn it! I just finished wrapping your thank you for coming gift,” my husband’s sister said when she heard the news.
“Bummer, if my release date was Saturday, we could have come for one night instead of the two we planned. But I gotta stay here.” I moaned. “I have been looking forward to this for months. But God is saying ‘no’ for some reason.”
Dan, my husband’s release date from COVID-prison was Wednesday. “I could go, but I am not going to leave you here,” he said looking sicker than he was because of disappointment.
God why are we missing this once-in-a-life time event?But let your will be done. Maybe you are protecting us from something. I rationalized.
Then the Holy Spirit prompted me to contact my nephew to see if he happened to have space for Dan. He did. Immediately I texted my prayer warriors and prayed that Dan would reconsider and go with the nephew. God answered and Dan went. I stayed home alone with God. It was God’s will for Dan to go, but not me.
My five-day imprisonment was the best stay-cation ever. Besides all the cooking and baking, I read, chatted on the phone, walked miles inside my house and whatever else God needed me to do. I may have missed all the family interactions, dancing, delicious food, and the travel, but I had the best time talking and walking with God instead.
Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Matthew 6:34. (NIV)
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil. This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones. Proverbs 3:5-8 (NIV).
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