While reading along in Exodus, I have been intrigued at all of the detail that has gone into the Tabernacle. God requested things be done a certain way with such detail! It is truly amazing! And after hearing my Pastor's sermon on Sunday morning about heaven it just makes me wonder....if so much detail was put into the Tabernacle here on earth....I can't even imagine what heaven is going to be like! We are so limited in our understanding and our material here on earth. Anyway, as I was reading along at the requirements for Aaron's garments and for the curtains, and even the items that are to go inside the Tabernacle I began thinking of those who had the honored privilege of constructing such beautifully intricate things for God! I would imagine these people had a heart to serve. Just as much as Aaron or Moses. And then, when I got to chapter 35 of Exodus I read these verses!
(20-23) Then all the congregation of the people of Israel departed from the presence of Moses. And they came, everyone whose heart stirred him, and everyone whose spirit moved him, and brought the Lord's contribution to be used for the tent of meeting, and for all its service, and for the holy garments. So they came both men and women. All who were of a willing heart brought brooches and earrings and signet rings and armlets, and all sorts of gold objects, every man dedicating an offering of gold to the Lord. And everyone who possessed blue or purple or scarlet yarns or fine linen or goats' hair or tanned rams' skins or goatskins brought them. (25-26) And every skillful woman spun with her hands, and they all brought what they had spun in blue and purple and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen. All the women whose hearts stirred them to use their skill spun the goats' hair. (29) All the men and women, the people of Israel, whose heart moved them to bring anything for the work that the Lord had commanded by Moses to be done brought it as a freewill offering to the Lord.
Sure, we attend church, and we know there are women who serve in many different area's of the church. We each have a different skill that we can bring to God's house and give to Him to use for His honor and glory! But, are we doing what we are supposed to be doing with a willing heart? Are we doing what we are doing because our heart's were stirred? Do we have a skill that God gave us that we are not using simply because we don't see how in the world it could be used? When was the last time your heart was stirred to use a skill that God had given you to give back to God as a freewill offering? I love artsy crafty things. I can't say I am necessarily good at them, but I do enjoy them. I can't imagine having the skill that these women possessed that they were able to use in such a way to give back to God and help to build/construct the Tabernacle! What an honor and what a privilege.
I also think of all the possessions that these women had. Some near and dear to their hearts no doubt, that they were willing to give to God! Wow! I have some special treasures of my own. I would be honest when I say that to give them to God would be difficult, but if the opportunity arose I would like to think that I could do that! My challenge for myself after reading this is to search my heart and know that if God called upon me to give up any of my possessions here on earth that I would do so in a heart beat with a heart that was willing. Also, to be searching for certain skills/gifts that God has specifically equipped me with that I can use to give back to Him in a special way and use for His honor and glory! May we all be willing women with hearts stirred to use our talents and gifts and skills for God!!
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
Tuesday, December 4, 2012
Where I am at.
Well, today I just finished Exodus 21. I have really been enjoying this study and since having been to the Holy Land have a better idea of the area where a lot of the events that I have read about took place. Just a plug...if you have never been to Israel..GO! Your Bible reading will come alive in a way that will help you immensely! Since I last posted, I have read about the children of Israel's flight out of Egypt and their journey through the wilderness and how God provided in miraculous ways for them! Today I read about the Ten Commandments and then God's rules on slavery.
The other day something jumped out at me that I found most interesting. In Exodus 18, Moses' father in law, Jethro comes to him and seeing that Moses is taking on all of the burdens of the people steps in and gives Moses some instruction. He tells Moses to appoint able men who fear God and who are trustworthy to take on some of these burdens from Moses. These men were to be over different groups of people. Any matter too great they would bring to Moses, and any small matter they would decide themselves. This looks like a clear picture of how the church is set up today! You have deacons and or assistant Pastor's who can help bear some of the burden! I like what the end of chapter 18 says, "If you do this, God will direct you, you will be able to endure..." I believe this is a clear picture of a healthy church.
I also love chapter 15. It is the song that Moses led the people in singing after they crossed the Red Sea and saved them from the Egyptians.
Looking forward to continuing my journey! As you can tell I may not write every day, but I will write!! There is so much I am learning through this study and I hope you are also being blessed by it!
