Plentiful Providence

The other day, Todd was listening/watching a video of Paul Washer reading a journal about the beginnings of his missions agency. [(heartcrymissionary.com) - you should check it out] The journal was about how they had been supported. The group had a certain way of gaining support for the several people they had on the field all over the world. They did not go to any churches or speak to any individuals about the needs they had. They only prayed, and watched God provide. Mr. Washer read entry after entry about how God miraculously sent the money they needed time after time. The people working in the missions agency sometimes went without a paycheck, but they often had more food and supplies than they would have had if they had been paid. It was an awesome testimony of God's providence and His love for His children.

I wanted to record some very recent instances of God's sovereign love in our lives. December is an especially expensive month for us. Lots of family to buy gifts for, friends, and three birthdays around that time keep us pretty strapped financially. But as time progressed, I was able to buy several of the gifts we needed to buy with money that had been given to me by random people and even family.

One of the biggest blessings we received in December was because of some of our dear brothers and sisters in Christ in Kalamazoo. There is a college group at Northeastern Baptist that has taken us on as missionaries. The leader of that group, Chuck Black, met with Todd one morning for coffee along with some of the kids in his group. When Todd came home, he told me that they were dropping by because they wanted to say hi to me too. I thought it was nice, but kind of odd. Well, when they came in, they were carrying boxes upon boxes of groceries for us, along with more than enough gas money for our trip to Pennsylvania. I had a hard time keeping my composure, and finally gave up the fight and just tried to thank them somewhat coherently.

Now as the new year of 2011 has come, God has shown himself loving and powerful yet again. Todd and I are both in a wedding come July. Renting tuxedos and buying bridesmaids dresses is not exactly cheap. Well, my friend called me and said she found out that the dresses needed to be ordered earlier than she thought and I needed to do it that week. Yikes. It just so happened (: that a woman in our church needed someone to watch her kids on Thursday. I was paid the exact amount I needed for the dress. Coincidence?Yeah right. This past weekend, Todd and I went to go get him fitted for his tux, which was going to cost more than my dress. Well, when we were there at the store, we were informed that someone had paid for his... blessings abound and abound and abound.

I have been needing an eye appointment for quite a while, and I was going to get one when we got our tax refund. Well, when I sat down next to Todd in church on Sunday, he placed a folded check on my lap. It was for $1000. A couple in the church has now done this a few times, every time unexpected. They said they want to do it three times a year. Now I can get an eye appointment this week!

I am completely overwhelmed by God's manifold grace. How can I ever doubt?

Matthew 6:25-34

“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 than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers 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—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."

My Favorite Things

There is a song called "My favorite Things" sung by Julie Andrews. She sings about simple things that make her happy when she is down; things such as raindrops on noses and whiskers on kittens. Yes, this does all sound rather whimsical and silly, and no, I'm not feeling down.

But, one of my favorite things is wildlife. I love animals, some I would not venture to keep or touch; but I do enjoy looking at them.

Todd and I were on our way home from Pennsylvania and as usual, I stared at the scenery while my mind wandered. The trip from PA to MI is beautiful when there's a fresh layer of snow blanketing the trees and mountains. While I was looking at the scenery, I couldn't help but recognize the glory and majesty of my Lord.

Now this is when the frivolous and whimsical Janine kicks in. The drive from PA to MI is also very long. So I started looking for deer. I was also praying on and off, praising God for the glory shown in His creation. While I was praying, I asked God, knowing it was silly, if I could see some deer. I know, of all the things to pray for...

Anyways, about a half hour down the road I was talking to Todd and looked over to my right, and what do ya know. I saw deer, not one, but probably 10-15 deer. It absolutely made my day.

Now I know God loves me, and I don't need any other evidence than my salvation through Jesus Christ. But when I see such a shallow prayer answered for someone as silly as me, I can't help but feel completely humbled by God's love. That definitely is my favorite thing.