Another Amazing Week

Okay, the week has just begun, but it is already amazing! I won't go into boring details about some little things we were needing,but once again, we were thinking about whether we should spend money on some things. (That can be the most exhausting part of our situation... just trying to make good decisions about spending the money we do have... cause we can't see into the future and don't know how long we are going to be without Mark's income.) Sunday night, a dear couple at church gave us a gift and we knew that we could go ahead with what we were needing, plus it gave us some grocery money. What a blessing!

So, today my son and I went to the grocery store and as I was walking down one aisle another dear woman I know came up and said, "I just bought you some chicken for dinner!!" She plopped it in my cart with the receipt so that I could show it was paid for and went on her way.

The people of the Lord are simply amazing!

Lest you think every prayer we pray is answered in this way, it isn't always so. We have been praying about an appliance that needs a repair this week and so far the Lord hasn't seen fit to fix it. But, we are alright with that. HE is the master of our moments, the Lord of all there is to know... if we truly needed it fixed He would see to it that it were done or give us peace about spending money on fixing it. So far we are living with it the way it is and it is just fine!

Those who know your name will trust in you,
for you, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you.
Ps. 9:10

Man's Extremity is God's Opportunity

Mark and I "dog sat" for a few days and I babysat for some friends today... they both insisted on paying, although I didn't want them to. But later I realized that the timing points to it being more of God's provision towards winter clothes for the kids. So, I should praise God for it!

When God provided the ram for Abraham's sacrifice in Gen. 22, Abraham called the place "Jehovah-Jireh", meaning God provides.... then that verse says, "In the mount of the Lord it shall be seen". When doing a study on the names of God I read that phrase is an expression meaning, "Man's Extremity is God's Opportunity". It is so true... kind of similar to the scripture that says that God's power is perfected in our weaknesses.

Our Flour and Oil STILL Remain UNEmpty

As the weather turned cold, the kids have some needs... you know, last year's winter clothes don't fit, last year's shoes have holes or don't fit. It is always kind of stressful deciding what to spend money on and looking for ways to get what you need *cheap*! I was praying over these needs last week, asking for wisdom as to what to spend and what and where to buy, and for His continued provision. Then out of the blue on Sunday dear friends gave us some cards/gifts that I feel is God's answer for that particular need. It just amazes me that every time the needs grow the provisions grow. I'm almost embarrassed to report how good God is being to us! And, there is always a pride factor involved in accepting gifts from friends... but God keeps reminding me of Acts 2 .... it is the sign of a healthy church when it functions in this way. And, some day we will be in the position to again help others.

A little over a week ago, my cell phone fell into the kitchen sink (I don't know how, except I know that someone called while I was washing dishes and so I set it near the sink when I finished... so somehow it got knocked in after that). The sink was not full of water, but I think some water was ran over it because the phone functioned but the screen wouldn't. Last week I found out that it is very hard to use your cell phone without a screen! I tried taking the phone apart and letting it air out for 2 days. Still didn't work. I tried baking it in the oven on low heat for several hours (a solution found on the internet) but that didn't work. We looked on Ebay for used Cingular phones, but they were expensive. Paul's phone is having some problems, too, and we decided to go to Cingular to see if we could get new free phones with a renewal on our contract. But, there were no free phones. Then, Mark says, "Did you pray about the phones?" Duh. Maybe God would direct us to a solution.

Guess what? My phone's screen suddenly started functioning again yesterday! PTL!

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds
in Christ Jesus."
Phil. 4:6

Things to be Thankful for!

Answers to prayer!

About two weeks ago I started looking on craigslist.com for a computer. The kids have a lot of their school lessons and writing assignments to do on the computer, Mark needs to do his job searching and real estate work on it, and I have work and school records to do. Everyone is having a hard time getting all their computer work done! I found a couple of used computers on craigslist for $75-100, but while talking with the kids about the need for another computer I said, "You know, we should pray about this first and see if God provides one or gives me peace about spending some money on one." Fast foward to this week... Mark's grandma called said that she is going to be getting a low-end computer from her phone company (as a reward)... she doesn't need it and asked if we could use it.