The other day something jumped out at me that I found most interesting. In Exodus 18, Moses' father in law, Jethro comes to him and seeing that Moses is taking on all of the burdens of the people steps in and gives Moses some instruction. He tells Moses to appoint able men who fear God and who are trustworthy to take on some of these burdens from Moses. These men were to be over different groups of people. Any matter too great they would bring to Moses, and any small matter they would decide themselves. This looks like a clear picture of how the church is set up today! You have deacons and or assistant Pastor's who can help bear some of the burden! I like what the end of chapter 18 says, "If you do this, God will direct you, you will be able to endure..." I believe this is a clear picture of a healthy church.
I also love chapter 15. It is the song that Moses led the people in singing after they crossed the Red Sea and saved them from the Egyptians.
Then Moses and the people of Israel sang this song to the LORD, saying,
"I will sing to the LORD, for he has triumphed gloriously; the horse and his rider he has thrown into the sea.
The LORD is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation; this is my God, and I will praise him, my father's God, and I will exalt him.
The LORD is a man of war; the LORD is his name.
"Pharaoh's chariots and his host he cast into the sea, and his chosen officers were sunk in the Red Sea.
The floods covered them; they went down into the depths like a stone.
Your right hand, O LORD, glorious in power, your right hand, O LORD, shatters the enemy.
In the greatness of your majesty you overthrow your adversaries; you send out your fury; it consumes them like stubble.
At the blast of your nostrils the waters piled up; the floods stood up in a heap; the deeps congealed in the heart of the sea.
The enemy said, 'I will pursue, I will overtake, I will divide the spoil, my desire shall have its fill of them. I will draw my sword; my hand shall destroy them.'
You blew with your wind; the sea covered them; they sank like lead in the mighty waters.
"Who is like you, O LORD, among the gods? Who is like you, majestic in holiness, awesome in glorious deeds, doing wonders?
You stretched out your right hand; the earth swallowed them.
"You have led in your steadfast love the people whom you have redeemed; you have guided them by your strength to your holy abode.
The peoples have heard; they tremble; pangs have seized the inhabitants of Philistia.
Now are the chiefs of Edom dismayed; trembling seizes the leaders of Moab; all the inhabitants of Canaan have melted away.
Terror and dread fall upon them; because of the greatness of your arm, they are still as a stone, till your people, O LORD, pass by, till the people pass by whom you have purchased.
You will bring them in and plant them on your own mountain, the place, O LORD, which you have made for your abode, the sanctuary, O Lord, which your hands have established.
The LORD will reign forever and ever."
Looking forward to continuing my journey! As you can tell I may not write every day, but I will write!! There is so much I am learning through this study and I hope you are also being blessed by it!
Thursday, November 15, 2012
God Preserves His People Through Faithful Women
I have read the book of Exodus and have heard these stories over and over, but have never seen how God used different women to accomplish his will! He uses the following women to preserve his people:
~Shiphrah and Puah (Hebrew midwives)
~Moses' mother
~Moses' sister
~Pharaoh's daughter
~Zipporah (Moses' wife)
Exodus begins with the Pharaoh realizing how great the people of Israel had become in number and strength and for fear that war would break out against the Egyptians he made the people of Israel work as slaves. Then to make matters worse he commanded that the Hebrew midwives kill all sons born! And there we see a pillar of strength! These midwives, Shiphrah and Puah specifically, feared God more than they feared the king of Egypt. God used these two godly women to preserve his people! They did not do as the king said, but rather let the male children live. Verse 20 of chapter 1 says, "So God dealt well with the midwives. And the people multiplied and grew very strong. And because the midwives feared God, he gave them families." God will always bless us for doing what is right just as he blessed these midwives!
Then Pharaoh decides to command every son born to the Hebrew's to be cast into the Nile.
A Levite couple gives birth to a son. This son was good, and healthy. Knowing the command given by Pharaoh this woman hides her son for 3 months. He really must have been good to be kept hidden for so long! Well, when this woman could no longer hide her son, she made a basket out of bulrushes (papyrus reeds), placed her precious son in the basket, and placed the basket among the reeds by the river. This brave woman was Moses' mother. She knew she could not cast her precious son into the Nile as Pharaoh has commanded. So she did what she could to preserve his life! And oh did God bless her!!
