June 27, 2012 ~ Prayers Answered

Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.

Ephesians 3:20

Thoughts~

I knew that the day would come where I would write about God’s special, prayed-for provision for me; I just didn’t know it would be today. God never lets us know His future plans for us, so the phone call I received today was a delightful surprise.

In 2010 I decided to return to college to get a degree in Social Work. As I began preparations, the economy took an even bigger nose dive in Phoenix and I was rapidly running out of money. Few people were hiring me (I paint murals) because I perform a luxury service. I had to let a lot of material things go: my car, my home, my garden and a lot of the extra’s I was used to. I had a big garage sale and then gave away things I could not use in my soon to be apartment home. I did a major downsize in my life. By now my trust in the Lord was strong and I knew that He would take care of my needs; I simply needed to be willing and available. My Trust in the Lord ministry began during this period because I had so much more time on my hands. Quite honestly, God used the recession to further His kingdom.

Friends picked me up for events, church and grocery shopping. I spent more time with many of them because we drove places together, which has been so nice. School is all on line at this point and when I do paint murals, I have rented a car. It all worked out pretty well and while I missed my freedom, I learned to live a much simpler life. A small book could be written about all God has taught me over these past 15 months. Stay tuned!

School is soon going to be in person and by now I have been really eager to volunteer at a Hospice Center where I hope to one day work. For both of these situations I needed a car so I began asking God about a month ago to provide something that could take me where I need to go. I was willing to drive almost anything and even considered a little Vespa motorcycle but my cop friend said no way, not in the Phoenix traffic.

God did “immeasurably more than” I asked. Or imagined. When the phone rang, it was my friend Mac whose mother had passed away a few weeks earlier.  We chatted for a while, catching up and then she told me that she and her husband Russ wanted to give me, with no strings attached her mother’s car. With tears easily flowing, I was overcome with gratitude to both Mac and Russ but mostly to the Lord for placing it on their hearts to surprise me with a wonderfully taken care of sedan.

Yes, God does answer our prayers . . . in His time, not ours.  I had a few lessons to learn first. Big lessons and small, but all that have changed my outlook on giving to others.

To Him be the praise and the glory. Forever and ever. Amen.

Actions~

What is it that you most need? Not want, but need? Ask the Lord to provide for you exactly what it is according to His will. And wait to see Him work in your life!

Pray~

Father, You are my provider and I thank You for all You do for me.  Every day of my life, You provide, over and over again.

Trusting in Him,

Becky

Like my Facebook page here:

June 26, 2012 ~ Train up a Child

Train up a child in the way he should go,

Even when he is old he will not depart from it.

Proverbs 22:6

Thoughts~

A family legacy that both touches my heart and makes me want to cry is demonstrated by my friend Debbie’s family. Through many generations faith in the Lord has been the heart of her family, the common denominator.  Debbie believes that her great, great grandmother was the first believer who brought the family to the spiritual place they are today.

My paternal grandparents seemed to believe in God but it was never talked about. Likewise, my maternal grandparents believed in the Lord but they didn’t talk about Him much either.  There was prayer at meals for sure, but for whatever reason, their Methodist background kept them private in expressing God’s faithfulness and love.

In my own childhood family we said two recited prayers: one at dinner and one at bedtime. We never prayed at any other time. Ever. One day a great aunt of mine gave me a book called The Bible for Little Eyes and I was fascinated with the paintings and stories in it. And every once in a while, my parents took us to church. But it was so seldom that we always felt uncomfortable in Sunday School where the regulars knew one another. And so that was pretty much all the God-talk I was offered as a child.

Another friend of mine, John, was not brought up in a faith minded family either. But he made sure the Lord is the center of his own family. Dr. John Trent has a ministry that reinforces families all around the world and God is using him to make a difference.

While I may not have come from a family where Jesus was talked about or loved, God put me in the family I was meant to be in.  I felt very loved and treasured when I was growing up. With that love filled background, I came to Jesus as a teenager and that set the stage for my adult walk with Him as the center of my life.

And now, I pray that I have started the spiritual legacy for generations to come in my own family tree. I talked about Jesus with my children at every opportunity as they were growing up. All three of my children were saved early and rededicated their lives later in life. All three have been active in church youth activities and shared their faith with friends along the way. One daughter married a youth Pastor. Two children are not active in their faith right now and I pray all the time that they return to their spiritual roots. Because, after all, they learned all about Jesus as children and so they do know the truth . . . and I hold out hope they will not depart from it.

 Action~

We must talk about the Lord and not keep our faith silent or reserved only for Sunday’s. He is who we want our children to copy . . . not the people of the world. Make sure your children know where you put your hope and make sure they watch you walk your walk. If your children are grown, pray for them, their spouses, and their children. Ask God for opportunities to speak about Jesus with your grandchildren.

Keep praying, keep sharing and use every single opportunity to share your faith with the people you love.

Pray~

Lord, thank You for showing me the example of families like Debbie’s. I know Your plan is bigger than one I could ever imagine. I pray for my children and grandchildren to draw close to you all the days of their lives.

Trusting in Him,

Becky

Like my Facebook page here: