Mysterious ways

Sometimes, often, God's ways are not my ways. He answers my prayers ... creatively.

We have a big, once in a lifetime trip coming up. I've been praying. I'm not a worrier, but this has been looming for months, and I AM a planner for sure.

A couple months ago I prayed earnestly that God would assist us financially so that the usual *stuff* wouldn't accompany Frank and I to Paris. Frank is an accountant, and he thinks in terms of budgeting. Everything. Me, I work hard and then like to enjoy the moments with the cash on hand. I don't spend beyond what we have, but I count the cost of missed opportunities more than the budgetary consequence. We've learned how to deal with that difference, but it causes a few tense moments. Actually, we balance each other out. On my own, I'd be broke but smiling. He'd be rich and dull. So...anyhow, I want our time in Paris to be stress free.

This morning as I made breakfast for Jake for the first time in weeks, I reviewed the absolute CRAZY schedule I've been keeping. I generally work 24 hours a week, but now I'm on my fourth straight week of full time plus. Add that to finishing a graduate school class, and keeping up with a busy family, a lot of singing at Easter, blah blah blah... you get the picture. I've never had five work projects on my desk at one time, but I do now! I've been under enormous pressure, juggling them and trying to keep them straight and moving forward. My work is all about deadlines, and the clients set the timing. When the Request for Proposal arrives in the mail, I have a deadline.

But this morning God reminded me of my prayers. My last two checks have been larger than usual, and the one I get this Friday will be close to double my normal paycheck. Just in time. Thank you Lord. I would have preferred finding a wad of twenties, but, indeed, You did provide.

As a diabetic, my health is another concern when traveling - I don't get sick that often, but when I do, the diabetes makes it worse. Also, I have not been sick since my lung yuck which landed me in the hospital this last December, so I've been wondering if the next cold or flu would hit my lungs. Well, God allowed a sinus infection last week, which is not a surprise since sleep was sparse and stress was high. Working non stop and finishing up this semester's final paper, the last thing I needed was a sinus infection. I'm coming out of it now, and it was intense. But hey... no lung involvement (thank you Jesus) and now my resistance is up. I generally only get one illness per season...so...I should be good to go!

Add to that the unpredictable amazing volcanic ash situation, and you'll have a glimpse of my recent duress.

And so this morning, as I sip my coffee, I'm smiling. God and I handled this one a little better than usual. I've been praying a lot, listening to uplifting music, and purposefully turning my thoughts to Him in the moments when panic threatened. My ten page fully annotated paper on "sanctification" is turned in, the Monday night final quiz went well, three projects are out of my hands and under review. The fourth and largest (60 pages of type and photo) ( times six copies, bound etc.) goes into UPS this morning. One more project to tackle, and I will get it done in the remaining work week.

My sinuses, along with the air space over Europe, are clearing.

Trust. I'm learning to trust. And this time, amazingly, I saw real progress in my reactions and in my inner responses. There's nothing like the peace that passeth understanding.

"Dependence" by Jamie Slocum has been my Prozac song of the last few weeks - God has really ministered to me through it. I'm growing. I'm leaning in. Who knows what He's preparing me for...