The things you miss

Being out of the country for five years you miss a lot of things... green chile, chick-fil-a, air conditioning... but the things you miss the most that no care package could ever help are the people and events that take place while you're gone. Over the past five years I've missed huge mile stones in the lives of so many that I care about - weddings, funerals, holidays, babies, graduations, birthdays, and everything in between. It's seriously probably the hardest thing about being called overseas.

Well, although the circumstances are not "ideal" for me being back, I have been blessed over these past seven months to take part in things I've desperately missed and hadn't been able to be a part of for the past five years: Thanks giving, Easter, Mother's day and today I got to have the awesome privilege of attending my brother, Keelan's, high school graduation. I wasn't able to attend Kyle's but I'm so glad I was here for Keeks. I have to say that growing up, Keelan and I were 9 years apart and therefore not incredibly close. Over this time of being back in the States, I've had some amazingly precious time getting to hang out with him and really get to know what a great kid...young man he has become. God has been so faithful to show me that He's got a beautiful plan for the pain and the craziness life became those months ago. He had His reasons for calling me back, and I know I don't even know half of them yet. I praise Him that even in these times of pain, He gives us these times of joy and seeing that He's got it all under control.

The waiting game

I first want to give a shout out to everyone who I've spoken with who says they read every one of these posts. It's so funny because sometimes I treat this as somewhat of a glorified journal, but the fact that God uses this blog to encourage others or just help people to know how to pray is just amazing. To quote the old time classic Napoleon Dynamite, sometimes "I love technology".

I have been a bit of a hermit so to speak over the past few months basically just content to work, go home, and then go to church a couple times a week. Basically just keeping my head down and just seeking God during this extended season of waiting. Have you ever counted how many times Scripture talks about "waiting on God"? it's crazy and then even when the words aren't exactly there, the principle still is. More than that, Scripture likes to add the word "patient" to the call to wait on the Lord.

I continue to equate this time with the Israelite's wandering in the wilderness. I HAVE to wait on God for His provision, His protection, His guidance. The thing is in the moments when I do truly wait on Him and trust Him, He blows me away. He speaks to me and reveals His faithfulness, love and power in ways that words can't describe. It's the moments when I take my eyes off of Him, like Peter when Jesus calls him to walk on water, that I begin to sink. If I start looking at the storm raging around me or just not knowing what's next I sink. But the amazing thing is His Word is so good at helping me to fix my eyes back upon Him.

Along with His Word, He has used so many of you who read these posts to be answers to prayer. I wish I could tell you all the times when I get the random text/call/Facebook message/chance meeting that He uses to provide the perfect encouragement at the perfect time helping me to hang in there a little while longer.

The waiting game is not my favorite game by any means, especially the patient part, but truly as you wait upon the Lord He is so faithful to blow your mind. I don't know when this game (or at least this part of the game) will be over, but He's with me every step of the way.

I don't know what you're going through, but He's there to be the God of ALL comfort, you just need to cry out to Him and wait for Him to respond, direct, provide, etc... So take heart my friend, and wait upon the Lord.

"Wait patiently for the Lord. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the Lord." Psalm 27:14

"Be still in the presence of the Lord, and wait patiently for him to act..." Psalm 37:7a

"I waited patiently for the Lord to help me, and he urned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and the mire. He set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along. He has given me a new song to sing, a hymn of praise to our God. many will see what He has done and be amazed. They will put their trust in the Lord." Psalm 40:1-3

"Even youths will become weak and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion. but those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint." Isaiah 40:30-31