We’ve had lots of fun changes in the works. If you asked me two years ago what I expected life to look like now, I hardly would’ve thought it was all possible. At that time, my future was entirely uncertain. Now – it’s looking brighter than ever.
Last summer we married, and have begun taking steps toward moving and expanding our family (no news there yet). At the end of winter we met with a mortgage broker friend to run our numbers. We were thrilled to learn we weren’t bad off, but in fact were pre-approved. Thus began the house-hunting.
During all this, my business also started taking shape, which is needed to offset the upcoming expense differences. Yet, just when increased income began, many things suddenly broke all at the same time. Funny how God works though; He replaced every item on the list for free:
- My $100 flat iron replaced
- My cheaper hair dryer upgraded to a ceramic
- The barely working vacuum that finally died to a pet heavy-duty vacuum
- My summer and winter wardrobe
- A couch
- Kitchen gear
- We got a new 19″ tv for free (good for the kitchen)
All of these unplanned blessings remind me of the youth ministries I was a part of years ago. We played a game “Bigger and Better”. Often we started with some disposable object like a paperclip, and were sent out to ask others to trade for something bigger and better than what we had. As a result, we once furnished the youth ministry space with multiple couches on the same evening. All the unplanned blessings really feel much like that. We started out with things that were broken and beaten, and in exchange were freely given all sorts of things that meet our needs.
We are learning to let Him provide, even when we could provide for ourselves. Stay tuned… we will soon have some more big news to share.
25-26″If you decide for God, living a life of God-worship, it follows that you don’t fuss about what’s on the table at mealtimes or whether the clothes in your closet are in fashion. There is far more to your life than the food you put in your stomach, more to your outer appearance than the clothes you hang on your body. Look at the birds, free and unfettered, not tied down to a job description, careless in the care of God. And you count far more to him than birds.
27-29″Has anyone by fussing in front of the mirror ever gotten taller by so much as an inch? All this time and money wasted on fashion—do you think it makes that much difference? Instead of looking at the fashions, walk out into the fields and look at the wildflowers. They never primp or shop, but have you ever seen color and design quite like it? The ten best-dressed men and women in the country look shabby alongside them.
30-33″If God gives such attention to the appearance of wildflowers—most of which are never even seen—don’t you think he’ll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you? What I’m trying to do here is to get you to relax, to not be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to God’s giving. People who don’t know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works. Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don’t worry about missing out. You’ll find all your everyday human concerns will be met.