This little boys sister stood a little distance away from where her brother was placed into the river by his mother to see what would happen. Obviously, she must have loved her little brother because this simple act showed how she cared. Well, after a time, Pharaoh's daughter came to bathe in the river. She saw the basket and sent her servant to grab it. Pharaoh's daughter opens the basket and saw the child. He began to cry and Pharaoh's daughter took pity on him and saw he was one of the Hebrews' children. Moses' sister then comes to Pharaoh's daughter and says "Shall I go and call you a nurse from the Hebrew women to nurse the child for you?" Pharaoh's daughter agrees and Moses' sister ran and called her mother! So, then Pharaoh's daughter says to Moses' mother, " Take this child away and nurse him for me, and I will give you your wages."
Oh! How God blessed the faithfulness of these women! Here was a mother who could not commit such a sin of killing her own son, and how God blessed her! She was paid to care for her son! And this sister who was brave and cared for her little brother and who God used to work his mighty plan in the life of Moses and the children of Israel! But there is one more woman that God used!
Moses, after he fled from Pharaoh to the land of Midian, took a wife from the priest of Midian. Her name was Zipporah. After God commands Moses through the burning bush to lead the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt the Lord sought to put Moses to death because he had failed to circumcise his son. This command to circumcise goes back to the covenant God made with Abraham. Well, Zipporah steps in and takes care of the circumcision and once again Moses' life is preserved thanks to a godly woman!
In just 4 chapters we are introduced to 6 women who God used mightily to accomplish his will in the life of Moses and in the lives of the children of Israel! God used these women to preserve his people! Guess what! God can use us even today to accomplish His perfect will in the lives of those around us and in the lives of future generations. How are you doing? How would you rank your faithfulness? Would you be able to have the strength to do what was right if placed in the situations these women were placed in? Do you fear God more than you fear man? Let us strive to be faithful women! We don't know what kind of impact our decisions to follow God will have on the lives around us or the lives of those who come after us!
~Shiphrah and Puah (Hebrew midwives)
~Moses' mother
~Moses' sister
~Pharaoh's daughter
~Zipporah (Moses' wife)
Exodus begins with the Pharaoh realizing how great the people of Israel had become in number and strength and for fear that war would break out against the Egyptians he made the people of Israel work as slaves. Then to make matters worse he commanded that the Hebrew midwives kill all sons born! And there we see a pillar of strength! These midwives, Shiphrah and Puah specifically, feared God more than they feared the king of Egypt. God used these two godly women to preserve his people! They did not do as the king said, but rather let the male children live. Verse 20 of chapter 1 says, "So God dealt well with the midwives. And the people multiplied and grew very strong. And because the midwives feared God, he gave them families." God will always bless us for doing what is right just as he blessed these midwives!
Then Pharaoh decides to command every son born to the Hebrew's to be cast into the Nile.
A Levite couple gives birth to a son. This son was good, and healthy. Knowing the command given by Pharaoh this woman hides her son for 3 months. He really must have been good to be kept hidden for so long! Well, when this woman could no longer hide her son, she made a basket out of bulrushes (papyrus reeds), placed her precious son in the basket, and placed the basket among the reeds by the river. This brave woman was Moses' mother. She knew she could not cast her precious son into the Nile as Pharaoh has commanded. So she did what she could to preserve his life! And oh did God bless her!!
This little boys sister stood a little distance away from where her brother was placed into the river by his mother to see what would happen. Obviously, she must have loved her little brother because this simple act showed how she cared. Well, after a time, Pharaoh's daughter came to bathe in the river. She saw the basket and sent her servant to grab it. Pharaoh's daughter opens the basket and saw the child. He began to cry and Pharaoh's daughter took pity on him and saw he was one of the Hebrews' children. Moses' sister then comes to Pharaoh's daughter and says "Shall I go and call you a nurse from the Hebrew women to nurse the child for you?" Pharaoh's daughter agrees and Moses' sister ran and called her mother! So, then Pharaoh's daughter says to Moses' mother, " Take this child away and nurse him for me, and I will give you your wages."
Oh! How God blessed the faithfulness of these women! Here was a mother who could not commit such a sin of killing her own son, and how God blessed her! She was paid to care for her son! And this sister who was brave and cared for her little brother and who God used to work his mighty plan in the life of Moses and the children of Israel! But there is one more woman that God used!
Moses, after he fled from Pharaoh to the land of Midian, took a wife from the priest of Midian. Her name was Zipporah. After God commands Moses through the burning bush to lead the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt the Lord sought to put Moses to death because he had failed to circumcise his son. This command to circumcise goes back to the covenant God made with Abraham. Well, Zipporah steps in and takes care of the circumcision and once again Moses' life is preserved thanks to a godly woman!
