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.