This morning, as with most mornings, I started my day by playing computer puzzle games. I am a "thinker". I can make quick decisions immediately upon waking from a dead sleep. I play games to calm my mind and give my body and spirit a chance to catch up with the morning events. This morning, I had a lot on my mind, so I turned my music on "shuffle" to further occupy my brain.
A teaching from Christine Caine came on, which was weird because I thought I only had music in this particular program. I left it playing so I would have even more to distract my brain. She spoke about God's ability to work with broken pieces.
If you read my last posting, you'll know how difficult this transition to Florida has been for Jeff and I. Our expectations of how this chapter of our life would look has been a lot different than the way it actually looks. I have learned that I don't always see everything that God is doing and I sometimes have to just trust that He is, in fact, working all things for good in my life. I have to find anything I can to thank Him for so I don't get focused on all the things that are not happening (you usually head toward that which you are focused on). The following are some of the points Christine taught on that helped me in this process:
From the story in Luke 9:10-16
1) God spends time building an infrastructure, when performing a miracle, so that it's magnitude can be measured and the miracle has a foundation to hold it.
2) Jesus gave thanks for what was never going to be enough... 5 loaves and 2 fish to feed 5000 men plus women and children.
3) The miracle was in the breaking. In this case, the bread, in my life, my preconceived plans.
4) The power was in what was left over. The miracle beyond the miracle.
5) The storms in our life are to allow us to see what we truly believe about God.
In this house, we are transitioning. We can't afford to keep looking back if we want to move forward. Our country is transitioning. You can see it in the tension surrounding historical statues and traditional politics. Change (transition) is difficult, but often necessary. If I can grasp the idea of being thankful for what I do not yet see, rather than lamenting over what I left behind, my process will progress.
God has been preparing Jeff and I for a miracle. He's taken lots of time to build a strong infrastructure in our lives. He's taught us to be thankful even when what we currently see seems insignificant. He's showing us what "breaking" looks like and we look forward to experiencing what He does with the scraps leftover. This storm is bringing to light what we truly believe about his protection and provision, but it also instills in us our true identity. We will be better off having gone through all this. We will know He is trust worthy.