The kids have a youth trip this weekend and I was concerned about providing them spending money. But, the Lord provided some paying work for each of them, allowing them to earn and save up enough to use on the trip.

A friend asked Mark to do some work for him a few weeks ago, and in exchange he'd keep track of how much he worked and give us credit for any future auto repairs we might need. The same month we had to get our van inspected for our license renewal... and we needed new brakes! God put the method to pay for the repairs in place before we knew we needed them!

"...for those who trust Him wholly, find Him wholly true."

God is good

You might wonder about the last several day's silence here! We've been on a mission trip! It is good to be able to give!! We went to help a church that had their main building destroyed by a tornado. It was a good trip, lots accomplished. I thought I'd share from some Bible studies we had while we were there:

1) The Pastor used the story of Moses having his hands held up by Aaron and Hur (from Ex. 17:8-15) to describe what our mission team was doing for them. Thinking about that later, I realized that is much what you, our friends and family, are doing for us... in holding us up in prayer and sharing with us from what you have. Many times I grow weary with all that is on my mind and in trying to make what we have stretch... and then someone comes along and supports my arms with prayer or a gift or encouraging words.

2) At their Wednesday prayer service, we were studying a chapter in 1 Peter and it was very applicable to our situation and I'm sure to any of you who are also enduring a trial. So, I thought I'd close by sharing the scripture with you today in hopes that it might also be an encouragement to others:

Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.

And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.

1 Peter 5:6-10

God's Prompting

We attended a youth ministry meeting this Sunday and found out that between now and Christmas there were many youth events that have costs attached. The Wednesday night Bible study the youth are beginning was $10 a book. There is a youth conference the youth are attending later this month, which is somewhere around $45 per student, plus another $30-40 or more that we need to send for meals... and that doesn't even include any spending money for miscellaneous things. Then the Dare2Share student conference is coming up, and they want us to pay for it now... it is also around the same cost. As you can see, it adds up quickly, and then we have to take it times 3 (because we have 3 youth).... that's a lot of money.

The kids can work and raise some money on their own, but their being able to make that much money so quickly was doubtful. For Mark and I, it is hard to know what to do.... even if we have the money to pay for the trip in our checking, we don't know how long Mark will be unemployed, and that causes to think the money we do have in our checking should only be used for house payment, insurance, food.... We doubt whether we should be spending money on youth trips, yet the youth trips are an important part of their spiritual growth. It's hard to know the right thing to do. I left the youth meeting with a knot in my stomach. I told no one but God about my concerns. No more than an hour later a woman came up to me and pressed some money in my hand and said, "Use this how you want, but it should be enough to send your kids on the next youth trip and pay for the Bible study materials".

It still amazes me when this happens. One of the most incredible things is knowing that God must nudge a person's heart, and they respond immediately to that prompting. It is such an example to me, as to how I should respond when God prompts me to do something. How many times have I failed to do what God asked me to do and miss out on blessing someone? It really sickens me to think that there may have been someone praying about an issue and God prompted me to do something.... and I didn't react immediately, then ended up forgetting about it... Did God have to go to another beliver to answer that prayer because I failed? I truly pray that I will never, ever allow that to happen.

In a well-furnished kitchen there are not only crystal goblets and silver platters, but waste cans and compost buckets—some containers used to serve fine meals, others to take out the garbage. Become the kind of container God can use to present any and every kind of gift to his guests for their blessing. (2 Timothy 2:20-21 The Message)

work blessings!

We have been offered some work in a couple different ways.... God's fingerprints are on them because these aren't things we went looking for! I am doing some work at another church to help with their preschool ministry just one night. It will give me a little cash to help with groceries next week. Our son, Parker, will be working a little for a caterer which should help him with spending money. We feel terrible, not being able to give the kids allowance right now and so it is nice that they can make some of their own. And, Mark might be doing a little work for a friend in a few weeks... again will help us with some day-to-day expenses. God continues to provide!

