Another Disappointment

I woke up at 2:00 am and they were drawing more blood from Josh. This was unusual because they usually wait until 4:00 am. I must have slept through the midnight vitals check, because they told me that his temperature at midnight was 102.6. So they were drawing blood to check for infections.

By 4:00 am when they came back to get more blood, his temp was normal, but now as I sit waiting for the doctors, it is back up to 103.

I didn't sleep much, just thinking about the disappointment of not getting to go home, so I spent much time in prayer. We continue to believe that God has us here for a reason and that He will turn this for His good even though we would prefer to go home.

Ilene reminded me of the verse from Jeremiah in chapter 29 (if you haven't memorize this one, you should) that promises us that God has a good plan for us.

¹¹ For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.

I love quoting this verse because it gives peace and comfort and hope. But when you read the verses before it, there is an instruction from God to trust Him and plan on a long journey. You see the children of Israel had been taken captive to Babylon and they wanted to be rescued and return home, but God told them that they needed to build houses, plant gardens, raise your families and plan to stay for a while.

That is the part that I don't like to hear. I love the part of Gods good plans for us, a future of hope, but we want our prayers answered right now, we want to go home now. But God sometimes says, I have a better plan that takes some waiting.

He goes on to command the children on Israel to work for the peace and prosperity of the city in which they are held captive. And to pray for the welfare of that city because its welfare will determine their welfare. I can easily pray for the welfare of Houston, but I can't imagine being held captive in enemy territory and praying and working for their prosperity.

This morning God is telling us to wait on Him and stay in Houston. I don't know if I will plant a garden, but we will be praying for Houston and looking to see how we can impact the lives of the 8-15 people that God is strategically placing in our relational world. And I know that we will experience His blessing as we shine His light into the lives of the people here in Houston.

Thank you for your prayers. We have heard from many of you, and know that many of you are reading and praying but not commenting which is fine. One of our friends from California called it "lurking". So whether you are a blogger or a lurker, either way, we care most that we are in your prayers and want you to know that we are grateful for you. Thanks to the Field's who were in Houston for a meeting and stopped in to encourage us. We hope that our journey is an encouragement to you.

And we hope also that you will choose to work for the peace and prosperity (spiritual growth) of those that God has put in your life because their prosperity will impact your prosperity.