Be Encouraged

I came across this tweet yesterday posted by @MattSmethurst on Twitter.

Fearful 6-year-old Corrie ten Boom talking with her dad: “Corrie, when we go to Amsterdam, when do I give you your ticket? Weeks before?”

“No—just before we get on the train!”

“Exactly. And our wise Father knows when we will need his strength. Don’t run ahead of him, Corrie.”

Sidenote: If you have not yet read The Hiding Place, I highly recommend it. 

My Miscalculation

A few weeks ago, I realized I had made an error. I thought our final agency payment included housing and transportation in Hungary. 

It did not.

Oblivious to the reality of the situation, I had entered the phase of ease: payments are made, no more worries about funds, I can now focus on our family.

I was wrong. 

Our housing and transportation costs were not covered. That would be an extra $5,000. We also needed to pay for plane tickets, food, and other expenses (Tomas's visa, passport, medial exams, etc.) all out of pocket. We would need roughly 8,000 more dollars!

In talking with a friend, I expressed my anger. I was truly upset. I had already been in that phase of worry and fretting about finances. I felt I had paid my dues. I was supposed to be in the clear. In truth, I did not want to be completely dependent on God again. Trusting is hard. Waiting is hard. It is so much "easier" for me to just handle it. After all, I know what needs to be done and I will get it done in enough time to ride that second phase of ease. This is what I tell myself, anyways.

I was wrong, again.

Waiting, suffering, and trails are when growth happens.

 A Lesson from my Tomato Plants☺

Gardens are everywhere in North Dakota. Churches, schools, community organizations, and neighbors, it seems everyone has a garden. This summer I decided to have one too!

Enter my 2 tomato plants:

I have really enjoyed watching these plants grow. I love watering them and watching them as they change a little each day. And, I especially love eating the sweet tomatoes these plants produce.

I take care to make sure they get enough sunlight and the right amount of water. I used to protect them when severe weather was heading our way, but then I read that bad weather is actually healthy for my plants.

When it hails (and it does), when the wind is strong (and it is), and when downpours come (and they do), the plant is strengthened. These conditions force the roots to take a tighter grip and become sturdier so that they can withstand the next torrential rain or unkind element. 

Allowing my plants to grow in and through stormy situations enables them to grow stronger.

Even though I fight it, God allows hardships to come my way for my good.

"Count it all joy, my brothers and sisters, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing." - James 1:2-4

Our Father provides

I loved that tweet about Corrie ten Boom and her dad. I often want to run ahead of God's timing. I must be reminded time and time again to wait on Him.

On Thursday we received a call from a grant organization. They are providing - get this - $8,000!