Planned Coincidence

So she went out, entered a field and began to glean behind the harvesters. 

As it turned out, she found herself working in a field belonging to Boaz...Ruth 2:3

Without the benefit of a Biblical history lesson this verse may not make a whole lot of sense. Suffice it to say, Ruth (our heroine) went to work in the exact field that she needed to for the most success. This man (Boaz) possessed high character and was the right family for her to marry into even though that was not her original aim. As it turned out, she was in the best position she could possibly be in for her future.

I don't believe in coincidence. I just can't bring myself to believe that I just happened to cross paths with someone or that it was accidental that I was in the right place at the right time. I've seen far too much evidence in my own life to attribute personal interactions to chance. I instead choose to put my confidence in a divine, sovereign God who sees more than I ever could see. I believe that He is guiding me into scenarios that are directly for my benefit and intended to guide me down the right path. 

Some might argue that my perception of this is irrelevant as long as I accept the "happenstance" and move forward. I would quietly disagree. My faith in God's path helps me to keep my eyes constantly open as I wait for these divine, seemingly random moments to appear. My willingness to recognize God's direction in all of this makes me keenly aware of the value of each interaction and incident in my life. 

What a Difference a Year Makes

How much can change in one year? When I was younger, a year seemed like it would last forever. As I grow older however, I feel as if they fly by so quickly I almost can't keep up with them. Each one brings new opportunities and experiences and more often than not, things that I do not anticipate.

Our lives were changed forever exactly one year ago today. The recognition of that doesn't make me melancholy-it just causes me to pause for a few moments and reflect on the experiences and emotions of the last 365 days that are both enriching and testing.

• A spirit of peace & calmness that can only be attributed to the Holy Spirit
• Asking God the question, "What's next Lord?" and listening more intently than ever
• Seeing our faith in God refined & increased as we have no choice but to trust Him fully
• Packing up a house that was our 1st as home buyers and wondering how God was going to handle that part of the equation
• Being reminded of God's protective plan by three job offers within seven days
• Leaving a hometown that I had lived in for 30 years of my life-my children for all of theirs
• Being so warmly welcomed by new family & friends in Georgia
• Recognizing within five days that God had definitely brought me here, in His timing, to be part of this team
• Painful and yet necessary refining by God
• Challenging conversations with a brother in Christ who understands where we have come from and pushes me to seek God's best for the future
• Seeing and hearing of the impact that we have had in other people's lives-even from a distance
• Recognizing that we are in better spiritual shape as we go through the process of healing
• A sweeter and richer relationship with God for my family
• Lessons that I trust will guide me down God's path for the next steps in my life

It hasn't been an easy journey these last 525,600 minutes, but our family is truly learning what it means to trust in a God for whom there are no surprises. Thank you Father for what you have brought us through and what you have brought us to.