Romans 13:1-7 "Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established . . ."
Caleb was sitting on the bed in our room, having just spent the evening praying, searching the Internet for bus tickets, praying, staring, searching, praying again. Britney was in bed in a hostel in Eastern Europe, feeling conflicted and even a little guilty. Two evenings earlier, Britney got invited to go to Budapest, Hungary (see pictures below!) on the spur of the moment and we decided it would be a great opportunity for her. It was a cheap trip and a beautiful one - who could pass that combo up???
Then, the next morning Caleb got a call that we needed to leave the country due to Visa complications. So, here we were, already in two different countries, trying to communicate back and forth about how we were going to work this out. Hence the guilt, praying, searching, and staring mentioned earlier.
Of course, it wasn't just that we were in different countries, with little money, and no idea how work the Blaguss website; we had also been planning on going on a church retreat this week (spoiler: see pictures below!!) so we were really disappointed. This was supposed to be a chance for us to grow in relationships with our church family here . . . a chance to relax.
Those were the thoughts, the worries, that were running through Caleb's head as he trudged into the bedroom and flopped on the bed. Please God, give me something.
And God answered. As he always is, God was listening - he was present. Caleb felt the Spirit nudge the word "Romans" past the worries in his troubled mind. He opened his Bible and his eyes fell on the verses provided earlier.
And the peace that passes all understanding enveloped the room. Something that we posted about earlier and have been thinking about as a family here in Vienna is the wonderful experience that is depending on God in spite of the mystery, the unknown. This moment was just another chance for us to do that: trust God. He says that we should obey the authorities; he says he takes care of us. Boom. Problem solved (okay, so there's still some nervousness, but we are choosing to have faith).
Caleb had Skyped with his parents who confirmed what he was hearing from Scripture. He called Britney and we decided to let things be. We decided to trust God and see what the morning would bring. So, Caleb didn't buy any tickets, Britney stayed in Budapest, and everybody went to sleep.
Caleb woke up to a text saying that we got our Visas and we could pick them up next week.
God is so good! He provides for his children miraculously - he offers comfort when things don't seem to be working out.
So, when things are hard, we call out to God and when he opens doors that we never could have budged, we shout praises.
We were able to go on the retreat - we just got back about three hours ago - and spend a revitalizing, refreshing few days in community with the family of God that we have been placed in. We were blessed with time to grow in friendships and worship God together. We got out of the city and witnessed the handiwork of God that is beyond comprehension.
Here are some pictures of Britney's trip to Budapest and our church retreat to Bad Goisern, Austria. We joyfully ask that you would celebrate our Father's goodness with us as you look at these and we humbly ask that you would pray for us as we approach the next step in the Visa process: picking them up. Things aren't set in stone and we would love prayer, but we know that God is working all things to the good.
The baths that Britney went to in Budapest, Hungary
Budapest, Hungary
Hallstatt, Austria with our church family
The beautiful view of Bad Goisern, Austria (where we stayed on the church retreat)
Hallstatt, Austria
Everyone at the church retreat
Peace,
Caleb & Britney
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