For the past couple of months, I have been reading “The Artist’s Way” by Julia Cameron.  It has been an enjoyable yet challenging read.  It has pushed me to try new things, helped me discover some areas that still need attention, and encouraged me to be more accepting and open about my artwork and writing.  I’ve been doing a lot more journaling, as well, which enables deeper soul searching.  It is very freeing.

The first week of March was the chapter entitled “Recovering a Sense of Abundance”.  I dubbed it the Week of Provision and set a goal to watch for and make a mental note of all of the things God did for me during that week.  I was filled with anticipation entering the week as He has always been faithful and His idea of blessings are always better than mine.  It just so happened that this was also the week my family was going on vacation.  For the record, I don’t believe in coincidence.  The timing of our vacation and this chapter was divine.  

My anxiety always heightens before a trip especially when flying.  There were already news reports circulating of coronavirus extending out of China and across Europe.  People were asking us if we would cancel our trip.  I prayed for the trip to go on as scheduled.  Originally, we were supposed to take this vacation 9 or so years ago when we had to cancel two days before leaving due to a family emergency.  My daughter’s heart was broken though she handled her emotions gracefully.  It would have been awful to have to cancel at the last minute again not to mention losing the money already spent on the trip for a second time.  

As it turned out, we were able to go, and it was a beautiful time of family, fun and relaxation.  We were blessed in so many ways:  some of our tickets from the first attempt were still good, free luggage on the plane because we are veterans, no crowds, perfect weather, and safety just to mention a few.  And the rest was so needed – sandwiched between an always stressful first quarter and returning home to the beginning of the implications of the coronavirus.  (It would have been tough to sustain that high level of stress.)  All of these things were reminders of God at work in my life.  My dear friend says He was putting deposits in my trust bank.

God used my intentional awareness to show me His deep love for me and just how faithful He is – even in the things that seem to have little kingdom value, like a vacation.  He knows what we need and loves to pour out blessings on us.  If you are struggling to see His blessings on your own life, ask Him to show you.  Then keep your eyes open!

“Blessed are the people whose God is the Lord!” 

Psalm 144:15b ESV

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!”

Matthew 7:7-11 ESV

“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”

Matthew 6:25-33 ESV