In just 4 chapters we are introduced to 6 women who God used mightily to accomplish his will in the life of Moses and in the lives of the children of Israel! God used these women to preserve his people! Guess what! God can use us even today to accomplish His perfect will in the lives of those around us and in the lives of future generations. How are you doing? How would you rank your faithfulness? Would you be able to have the strength to do what was right if placed in the situations these women were placed in? Do you fear God more than you fear man? Let us strive to be faithful women! We don't know what kind of impact our decisions to follow God will have on the lives around us or the lives of those who come after us!
Tuesday, November 13, 2012
How Do We Respond to Trials??
I have finished the book of Job and I feel like I have been on a journey of my own. While reading Job I also read a book about a trial (it was fiction, but it followed the story of Job), and I heard sermons about trials, and I just started Cary Schmidt's book "Off Script." I don't know what God is doing in my life, but I feel he is preparing my heart for something or maybe showing me that how I have previously responded to past trials was not correct. We all have/will experience trials in our lives. We each have a choice of how we will respond during those trials. Will we wrestle or will we rest?
Having just finished up the book of Job, I can see a man who did question why he went through such a trial as he did. I can understand his question. He lost everything within what seems like just hours. His friends came to him and basically commanded him to repent because surely Job had some wicked sin in his life that caused these horrible things to occur. But Job searched his heart and knew that was not so. Did Job ever get the answer to his question of 'Why?" Not that we can see. Instead, God answered Job by describing how God was in control of everything and is mighty above even the greatest of creation! And then God blesses Job and increases all that he had!
Isaiah 43:2 says "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through the fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.
It is not a matter of if you enter a storm of life, but rather when. We will all face storms in our lives. We will all go through trials where we feel we cannot go on any longer. I have gone through a few huge trials in my life. Does that mean I will not see trials any longer? No! They will continue to come. I just need to be ready and prepared to cling to God, knowing that this was all in His plan for my life even when I do not know why.
I love how Cary Schmidt describes a trial in his book "Off Script". This is what he shared with his children when he shared with them they would be experiencing a trial with his news of cancer. Here is what he says, "...a trial is like a precious treasure that God places in our hands and loans to us. It's a trust---a sacred trust. It's an opportunity to show His grace and goodness to others, and to be used by God in a very special way. God doesn't give trials to someone unless He has a special plan to use it. And this means He wants to use us---so I want us to respond the right way and honor the Lord through this."
We can clearly see how God used Job and his trial in just this very way!
We do not know when we will be faced with a trial. It could come at any time in the form of a phone call, an email, a letter in the mail, etc. But the truth is that we will all be faced with trials at some point in our lives. Will we allow those trials to torment us and steer us far away from God? Or will we allow those trials to mould and shape us to be more like Christ and to allow Christ to be seen more clearly in our lives?
That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: 1 Peter 1:7
Having just finished up the book of Job, I can see a man who did question why he went through such a trial as he did. I can understand his question. He lost everything within what seems like just hours. His friends came to him and basically commanded him to repent because surely Job had some wicked sin in his life that caused these horrible things to occur. But Job searched his heart and knew that was not so. Did Job ever get the answer to his question of 'Why?" Not that we can see. Instead, God answered Job by describing how God was in control of everything and is mighty above even the greatest of creation! And then God blesses Job and increases all that he had!
Isaiah 43:2 says "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through the fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.
It is not a matter of if you enter a storm of life, but rather when. We will all face storms in our lives. We will all go through trials where we feel we cannot go on any longer. I have gone through a few huge trials in my life. Does that mean I will not see trials any longer? No! They will continue to come. I just need to be ready and prepared to cling to God, knowing that this was all in His plan for my life even when I do not know why.
I love how Cary Schmidt describes a trial in his book "Off Script". This is what he shared with his children when he shared with them they would be experiencing a trial with his news of cancer. Here is what he says, "...a trial is like a precious treasure that God places in our hands and loans to us. It's a trust---a sacred trust. It's an opportunity to show His grace and goodness to others, and to be used by God in a very special way. God doesn't give trials to someone unless He has a special plan to use it. And this means He wants to use us---so I want us to respond the right way and honor the Lord through this."
We can clearly see how God used Job and his trial in just this very way!
We do not know when we will be faced with a trial. It could come at any time in the form of a phone call, an email, a letter in the mail, etc. But the truth is that we will all be faced with trials at some point in our lives. Will we allow those trials to torment us and steer us far away from God? Or will we allow those trials to mould and shape us to be more like Christ and to allow Christ to be seen more clearly in our lives?
