Day 18 - Afternoon

How does God work?

Try this on for size. Rayna and I had a miserable year in real estate last year. As I recall, our business dropped by well over 50%. Obviously we weren't excited about the downturn. It put a halt on our return mission trip to Africa this year. It killed our hopes of moving closer to friends and church any time soon.

Rayna got pregnant within a month of coming home from Africa last summer. Had it taken any longer, we probably would have delayed trying to have a kiddo because of the financial upheaval we found ourselves in was, shall we say, less than ideal for a new financial burden. But by August, that ship had sailed, and we were going to have a baby.

In September, Rayna had a prompting to try applying for Medicaid and food stamps.

With the market down, I terminated my membership with the Austin Board of REALTORS and started looking at other jobs...to no avail.

By December, we got to a place where I said to Rayna, "I don't know where God is taking us. I don't know if he's gonna provide or if we're gonna head for bankruptcy. Whichever road He chooses, we need to walk with as much fidelity and obedience as we can muster."

We headed up to Rayna's family in Massachusetts for an early Christmas vacation where we got word that Rayna's mom had only a few months to live. God, how are we going to get through this? Our primary bread winner needs to be in Austin and Worcester at the same time?!?

God, I trust that you've got a plan. I don't know what it is or where we're going, but we're gonna do our best in applying wisdom and being there for Rayna's family.

What started with a plan for Rayna to rotate every week and a half between Texas and Massachusetts ended with her a total of two months out of three up north, and I was up there 6 weeks too. Had either of us had 8-to-5 type jobs, it's unlikely that such an extended stay would have been possible.

Having endured the death of Rayna's mom, we returned home to get ready for Peyton's arrival. God had provided several influxes of cash outside of work that kept us financially afloat.

Then the morning of April 5th came around, and the decision was made to transport Rayna to the hospital. God, this is a $15K to $25K expense. I don't know where the money is gonna come from to pay it, but its the right thing to do so I'm gonna trust you.

God, I have a torn up wife and daughter in the NICU. I have zero capacity to focus attention anywhere else.

God, the NICU/PICU could cost $10K to $25K per day?!?

God, my daughter's chest has to be cracked open!?!

God, a pediatric cardiac surgeon's skills cost how much?!?!?!

GOD!?!?!?!?!?

A couple days ago, we received notice from Medicaid that Peyton and Rayna are covered. Why? Because we made too little money last year and because Rayna had applied ahead of time (again, because we made too little). Only God can orchestrate 12 months of famine in order allow us to love on our family and keep us from a lifetime of debt from medical bills.

My understanding of Shadrach's, Meshach's, and Abednego's time in the Nebuchadnezzar's furnace is growing with greater appreciation for the power of meeting God in the raging fire. I was listening to John Ortberg teach the other day, and he begged the question as to whether or not American Christianity too often prays to avoid the flames, the hard circumstances, the pain, and subsequently sacrifices the opportunity meet Him in a greater way in the thick of it all.

Father, you have been with us through this whole ordeal. I will never fully comprehend the full scope of your plans, but I pray that you will etch this experience in my memory and that I will respond to you with greater trust and obedience when the next storm comes.