"Be strong and courageous..." It's easier said than done.
I kiss my babies goodbye and the memories of the last goodbye's I've had before flash like lightning,
exposing raw the soft spots on my heart...the parts that don't feel very strong or courageous.
But, I read on.
"Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go."
And so He is. The Great Comforter, Healer, Physician, Best Friend anyone could ever know,
HE is with me, HE is with Bea, HE is with Beck. He loves us. He is trustworthy.
The cardiologist performs 2 exploratory surgeries per Monday. Today his 2 are Bea and Beck. Their investigations are expected to take about 3 hours each and we pray for no complications, trusting that God has a perfect plan no matter the outcome.
It's so ironic, how I find myself trusting Him with the gigantic issues at hand more faithfully than I'm able to offer up the small stuff like separation from my loved ones for the day or owning peace as I attempt to live out the trust I know in my heart.
Why does the flesh battle so with the spirit?
"Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation.
The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
Matthew 26:41
So it is...and with acceptance of such things I choose prayer that I might not succumb to the temptation to fear that which seems worthy of trembling. But, all the more do I tremble at the thought of God's grace and omniscience, His sovereignty and how He works all things for good...even my fumbling fears. The enemy throws fiery darts, but Jehovah Jireh protects and provides.
He is sufficient. His Hand is upon the details and He cares.
They sat in the waiting room with their Bibles early this morning before dawn, these two.
Our little sweeties, so innocent and trusting us, not knowing anything of their heart conditions.
But there is something that they have undoubtedly come to know in the time they have spent in our family:
Jesus LOVES Bea and Jesus LOVES Beck.
They know it. They sing it. They cling to their Bibles, literally to the point of choosing to sleep with them each night. They look at the picture of Jesus with the children and we tell them, "Jesus loves the children." And they say, "Jesus loves Bea"/"Jesus loves Beck."
They know.
So this morning, with their Bibles and special blankies in tow, Bea and Beck entered into part of our mission in their lives, the starting point of physical restoration for their human, broken hearts. AND, we pray for them, witness to them, show them the gospel in every way we can on mission for the redemption of their spiritual hearts as well. God brought them both to us and offered us to them with purpose and today, as our beloved Bea and Beck encounter the first of a series of open heart surgeries, Lord willing, we partake in the multifaceted mission for Bea and Beck's hearts...prayerfully.
Meanwhile, God is working out His will in all of us as we choose to trust Him, choose to pray, choose to push aside anxious thoughts to focus on that which is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and praiseworthy instead. We believe that God is God, His plans cannot be thwarted, and that they are always good. These are the things we're choosing today as we journey through surgery #1.
“I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted."
Job 42:2
Job 42:2
"Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, 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. Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice.
And the God of peace will be with you."
Philippians 4:4-9