That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: 1 Peter 1:7
Saturday, October 27, 2012
If God Blessed Us Then, Why Do We Doubt He Will Bless Us Later?
Wow, what a week. Looking back I feel like such a moron! Ever have one of those weeks? Let me fill you in on what happened and how I let my doubts and fears get in the way of seeing how God fulfilled one of His promises in my life.
It all began about a month ago. Being pregnant and carrying around a 27+ pound 1 year old plus already having back issues was not good news for my back. I was in a lot of pain and I was putting off going to see my chiropractor because I saw no way possible that we could even afford one visit, let alone weeks and months of the therapy I knew I needed. Finally, I could not take the pain any longer and knew something had to be done, so, I called up my chiropractor and got my first appointment scheduled. I was honest with the receptionist, who is also a friend of mine, and told her that I truly had no idea how I was going to pay for my treatment and for them to just be patient with us. She said it was not a problem and to just pay what we could when we could.
After going for a little over a month and finally getting some relief I still had not been able to pay anything towards my ever increasing bill. I was praying and asking God to supply the need that we had. I knew he could, but I struggled with truly believing he would. Well, once again, God showed me how true His promises are...
About a week ago I got a phone call from a dear, sweet friend of mine who lives in Colorado. She called to let me know that she was sending me a package. She said there was a couple things in it for Aaron (my 1 year old) and a little money for me to put towards my chiropractor bill! I don't remember if I had shared with her about the need that I had or not, but either way, I knew that God was answering my prayer! She did not tell me how much she was sending. So, I was looking forward to the sweet gift from my friend, and continually praying that God would provide for my need. On Monday night, I had planned to go out for a much needed "Mom's night" with a friend of mine. On my way out the door there was the package! So, I grabbed it and took it with me to open in the car on the way to dinner. Now, your probably thinking...you went out to dinner when you had a financial need?? Yes! And if you know me, you will also know that I had coupons for everything! One for me, and one for my friend! Yup! I don't pay full price for ANYTHING if I don't have to.
So, we get in the car, and I share the story with my friend about the package. So, we open it and inside is much more money than I could have imagined! It was not easy trying to hold back the tears of gratitude! I immediately thanked God for His blessing and how he used my friend in Colorado! I still did not know what the total of my bill was for the chiropractor, so I continued to pray that week till my appointment on Thursday.
Ok, now lets back up one day to Sunday (before our Mom's night out), our Pastor passed around Faith Promise cards at church. Drew was not yet home from his trip to Israel (he got back Tuesday) and so I took a card and silently prayed that God would give me an amount to give this next year that was more than what we gave this past year. If you are not familiar with Faith Promise...it is simply missions giving that is in addition to your tithe/offering. So, he pretty much immediately put an amount in my head and I knew I needed to talk to Drew about it. It was a true step of faith amount just like our current amount is. Last year, we did not have the extra for missions, but we knew that God wanted us to give. So we decided on an amount and trusted that God would provide for us to give that amount to missions every week. Guess what! He did!! For one whole year we had that extra money that we had prayed for and trusted God for every week! And I will be honest, as I was praying in church Sunday, I had the typical thoughts flowing through my head...what about this area where we are short? Or that area? How are we going to pay for this AND that? Yeah, we have all been there. But I knew the number that God had placed on my heart to increase our missions giving too...and so on I waited till Drew got home to talk to him about it.
So, to recap...Saturday, I got the phone call with the blessing of a gift from my friend. On Sunday, the Lord gave me a number that we should increase our missions giving too knowing that we don't actually have the money to do that...but knowing we would have to trust Him to provide it. Monday, I receive the gift from my friend for much more than I could have imagined!
On Tuesday, Drew came home from his trip and it was back to normal life (well, as normal as it could possibly be). Within the last several months, Drew and I have been discussing our financial situation in relation to our needs and especially the upcoming birth of our second child in March. Honestly, to look at our finances, we don't know how we get by...we just do. And for that reason it is a topic of conversation that isn't exactly our favorite and an area that I tend to stress/worry way too much over. Well, on Wednesday, I had our financial situation on my mind a lot. I was allowing it to really get me down. I knew where we should be financially to be able to get by without a problem and I knew where we were and I was allowing that gap to put me in a gloomy mood on Wednesday.
