And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:19
And then the miracles happened. One by one bills came in saying PAID. We knew God was holding us up, confirming His call and blessing our obedience. We found out that we'd have a salary by the way, about half of what we'd made before, so God cleared the way for us like the Red Sea parting. But like the Israelites, the long way home became harder and the grumbling got louder. The desert seemed too hot and the wilderness was lonely and boring. I missed the things I was used to having. I let go of stuff physically, but not mentally. It's harder to learn how to budget with less, when you're used to having more. We hadn't lived on this salary since Luke was born, and then to add to our fun and our faith, God gave us another little mouth to feed. I don't know if God let me be pregnant at the time the church was starting so I'd have a reason to hang back and watch all that happened because He knows that's how I usually am, but I'm really thankful because (not only do I now have a bubbly, beautiful baby girl) but it wasn't my time to fruitful in that way. It was my sole purpose to house a healthy little person and I needed time to observe anyway. I also continued serving with Spark ministries mission trips and of course, serving my own little mission field at home.
In October, I got to go to Longview again with SPARK but it was less of me running to minister somewhere else so I'd be blessed, and more of God teaching me that I could minister right where I was, if I just looked for the opportunity. The message that God kept sending my way, more than likely to prune me for such opportunities, was the same word I kept hearing and knew was because... I needed to change in my heart....discontment. So I prayed that God would take it out and give me a heart of contentment....happy with what I have, the tenth commandment. I haven't been happy. I've whined and complained and pouted and grumped. I've not been thankful in all things. I read once that God loves me just the way that I am, but He's not just going to leave me that way.
to be continued...