A friend has been getting some extra produce from a place she frequents and so we are trading bread for produce. That works out nice and helps us both!

Please continue to pray for Mark's job search. It is hard to find jobs for him to apply for in his field..... and even harder to find any in the St. Louis area that he hasn't already applied for. It still seems like that door is staying solidly shut.

The Battle is Not Yours, But God's

I asked Mark to write an entry this week, because he had a blessing to share....

Today is my day to get to make an entry. Yesterday morning, during my prayer/quiet time with the Lord, I specifically asked Him to speak to me directly through my study and to bring a passage to my attention that spoke to our situation. The passage He gave to me was 2 Chronicles 20:15-17:

He said: “Listen, King Jehoshaphat and all who live in Judah and Jerusalem! This is what the Lord says to you: ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s. Tomorrow march down against them. They will be climbing up by the Pass of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the gorge in the Desert of Jruel. You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you, O Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the Lord will be with you.’”

Later on in 2 Chronicles 20 the story continues with Jehoshaphat and his army not having to lift a finger in the battle. The enemy forces turned on each other and not a man was left standing. There was so much loot and plunder for Jehoshaphat and his army to collect, it took them 3 days to gather it all from the fallen enemy.

I wasn’t really sure what the Lord was telling me. I underlined the specific lines that stood out to me. And those passages all made me feel good and comforted. He basically told me that He had things under control and it’s not my problem to worry about.

One part of what I was hearing that I wasn’t sure of is the part of the story where Jehoshapahat is told that Tomorrow (now today) was when something was supposed to happen. I didn’t know if God was speaking to me through this passage in general of if there was going to be something special happening Tomorrow (now today). So all day, I’ve been wondering if something was going to happen. I didn’t know if it was going to be a battle with a blessing at the end, just a blessing, a job, or nothing at all. So in response, I’ve simply gone out to face today paying attention and looking. Well, sure enough God was telling me something special was going to happen today. Not a job offer, but simply a very nice gift that has relieved much of my immediate financial stress.

It truly is a blessing to know that God had already prepared a blessing for me and had it in the mail at least a day before I even came to him. And He was even good and kind enough to tell me when I was going to receive it. Our God is an awesome God. He has confirmed once again that our “jars of flour and oil, will remain un-empty until the rains come again.”

Loads of bread and other blessings!

The bread ministry lady called and said she had LOTS of bread and asked me if I might come get as much as I could use or share. When I arrived, I could see that God had been working, once again!....

hamburger buns -- my daughter had asked if we could have hamburgers a few days ago, but I checked and didn't have any buns in the freezer.... rather than going to buy some, I decided to wait a few days to see if God provided some... and He did!

Crescent rolls -- I just boiled a chicken and was thinking of having chicken salad today, but didn't have the right kind of bread for it.

Muffins -- we are low in breakfast cereal and now I don't have to buy any breakfast food for at least a few more days.

SHARING.... we've prayed that God would allow us the privilege of sharing with others, just as people have shared with us over the last three months. We were expecting that privilege when Mark got a job again, but this was an opportunity to share bread with some people we know who have financial strains, too. I thank God for that.

We also received some produce, home-grown plums and almonds... gifts from friends and family.... one of the kids commented that they thought we'd be hungry sometimes after Dad lost his job, but we really haven't. I told him that was because God promises to take care of us if we seek after Him.

Our living God is living still.

Being Thankful

We've been blessed with produce from gardens of friends and family over the last several weeks and it has been wonderful. We received some "regular bread" again and some hotdog buns (I had some hot dogs in my fridge but no buns to eat them on!) from the bread ministry. It is funny how little things like that can be such a blessing! I suspect that we should always live our life like this.... looking at our dinner table each night with thankfulness. We always "say thanks" at dinner time, but do we always mean it?

