Things are financially tight right now, for many of us.
People have lost jobs.
New jobs are scarce.
Houses aren't selling.
Food prices have gone up.
Financially speaking ... life is tough for a lot of people.
Are you stressed about a job loss?
Are you wondering how you will pay for groceries next month?
Are you worried about paying for Christmas presents this year?
Or, having enough money for gas to drive to Grandma's?
Have you turned all of your worries over to the Lord?
He is the best financial planner available,
and He doesn't charge for his services.
Last summer, I lost my job. Our family of 15 lost half its income. My husband is a public school teacher, so the other 1/2 of the income certainly isn't a "high income job".
After just adding 3 children to our family, I KNEW without a shadow of a doubt that the Lord wanted me to stay home ... not to look for another job. So, we took a HUGE leap of faith and said, "Okay, Lord. We are trusting YOU to provide for our needs."
It's been over 3 months since my last paycheck. We still have a good savings account (which is truly amazing, after our adoption expenses and trips to Africa and Argentina this year). And, we are so totally at PEACE about our finances, that even I am amazed. It's one thing to say, "We are trusting God." It's another, to totally be at peace with such a cut in income (especially with 9 children living at home, and 3 on the international mission field).
In June, just after finding out that I most likely would be losing my job, a young woman stopped by our house, told us she had been shopping at Safeway, and that the Lord had directed her to buy us some groceries. The children followed her out to the car, and carried in bags and bags of food. We have never seen the woman before or after this event ... she was just one of God's angels letting us know that He was still in charge.
In August, right before my last paycheck, I felt the Lord telling me that "yes." I should go to Argentina to visit Carissa.
"But, Lord, didn't you get the memo that I just lost my job?" A week after paying for my $1500 plane ticket, my paycheck arrived ... with an extra $1500 in it, money I had absolutely no idea that I would be receiving.
In November, we went to C.R.C. for Thanksgiving. As I have said, this camp runs on a donation only basis. Some years we can give a lot ... other years, not much. This year, we could have easily justified a "not much" year. It was also a bit tricky, because Jim and I were the camp speakers. Obviously, speakers are not expected to pay for their room and board. However ... most speakers don't take 13 children and young adults with them. (Even though the 4 young adults did pay their own way, it still left 9 children and teens to pay for). To add to the mix ... the camp took an offering "for the speakers". We had no idea if it would be $100, or much more. No idea! On the last day of camp, I told Jim that I felt we should write a good size check to the camp, to pay for the children. I asked Jim how much the amount should be. Without blinking an eye, he said, "$500." I did take a big gulp, before writing the check (I was thinking more in the lines of $200-$300). That is a LOT of money for us this year. But ... I wrote the check. Then ... we opened the envelope to see how much the offering was. And, guess what, the camp guests had given us exactly $500. Wow! Now ... to be honest ... I was a little bothered by the fact that we had ministered all weekend without making any money (because I keep thinking that the Lord is going to provide for us financially through my speaking and writing ministry), but the Lord told me that I was blessed because we hadn't spent any money either (besides gas money, which thankfully was a LOT less than last summer's trip to CRC). We had an amazing week of ministry; we were blessed by time with family and friends; our children were all ministered to in their classes; and ... we came home "even" financially.
Last Saturday night, Carissa hosted a Missions Dessert Night to tell our friends about her work in Argentina, and to, hopefully, raise financial support for her work there. When asked when she would be returning to Argentina, Carissa told the guests, "Hopefully on Tuesday." Carissa did not tell them that she still needed $800 in order to purchase a return plane ticket. She did not tell them that she was supposed to be back for an event this coming weekend, but had no idea how she was going to get there in time. No ... Carissa trusted the Lord to touch the hearts of the people that were supposed to support her. And, the results were quite surprising. While we had friends that we knew wanted to support Carissa financially (and we are sooo.... thankful for those close family friends), we were a bit discouraged in the turnout for the dessert. Carissa had invited a LOT of family friends, but very few could make it that night. However ... the few that did come were the ones that the Lord had called to be Carissa's support team. A sweet old lady (got to be around 90) that we went to church with years ago, came and wrote a check that was obviously "sacrificial giving". Another woman who Carissa had ministered with wrote a check, even though her husband has been unemployed for months. Another couple who has many children with needs bigger than our own, gave cash. A teen who works part time while going to school ... wrote a check. I seriously wanted to cry as I collected these gifts of sacrificial love for our sweet daughter. A contractor, whom Carissa (and 3 or 4 of her siblings) has done odd jobs for, came to the dessert and told her he would stop by the next day with a check. When he came by the next day and told her the amount, we were seriously overwhelmed with his generosity. By Sunday night, we were close enough to the cost of a plane ticket, that I said we would chip in the rest. Now ... how much does it usually cost to buy an international plane ticket just 30 hours before departure? Usually ... a LOT. We found the MOST amazing deal online. It was MUCH cheaper than if she were to wait a week or two to fly (usually you get the best deal when you purchase tickets in advance). But, God had a PLAN. Carissa had FAITH. And ... she will be arriving in Argentina in just a few hours. Yea God!
Last night, I was thinking through the financial needs of several of our children on the mission field. While out shopping, I decided that I needed to tell Jim that I felt we should give $500 towards the expenses of one of them. (More details later ... it's a secret.)
Another $500 ... yikes! I came home from shopping. Jim came home from Bible study. Before I could say a word, Jim called me to come see him, opened a Christmas card, and out poured a pile of bright green bills. $550 in cash was in a card from a man that is not much more than an acquaintance ... certainly not a close friend. Then, I told Jim where the $500 was to go. I guess we got an extra $50 this time ... maybe we get a date night this week. Seriously though ... again, I thought, "Oh what we could have done with some "extra" $$$." I felt like we were "even" again. Then, I heard the Lord clearly, as He told me that ...
He does not promise "extra", but He does promise to always take care of our needs.
Today, I got a phone call from a man that Jim had done a painting job for back in September. With the state of the economy, this contractor was not able to get all of the funding from the bank, when he expected to. (He's building a small development, and this was one of the first houses.) So, he hadn't been able to pay us at the end of the job. In November, he gave us a 1/2 payment. But, today, he called to say that he could come by and give us the final check. While we had earned the money, we had no idea when we would see it. And ... we were totally at peace about it. So, today's check was a little surprise blessing.
Tonight, I got an email from a blogging friend asking if Jim might do a small painting job for her this month. Unbeknownst to her, he had specifically been praying for 2 or 3 inside jobs to do this winter. We haven't finalized that job ... but we know that God is in control.
Tonight, I got a phone call from a Christian speaker that I haven't heard from in probably 5 years. Tonight, she called to ask if I'd be interested in giving a workshop in March on "Large Families". She had told the coordinator of the event that she knew a "mother of 10" that knew how to organize life with a large family. She laughed when I told her I was no longer a "mother of 10", but was now a "mother of 13".
Tonight, I am in AWE of the God of the universe that takes care of every little detail in the life of the "Big D Family". My heart overflows with gratitude ... with praise ... with rejoicing ... with thankfulness ...
We are so thankful that God is our financial advisor, and that He has taught us how to TRUST in Him on a daily basis. I hope you'll give Him a call, and hand over your finances too.
* * * * *
Tonight ... I was once again reminded of the mug I bought this past summer, with the definition of ...
PEACE:
it does not mean to be in a place
where there is no noise, trouble
or hard work. it means to be in
the midst of those things and still
be calm in your heart.
Thank you Lord ... for Your peace that passes all understanding ... even in the midst of a world financial crisis ....
