Lots of paper work!

I am sitting here this morning filling out forms for British citizenship .......wow so much!  Howard and I have been through this kind of bureaucratic situation so many times;  living in 3 different countries needing visas, being different nationalities when going to each others countries, the adoption and working with visas for students/trainees.  Although we find it frustrating, we have always wanted to abide by the laws of the land .....thus lots of paperwork and money! 

As I was going through things today I found this journal notation I wrote recently when I had to take the 'Life in the UK' test in order to keep my visa and file for citizenship .....as I read the words it was a great reminder for me again and especially with the season.  

Here it is ......

I am living here in England now on a spousal visa…..it ends in October.  I have to take a test before I apply again to stay here.  It is really kind of weird to me that I have been married to Howard for 17 years…..we have 2 children…..one adopted that took 5 years to complete.  I think it is safe to say I am not married to Howard just to become a British citizen!

Of course Howard would have to do the same thing if he was trying to become a residence of the States.  I know September 11, 2002 changed lives and it was devastating, but the many laws in place now seem only to affect those of us who want to do the right thing.

Well that is the way it is and I choose not to complain, fuss, resent or hate.  Afterall I do have a choice….that is one of the most amazing characteristics of humanity.

I heard something this morning in worship time here at our YWAM base, the leader, who just arrived recently with her family said she was overwhelmed by many things….but she was more overwhelmed by God’s presence.  This spoke loudly to me.  I may be overwhelmed by this test I have to take, especially after the difficult time with getting my British license, but I ask God to empower me to be more overwhelmed with His presence.

I have thought about this all day…..when we allow everything around us to overwhelm us; we are watching those things more than we are Him.  Is He God?  Is He with us?  Does He care?  When we are more overwhelmed with His presence, those things around us that seem so important, so scary, so intimidating……..come into perspective.

Yes I have to take this test (if I want my visa! :)).  It’s Ok, I am enjoying learning more about this country I am living in….their government, their social system, what is important to them……..doesn’t seem so big to me now.

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It is almost Christmas .....yes as I sit here filling out more paperwork .....I am thinking about God entering into our world, coming to us when we could not or didn't even know we needed Him - He came to us.  

What I am doing is what I have to do to participate with Him in His world ......it is serving the bigger picture!  

And besides I do have a great cup of coffee!