Mark also received a card and gift money (birthday), again, providing something we needed at the time we needed it. Parker's August birthday gifts also allowed him to do some fun things that he wouldn't have been able to do otherwise, and he got a mowing job!! The shepherd group outings at church and youth events, etc. always cost something and so it is very good that he has some to use.

Praising God for His provision!

His Perfect Will

Mark had, what appeared to be, a very promising job lead. All signs were pointing to this being a great possibility... but yesterday that door closed. It is a huge disappointment, to say the least. At the same time, it was a job that would mean moving from St. Louis. When you have teenagers a move can be pretty traumatizing for them... So, we were praying hard that God would open and close doors according to His perfect will. We are disappointed, yet are thankful that God did not allow this situation to be ambiguous.

Consider it all JOY

On Friday I was praying over our finances and asked God for His provision, once again. Then, today we received a note from a friend (dated Thursday) saying that she had been praying God would provide enough money to take care of our needs as well as some spending cash for us to have fun with. Later that very day her family received some unexpected money in the mail, and she felt it was God's answer to that prayer. Isn't it amazing that I was praying about this on Friday, but on Thursday God was already working out the answer? I'm so thankful for this, and also thankful that friends continue to remember our situation in their prayers!

I guess we don't learn much until we have to apply it. I am understanding this is why God has to allow dark times to come into our lives. Developing faith and trust in Him is more important than our comfort...

"Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials,
knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.
And let endurance have its perfect result,
so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."

James 1: 2-4

Cast All Your Anxiety Upon Him Because He Cares for You

God is so good... I was feeling down and He reminded me of some needs he provided for over the past week or so that I should share with you! First of all, our son developed an bad infection in his toe, so we had to see a doctor over the weekend and then had to go to have some minor in-office surgery on it at a podiatrist's office. The kinds of things that cost big bucks if you don't have insurance. I have to say thank you to God and to my parents for the fact that we have the COBRA coverage.

Secondly, I had just received gift card from Walgreens... one I got it from rebates (they usually have "free after rebate" items each month and you can have the rebate put on a gift card)... and in God's perfect timing, we needed to get an antibiotic from Walgreen's for my son. Plus, the gift card had enough money on I was able to buy a couple of items we needed that just happened to be "free after rebate". So, recycling that money!

I already shared about our flexible spending account and how Mark's former employer was trying to keep the money... and Mark was eventually able to prove that their scenario (why they said we weren't entitled to withdraw from it) wasn't true. Over the weekend, we received the medical reimbursement checks for our claims in June and in the end we ended up getting every penny of our FSA money back! This is something we are extremely thankful and needed to have happen.

I also forgot mention, one Monday (2 weeks ago) I was offered some additional bread from the church which gives free bread.... it was excess they had leftover. Turned out, when I went at my regular time they were out of bread... so once again, he supplied the bread earlier in the week when HE knew we wouldn't get it on Friday!

"Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you." 1 Peter 5:7

He continues to provide

I don't have exciting events to report... yet, God has provided in non-dramatic but very practical ways this week... through Mark and I both having birthdays this month (and the gifts that come with that!), a friend's gift which covered groceries (thank you, sister), medical refund checks that will help with school costs.... etc. Since the job loss, every true need we've had has been met. We've not asked anyone but God for assistance, and it has always been there when we've needed something. He's provided for us in so many ways... through family, friends, annonymous gifts, book sales, even rebates and insurance refunds..... always arriving at the time we had a need.

We continue to pray for God's direction. I believe that God is still working some things out in my heart through this (while He has a captive audience!)... I think that He is showing me that I haven't given everything in my life over to Him. I believe He has given me this verse to meditate on:

"For the eyes of the LORD move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His."

2Chron. 16:9

That promise just amazes me to no end.
Praying that my heart be completely his.

