It is May 8th,2009 We still have not sold our car, We have had several lookers, but no takers. I tried to start a job selling websites and to date have not sold one thing. That is two weeks of being on the phone five days a week anywhere from 3-8 hours a day. It seems like no matter which way we turn to try to work things out ourselves, nothing comes from it.
BUT GOD HAD DIFFERENT PLANS
We were given $1800.00 last week to get our bills caught up to date. We got two cards in the mail the other day that had money in them. We had a special offering last Sunday.
Can you believe that? All of our bills are paid up to this month.
I have to say that this trial has brought somethings in my life to the surface that have not been very pleasing to deal with. Our trials are to teach us things about who we really are and who God really is. I have learned some really sweet things about my Lord, and some really not so sweet things about me.
So many times we look at other people (which is unwise) and we think they have it all together. We think they could never feel the way I do, they could never act the way I do, they could never on and on and on but I thank God that he gave us verses to help us with exactly that.
1 Corinthians 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. Our trials are common to man.
I have been praying about what the Lord would have me post on my update, Do I speak of how weak I have been? Do I tell how hard this trial has been? Do I speak of the desire to just crawl in a hole and die?
But my whole desire for this blog is to glorify my Lord. Talking of my weakness does nothing to shine the Glory of the Lord through this trial.
The biggest attack through this whole things is to forget the benefits that the Lord loads me with daily. It is so easy to get your eyes on the trial and forget the blessings. Let me list just a few.
Not one time have I ran out of Toilet paper, toothpaste, shampoo, conditioner, makeup, laundry detergent, dish soap. I have not had one need that has not been fulfilled along with some of my desires. How do we have these things without any income? I do not know, but the money just seems to be there when the need arises.
Yesterday Mike and I were at Walmart and I looked at all the flowers for mother's day, they were everywhere I told Mike, I love crazy daisys and just the thought went through my mind, I sure like flowers. Well, the Lord heard that thought, walmart was throwing out a ton of flowers because the boxes got wet. Mike's aunt and uncle got a hold of them and brought me 9 bouguets of flowers. I have fresh flowers in vases all over my house for my company that is coming in from Kansas tonight.
When we first moved here I went and signed the children up for the medical card and because we have no income, Mike and I both qaualified too. Praise the Lord because Mike has really needed it since we have been here, even the doctor said....It is amazing that you have that medical card, they just do not give that to adults very often.
Mike had a flu last year and has said several times, I just have not felt the same since last year. Well this week Mike has gotten so sick, I took him to the doctor and he is thinking he has a viral infection that has been in his lungs since last year. If we didnt have the medical card, he would have never went to the doctor.
The doctor said since he has that card, he is going to really dig in and find out what his problem really is.
I could go on and on and on to the blessings that God has given us through this time. He loads us with benefits daily, It is up to us to stop and notice.
Philippians 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
Discouragment is a tool that the devil uses to defeat God's children. If he can get us defeated he has won part of the battle. If I am a defeated Christian, Do others see my faith? Do others see God's grace in my life? No, all they see is me and my weakness to stand in God's power.
My life is not my own anymore,
1 Corinthians 6:20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.
My life belongs to the Lord, When I have the wrong attitude it does not Glorify my Father.
If there is anything I have learned through this trial is that my Father knows what I need more than I do and he knows what it will take to get some really yucky dross to the surface. It is not fun, but I know he has begun a work in me and that it is easier if I will just yield to his molding, rather than stiffen and reject his leading in my life.
Let the potter mold you into his image.
I am forever His,
Rebecca
