Fresh Faith

I have been reading the book Fresh Faith by Jim Cymballa, if you want/need something to stir you and increase your faith- this is the book!

Hence my thought for this week-

Exercise Faith

Don't

Excuse Unbelief 

We Needed a Miracle

We were facing a huge obstacle, our van had temporary tags and had to pass inspection in 30 days, if not we would not be able to drive our vehicle. We took it to a mechanic who said he would take it to a sale and see what we could get out of it-it was not worth fixing. And he estimated the cost would be well over $3,000. Where were we going to come up with that kind of money? And in time to get it inspected? Of course we began to pray!

The answer came (still unknown to us) in the form of a man who showed up at our church Wednesday night for service. He and Jonathan hit it off very well and he returned the next Wednesday night for service. In the midst of their conversations they talked about our van and the fact that this man was an excellent mechanic. Long story short, this guy took our van and worked on the transmission last Saturday from 12 noon to 1am. Worked on it for free, we just payed for the parts which was a little over $100. That Sunday morning a man gave us the exact amount of $$ needed to purchase another part needed, which our new friend fixed our van with. Then on top of all this, he took our van with him to work, and inspected it off the clock, on his time thus waiving the inspection fee. Our original $3000.00 problem has been fixed for a little over 200.00, plus the fee for registration.

God's provision and timing is PERFECT and he has even timed the extra expense right around my receiving my first paycheck from the post office. We needed a miracle, and God provided! What a Mighty God we serve!

Lord, Increase My Faith!

I have been having conversations with God and my husband about our finances. We are receiving a very small amount for our weekly salary here at our small church. It is enough that we barely squeek by, and if I told you just how little it was you would be suprised we can even make it.

I decided that it is up to the Lord and my husband to provide for our family, it is not my place to be the bread winner. Strangely this has taken the pressure off of me, and although I manage the finances and the checkbook, it relieves some of the pressure. It's not a cop out, but a coping mechanism that makes me trust my husband and the Lord.

We were just talking this morning (God and me) and He was asking me to trust Him. Later in the morning my husband and I were discussing our finances and he was asking me if I could trust God to meet our financial needs. I said, sure I know I can, especially according to the Bible and God's promises. But, I added, " We do have some very specific needs and I just don't know how we are going to do it, and I have a lot of fear, which I am surrendering to God."

So, tonight after service I was asked if I would like to clean our church weekly, for $50 a week. "I don't want anything more to clean" haha. Of course I'll do it! And wow, that will really help with our way too tight budget. I am am just amazed at how quickly God has come through in meeting our need AND in increasing my faith (which is pitifully weak sometimes)