It's been an absolutely dynamite couple of weeks ... in a good way. We have been so thoroughly blessed that I cannot even begin to remember everything.
God has seen to it that we have never gone hungry. Our stores are now much improved thanks to many generous gifts from a variety of donors. Not only practical supplies such as vegetables, meat, pet food and dairy products, but treats such as ice cream, chocolate and potato chips!!! It is amazing how such treats become very unimportant in the face of a lack of good quality foods, but those good things came first and treats were a timely reminder of how much God cares about us, even down to our favourite junk foods.
We are still awaiting God's provision on the monetary front, but we are ever more confident of His meeting our needs before it becomes too late. He has proven so faithful, and we can only but remain faithfully obedient to His word.
The Lord is our strength.
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Rejoicing in the Ridiculous
Very little has changed since my last post - we have less food, bigger bills, and still no money. Yet, there have been huge changes on the inside - spiritually speaking.
There have most definitely been low points. I became despondent when we ran out of cat food, and I was not alone. Our pets are our children and no parent wishes to see their child go hungry. Once the grief was dispensed with and God's peace again began to settle over our hearts with the knowledge that He will take care of us, we managed to scrape together some bits out of the freezer and pantry. A 2.5kg can of tuna that had been in our cupboard for several years fed them for about a week. Then some fish and sausages were sacrificed from our own meager meat rations. Tonight it will be beef mince. Meat is not the only issue, all of our foodstuffs are pitifully low. I look at the meat we have left - 500g stewing steak, 3 pieces of schnitzel, a few rashers of streaky bacon, and some soup bones - and can only hold tight to the promises of God to provide ALL our needs, including the needs of our pets.
The situation looks desperately hopeless. Add to that the phone calls from companies looking for payment on bills and one might justifiably feel it is all quite hopeless. The truth is far from it; in fact it is wonderfully marvellous. The Truth lies not in our circumstances, not in our abilities or lack thereof, but in Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour. He is the Rock on which we stand. This journey is one of forsaking the ways of this world and relying on God as our Father and provider. It is contrary to what the world expects and to what it preaches. For too long the world has dictated our direction - working just so we can live. We have chosen to live for God and let Him direct our paths. If that means doing without some things, so be it.
God has provided miraculously this week already. On Sunday we were treated to lunch at a friend's house and we came home armed with seeds to plant in the garden, vegetables, fruit, flowers to cheer the home, a 1/3 pottle of margarine, and a promise of a share in some sheep meat this coming weekend (including offal to feed the pets!!). A few days after that we were provided a lunch of sausage rolls, meatlover's pizza, and spiced fruit bread. We were also given a bottle of milk (which we'd been without for a week and a half) and some savoury bread buns for the next day's lunch. The day after that we received a jar of raspberry jam from someone who just happened to drop in and knew nothing of our circumstances. Later that same day came a call, also from someone 'not in the know' donating us 4 loaves of bread. This is such a blessing as I was very aware that there is only enough milk powder to make one more loaf of bread.
We have been, seemingly, to the end of our ability to cope, and yet God pulls us through every time. When we've been ready to take back the reins of our life (meaning a return to the world's way), God has very firmly confirmed that we are right where He wants us to be. The peace is amazing. The joy that He causes to overflow from us is truly divine and miraculous. He is teaching us how to put all of our trust in Him.
Our days now begin with Bible reading and personal quiet time. That is immediately followed by the three of us who live here joining together for a group praise and worship session. We pray and dedicate the day to God and ask for His direction. Each day ends with a praise and worship session, sometimes lengthy (6 hours is the longest so far - until 3am!!!!), sometimes only an hour or so. He is our strength!
We continue to wait on Him. While I wait I find myself loving Him more and more every day.
To God be the glory.
There have most definitely been low points. I became despondent when we ran out of cat food, and I was not alone. Our pets are our children and no parent wishes to see their child go hungry. Once the grief was dispensed with and God's peace again began to settle over our hearts with the knowledge that He will take care of us, we managed to scrape together some bits out of the freezer and pantry. A 2.5kg can of tuna that had been in our cupboard for several years fed them for about a week. Then some fish and sausages were sacrificed from our own meager meat rations. Tonight it will be beef mince. Meat is not the only issue, all of our foodstuffs are pitifully low. I look at the meat we have left - 500g stewing steak, 3 pieces of schnitzel, a few rashers of streaky bacon, and some soup bones - and can only hold tight to the promises of God to provide ALL our needs, including the needs of our pets.
The situation looks desperately hopeless. Add to that the phone calls from companies looking for payment on bills and one might justifiably feel it is all quite hopeless. The truth is far from it; in fact it is wonderfully marvellous. The Truth lies not in our circumstances, not in our abilities or lack thereof, but in Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour. He is the Rock on which we stand. This journey is one of forsaking the ways of this world and relying on God as our Father and provider. It is contrary to what the world expects and to what it preaches. For too long the world has dictated our direction - working just so we can live. We have chosen to live for God and let Him direct our paths. If that means doing without some things, so be it.
God has provided miraculously this week already. On Sunday we were treated to lunch at a friend's house and we came home armed with seeds to plant in the garden, vegetables, fruit, flowers to cheer the home, a 1/3 pottle of margarine, and a promise of a share in some sheep meat this coming weekend (including offal to feed the pets!!). A few days after that we were provided a lunch of sausage rolls, meatlover's pizza, and spiced fruit bread. We were also given a bottle of milk (which we'd been without for a week and a half) and some savoury bread buns for the next day's lunch. The day after that we received a jar of raspberry jam from someone who just happened to drop in and knew nothing of our circumstances. Later that same day came a call, also from someone 'not in the know' donating us 4 loaves of bread. This is such a blessing as I was very aware that there is only enough milk powder to make one more loaf of bread.
