when God works

So just another example of God's amazing habit of amazingness.

As I listened to the Santa Marta Medical Mission Team give its report last night (yes, the mission I helped to start and was unable to 'go on'), it became clear that our plans are so small and His are so big.

Margaret recited a top 10 list of 'why you shouldn't go on a foreign mission trip', a sort of tongue-in-cheek look back at all the slings and arrows Satan hurled at this effort from its planning to its execution... Bill talked about Paul's word picture of the body in I Corinthians 12... LaJeana spoke on behalf of herself and Perry and Hannah about the unfathomable grace of God in touching people through our meager means.... Matt shared his perspective as a first-timer-pharmacist on a foreign medical mission... and Doyne talked about his most favorite memory: that of an old man accepting Jesus and putting him on in baptism...

It was refreshing to gain perspective from these partners, my heroes.

And the very primary part, the basic and amazing lesson I learned as I listened was this:

Though God works in our lives everyday, it occurs to me He REALLY LOVES to swoop in when all seems hopeless and save the day.

At several junctures in the planning and execution of the trip, Satan erected barriers. And every time, God provided a way around or through.

When we lost a vital member or two from the dream team only months before we were to leave, God provided a Doctor...

When fear of Swine Flu dominated the news, God provided calm...

When Airplane tickets were selling at double the price we had planned on, God provided... (I checked fares one day and they were about $900, and the next day they had fallen to $440... we pounced on it, and they skyrocketed back to over $900 the very next day!)

as I listened to the team members recall the trip (from planning to going and returning), it reminded me with crystal clarity that God LOVES to work through us... and He REALLY LOVES to work through us when the odds become stacked!

I think He does that to gently (or not so gently) remind us that He is at the controls.

What a faith-affirming exercise!

What a wondrous God we serve!

Blessings!