Jehovah-Jireh Indeed!!

Have you ever been so amazed with the Lord that it completely exceeds words? Though consistently struggling in a lot of ways, that's where I've been lately. My heart is so full, and I am so grateful. I haven't written because I know I can't explain it. I can't possibly give Him the glory He deserves. What a poor excuse, huh? As if any of us can adequately display the glory of a holy and righteous God!

I want to share with you some of the ways God has provided for my family in the past couple of weeks. I've openly shared our financial problems and my struggle with giving back to God (I know, it's His already!) the tithe that He requires. From the depths of my selfish heart, I sincerely thank each of you who took the time to comment and encourage me on that tithing post. Partly because of you, I can say today that thus far we've been faithful to consistently give back a portion of the income He's entrusted us with since then. And you guys, the blessings have been innumerable!! Some have been financial and some have not, but they have all proven to be "far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think."

I long to write emotionally about each of these blessings, but my dear friends, those of you who really know me, know that I would be writing for days on end! So I've decided to share with you in a list type format (I know, thank me later!) the following ways that God and His people have filled me to overflowing with awe and thanksgiving in just the past couple of weeks...

1. I received THE coolest thing in the mail that I think I have ever gotten! It was an encouraging card from an anonymous friend filled with the hope of our Lord and a gift card to Wal-Mart. Hellloooo?? If you are reading this, THANK YOU! I don't think I've felt that happily surprised since I got my first pair of black patent leather shoes as a little girl (yes, I'm still a shoe fanatic!). I can also say that you have individually contributed to my family in a way that I promise you will have a lasting impact. What you gave me was another link in my ever strengthening chain of faith. Wow! May God bless you abundantly for your concern and generosity to this Sister in Christ, and I believe He will!

2. Many of you know that we've been back at Community Bible Church since January. It's where Steve and I were married 5 years ago, and it's the place that God has used over and over in my life to draw me to Himself and cause me to connect with Him in serious, life changing ways. (This is not a slap in the face of FBC by any means. That's a whole different story that I'll have to save for another night!!) Aaaanyway, we got a call from church and were told that another anonymous someone had left a check for us for $150!!! Now, I don't care who you are or how much money you have, that's a nice chunk of change to just anonymously give. If there is any chance that dear spirit is reading, THANK YOU from the bottom of my faith-filled heart...thank you for helping to fill me! Again, a gift that will last much longer than money. Blessings to you, heaps and heaps! (By the way, $150 was nearly the exact amount of tithe we'd given at that point.)

3. Our church has also offered to help us financially, and we have gratefully accepted. Did you get that? Our church offered. We didn't have to ask or apply or request or give them a copy of our budget or prove our crisis. We're not even officially back as members yet, and our local Body is stepping up to help meet our needs! Links, links, and more links on my chain of faith!!

4. Steve received one week of unemployment pay (my gooooodness, if you've ever had to go thru that then you know it's nothing short of a miracle...forget that he was actually out of work for two weeks!).

5. God's grown our childcare family by 2 (both absolutely adorable and pictured in other posts already).

6. We owe my parents about a million dollars. Okay, not really, but it feels like that! They have been more than patient with us, and I can't begin to express my gratitude for that! They are constantly helping out in little ways, too, that I hope they know do NOT go unnoticed. Thank you, Mom and Dad, for living out what you believe.

7. Steve's parents are nothing short of wonderful! I think the greatest gift they've given us in the very recent past was babysitting. We were able to enjoy a (late!) night out together. If you've been through financial struggles, then you know how quickly it can wear on a relationship. I love the ways that God is providing the opportunity for strengthening our marriage through this! Thank you, Teri and Albert, for allowing us to take the time out to be the calm for each other in the midst of this storm. Another gift that goes a loooong way!

8. That night out was also, in a lot of ways, a reunion with some very, very dear friends of ours. I love you both, and I'm forever grateful for the amazing grace that covers us, even binds us together.

9. A personal struggle of mine seems to be falling further and further from my heart as I grow in faith and trust in the One who made me, knows me like no other, and has the ability to fill me in every possible way.

10. GNO with my sister, Lisa! Wooohoo! I soooo needed that. Still reaping the benefits of this one, too! ;)

11. I was able to do some work for a dear teacher friend, and she was able to help me financially. Every time I get to dabble in her world I can't help but wonder if I'll ever get to teach. Aside from earning some extra money, I fully enjoyed shutting the world out for a few hours and playing school! As if that weren't enough, our brief chats were like water to my soul. You know I love you, and I'm grateful for every moment our paths cross.

12. I can FEEL the prayers of His people! There are those who've always prayed for my family and always will. Your reward is in heaven, and my love goes out to you always! In addition, my recent struggles have led me to talk to a few different people that I haven't really had the opportunity to be close to, and I have been blessed beyond words. Thank you for taking the time to walk alongside a lonely sheep.

13. Steve has a job now. It's not a "WOOHOOO" kind a job, but it's a job. He's back at Ingram, in the warehouse where we met 7 years ago. What's funny is that I think, in some ways, we're spiritually back there too. I don't mean we haven't grown since then...far from it! But we're back at CBC, and we're back in a position of what feels like accelerated growth. And, though completely exhausted, I am bubbling over excited about it?! Can you tell? :)

Well, I numbered them in the list format I promised, but I don't think it shortened me by much. Thanks for reading! I am so completely full of God's blessings right now that I could probably continue the list through the early morning hours, but I'd really like to be awake enough to give Him the praise He deserves in the morning. So I need to wrap this up. If I believed in luck, 13 would be my lucky number, so I'll end with that...

Lord, when you provide for your children you leave us lacking nothing. I am so thankful for the loss of Steve's job, so thankful for the circumstance that required total dependence on You! You are so faithful, so good, so loving. You are the healer of my broken, sinful heart, and as I've turned my pain over to you this month I've literally watched you put food in the mouths of my babies. Through the Church, Your Body, I've been held by Your arms, comforted and encouraged by Your words, and brightened by Your joy. I'm amazed, I'm excited. I can't wait to see where you take me from here. I commit to you, and before all who read these words, I'm Yours, I'm going with You, I'm fully accepting whatever you bring my way...for Your glory, Lord!