All Must Be Well

Yesterday morning, we were looking forward to celebrating our anniversary (today) with a nice, relaxing day of togetherness. We had plans for me to make breakfast, maybe watch a copy of our wedding video that we haven't seen since right after our wedding, and get ready to head down to Virginia Beach for a dinner at our favorite restaurant in the area. Drew has reserve duty starting early tomorrow morning in Richmond, and will be gone for most of the weekend after today, and he leaves next weekend for 2 weeks of training in Texas, so we're trying to enjoy a little down time together when it comes. That relaxing day got turned on its head about 7 PM last night during a conference call that Drew had with his reserve unit. I, of course, don't understand the in's and out's of what Drew was preparing for this weekend's reserve duty, but I know he had a training plan ironed out that got suddenly changed last night -- which left him with only today to make the necessary changes (a few hours of work) before battle assembly tomorrow morning. I still made breakfast for us this morning, but we enjoyed it between phone calls and power point preparations for Drew. We'll still get to go out to dinner, God-willing, but the day is not turning into the relaxing day we had hoped.

While on the conference call yesterday evening, Drew also checked his e-mail, and received orders that he had been dreading, but we knew were likely to come. He had been on a waiting list of cadre (military science professors and instructors) who were "on call" to possibly have to spend 38 days this summer out at Ft. Lewis, Washington (state), working a training camp for cadets. So, at the same moment that today was shifting from relaxing to a bit stressful, we found out that Drew would be gone for an additional 38 days this summer (bringing the total to about 52 days of military/work duties) that will take him away. And, he will likely leave for Washington state the day or two after he gets home from Texas.

Then, Drew got a call from a co-worker at Norfolk State who will be going on emergency leave today because of a family health crisis of sorts. So, we'll pray for that family, and Drew has taken a bit more work on his plate over the next few days, to give this guy the freedom to go take care of his family's needs.

And, this morning came with it's own headaches in dealing with my latest doctor's appointments and test results that aren't coming in as soon as I'd like for them too. So, today -- I'm feeling a little bombarded. What a crazy evening and morning it has been. The temptation in my heart is to despair, get angry, sulk, be frustrated, etc... So, I'm clinging to God's promises today. I'm talking with the Lord a lot. I've fallen into patterns of anger and frustration before, and they lead nowhere good -- it seems to be a cyclical pattern that just leads to more anger and frustration. So, I'm clinging to truth. Some days, like today, it's a battle -- feels a bit like there is an all-out-assault on my heart. So, I pray. A lot. I cry out to Jesus to sustain me, to protect my heart and mind from lies that are so tempting and deceptive, but destructive. And, I cry out to Jesus to give me joy in the midst of it all -- oh, Lord, may it not rob me of my joy in You. I'm praying that the Lord feeds me lots of good truth today, so that my appetite is satisfied by hearty truth rather than the hollow lies that, at best, do nothing to nourish me.

All Must Be Well

1. Through the love of God our Savior, All will be well
Free and changeless is His favor, All is well
Precious is the blood that healed us
Perfect is the grace that sealed us
Strong the hand stretched forth to shield us
All must be well

2. Though we pass through tribulation, All will be well
Ours is such a full salvation, All is well
Happy still in God confiding
Fruitful if in Christ abiding
Steadfast through the Spirit's guiding
All must be well

3. We expect a bright tomorrow; All will be well
Faith can sing through days of sorrow, All is well
On our Father's love relying
Jesus every need supplying
Yes in living or in dying
All must be well