just returned from alban#a and another wedding.  what a privilege to see God raising up Christian families here.  it's just a trickle, but it's so awesome. 

we're packing for a year of deputation in the US.  we'll be based in AL, but with lots of road time, including both coasts and a bit in the midwest, besides extensively visiting our main support base in La & Ms.  (we're supposed to shoot for 11 services/month).  we've lived here for 4 years, in this small musl#m town, and now we're packing it all up, not to return longterm.  we'll be in the air june 1, and then traveling to visit family (while we start itinerating).  we've got our first service scheduled a week after we hit the ground. 

i always find myself anxious and penniless during major transitions such as this one.  (this is our 4th itineration cycle, so i can kinda recognize a bit of a pattern).  having finished the beth moore bible study in the sidebar: A Woman's Heart, God's Dwelling Place, with a mish girlfriend, i felt like God impressed on me the levitical promise from numbers 18:20,

"...You will have no inheritance in their land, nor will you have any share among them; I [the Lord] am your share and your inheritance among the Israelites." (NIV)

i really like the NAS, "...I am your portion and your inheritance..." so i have taken to saying that regularly, as a prayer, whenever anxious thoughts start cluttering my mind:  "LORD, You are my portion and my inheritance!!!" what kind of shares/security/investments could be better than that???

i did super on that for about 2 weeks, then i became anxious again.  so, i made a list of all the things we would need when we get to the US and even guessed at prices. prayed over it and it came to several 1,000 dollars.  (that's without the big ticket items like a car and computer.) well, i already have had to buy a couple things from the list, and guess what?  the money has been returned to me.  for example, i needed glasses and decided to shop for some here to try to save money.  the same day, i sold some used things in my house for the same amount of money.  i didn't realize until afterwards it was the same amount. same thing happened again for stuff i had to buy for our wedding trip. so, i've decided to keep my list of things i need as a "faith" list to see how God is going to provide.  He is so good, isn't He?