Why the Providence of God is Critical For Every Believer to Understand

While in Valencia last week we finished the details that must be done after a death in the family. The funeral service was to be held on Saturday, at 1: pm. We got up that morning knowing we had all morning to prepare, pack and drive the 30 minutes to the funeral home in Glendale. But God had other plans that day. A fire had burned all night and Interstate 5 was was closed. We now had to go back to the coast and take 101 to Glendale. It took us over 5 hours to make that drive. Everyone else from Interstate 5 was also on the detour to 101. God altered our plans. We had a choice to panic, or trust God's providence. We called the funeral establishment and told them our predicament. They waited over an hour and we finally arrived. I walked directly from the car to the front and began the funeral service for my uncle in my blue jeans and golf shirt. No one minded. Uncle Bob would have liked it that way.

God's Appointments

Tuesday we were to move Donna's uncle Bob up north to Vacaville. There he would be closer to family. But he took a turn for the worse. The previous Saturday I could not understand anything he mumbled. Sadly, he was no longer physically able to make the move. He was looking forward to it. The one thing he said that could be understood was, "I'm sorry."

Tuesday morning I received a call from the Care Facility and was told he would not make it through the day. We packed and before we left home he had died. I'm doing the memorial service for him Saturday, here at Glendale, and the graveside service at Rose Hills directly after that. Donna and I have been here with her sister and her husband since Tuesday. We've cleaned and prepared his house and listed it for sale. In one day we had an offer on the house. We've accepted it. Uncle Bob's 100 day Medicare payments for his care ran out the very day he died. When we were at the Funeral home yesterday, I looked at his discharge papers from the Army. He served during WWII. But something I didn't know...He was awarded for heroism, 4 Bronze Stars. He never spoke about it. He died on Veterans Day. We'll be back Saturday night. Can't wait to go to church Sunday.

1 There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven
2 A time to give birth and a time to die;
A time to plant and a time to uproot what is planted (Eccl. 3:1-2).