We have come to see that when there is a blessing there is usually Satan lurking around the corner to TRY to rain on our parade. While we were visiting, we had a call come in that fortunately we did not answer. We later learned it was a doctor's office wanting us to pay a bill. One thing we are learning and I feel improving on is how we handle the spiritual warfare. In the past, getting a message from someone wanting our money would have discouraged me. However, we have come to the point where we just try to make the most of each day and enjoy it for what it is instead of worrying about what may or could come in the future. That may seem like a simple thing to do but this has been a huge hurdle for me to jump because the day-to-day decisions of our situation have really drained us and I have found that in the midst of trying to enjoy moments with our boys like I normally would, I find my mind wandering and trying to think through all of our scenarios and how we can wisely make decisions that could impact our family for a long time. However, I'm learning how to let it go and live in the moment and deal with situations as they arise instead of worrying about decisions that I may never even have to make.
Yesterday evening, we had some wonderful family time and I feel like I was really able to just enjoy the time and not even worry even though there were bills due with no money to pay them. We are LEARNING (we're still a work in progress) how to be joyful regardless of the circumstances so today when we got that call about our medical bill, we just saw it for what it was - Satan trying to discourage us in the midst of God bringing people to encourage and provide for us. As much as we want to be responsible and pay for all our bills as we have always done, we have to prioritize which bills we pay. I know this is not ideal but we have come to the point where we just laugh (instead of cry) and say to OURSELVES, "Take a number and get in line!" Today, when that call came in the midst of a BIG blessing, Vince and I just laughed and said, "Alright Satan, put your pitch fork down and just take a number." Of course, the person calling is not Satan but I really believe the timing of that call was very much an attempt by the enemy. Today, we made a choice to NOT let Satan rain on God's celebration and work.
It was a great visit and we were able to talk and catch up with these ladies. They were always such encouragers to us while Vince was on staff at their church. Then as they were leaving, they told us how their Sunday School class decided to use the regular class offering to help us. In the past, whenever their class collected money for their class offering(this was independent of their regular tithes to the church) they used it to go toward helping people in their class who were in the hospital or who had a need. However, recently they decided to start devoting this offering to people OUTSIDE the church who were in need. What a great idea! A Sunday School class decides they are going to do their part in blessing lives around them in their community. I have seen time and again how one person's step of obedience allows God to multiply the effort and bless so many. Can you imagine if every Christian did what they could to think outside of themselves and their immediate surroundings to bless someone else? What a different world we would live in!
Alright, off my soap box and back to my story... The class obviously knew of our situation but Ms. Reenie prompted the class to allow this offering to go to help us specifically. They gave us a sweet card and attached in another envelope was all the cash that came in for that offering! We were just so overwhelmed when we saw the cash that no words could adequately express what we were thinking and feeling. As we sat there in shock and awe, she told how people literally emptied their pockets, went out to their cars to get more money, and went home and came back that night with all the money they had to give. I just could not hold back the tears. What a picture of God's people sacrificing all they have to help! What generosity!!! Most of these people are on a fixed income and the fact they would give generously and step out on faith knowing it would meet a need and that in turn God would meet their needs was just humbling and amazing!! I can't tell you how overwhelming (in a good way) it feels to see and experience God's people doing all they can to help another person or family in need and for us to be on the receiving end of this generosity is simply overwhelming.
It was such a picture of the body of Christ working together to bring about His glory! I don't know the exact amount of certain bills that will come in this month because some of them fluctuate, but I feel certain that we will have enough to pay the rest of this month's bills. How amazing that here we are on March 10th and it appears that God has already provided for the rest of this month! With the way God is and has been working, it would not surprise me in the least if the money we have will equal exactly what we owe for the rest of this month.
Since most of you know me and know that I am not the whiny type, I feel you will know where I am coming from when I share this... The past few months have just been exhausting and being in ministry is such a blessing and a privilege but it can be so draining as you give so much of yourself to others. After Vince was laid off, we were confused and felt hurt, discouragement, and disappointment and all of this really took a toll on many levels. Honestly, our heart for wanting to do ministry never changed but we just didn't know if we had it in us to do more church work. When we looked back on Vince's career in many different ministry capacities, while there had been occasional highs over the years, we had been burned so many times that we just needed a break because we knew that at that time in our lives, we could not effectively minister until we could be healed and as a result have a changed heart and attitude. As much as we knew Satan was trying to take Vince out of the ministry by discouraging him with things that had been occurring, we also knew that in order for Satan to not have the final victory, we needed to take a break and allow God to heal and restore us.
That is one thing we have learned. Sometimes we all just need a break and learn how to rest in Him, but the important thing is we don't just stay out of the game. As we've learned what this means in a practical sense, God has done some of His best work in our lives. As you know from my other posts, we have been very spiritually encouraged and God has and continues to make it very clear what we need to do in the days ahead and we are excited about this new ministry adventure. While we were abundantly blessed today with the sacrificial giving of this Sunday school class, God used them to help bring healing which was also an important step in our journey. Vince had poured himself into the people of this church and when we were let go weeks before Landon was born and obviously in a time of need, we were left confused and hurt even though we understood that his position could not be budgeted for 2009 because of the decline in giving. However, to be on the receiving end and have people from this church turn around and pour themselves into us in our time of need leaves us just speechless and grateful beyond words. In just the past month, God has used so many of His people to help heal and restore us so that we can go forward strong and ready to go about fulfilling the ministry that He has set before us. We are encouraged and rejuvenated and up for the challenge ahead!! Thank you to those of you that have played a role in allowing God to get us back in the game!
Ms. Reenie & Ms. Helen seeing Landon before his nap.
Ms. Reenie, Vince, and Ms. Helen
Kristen, your perseverance and wisdom are a blessing. Keep going. You give me goose bumps.
ReplyDelete