I can't...even......

I don't even know where to begin.  I'm still shaking.  I serve an UNBELIEVABLE God with UNFATHOMABLE ways.  He just showed me, minutes ago, that I never have to have another concern throughout my whole life.  And then he told me to write about it while it's fresh.  He told me he wanted people out there to know just what he's capable of.

I will back up to about 2 hours ago.  It's Spring Break.  Our family has planned a little trip up to Canada for a couple nights.  Nothing huge or even very well planned out.  In other words, it's the perfect trip.  We are going to hop on The Clipper catamaran and will be sallied forth to Victoria BC.  Well.  That was the plan.

I never misplace my passport.  How does one even DO that?  I keep it in my file under my name along with  my marriage and birth certificate, and anything else that I never misplace.  So this afternoon I went to fetch it forth, with nary a care in the world.  I knew it would be there.  It's always there.  Except today.  Not a whiff of it.  Not a trace. I dropped to my knees.  "Lord, I can't find my passport.  But you know exactly where it is.  And you alone can help me find it.  Please guide my search.  And whatever your plan is that is evolving right now, I'm in.  I may not agree with it , but you've got a reason for this, and I will follow."  I practically dumped the contents of the whole cabinet on the guest bed and carefully combed through each and every outdated  W2 form, carefully printed and crayoned Mother's Day card, multiple vehicle titles....all to no avail.  My passport, that I needed in under 18 hours, had vanished.  I sent a quick text to The Husband telling him my trouble and that I wasn't panicking, but could he please pray and could he think of when we even used our passports last?  He replied back with some ideas and seemed just as flummoxed as I was.

Earlier today our printer ran out of paper.  A minor inconvenience really.  I was able to find a different way to save the info I needed.  But in looking for printer paper, I had to handle  a couple folders I hadn't used lately, including an old organizer.  Nope, no printer paper to be had in the place we usually keep it.  No worries, we were going on a trip so who needed to print anything?  (like I said, this was much earlier today).

Fast forward a few hours.  By this time I had scoured the house.  Not joking. Scoured.  I did find our old REI rebate check that is amazingly still good, so that's a plus.  But no passport.  Not in all my secret places that I keep really important stuff.  Like my daughter's ponytail from 6th grade when she decided a shoulder length flip was the way to go. It also wasn't in the place where I keep about $10,000 in cash for a rainy day when the banks fail. (Just kidding about the cash, checking to see if The Husband reads these posts...I'm evil and I know it).

At this point I shot another text to my man telling him that a slow, steady kernel of discomfort, not panic, no - never panic, was growing in my belly and I hoped he and our daughter had a good time bonding over high tea.  He wasn't amused but told me we would search together when he got home and why didn't I take a break to get some lunch and clarity?

I bowed my head again.  "Lord.  I've looked everywhere.  I don't see your hand in this.  I have no clue where this thing might be.  I trust your heart.  I will remain calm while you work this out, and whatever your answer is, that is what I will accept.  Thank you for being a big enough God that could find this thing for me if you wanted to, and also big enough to help me through my disappointment if you choose a different way.  I'm going to take a break.  Please impress on my heart where I should look next."

I made a sandwich and did some laundry.  And then for some reason I knew I needed to look in that old organizer up by the printer.  I reached for it and I just knew.  My hands flipped directly inside to the inner pocket and there was my passport.  I just stared at it.  And then I started bawling.  God had orchestrated everything.  There is no way I would've made a mental note that my organizer was there, in an out of the way place for it, if we hadn't run out of printer paper this morning.  I don't recall putting my passport anywhere but my file.  I would still be searching for it while my family was on the trip.  I had already switched my mental from planning for the trip, to figuring out how to get THEM to continue with our plans and reservations without me.

Isn't God good?  I don't know why things unfolded how they did today.  But enough of these incidents have happened personally to me to get my attention and to keep it.  I don't believe things like this are coincidence.  I believe someone out there, myself included, needed to know that God cares about the little things.  And if we turn quickly to him when we get in a bind, and then let him deal with it, he will keep us calm and give us focus when we need it most.

I can't even tell you how my faith was strengthened today.  Life in this household changes constantly these days.  There is so much going on with two college-age kids to help make really important decisions, two full time parents with full time jobs, continuing education, bird feeders that need repairing, cars that break down, kitties that go missing, you know  STUFF.  It's nice to know that God will use circumstances to remind us that he cares about the stuff that we care about.

Today's experience just brought the great God I serve and always strive to honor, right down here, into our office.  He was there.  He was right there.

He is right there for you too.  I don't know what your daily looks like.  I'm betting you've got challenges and opportunities that just leave you winded at times.  Please digest the events of my day today and remember that you aren't alone.  He's watching.  He's waiting to step in and show you what he can do.  Trust him.  You won't be sorry.

I would love to stay and chat, but thank goodness I have some packing to do! :)

Make it a great day!!