Provision

Well, my work assignment at Los Angeles City College is coming to an end. I only have four more shifts at City and then I will be done. As I said in a previous blog post, as of right now, I don't have any work for summer. This was no problem as Sergio was going to be working enough at his old research job at CSUN to compensate for the income I wouldn't be bringing in. Unfortunately, as some of you know, his summer assignment fell through. This means that as of right now, the only certainty we have is about 60% of the income that we normally bring in for the months of June through August. This is a trial, sure. But nothing is too big for God. We have some savings so we'll be alright if neither one of us can find work, but we definitely don't want to deplete our savings over the course of the next three months as we're just starting to build it.

So what does this mean for us?
For Sergio, he'll be looking eagerly for any type of work, preferably physics-related work.
For me, I'll too be eagerly looking for work and this means that my summer projects may have to go on the shelves again.

But all of that is alright. I know that I need to be flexible and let the Lord demonstrate his sovereignty in our lives. These projects are going to get done, but they don't have to get done this summer.

This is also an amazing opportunity to allow the Lord to take control over this situation. We know that he will provide everything we need. He faithfully has thus far. And this is an opportunity for us to completely rely on his goodness and promise. We know that he may not necessarily abundantly give financially, but that's doesn't rob him of his goodness because his grace is not only sufficient, but abundant. We're blessed with family that are supportive and will help if necessary, we're blessed with low rent, and we're blessed with brothers and sisters that will be praying for us.

Most of all, I'm excited to look back at this time in a few months or years to really see retrospectively how gloriously the Lord used this trial to conform us closer to the image of his son in whom we have the promise of salvation.

What does this mean for you guys?
If you feel moved to do so, we would love and appreciate you prayers for our sanctification through this trial and for God's glorification.

I'm reminded of the apostle Paul's reminder of God's love

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Romans 8:31-32

And of course, the words of Christ,

Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious saying, 'What shall we eat?' or ' What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

Matthew 10: 25-34