One of my favorite quotes is from C.T.Studd...
"Funds are low again, hallelujah! That means God trusts us and is willing to leave His reputation in our hands."
The Lord always provides, even in the least expected ways. Many times it feels like we're 'robbing Peter to pay Paul' as the saying goes. And it was no different this time. I don't normally like to share our financial info, but this story is too awesome not to share.
Our car insurance is due on the 15th. We'd been trying to save the $ needed to pay it. However, payday came and we paid our regular bills, put a little gas in the tank and bought our groceries to last us two weeks..I didn't spend any more than I usually do on groceries. I balanced our book and found we had less than what was needed for the insurance. ..and nothing left to 'live on' till the next payday. "Too much month left at the end of our money", as Dave Ramsey would say, I guess. So we decided to budget X amount of that insurance money to get us by till payday on the 14th and we'd pay the bill at the last minute. We don't have outlandish bills either. Just the basics. We paid off and closed our credit card a while back so we have no credit card debt, and no cc to fall back on.
This quote by C.T. Studd came to mind again Thursday night. I wasn't
worried, but I was a bit tense waiting till the last minute to make that insurance payment. What if there wasn't enough to cover it on the next paycheck?
We also had a snow storm on the way and no gas in hubby's truck (4 wheel drive).
About an hour later I could hear someone leaving a messege on our answering machine. Our home phone wasn't charged so I couldn't pick up. It was a neighbor who we've only spoken to a couple times. She wanted to know if we were home and could bring us something. So I quickly vacuumed the living room and had the boys carry up the baskets of clean laundry :o) Then I called her back on the cell. She brought over a plate of Xmas cookies and an envelope. Even though I invited her in, she quickly scooted out the door.
When I opened the envelope I nearly fell to my knees....
200 dollars in cash, given in the name of the Lord as a blessing, to do with as we needed or wanted!
We had said nothing to anyone about our finances. I didn't even pray for money. But the Lord knew what we needed and just how much.
You can't tell me there is no God, or that He doesn't care or isn't there when we need Him.
I know He is.
He is ALWAYS looking out for us..always providing.
This couple had money to give and when the Lord prompted, they didn't hesitate.
I pray we listen to the Lord so closely, that we do not miss opportunities to help or bless others in their time of need. I share this as a testimoney to Him and His faithfulness.
"I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to
have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every
situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I
can do everything through him who gives me strength."
~Philippians
4:12-13
O the deep, deep love of Jesus, vast, unmeasured,
boundless, free!
Rolling as a mighty ocean in its fullness over me!
Underneath me,
all around me, is the current of Thy love
Leading onward, leading homeward to Thy
glorious rest above!
O the deep, deep love of Jesus, spread His praise from shore
to shore!
How He loveth, ever loveth, changeth never, nevermore!
How He watches
o'er His loved ones, died to call them all His own;
How for them He intercedeth,
watcheth o'er them from the throne!
O the deep, deep love of Jesus, 'tis a heav'n
of heav'ns to me
And it lifts me up to glory, for it lifts me up to
Thee!
Have a blessed Christmas as we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!!
