Two More Sleeps

"Two more sleeps until Papa goes on an airplane," is what I told my two year-old son Oskar this morning.  Two more sleeps.  Sigh.  You know, Joey and I have never been apart for as long as ten days, nor have we been as far apart as the Philippines and the USA?  Last night as we were getting ready for bed, I felt my heart sink and a light stream of tears flowed down my cheek.  It's bittersweet really.  On one hand I am so excited for Joey to go serve in another country- teaching others about Jesus, equipping the lay pastors to better teach their congregations, seeing the Philippines, spending time with three godly men who he can gain wisdom from...  Yet there is also this earthly fear in me; the what-if-something-happens fear.  What if he contracts a fatal disease while he's gone, what if there's an accident... what if the kids and I get into a car crash and die- who's he to come home to?  It's hard not to havesome negative thoughts, I am human.  Last night after the wetness of my cheeks disappeared, Joey held my hands and said, "What if.  What if something did happen.  God is in control, and He is good."  He's right. God is in control, and no matter what happens, God is still good.  I'm sure it's a lot easier to say on this side of a tragedy, but the truth doesn't change either way.  The fear I have is not from God, it's from my flesh.  God wants me to trust Him {Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding... Proverbs 3:5}, God wants me not to worry {Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow... Matthew 6:34}, and God wants me to pray instead {Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God... Philippians 4:6}.  So while Joey is away, I will pray, I will trust and I will surrender my thoughts of worry to my Father in heaven who is in complete control.  

Please pray for us:  both for Joey while he is away and for me and the kids while he is gone.  

~Leanne~