Acts of Kindness

(Photo courtesy of Heart and Soul Reflections.)

The generous soul will be made rich,
and he who waters will also be watered himself.
(Proverbs 11:25)

I have shared openly and honestly on my blog over the last couple of months about the fact that we had to sell our home and move.  I never did it with the intention of receiving anything in return other than prayer.  So many have prayed us through and we are forever grateful.  I absolutely love my blogging community and am so thankful for the many friends I've made.  We praise God that we found a suitable rental home.  Moving has put a huge financial strain on an already strained bank account.  But God has been so very faithful to put our family on the hearts of people who have been able to step out and assist us when we least expected it. 

A couple of days after we moved,  I had to meet the realtor for the buyer and an appraiser over at our old house.  The appraiser was smitten with my 10-year old daughter who I took with me.  He kept asking her about school.  Kaylie was explaining that she had to go to a new school because she had to move.  The man was moved by our story and kept telling us how sorry he was.  I assured him that we trusted God and that we believed He would take care of us.  To make a long story short, as they were leaving the appraiser said he wanted to give my daughter a "back-to school" gift.  He reached in his pocket and handed her a $20 bill.  I tried to tell him it wasn't necessary, but he wouldn't hear of it.  My daughter was so happy.  She told me she was going to buy a new pair of Vans and that mommy would only have to chip in a little bit.  As we were walking out the door, the appraiser asked the realtor if she had given Kaylie her back to school give yet.  She then reached in her pocket and handed Kaylie what I thought was a $10 bill.  But as I looked again, what I saw shocked me.  It was $100!  I asked Kaylie to give me the money and I followed the gal outside.  I told her that there must have been some mistake.  But she assured me that there was no mistake.  I asked Kaylie if I could take the $100 and buy groceries. She did not hesitate.  These were two people who we do not know other than the fact they were on the other side of our home sale.  I was completely blown away. 

This past Sunday in church, we had a family that we know gift us $100.  They told us they wanted to assist us with all the moving expenses we had incurred.  This again came at a time when our money had been pretty much depleted. Again, I was blown away. 

Today, after I shared my "Miscellany Monday" post, a fellow blogger contacted me to offer to assist me in getting some gently used uniforms for my children from a local used uniform closet.  I was so moved, as I was only able to buy 2 pair of pants and 2 shirts for each of my kids.  Again, God laid it on this person's heart to help.

I am so thankful for a God who meets our needs exactly when we need them.  I posted a Facebook status today that said,

"I may not have everything that I want, but I always have everything that I need".  

In this season of my life, I am truly beginning to see and understand that God takes care of every need.  He is always timely. I am realizing how very much He loves me and wants to take care of me.

Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?  (Matthew 6:26)

on Saturday our van broke down.  It's going to take about $300-400 to get it repaired, but I have such great confidence now more than ever that God is going to provide.  He is faithful.  He does not continue to provide for me because I deserve it.  It's who He is. 

He is the Faithful One. 
He is the Giver of all good things. 
He is Jehovah Jirah, My Provider.  

I pray that God will look down from Heaven on those who have blessed us over the last few weeks and return to them 100 fold what they've given to us.  I pray that God would open up the flood gates of Heaven over them and rain down His blessings!  I cannot think you enough for your acts of kindness.  We are truly grateful.

And Suddenly...

 (Photo Credit:  Laura DeLeon)

Today God has been reminding me that He is a God of suddenlies.  There are many instances in the Bible where God suddenly appeared:

But when the assembly gathered in opposition to Moses and Aaron and turned toward the Tent of Meeting, suddenly the cloud covered it and the glory of the LORD appeared. (Numbers 16:42)

As they were walking along and talking together, suddenly a chariot of fire and horses of fire appeared and separated the two of them, and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind.
(2 Kings 2:11)

Suddenly the fingers of a human hand appeared and wrote on the plaster of the wall, near the lampstand in the royal palace. The king watched the hand as it wrote.
(Daniel 5:5)

Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting.
(Acts 2:2)

Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him up. "Quick, get up!" he said, and the chains fell off Peter's wrists.
(Acts 12:7)

Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everybody's chains came loose.
(Acts 16:26)

It has been like this for me over the last couple of days:

• I find myself out of strength, barely able to move at times, and suddenly, He is here providing the strength I need for the next step.
• I find myself getting fearful because I cannot see the road ahead, and suddenly, He is here assuring me that He is my front and rear guard.
• I find myself unable to rest, and suddenly, He is here reminding me that He is the peace that surpasses all understanding.

Although we have a long road ahead to financial freedom, I know that My God is more than able to suddenly show up in our circumstances. And He is not just able...He is willing.  He delights in me and in my family.  He loves us so much that He will not allow any of the wrong choices which we may have made in our past to ruin the future He has planned for us. 

For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
(Jeremiah 29:11)

His Unfailing Love

Your love, O LORD, reaches to the heavens, 

your faithfulness to the skies. 

⁶ Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains, 

your justice like the great deep. 

O LORD, you preserve both man and beast. 

⁷ How priceless is your unfailing love! 

Both high and low among men 

find refuge in the shadow of your wings. 

⁸ They feast on the abundance of your house; 

you give them drink from your river of delights. 

⁹ For with you is the fountain of life; 

in your light we see light. 

¹⁰ Continue your love to those who know you, 

your righteousness to the upright in heart.  

(Psalm 36:5-10 NLT)

I was sitting in the House of Prayer today reflecting on Psalm 36.  In the first 4 verses, David is reflecting on the heart of the wicked, on man's sinful state and total disregard for good.  But rather than allowing himself to remain there, David chooses to shift His focus onto the attributes of God:  His love, faithfulness, righteousness and justice.  When our eyes are consumed by the sinful state of the world and those around us, and even towards our own sin, we must shift our focus onto the character of God.  He is love.  He is faithful to the end.  His righteousness and justice will be shown to those who know and walk with Him.  The Psalmist says that ALL men find refuge in the shadow of His wings, where He, in His unfailing love, gives us continual drink from His river of delight!


Are you drinking from His river of delight today?


*Photo credit:  Laura DeLeon.