We have been, seemingly, to the end of our ability to cope, and yet God pulls us through every time. When we've been ready to take back the reins of our life (meaning a return to the world's way), God has very firmly confirmed that we are right where He wants us to be. The peace is amazing. The joy that He causes to overflow from us is truly divine and miraculous. He is teaching us how to put all of our trust in Him.
Our days now begin with Bible reading and personal quiet time. That is immediately followed by the three of us who live here joining together for a group praise and worship session. We pray and dedicate the day to God and ask for His direction. Each day ends with a praise and worship session, sometimes lengthy (6 hours is the longest so far - until 3am!!!!), sometimes only an hour or so. He is our strength!
We continue to wait on Him. While I wait I find myself loving Him more and more every day.
To God be the glory.
Sunday, April 4, 2010
Waiting for the sun to rise
Yesterday during our church service, God blessed me with a wonderful vision - one which continues to be there every time I stop and close my eyes.
Jesus appeared before me, holding out His hand. Understanding He was inviting me to follow Him, I took His hand and walked. The way grew dark and narrow, and I said to Him, "Yes, even here will I follow you." The way became light again and hand in hand we walked up a grassy hill and stopped on the crest looking into the distance. I did not see a view because I was more intent on Jesus.
After a while of standing in silence looking into nothingness, I broached a conversation... "So what are we doing, Lord?" He turned and smiled, "Wait, just wait." I was filled with excitement, joy and at complete peace.
Content to wait beside Him I looked off into the distance again. After a while I became aware that it was not just the two of us as I had first thought. Shane (hubby) was on my right, holding my hand and to his right was God, holding his other hand. To the left of Jesus and holding His hand was our dear sister and friend, Sarah. We were all looking off into the same nothingness. I tried to work out where the Holy Spirit was, and it took me a few minutes to realise He was across all of us, in all of us, and in fact the very bond that connected us together. That was cool.
After some time I saw a glimmer of a sun appearing over a distant horizon. Just the smallest arc. It was about this time that our service ended. The vision had begun near the start of the service and this was the point at which it seemingly ended. However as I went through the rest of the day, including a trip out to Birdlings Flat to go agate hunting, I could see the same vision immediately. Only the sun was higher, rising gradually, but faster than in the natural.
I said to my Lord that I would only go on further if He lead me or took me with Him. I will not go on alone.
This morning it was the same although the sun was fully in the sky now. I again thought to ask Jesus what was going on. "Wait," was His usual reply.
"Can we do something while we're waiting?" I queried.
"There's no time," He replied.
Now herein lies my predicament. We're waiting, but there is no time to do anything while we wait. A complete oxymoron as far as I can tell. In this matter I am struggling with my Lord's sense of humour.
The food situation is getting tight and I am trying to stave off the 'oh no' feelings. I am not even letting my mind head toward the financial issues. That's more than I can bear and is firmly in the hands of God.
So here I am waiting...at the Lord's bidding. How long we must still wait I have no idea. One thing for certain, I am determined to be obedient until the very end of my days.
Jesus appeared before me, holding out His hand. Understanding He was inviting me to follow Him, I took His hand and walked. The way grew dark and narrow, and I said to Him, "Yes, even here will I follow you." The way became light again and hand in hand we walked up a grassy hill and stopped on the crest looking into the distance. I did not see a view because I was more intent on Jesus.
After a while of standing in silence looking into nothingness, I broached a conversation... "So what are we doing, Lord?" He turned and smiled, "Wait, just wait." I was filled with excitement, joy and at complete peace.
Content to wait beside Him I looked off into the distance again. After a while I became aware that it was not just the two of us as I had first thought. Shane (hubby) was on my right, holding my hand and to his right was God, holding his other hand. To the left of Jesus and holding His hand was our dear sister and friend, Sarah. We were all looking off into the same nothingness. I tried to work out where the Holy Spirit was, and it took me a few minutes to realise He was across all of us, in all of us, and in fact the very bond that connected us together. That was cool.
After some time I saw a glimmer of a sun appearing over a distant horizon. Just the smallest arc. It was about this time that our service ended. The vision had begun near the start of the service and this was the point at which it seemingly ended. However as I went through the rest of the day, including a trip out to Birdlings Flat to go agate hunting, I could see the same vision immediately. Only the sun was higher, rising gradually, but faster than in the natural.
I said to my Lord that I would only go on further if He lead me or took me with Him. I will not go on alone.
This morning it was the same although the sun was fully in the sky now. I again thought to ask Jesus what was going on. "Wait," was His usual reply.
"Can we do something while we're waiting?" I queried.
"There's no time," He replied.
Now herein lies my predicament. We're waiting, but there is no time to do anything while we wait. A complete oxymoron as far as I can tell. In this matter I am struggling with my Lord's sense of humour.
The food situation is getting tight and I am trying to stave off the 'oh no' feelings. I am not even letting my mind head toward the financial issues. That's more than I can bear and is firmly in the hands of God.
So here I am waiting...at the Lord's bidding. How long we must still wait I have no idea. One thing for certain, I am determined to be obedient until the very end of my days.
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