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Panic and Pastures.

Last night was a weird night.

Kailyn was talking in her sleep. Crying out on occasion, but never fully waking up. Of course, we woke up every time. But that's parenthood. Finally she woke up and came in to our bed. No problem.

At about the same time, there were also some dogs barking continually. They were just far enough away that we could just barely hear them. Annoying but didn't fully keep us awake.

But then, as things were setting down (about 3:00 am or so) I had a sudden "panic" attack. Suddenly, for some reason, the demands of the coming months crashed down on me.

In one month, we will be waking up in Kosovo, likely getting ready to head out rent a house, buy a car, and learn a language.

Holy crap.

The questions and worries just started piling on top of each other.

In less than two months, we're going to drive through the Balkans back up to Vienna for a month's stay as we do a 3 week academy.

I don't know where we're gonna stay during that time.

I don't know what it's gonna be like to cross all those borders with a ton of baseball gear.

I don't know what the Viennese police are gonna think about an old van with Kosovo registration driven by Americans.

I don't know if everything we send ahead of us will get there in time.

Whoah.

As I am writing this, my dad is watching a video as he prepares for Sunday's bible study. I'm not watching, but I am listening as it plays in the background. The guy on the video is talking about Psalm 23.

And this is that he just said;

"Sheep don't need to know where tomorrow's pasture is. They need to follow the shepherd's voice TODAY and simply rest in the pasture that is shown to you."

This narrator goes on to say...There are so many things that are there to worry about. Basically, God is saying...When it gets here, I'm your shepherd and I know where your pasture is.

God is good! He provides his Word and Spirit at the right time!

We've got some unknown times ahead. We don't know where our path will be leading us. But we have a shepherd. He has called us to walk with him on this journey.

I still don't have any answers to the questions that I have about what the next few months will look like. But I do know that the Lord will lead us to the pastures. HE will guide us along the right paths.

So...here it is. Be encouraged.

Psalm 23

A psalm of David.

The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
    He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
    he refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths
    for his name’s sake.
Even though I walk
    through the darkest valley,[a]
I will fear no evil,
    for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
    they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me
    in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
    my cup overflows.
Surely your goodness and love will follow me
    all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord
    forever.

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