This Week

We will be spending the next week with my parents, so I won't be posting while we are gone. It will be nice to get away from the whole survivial mode for a week. If the Lord brings us to mind during this time, please continue to pray for us. We are still feeling very uncertain about where the Lord is directing us. I'd love to get some clarity on that this week!

If you are going through a trial similar to ours, you might wish to read the biography of George Muller, a man who ran orphanges in Bristol, England in the 1800s. He ran the orphanages entirely on faith.. he did not have any backing or regular funding from any souce. He did not publically share any needs the orphanges had, rather, he went to God, Himself, with every need they had. And, for years and years and years, God faithfully provided. This is a great quote from Muller... it expresses a confidence that only one who walks so closely to God can gain.... having the kind of intimate relationship that comes from spending much time with God and feasting daily on His Word.

"My dear Christian reader, will you not try this way? Will you not know for yourself . . . the preciousness and the happiness of this way of casting all your cares and burdens and necessities upon God? This way is as open to you as to me. . . . Every one is invited and commanded to trust in the Lord, to trust in Him with all his heart, and to cast his burden upon Him, and to call upon Him in the day of trouble. Will you not do this, my dear brethren in Christ? I long that you may do so. I desire that you may taste the sweetness of that state of heart, in which, while surrounded by difficulties and necessities, you can yet be at peace, because you know that the living God, your Father in heaven, cares for you."

Casting your cares, burdens and necessities upon God....

I've been reading the biography of George Muller, a man who ran orphanges in Bristol, England in the 1800s. He ran the orphanages entirely on faith.. he did not have any backing or regular funding from any souce. He did not publically share any needs the orphanges had, rather, he went to God, Himself, with every need they had. And, for years and years and years, God faithfully provided. This is a great quote from Muller... it expresses a confidence that only one who walks so closely to God can gain.... having the kind of intimate relationship that comes from spending much time with God and feasting daily on His Word.

"My dear Christian reader, will you not try this way? Will you not know for yourself . . . the preciousness and the happiness of this way of casting all your cares and burdens and necessities upon God? This way is as open to you as to me. . . . Every one is invited and commanded to trust in the Lord, to trust in Him with all his heart, and to cast his burden upon Him, and to call upon Him in the day of trouble. Will you not do this, my dear brethren in Christ? I long that you may do so. I desire that you may taste the sweetness of that state of heart, in which, while surrounded by difficulties and necessities, you can yet be at peace, because you know that the living God, your Father in heaven, cares for you."

discerning His will

Will you pray for us? We are trying to figure out why the "doors" we've tried so far have not opened, not even budged. We aren't sure if we're just trying the wrong doors, if the timing just isn't right yet... whether our direction is wrong altogether, etc. We're seeking and praying that He show us what our next step should be... we need to be discerning and could use your prayers. I was reading in 2 Corinthians chapter 1 today and Paul was saying that believer's prayers gained him favor. That struck me and affirmed to me how important it is that people are praying for us.

School Supplies

I hate spending any cash we have on anything other than groceries! So, it was bothering me a little that we needed some school supplies.... I had been thinking and praying about what, if anything, I should buy. Guess what?? I received my Office Depot awards credit in the mail (kind of like rebate I can spend in the store). I cannot use those award credits anywhere but the office supply store, so it cannot be used for groceries! :-) Looks like God is saying it is time to get those school supplies.

Thank you, Lord!

Update: We got the school supplies without keeping any tally... the total came to just .96 less than the awards credits! :-D Amazing.

A Display of His Glory

Tomorrow it will be two months since Mark was released from his job. I look back over these days and am in awe.... I could not have imagined that we'd make it even a month without Mark's income, to be quite honest. We've always had to live on a very tight budget and I just didn't think it was possible to live on less or budget more carefully than we already did! Mark didn't receive any kind of severance package, other than unused vacation pay so it is just miraculous... our loving Father has multiplied our "loaves and fishes".... And when I begin to worry, again and again God reminds me "the flour and oil will remain unempty until the rains come again"!

