goodbye

tonight was yet another goodbye. saying goodbye takes a toll on the heart after a while. i've never been more convinced that we just weren't meant for separation. we were meant to have perfect intimacy with God and with each other that doesn't involve saying goodbye. i feel like God is teaching me how to mourn loss in a new way. he's showing me that it's ok and appropriate to be sad for a time but reminding me that knowing Christ is far greater than anything or anyone that i could lose. it brings new meaning to Paul saying that he counts everything as loss for the sake of knowing Christ.

heike comes tomorrow. it's perfect timing, really. seeing a friend i haven't seen in a year after saying goodbye to 5 friends in 2 short months. what a sweet blessing a week with heike will be! praise the Lord for his timely provision..

today I was reading about God's provision in a couple of the gospels. Jehovah-Jireh, the Lord who provides. the ways that Jesus reminds us of that part of God's character are remarkable. like when he feeds 5,000 people with 5 loaves a 2 fish and then has 12 baskets leftover. or when he talks about the lilies in the field and the sparrows, or when Paul asks if God has given us His only son, how could He not graciously give us all things...and there are so many more times where a sovereign God provides perfectly for his people in a way that teaches them to put their trust only in Him and provides above and beyond for their every need.

there's so much brokenness and separation and hurt in this world...but the gospel fills in all the cracks and His grace is enough..