Amazing things

God does these amazing things in my life through trials. Since the moment I became a Christian God has used difficult trials to draw me closer to him and to build my faith. It is because of some of the way that God grew me during hard trials I faced as a teenager that I am able to have peace during difficult trials that I have today. That said, though, doesn't mean that I don't have my moments now when I begin to feel like I'm crumbling under the pressure.

A, what I like to call, do or die kind of faith moment I had this week came when Carl's paycheck hit our account. It was just enough to pay our rent, a student loan, and monthly parking fee, and our tithe. When all was said and done we had only $73 to last us 2weeks...that was only $73 dollars to buy diapers, which both babies needed, Zach's bi-monthly formula, and a few groceries. I found myself bawling, bawling mostly because of fear of having unexpected costs and of knowing that the 36pack of diapers wouldn't last the children a whole 2weeks. I stood in the kitchen knowing that we could make the 2weeks much easier on ourselves if we didn't tithe. I mean after all it isn't a must pay kind of deal. We wouldn't be charged late fee's nor would it go against our credit.

However, I also knew in my heart that everything that we have belongs to God anyways and just like I would give back money to someone here if they had loaned it to me why shouldn't I give some back to God's work? Why shouldn't I give back to those that serve me every week? Everyday? Why shouldn't I say thanks to him in the same way I would say thanks to an employee? The whole time I was crying I kept hearing the still small voice saying "you've been in situations like this before has God ever not met your needs?" And I answered saying "No, in fact he has often blessed me with so much more." So, I made sure that we tithed that check..I joyfully let it go as well because I had peace and reassurance that God knows what he is doing and that he knows exactly how he desires to provide for us.

Now did I mention that God likes to do these amazing things to me through trials? I think I did? Well, tithing may not be a huge trial on the grand scheme of all trials but it was a huge trial for me that day. Today I woke up with peace in my heart and with steadfast mindset to make that $73 stretch as far and for as long as I possibly can. As I was praising God in my heart and getting dressed, getting ready to love on my beautiful children I felt was seemed like an old receipt in my pant pockets, so not needing an old receipt in my pocket, I reached in and pulled what turned out to be $7 ...What a small delightful blessing that was. Now that was great, and it made me laugh, but I don't think it was really super amazing. I mean I praised God for it and I was thankful, but not as thankful as I was when I got a phone call this afternoon.

See a few weeks ago our air conditioner unit got backed up and caused a huge leakage into our storage closet. Thankfully most of the valuable things in the closet were elevated on top of the plastic containers. So it wasn't anything too serious. In fact it was more of hastle than anything to get it all dried out. Well anyways we did have a few valuable pieces of furniture. A nice kitchen table and then some dinning table extensions. Both pieces got some major water damage, not enough to have to replace it all but enough that it needs to be refurnished. Well, we have renters insurance and so I encouraged Carl to look into filing a claim, which he did. Well, a week ago he talked to our insurance guy and he had told Carl that the claim would probably be denied because he didn't think that that kind of flooding was covered in our particular insurance. So, Carl and I were just expecting to get a letter in the mail saying that our claim had been denied. Instead we get a call from our insurance guy today saying that he was wrong and that he had the claim review management take a look at it and that they wanted to cut us a check. Get this...the check is for 10x's the tithe that we gave God.

Now that's amazing!

God has worked this way in my life pretty much since I came to know him as my savior. And yet the other amazing thing is that I'm still amazed that God would do these kind of things for me. It's something that I will never learn.

Lately Carl and I have been reflecting on a quote that the late Colin Smith said to me when I was in his office for a brief conversation. He said "What God does not supply through one area he will supply in another."

Amen, Amen!