Well, after church on Wednesday night Drew and I were walking to our car when I remembered sharing with him what God had impressed on my heart about missions giving on Sunday. So, I shared the amount that I felt God would have us increase our giving to. At that, he shared with me that he had received a $1 raise at work. Instantly, my mind went back to that gloomy state that I had been in all day worrying about our finances. So, what was my response?? "That's it? Just $1? Ugh!" And the conversation ended.
On Thursday, I went to my chiropractor, and asked what my bill was when they included that days visit. What a blessing!! The amount that my friend had sent me was ABOVE what my total bill was including Thursday's visit! God had provided over and above what I needed for my chiropractor bill! I was able to pay my bill IN FULL with some money left over to cover my visits for the next couple of weeks! God had answered my prayer over and above!! And he had used a dear friend!! I was rejoicing! Well, I went home and shared the news with Drew who was also excited too! And instantly, I was rebuked by the Holy Spirit for my attitude towards the news of Drew's raise the night before. I knew I needed to apologize for my stinky attitude and to rejoice in the fact that he did receive a raise and God was again trying to show me how he was providing for our needs.
Well, it was Friday night and I still had not apologized to Drew (I knew I needed to). We had gotten home from helping at our church's weekly addictions program and I came to Drew and apologized for my wrong response regarding his raise. I was in tears because I knew I had not encouraged my husband and lifted him up when I most needed to. He then shared with me something that I could not see because I had allowed my stinky attitude to get in the way. On Wednesday night after church I had just shared with him how I felt God wanted us to increase our missions giving even though I had no idea how we could do that and that we needed to trust that God would provide and then Drew had shared with me how he had gotten a raise. Here I was sharing with him what i felt God was leading us to do, and ALREADY God was providing! I could not see that on Wednesday because I allowed our long list of "needs" to get in the way. I was broken. I sat there and just bawled because here I was rejoicing one minute for how God provided over and above my need at the chiropractor, yet blinded to how God AGAIN provided for us over and above so that we could give to Faith Promise for the second year with increase!!
So, what is the lesson in this? I need to be so careful that I don't allow worry and the stress of the bigger picture cloud my view of the blessings that God provides my family! If God can provide in the absolutely awesome way that he did this week for the one little area of my chiropractor bill then why can't he also provide for our needs later down the road when we have this second child? Why can't he also provide the money for every single one of our list of needs? I learned a lesson for sure this week. I need to put away the worry about the things of tomorrow and I need to trust that God will provide just like he promised! I don't know how we will make it tomorrow, next month, next year...but I saw God provide for me this week! I need to trust that he will provide for me tomorrow, next month, and next year and stop looking at what we don't have and simply look to the One who owns it all.
It all began about a month ago. Being pregnant and carrying around a 27+ pound 1 year old plus already having back issues was not good news for my back. I was in a lot of pain and I was putting off going to see my chiropractor because I saw no way possible that we could even afford one visit, let alone weeks and months of the therapy I knew I needed. Finally, I could not take the pain any longer and knew something had to be done, so, I called up my chiropractor and got my first appointment scheduled. I was honest with the receptionist, who is also a friend of mine, and told her that I truly had no idea how I was going to pay for my treatment and for them to just be patient with us. She said it was not a problem and to just pay what we could when we could.
After going for a little over a month and finally getting some relief I still had not been able to pay anything towards my ever increasing bill. I was praying and asking God to supply the need that we had. I knew he could, but I struggled with truly believing he would. Well, once again, God showed me how true His promises are...
About a week ago I got a phone call from a dear, sweet friend of mine who lives in Colorado. She called to let me know that she was sending me a package. She said there was a couple things in it for Aaron (my 1 year old) and a little money for me to put towards my chiropractor bill! I don't remember if I had shared with her about the need that I had or not, but either way, I knew that God was answering my prayer! She did not tell me how much she was sending. So, I was looking forward to the sweet gift from my friend, and continually praying that God would provide for my need. On Monday night, I had planned to go out for a much needed "Mom's night" with a friend of mine. On my way out the door there was the package! So, I grabbed it and took it with me to open in the car on the way to dinner. Now, your probably thinking...you went out to dinner when you had a financial need?? Yes! And if you know me, you will also know that I had coupons for everything! One for me, and one for my friend! Yup! I don't pay full price for ANYTHING if I don't have to.
So, we get in the car, and I share the story with my friend about the package. So, we open it and inside is much more money than I could have imagined! It was not easy trying to hold back the tears of gratitude! I immediately thanked God for His blessing and how he used my friend in Colorado! I still did not know what the total of my bill was for the chiropractor, so I continued to pray that week till my appointment on Thursday.
