The Illusion of Control

I'll be perfectly honest; I don't like to be away from my family. I am a much better person when I am around my wonderful wife. There is a great line in the movie "As Good as it Gets" when Jack Nicholson tells Helen Hunt, "You make me want to be a better person."; I truly feel that way about Jennifer. However, even more than that, I want to feel that way about God. Because God is Holy and He has paid my sin debt, I should want to be a better person because of what He has done. I know there is nothing I can do to earn His love or merit salvation, but I should want to be a better person; to be conformed to the image of His Son Jesus (Romans 8:29) because of what He has done for me. I truly want this, and I want my life to exemplify this lifestyle but I am a bit like the father in Mark 9:24, "I believe, but help my unbelief." I trust you God, but help me trust you more. I want to be a better person for you, help me be a better person...you get the idea.
So, what does this have with control? Everything...because it is only when I realize I cannot control anything, and I need to give everything to God anyway, that I truly realize that it is only through and by His power I can do anything anyway.
I still don't like to be away from my family and I will miss them while I am away; but I know that whether I am in the next room or 1/2 way around the world I still can't control what happens to them or me. God is in control anyway and the more I realize that, the easier it is to truly trust Him. I teach the children in my ministry, "I can trust God no matter what." These next 10 days will be about putting my words, and faith, into practice.
Hopefully I will be able to post from Hong Kong, if it's the Lord's will.
Your fellow servant,
Brett