The Holiday Season is on its Way Out

I can't believe that the only holiday left in this year's holiday season is New Years Eve! Where has the time gone?? Reflecting back on 2011, it's really cool to see what the Lord has brought to edify and humble us.

First of all, it was near this time last year that we were preparing to leave for India. In fact, we spent the turn of the new year somewhere mid-air in a plane. India was an amazing experience that opened our eyes and hearts for ministry opportunities all over the globe. I often say that singing is probably my favorite form of worship because I think it most closely resembles the activities of heaven. Well, singing with brothers and sisters from the other side of the world makes it even better! It's a reminder that the gospel is endless, limitless, and available for anyone and everyone and that our Father's children exist in every corner of the globe. What evidence of his faithfulness!

Then, school began and there was a strange wrinkle in time and summer was here! :)

This past summer, the Lord saw fit to call my grandfather home to be with him. He was gracious in Francisco's departure and he passed relatively comfortably, with family that loved him surrounding him. If only we could all be so blessed. After several years of my grandfather being trapped in the prison of his deteriorating mind, the Lord was so loving and kind to give him relief and turn his faith into sight.

With both Sergio's and my work being tied into the school year, finances got very tight over the course of the jobless summer. Then, my work at City College fell through. This led to us moving into my in-laws who have been so generous with their home and have really served us by allowing us to live here. Not only have we been able to save up money, and pay off my car loan very early, we have been blessed by the relationships in the house.

Then, the Lord provided with a job that I really love, and coworkers with whom I really enjoy working, at 24 Hour Fitness. That was a great answer to prayer!

And then school started again and there was that wrinkle in time again....

Until I got a call from City College saying that student tutors had been reinstated and I had a job there again! So, in a matter of months, after the peace made possible by the hope and confidence in a loving God who was kind to a dying old man who was not deserving of any kindness or grace, I went from no job with bills piling, to two jobs with no bills!

This isn't to say, "God is good because he provided some financial stability." This is all to say, "God is good because that is who he is." All things, blessings and trials, come from him whose plan is sovereign and perfect and we get to play a part of it. Personally, I enjoy playing a willing and joyful part because otherwise, it would be like swimming against a current. But then, I play that part because that's the part that was written for me.