Ok, now lets back up one day to Sunday (before our Mom's night out), our Pastor passed around Faith Promise cards at church. Drew was not yet home from his trip to Israel (he got back Tuesday) and so I took a card and silently prayed that God would give me an amount to give this next year that was more than what we gave this past year. If you are not familiar with Faith Promise...it is simply missions giving that is in addition to your tithe/offering. So, he pretty much immediately put an amount in my head and I knew I needed to talk to Drew about it. It was a true step of faith amount just like our current amount is. Last year, we did not have the extra for missions, but we knew that God wanted us to give. So we decided on an amount and trusted that God would provide for us to give that amount to missions every week. Guess what! He did!! For one whole year we had that extra money that we had prayed for and trusted God for every week! And I will be honest, as I was praying in church Sunday, I had the typical thoughts flowing through my head...what about this area where we are short? Or that area? How are we going to pay for this AND that? Yeah, we have all been there. But I knew the number that God had placed on my heart to increase our missions giving too...and so on I waited till Drew got home to talk to him about it.
So, to recap...Saturday, I got the phone call with the blessing of a gift from my friend. On Sunday, the Lord gave me a number that we should increase our missions giving too knowing that we don't actually have the money to do that...but knowing we would have to trust Him to provide it. Monday, I receive the gift from my friend for much more than I could have imagined!
On Tuesday, Drew came home from his trip and it was back to normal life (well, as normal as it could possibly be). Within the last several months, Drew and I have been discussing our financial situation in relation to our needs and especially the upcoming birth of our second child in March. Honestly, to look at our finances, we don't know how we get by...we just do. And for that reason it is a topic of conversation that isn't exactly our favorite and an area that I tend to stress/worry way too much over. Well, on Wednesday, I had our financial situation on my mind a lot. I was allowing it to really get me down. I knew where we should be financially to be able to get by without a problem and I knew where we were and I was allowing that gap to put me in a gloomy mood on Wednesday.
Well, after church on Wednesday night Drew and I were walking to our car when I remembered sharing with him what God had impressed on my heart about missions giving on Sunday. So, I shared the amount that I felt God would have us increase our giving to. At that, he shared with me that he had received a $1 raise at work. Instantly, my mind went back to that gloomy state that I had been in all day worrying about our finances. So, what was my response?? "That's it? Just $1? Ugh!" And the conversation ended.
On Thursday, I went to my chiropractor, and asked what my bill was when they included that days visit. What a blessing!! The amount that my friend had sent me was ABOVE what my total bill was including Thursday's visit! God had provided over and above what I needed for my chiropractor bill! I was able to pay my bill IN FULL with some money left over to cover my visits for the next couple of weeks! God had answered my prayer over and above!! And he had used a dear friend!! I was rejoicing! Well, I went home and shared the news with Drew who was also excited too! And instantly, I was rebuked by the Holy Spirit for my attitude towards the news of Drew's raise the night before. I knew I needed to apologize for my stinky attitude and to rejoice in the fact that he did receive a raise and God was again trying to show me how he was providing for our needs.
Well, it was Friday night and I still had not apologized to Drew (I knew I needed to). We had gotten home from helping at our church's weekly addictions program and I came to Drew and apologized for my wrong response regarding his raise. I was in tears because I knew I had not encouraged my husband and lifted him up when I most needed to. He then shared with me something that I could not see because I had allowed my stinky attitude to get in the way. On Wednesday night after church I had just shared with him how I felt God wanted us to increase our missions giving even though I had no idea how we could do that and that we needed to trust that God would provide and then Drew had shared with me how he had gotten a raise. Here I was sharing with him what i felt God was leading us to do, and ALREADY God was providing! I could not see that on Wednesday because I allowed our long list of "needs" to get in the way. I was broken. I sat there and just bawled because here I was rejoicing one minute for how God provided over and above my need at the chiropractor, yet blinded to how God AGAIN provided for us over and above so that we could give to Faith Promise for the second year with increase!!
