God's gentle provision

'And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.' Philippians 4:19

Something that has really been impressed on my (Heather's) heart this month is provision. Jim and I sometimes look back to three and four years ago and remember the smaller paychecks and we are reminded of God's perfect provision. We remember the car we were still paying off, the portion of the house we were paying off, the school loans, and the higher insurance premiums we paid during pregnancies. And we can say wow... God just made it work and provided for us.

That sort of hindsight perspective is one thing, but day to day abundance right before us is another.

This month has been one of building up my faith in God's provision. A very good thing as we prepare to be fully supported by the generosity of others! I don't believe that we are lucky, or just know the right people, or that we are in the right place at the right time, but God KNEW what we needed this month and made the way clear for us.

We were almost out of bread early in the month, and I received an email from another MOPS mom that she had about 60 loaves of bread that a grocery store didn't have room for and she was offering them to families in the community. We were able to get two loaves, along with some English muffins. One of Jim's favorite treats are English muffins! God not only provided for something practical, but he knows Jim's heart... er, stomach... and comforted that as well.

When the seasons changed this month, I looked in Joel's closet and realized I wasn't as prepared as I thought with warmer clothing for the winter for him. A wonderful family we have known for the past year moved out of town somewhat quickly this month, and amidst all the busyness in their lives, they gave us a large bag full of clothes for that their little boy had grown out of. The pajamas and jackets along with shirts and pants were exactly what we needed for Joel, and will take care of him for quite a bit longer... we'll be using many of the things in Kenya. A quiet, perfect provision for a mother's heart and for a little boy.

And then just today, Jim left for hunting with his dad (the provision of an elk to be determined...) and so Grandma, the kids and I were enjoying a morning in the kitchen making cupcakes and having a good time. Faith slipped off her chair and hit her chin on the counter. The resulting cut sent us to the local clinic where the doctor had to be called in from his weekend with his family to help us. Faith needed five stitches to close the cut, she did very well, and is mending fine. We happen to be in between insurance coverage right now, and while that was not the thought in the forefront of my mind (Faith was hurt!), it was back there, lurking with the dread of another bill arriving in the mail. The doctor on call happened to be a member of Jim's parent's church, someone who is missions-minded, and is aware of our big move next summer and just said "Hey- you've got a lot going on right now. Don't worry about it." Talk about PROVISION. In a place away from home, on a weekend, with a hurt little girl, God was ALL AROUND us, making every step clear.

I am grateful that aside from the reading, bible classes, and practical preparations for the mission field, God uses my everyday life to prepare and teach me as well. I don't have to fit it into my schedule, I just have to see it.