Ephesians 3: 20-21. Recently saw picture of a "facebook server farm". One of many Huge facilities with Huge rooms Big as Walmart, Filled with racks of computers around the country that support Just Facebook. And I think: "Paul said HE had more capacity than this, and it is on call."
The first time I chaperoned a TBC youth trip to camp in 2003, I'd had years of poor life quality due to inner ear. Many family trips missed, many many events walked out of, many meals left at restaurants to sit in car, taking my meds, wearing my electronic wristband, waiting for family to finish and bring my box. Drive 8 hours to vacation Saturday, be able to leave the condo for lunch by Wednesday...
So I go because the Youth Minister has asked me to fill a sudden adult vacancy, and the girls say "It's the closest that camp will ever be." I drive behind the church bus that I cannot ride, have lunch at a mall food court (which is always a challenge) to an altitude that makes my heart drop. In the first worship service, the fear, nausea, moist eyes began. Out come pills, and electronic bracelet. I already knew where the nearest exits and stairways were (my first check of ANY building!) There were a dozen people to cross over in theater seats, and I'd be on the stairs... maybe I wouldn't throw up in this lovely building, in front of 800 students, 70 from TBC. Maybe I wouldn't have a panic attack, and collapse against a outdoor wall, trembling with sweat in the Georgia summer heat.
And HE SAID: "Can you trust me for just a few more minutes?" Hmmm "you know my history, my life, how warm this balcony is, with all this movement" And HE SAID: "a few more minutes?" Not for camp, not for today, or even the 3 hour session, just maybe 3 minutes. So I said "Yes", and started watching my second hand. I'd taken my pills, the wrist band was working so hard my hand was curling at every impulse; I'd done all I could do.
And I began to calm!! Like never before, in the midst of loud challenging music, a sea of motion- filled teens, and a light show beyond lightning, and I'm beginning to relax!! The symptoms are subsiding. In 5 minutes, we "renewed" our contract of "just a few more minutes". And the minutes continued, and He told me: "you do your part, and I'll do MINE".
Yes, I'd been through 8 years of specialist therapy, which I continue today. And sometimes, I don't know with certainty, what my part is... and He still says, "you do your part, then I'll do MINE".
Praying with you, for the next few minutes....