So, what is the lesson in this? I need to be so careful that I don't allow worry and the stress of the bigger picture cloud my view of the blessings that God provides my family! If God can provide in the absolutely awesome way that he did this week for the one little area of my chiropractor bill then why can't he also provide for our needs later down the road when we have this second child? Why can't he also provide the money for every single one of our list of needs? I learned a lesson for sure this week. I need to put away the worry about the things of tomorrow and I need to trust that God will provide just like he promised! I don't know how we will make it tomorrow, next month, next year...but I saw God provide for me this week! I need to trust that he will provide for me tomorrow, next month, and next year and stop looking at what we don't have and simply look to the One who owns it all.
Friday, October 26, 2012
Note on Job...
I am going to finish up the book of Job and then give a synopsis of what I have learned that I can apply to my life...be watching for the post!!
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
When Your Suffering Seems to Great
Ok, so trying to really understand all that Job's friend Eliphaz is saying as a way to try to help Job after this time of crisis in his life. It has taken me a little while and I have been rereading the passage the last couple of days. Nothing highlighted in pink, but definitely some deeper passages.
From what I can understand, Eliphaz has come to Job telling him that it is because of some secret sin in his life that he has had such tragedy befall his household. The key verse in chapter 4, I believe is verse 17, which says, "Can mortal man be in the right before God? Can a man be pure before his Maker?" Obviously, the answer is yes and no. I say this because I do believe that when we come to God confessing our sins and turning from them to do what is right, we are then right and pure before God. Do I believe it lasts? No. We are sinners. Can we be forever pure and right in the eyes of God? No. Not while we are living on this sin cursed earth. Eliphaz is basically saying that if Job accepts his situation as God's discipline on his life then he will be spared any further trouble and will live to be a "ripe old age" (5:26).
I do not believe that bad things come into our lives as consequences of sin all the time. Do I believe that the consequences of sin are devastating on our lives? Yes. But I do not believe that God always brings us through the hard times as a result of sin. We know the back story to Job. We know that before God he was called blameless. Obviously, in the life of Job the tragedy was not because of sin, but rather as a time of testing to see if his faith would hold steadfast.
Job responds to his friend, Eliphaz in chapters 6-7. He longs to die in hopes of alleviating his suffering. And in 6:10 says, "...I have not denied the words of the Holy One." Referring to the fact that he has not concealed a sin as his friends suggest he did.
In chapter 7, Job turns to God. He feels his suffering is too great for him and he loathes his life. Have you ever been to this place? Have you ever felt that the pain and suffering you were experiencing in your life was too great? I know many have. I have been there when my mom passed away. It is so easy to get into a depression of sorts when you are at such a low point in your life. Keep your focus on God when hard times come and you feel you cannot go on anymore. God is still there with an outstretched arm ready to pull from the sea of suffering when you feel like you are drowning. Cling to God during those times. It is only then that you will find your way out and you will experience joy in the midst of suffering.
From what I can understand, Eliphaz has come to Job telling him that it is because of some secret sin in his life that he has had such tragedy befall his household. The key verse in chapter 4, I believe is verse 17, which says, "Can mortal man be in the right before God? Can a man be pure before his Maker?" Obviously, the answer is yes and no. I say this because I do believe that when we come to God confessing our sins and turning from them to do what is right, we are then right and pure before God. Do I believe it lasts? No. We are sinners. Can we be forever pure and right in the eyes of God? No. Not while we are living on this sin cursed earth. Eliphaz is basically saying that if Job accepts his situation as God's discipline on his life then he will be spared any further trouble and will live to be a "ripe old age" (5:26).
I do not believe that bad things come into our lives as consequences of sin all the time. Do I believe that the consequences of sin are devastating on our lives? Yes. But I do not believe that God always brings us through the hard times as a result of sin. We know the back story to Job. We know that before God he was called blameless. Obviously, in the life of Job the tragedy was not because of sin, but rather as a time of testing to see if his faith would hold steadfast.
Job responds to his friend, Eliphaz in chapters 6-7. He longs to die in hopes of alleviating his suffering. And in 6:10 says, "...I have not denied the words of the Holy One." Referring to the fact that he has not concealed a sin as his friends suggest he did.
In chapter 7, Job turns to God. He feels his suffering is too great for him and he loathes his life. Have you ever been to this place? Have you ever felt that the pain and suffering you were experiencing in your life was too great? I know many have. I have been there when my mom passed away. It is so easy to get into a depression of sorts when you are at such a low point in your life. Keep your focus on God when hard times come and you feel you cannot go on anymore. God is still there with an outstretched arm ready to pull from the sea of suffering when you feel like you are drowning. Cling to God during those times. It is only then that you will find your way out and you will experience joy in the midst of suffering.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)