As a working husband and father, I often picture myself as the sole provider of our family. In fact, I've even described myself as such in recent conversations with colleagues/prospective employers. It is easy to slip into that way of thinking and in those moments forget that I am so deceived. Most people are not even phased by the deception, often times agreeing with me and offering casual condolences like "I understand" or "You're right. You've got to make sure you can provide for your family".
There's now a tugging in my heart and I must ask the question...do I provide for my family???
To most Christians, the obvious answer is "No". The church answers of "God is my provider" or "He is all I need" run rampant through my mind. But let's get real people...we are not perfect and we have a tendency to make a name for ourselves and think higher of ourselves than we should (consider the Babylonians and their infamous tower). Ashamedly, I admit I am such a person. I've lost count how many times I have answered "Yes" to this question. In so doing, I place myself on a pedestal that I have no right to be on. My view of God becomes so limited, forgetting that He literally spoke the world into motion and provided everything it needed by His word. Last time I checked, I am not able to do that.
I need to change my way of thinking. Or as Romans states, "...be transformed by the renewing of your mind..." I am so grateful for the gentle nudging of the Holy Spirit who reminds me that He is the provider for my family. He gives us breath, He provides a job/income, He sustains us by meeting our needs (not our wants). The Gospel of Matthew tells us He feeds the birds of the air and clothes the flowers in the fields. How much more will He provide for us, the people He created to know Him and make Him known!!!
Exalting God above all else has provided peace to me and the family. Peace that is unfathomable and I cannot explain. I am also amazed that how quickly I fade into the shadows as I lift Him up and take my mind off myself and my measly abilities.
I have found comfort in Isaiah 26:3..."You will keep in perfect peace the mind that is dependent on You, for it is trusting in You".
Now the question is "Who is your provider?"
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Each Day Brings a New Story
Two weeks ago, Dave called in the middle of the afternoon to tell me those dreaded words, "I've been laid off." My immediate response (mostly because I'm too pregnant to help myself) was to cry uncontrollably. After about 2 hours of seemingly endless tears, God brought to mind a simple song we used to sing in high school youth group..."God will make a way when there seems to be no way. He works in ways we cannot see. He will make a way for me. He will be my guide, hold me closely to His side. With love and strength for each new day, He will make a way. He will make a way."
Amazing how such simple things can bring us great comfort. I never fully embraced to deepest impact of that song until that day. You see God will make a way for this baby to be born healthy and the medical bills be covered. God will provide the food, shelter, clothes, and other needs that we have. The next day, I looked up the passage Matthew 6:25-34. Many of you know the one:
"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air, they do not sew or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?
And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."
This has been posted on our kitchen cabinet for us to memorize. Every time I start to get concerned about something, I quote this passage. It has brought incomparable comfort to know that Jesus told us that God, our Father, knows these needs and will provide for them.
Amazing things have begun to happen since Dave's last day of work. Major financial concerns of mine have begun to be addressed one by one by our very creative God. Arrangements have been made so that the girls can continue with the mother's day out program they were enrolled in! Major blessing! They have been excited about returning to school since it ended in May. Now they can go, learn and grow to an even higher potential without the stress of wondering when we will have to pull them out because the funds have disappeared.
Another concern was our car. We had worked so hard to try and pay off the debt we incurred by needing the bigger, used car earlier than expected, but were 6 months away from it being paid off. Now, we no longer have the extra to put towards it or the minimum to keep paying. However, God in His infinite generosity has outlined a way for it to be taken care of until He provides Dave and I with sustainable income again.
Just Monday night, I was concerned about when the grocery money would dry up so that the weekly grocery store run would not fill up our fridge or our bellies. I was talking with our 4 year old about being grateful for the food to eat even if it's not our favorite because there will come a time soon, when we may not have anything to eat at all. Tuesday, we received a gift card to HEB from an anonymous angel who slipped it into our mailbox.
Each of these concerns were not voiced outside of our home. Some were not even voiced outside of my very own mind. It is absolutely humbling and deeply moving to realize that God has begun to provide in ways we would not have dared to ask or dream. I know He is not done. God has a wonderful plan in store for us through this journey. I just pray that we all can continue to "Consider it pure joy, whenever you face trials of many kinds..." (James 1:2).
We appreciate your prayers on our behalf as we keep our eyes focused on Him above!
