Time keeps on slippin'....

Ever have one of those moments of slight panic as you realize that time is slipping through your fingers?  I had one last night when it dawned on me that I leave for Africa in just a month and a few days!!  It kind of took my breath away and I'm slightly freaked out.

I'm reminding myself that God is control.  He is in control of the funds to get me there, He is in control of my health and safety while I'm there.  He is in control of Dan and Parker's well-being.  None of these are things that I have any control over.  When I was working for Western Union, I had a trainer who told us that we should only be worrying about the things we can control.  He was coming from a completely secular point of view but he was right on spiritually as well.  His point was that we waste time and energy worrying about things that we'll never be able to impact in any way.  Worry is exhausting.  I don't want to worry about all of these details that I know God is ultimately in control of.  I can't do anything about any of it.  When I truly hand it all over and let Him control it, I have nothing to worry about.  How freeing is that?!?!

"Therefore do not worry, saying 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?'  For after all these things the Gentiles seek.  For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.  But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you."  Matthew 6:31-33 (emphasis mine)

My greatest prayer as I prepare to go to Africa and while I'm there is that God would reveal Himself to me, draw me closer to Him; that I would know Him more deeply and intimately through this experience.  I don't want to go to Africa for myself.  I want to go for His glory.  He get's the glory through every step of this.  None of it is happening because of anything I've done.  Every time someone tells me they want to give me some money for my trip, no matter the amount, it makes me cry because it is evidence to me of God moving, God providing, God working in my life.

It's all for Him.