On Tuesday evening at 7:30 PM my plane landed in Kigali, thirty minutes early. On Sunday afternoon I was not sure I would be making this trip. My passport was nowhere to be found. I always put it in the same place. So, I assumed… But Sunday morning it was not in that place. Nta kibazo (Rwandan for “not a problem”). I am thinking there are a few obvious places to look after the morning worship service. But, when I looked in the afternoon, my passport was not in any of those places. Where do I look now?
When I returned from my last trip to Rwanda there were many things happening at home. There was interior painting left to do from the renovation as we transitioned to multi-generational housing. That meant things needed to be moved. Alison, my summer intern, was working on my library, which meant more things needed to be moved. Move this box over here. Move some back. Move some to the garage. Move some out of the garage.
I had looked in every hiding place inside the house that I knew to look – but no passport! Now I am getting anxious (and praying). But Paul says don’t do the anxious part, just pray.
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. Philippians 4:6 NIV
Well, "Jesus knows exactly where that passport is and maybe He has a reason for me not to get on that Monday morning plane. Maybe I can still 'rush' my passport and get on a different plane this week."
Myra had now joined in the hunt. She was in the garage for a different purpose, but felt led to look in a particular banana box. “Why am I looking in this box?” Only because she felt like she was supposed to look in that box. So she starts digging around and about half way down there it is. She came back into the house shouting and rejoicing like a woman in Luke fifteen who found a lost coin.
I was amazed at two things.
When I returned from my last trip to Rwanda there were many things happening at home. There was interior painting left to do from the renovation as we transitioned to multi-generational housing. That meant things needed to be moved. Alison, my summer intern, was working on my library, which meant more things needed to be moved. Move this box over here. Move some back. Move some to the garage. Move some out of the garage.
I had looked in every hiding place inside the house that I knew to look – but no passport! Now I am getting anxious (and praying). But Paul says don’t do the anxious part, just pray.
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. Philippians 4:6 NIV
Well, "Jesus knows exactly where that passport is and maybe He has a reason for me not to get on that Monday morning plane. Maybe I can still 'rush' my passport and get on a different plane this week."
Myra had now joined in the hunt. She was in the garage for a different purpose, but felt led to look in a particular banana box. “Why am I looking in this box?” Only because she felt like she was supposed to look in that box. So she starts digging around and about half way down there it is. She came back into the house shouting and rejoicing like a woman in Luke fifteen who found a lost coin.
I was amazed at two things.
Why was my passport in that box?
Why was Myra looking in that box?
Now I am thinking, “Jesus does want me to catch that Monday morning flight.”
So, I arrived in Kigali thirty minutes early on Tuesday evening. Theophile got me to my room for the night. During the night, Theophile’s father, Zachariah, passed away (I will share more in tomorrow’s blog). He was one of the oldest leaders we have been teaching. The funeral is Thursday.
God’s timing is perfect; seldom early, but never late.
So, I arrived in Kigali thirty minutes early on Tuesday evening. Theophile got me to my room for the night. During the night, Theophile’s father, Zachariah, passed away (I will share more in tomorrow’s blog). He was one of the oldest leaders we have been teaching. The funeral is Thursday.
God’s timing is perfect; seldom early, but never late.
So, do not be anxious about anything…
Frank
Frank
RSS Feed