Matthew 6:25-27  ²⁵ “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? ²⁶ Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? ²⁷ Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?

One year ago today, my dear hubby and I collapsed into a bed that belonged to friends who were out-of-town.  We cried ourselves to sleep that night.  We were homeless.  We had a place to lay our heads for a while (a while being until our friends returned home and needed their beds back).  We were grateful that we had a place to lay our heads.  But we knew that we would wake up the next morning and have the joy of checking that box on our kids’ school registration forms indicating that we were homeless.  The whole situation made zero sense. When we learned that the owners of the house we were leasing planned to move back into the house at the end of our lease, we started looking for a new home.  We found a few rentals that were leased before we had a chance to even see them.  We placed offers on a couple of houses and were outbid.  We found an itty-bitty house on a great big lot and decided that we would just add-on and make it into the home we wanted.  And then… the week before closing, we experienced an earthquake that revealed some structural issues.  Three days later, we had a hurricane that flooded the house and led to drywall being ripped out.  The day we were scheduled to close (while all of our things were being loaded onto a moving truck) we got a phone call from the seller telling us that they had found termites and that several of the floor joists would have to be replaced.  We got the message loud and clear.  We needed to waive off on buying that house.  Which meant we were waiving off on our only option.  For two weeks we scoured the internet, scratched our heads, and fell on our faces before God.  We had ZERO success in finding a home that would allow our kids to stay in their schools.  We were powerless and we had no choice but to be 100% surrendered to God’s will for our lives.

Jeremiah 29:11-13  ¹¹ For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. ¹² In those days when you pray, I will listen. ¹³ If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me.

God delivered in a BIG way.  He gave us a home that meets all of our needs (and then some).  He knew that we would need a refuge over the last twelve months and not a house that was under construction.  He knew the chaos that was coming.

Last December I got a phone call from DH (dear hubby) only an hour or so after he’d left for work.  He had been removed from his job and he was coming back home.  This chapter of our lives is still open-ended.  Three months later my grandmother became ill.  DH being home meant that I got to go and stay with her at the end of her life.  One month after losing my grandmother, God told us to leave our church.  So. Much. Loss.  In such a short time…

But you know what…  God had it all under control.  He had already provided a safe place for us to rest at the end of every bone-weary day.  He gave me the opportunity to give some hands-on love to the woman who taught me what unconditional love looks like.  He has spent nine months defining my husband as His son (which is worth so much more than being a soldier).  And… God showed us that His church is ONE.  He may have us worshiping in different locations on a Sunday morning and paying tithes to different storehouses, but His Church is global.  We are called to do life with other believers.  We are called to support and encourage one another.  Not just the believers we do church with on Sunday…  We’re called to do life with ALL believers.   So… while God had already prepared a new church body for our family, He showed us that there is no loss in that move.  Our Christian family just grew.

The house where we were laying our heads to rest a year ago belongs to a part of our Christian family.  The man of that house is from the Czech Republic.  Last week, they returned from a month in his country and within 24hours he became critically ill.  For nine days we have prayed for a miracle in this man’s life.  He ran a very high fever for a very long time and there was concern about the neurological repercussions.  Yesterday we celebrated him saying, “Ouch!” when tape was pulled off his leg.  Later in the day he asked for fruit and ate a strawberry (his first food in more than week).  This morning my husband returned from a night by his bedside.  He walked in the door smiling and telling me all about the conversations that they had in the early morning hours.

I share all of this as testament that God answers prayers.  Sometimes the answers may not look like we expect them to.  But He knows what we need better than we can even comprehend.

Yes.  The past year has been filled with unexpected, sometimes painful, and inevitably difficult, change.  But in the midst of all the change God was always faithful.

Philippians 4:18-19 ¹⁸ At the moment I have all I need—and more! I am generously supplied with the gifts you sent me… They are a sweet-smelling sacrifice that is acceptable and pleasing to God. ¹⁹ And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus. 

While God was teaching us all about his provision, He opened a door for us to pour into the nation that gave us Sofija.  We have spent the last two years claiming evangelism/revival in Serbia.  In two weeks, our prayers are being answered.  God is sending Nick Vujicic to Serbia.  We have poured our own finances into this opportunity because we believe that this is the answer to our prayers and because we want to sow into Serbia and watch God reap a harvest. Galatians 6:7 “… you will ALWAYS harvest what you sow.”

This is the last call.  I am sending the money to Serbia tonight.  If you feel led to sow, please go to wepay.

The entire time I’ve been typing this, I’ve had the song Closing Time by Semisonic running through my head.  It’s totally inappropriate for this post and has absolutely nothing to do with God’s provision.  But… since it’s now stuck in my head I thought I’d share.

For your listening enjoyment…