It is amazing how God ordains all things to happen. If we were to choose a week to get sick, this past week would have been the last choice on the calendar. Saturday through Monday we were to be in Washington DC presenting at Engleside Baptist Church. Tuesday drive home. Thursday drive to Radford for Friday at VT and Sunday at Calvary Baptist (Radford). So Monday when Elijah threw up at Ford’s Theater in DC, we thought it was unfortunate. Later, when Caleb followed Elijah, we thought it was pretty bad. Then when Micah and Davina followed Caleb, we knew there was definitely something amiss. Such a busy week! We had it all planned out! Why is this happening?! I must confess, my first thoughts were for all the plans we had made, how this sickness would ruin them all, and how I wasn’t sure what to do. Reminds me of a story of these fishermen in a boat crossing a stormy sea. The further they went the stormier it became. At first they tried to row out of it, then to fight through it, finally giving up and calling out, “We will die!” Amazingly, they seemed to forget that Jesus was riding in their boat…until they exhausted all their other options. Then they woke him with the accusatory statement, “Don’t you care if we perish?” Jesus took the situation in and then posited his own accusatory question, “Why are you so afraid? O you of little faith!” I feel rebuked. Not because we all got sick (yes, I came down with the sickness on Wednesday). But because my first thoughts were for my plans and designs. Instead, God was working out his design, so that He could receive the glory. We did not miss a single service on Sunday at Engleside. I was able to drive home without sickness on Tuesday afternoon. Davina was better on Wednesday, the day that I was laid up in bed all day. And each of the boys has recovered well, and is back to good health…just in time for our adventure in Blacksburg/Radford. God is good all the time. All the time God is good. In Christ, Andy
