TWO WEEKS!!!!

Just two weeks before we board the airplane for the Philippines. Two years. That's a long time to be away from our family, friends, and the United States. We've been away the five months last year and I say to myself, "It's only five times that long." There are many questions, much that remains unknown. I do know that God has called us to go for these two years. I know that although we will be far from our loved ones, He will be with us. He is faithful to watch over us and care for us. He will lead, guide, and teach us as we go. It is easy to feel overwhelmed but each time I am flooded with these feelings I try to remind myself God knows everything that needs to be done for us to be ready. This is not something we are doing on our own. I pray that what needs to be done each day will. It is exhausting the many decisions that need to be made. God, speak to us clearly so we know what to do.

We have so much stuff! It is tasking going through it all. Sometimes just because it's a lot of work but usually because of the emotions involved. Memories hit like huge waves. Sometimes it is easy to say, "Let's get rid of this." Other times not so much. We as Americans can get easily entangled in the stuff that surrounds us. It can subtly become our security blanket. We forget everything is His. He has provided everything. We can trust Him to provide for our needs. Having grown up in a prosperous nation, we have so much that we get confused about what we need. Society is continually bombarding us with a list of things we "need." A bunch of wants disguised as needs. Our identity is in Christ, not our address, the clothes we wear or the stuff that fills our homes.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

This passage in Philippians has been underlined in my Bible for a long time. This is important for me to remember even before I was moving halfway around the world.

Lisa