Distractions

It seems the last week and a half have been full of distractions--some good, some not so good, but all seem to pull me away from focusing on the ministry. Here's a summary:

Friday July 24, 4:30 a.m. I take my son Bretton to the ER with excruxiating stomach pains. He'd been crying for 3+ hours. After several hours, they can't find anything wrong that caused the stomach pains, but did find a potentially difficulty in an enlarged kidney (we think he's had since birth.)

Friday July 24, 6 p.m. Teegan falls off the front porch putting many scratches, cuts and bruises on his face. This begins several days of not feeling well.

Saturday, July 25: I find out my grandpa is taken by ambulance to the ER.

Sat-Tue: Bretton rests and feels better. Teegan gets a low-grade fever.

Wednesday 7/29: Teegan's eye is al matted. Dr says Pink Eye.

My grandfather continues to go up and down, and we are prepared to make a trip to Missouri in a moment's notice. It could be days, it could be months.

Although these distractions are in many ways a priority over the ministry, it still is frustrating. And then comes the dsitraction of worry--how to pay for it all, how to balance the time, how to move ahead, etc. Is this the devil trying to get us down?

And then, the reminder that In His name, there is mercy for sin, there is safety within, there is strength to remain, to stand in spite of pain. And I remember that He regins. And quite frankly, we have it good compared to so many right now. And I come away more focused, more centered, and more looking forward to what God wants to do. Ironic that a distraction is becoming another place for me to see God at work and to reveal his Holy name to BSU! Whodathunkit?!