Amazing how such simple things can bring us great comfort. I never fully embraced to deepest impact of that song until that day. You see God will make a way for this baby to be born healthy and the medical bills be covered. God will provide the food, shelter, clothes, and other needs that we have. The next day, I looked up the passage Matthew 6:25-34. Many of you know the one:
"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air, they do not sew or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?
And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."
This has been posted on our kitchen cabinet for us to memorize. Every time I start to get concerned about something, I quote this passage. It has brought incomparable comfort to know that Jesus told us that God, our Father, knows these needs and will provide for them.
Amazing things have begun to happen since Dave's last day of work. Major financial concerns of mine have begun to be addressed one by one by our very creative God. Arrangements have been made so that the girls can continue with the mother's day out program they were enrolled in! Major blessing! They have been excited about returning to school since it ended in May. Now they can go, learn and grow to an even higher potential without the stress of wondering when we will have to pull them out because the funds have disappeared.
Another concern was our car. We had worked so hard to try and pay off the debt we incurred by needing the bigger, used car earlier than expected, but were 6 months away from it being paid off. Now, we no longer have the extra to put towards it or the minimum to keep paying. However, God in His infinite generosity has outlined a way for it to be taken care of until He provides Dave and I with sustainable income again.
Just Monday night, I was concerned about when the grocery money would dry up so that the weekly grocery store run would not fill up our fridge or our bellies. I was talking with our 4 year old about being grateful for the food to eat even if it's not our favorite because there will come a time soon, when we may not have anything to eat at all. Tuesday, we received a gift card to HEB from an anonymous angel who slipped it into our mailbox.
Each of these concerns were not voiced outside of our home. Some were not even voiced outside of my very own mind. It is absolutely humbling and deeply moving to realize that God has begun to provide in ways we would not have dared to ask or dream. I know He is not done. God has a wonderful plan in store for us through this journey. I just pray that we all can continue to "Consider it pure joy, whenever you face trials of many kinds..." (James 1:2).
We appreciate your prayers on our behalf as we keep our eyes focused on Him above!
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
The New Twist in Our Journey
This year has been another interesting year in our lives. No sooner did we start to discuss the possibility of wanting a third child did God provide! Once again, our world was rocked. We weren't prepared for the new car we now needed, nor the extra expenses from the new health benefits due to the pregnancy. Wow...could we actually be one of those families that has more kids than adults? I never say never for one simple reason. God ALWAYS sees fit to make my "never" come true.
Now looking at the approaching due date of our third daughter in November, we are faced with an even bigger challenge of faith. Unemployment. Dave was laid off effective August 14.
Being "CEO of La Casa" (stay-at-home mom) has it's perks, but financial security is not one of them. My dear husband, Dave, has bravely and kindly been our sole source of income for more than six years. God has carried us through desperate times before, but this time we have more at stake than ever before.
The eyes of our 4 year old and 2 year old are watching our every move. How are we going to portray this journey of faith to them? Are we going to say God will provide, but worry and fret, weep and moan the whole time? Or, are we going to be living examples of walking by faith and not by sight? We have chosen the latter to experience this journey. We have in the past done the whining and moaning response while uttering our beliefs of God's provision. This time, we want to be the people that you see and wonder..."Wow! How are they so calm?" We want God's beautiful and abundant peace to shine through this time of unknowns.
I will do my best to keep everyone updated on this journey by writing our thoughts, prayers, and God's provisions. Hopefully, you will find encouragement and ultimately His loving grace through it all!
Now looking at the approaching due date of our third daughter in November, we are faced with an even bigger challenge of faith. Unemployment. Dave was laid off effective August 14.
Being "CEO of La Casa" (stay-at-home mom) has it's perks, but financial security is not one of them. My dear husband, Dave, has bravely and kindly been our sole source of income for more than six years. God has carried us through desperate times before, but this time we have more at stake than ever before.
The eyes of our 4 year old and 2 year old are watching our every move. How are we going to portray this journey of faith to them? Are we going to say God will provide, but worry and fret, weep and moan the whole time? Or, are we going to be living examples of walking by faith and not by sight? We have chosen the latter to experience this journey. We have in the past done the whining and moaning response while uttering our beliefs of God's provision. This time, we want to be the people that you see and wonder..."Wow! How are they so calm?" We want God's beautiful and abundant peace to shine through this time of unknowns.
I will do my best to keep everyone updated on this journey by writing our thoughts, prayers, and God's provisions. Hopefully, you will find encouragement and ultimately His loving grace through it all!
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