Even though we are only two months into the situation, we are already see God's hand and wisdom in it all.... Mark is out of a spiritually bad environment, out of a company that doesn't take good care of their employees, out of travel (which he had been praying for), and he has grown more spiritually than ever before. He had been praying to become a more caring, merciful, generous individual, and he believes that is all being born out of this experience. We've both grown much closer to God. I am learning a lot about releasing worries to God.... about trusting Him with it all... about faith and the reality of our God and all He is able and willing to do.

I can honestly say that I am thankful for the situation, although it is painful. But, I feel so honored, in a way.... I know that may sound strange.... but He has given us a "front seat view" to an amazing display of His glory! Every time He comes through with what we need at the precise moment we need it... I just want to fall down and worship... Trials and obstacles are just an opportunity for God to show us his love, power and presence in our lives!

Thank you to all of our amazing friends. I am praying that every person who has helped us through prayers, gifts, words of encouragement, etc. will receive blessings and that they, too, will see the awesome and amazing hand of God in their lives as clearly as we have. I pray that the faith of all who have been witness to this situation will become deeper and more true. And most of all, I pray that God might use our situation to win some into His fold... that they might gain the greatest gift of all... an everlasting relationship with Him.

Exalt the LORD our God
and worship at His footstool;
He is holy. Ps. 99:5

His Grace

If you check this blog very often, you know I haven't posted in a while... the last week has been totally consumed with wedding preparations! But, I think I am finally rested up and there are some blessings I'd like to share and give God praises for!

Our 2nd month's COBRA is taken care of, and was a major concern, so we are very thankful for that! We were also having major battle with Mark's former employer, who was trying to keep the money we had saved in our flexible spending account... and not reimburse us for medical expenses we'd incurred during June. I have been praying about this for weeks because I knew that the company was totally in the wrong, plus we could not afford to lose the money. I'd feel sick if I thought about it very long... I had to keep handing it back over to God. Mark had saved all of his paycheck stubs, and was finally able to prove that what they were telling us wasn't true and that we were entitled for medical reimbursements through the entire month of June. We are SO very thankful that it appears this battle may be won.... as we had hundreds of dollars in medical expenses we were going to have to try to pay, while losing all the money we had saved in the FSA... it was like paying twice for all of those things at a time when we have no income. (And, Mark, I will not complain about saving ALL of your pay stubs any more!!!)

A couple of "wow" moments... and will try to give the short version so this post isn't horribly long! The first being totally non-job loss related... Our son's wedding was to be held outside on his in-law's property. On the drive out there, the temperature was 95 degrees and we were really worried about the guests and wedding attendants getting ill from the heat. Amazingly and miraculously, a storm moved into the area... came within a few miles of the wedding site but no further. It cooled the temperature 20 degrees just before the wedding!!! Now, God would be good whether He gave us the cooler temps or not, but we asked and for some reason He said YES in a big way!

The other thing I wanted to share is that yesterday I needed to go to the Mills to return something bought for the wedding and not needed afterall.... the boys said they wanted to go to, "to get out of the house". I asked my daughter about going, but she was somewhat melancholy and said something about needing a dress and asked if I could buy one for her. I, of course, sadly told her "no, I can't, I'm sorry." But, I talked her into coming anyway to just spend some time together. As we went to the van, we got the mail out of the mailbox, and there was an envelope there for my daughter. It had a money gift inside with a note that SHE was to use the money. Now, once again, God is good regardless as to whether he provides things like this... but I think that HE knew that she needed this at this very, exact moment. The timing was absolutely a God-thing.

Thank you, Father for all you have done to display your Grace to us in so many ways.

Thanks to everyone for your continued prayers. It truly gets us through the most difficult days. Mark has applied for more jobs this week, continue to pray that the Lord direct his steps and opens the doors HE wants us to go through.