You know those verses in the Bible where it says:
"Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?" Matt. 6:25,26
Well, I have to admit, I've taken MUCH THOUGHT on these topics the last few years…especially as I've walked away from a very good paying job, and I suddenly found myself much more dependent upon God for my needs.
Needless to say, God and I have had many interesting conversations over the years on these topics…over what I would eat and wear, how I would pay the bills, how I would manage all the expenses. And I've often been very specific in my prayer requests. "Now you know God… I need this by such and such a time. And don't forget about that God? If possible could you…?" etc.
I remember when I lived in Loma Linda (back in 2008), and my sister was moving to her new house (since she was getting married.) She was taking all our furniture (it was hers actually), including a very NICE porch swing, and I had no way of replacing it all. So I began to pray that God would provide new furniture…even a porch swing!!!! Well… believe it or not, He did!!! The swing came first. My neighbor across the street had a garage sale and was selling a swing (much bigger and much nicer than my sister's) for only $30! It was probably worth $200 or more. I couldn't believe it. (And she regretted selling it to me too as soon many others wanted to buy it - but she'd already sold it to me!) But praise God, He had answered my prayer, and I didn't even have to go borrow a truck to bring that sweet baby home. All we did was roll it from her yard to mine.
The furniture came in much the same way! The very weekend my sister moved out, I happened to be gone to a conference in Colorado, and she called me and told me a friend had some furniture that he couldn't keep anymore and they wondered if I wanted it? I had never seen the furniture, but I said "Sure." When I came back, it was all moved in…and again it was nicer (at least in my view-point) then the furniture she moved out. ;-) Yes indeed! God had done it again…and all without my even lifting a finger!!! I couldn't believe how specifically God had answered my prayers.
Well, He has continued to do that time and time again over the years. Supplying my needs and often times even better than I have asked.
Just this past year, God has given me a beautiful little cabin in the country. While I've always wanted to have a little quiet cabin hide-away, it is a dream I, to be honest, never expected in a million years to come true. (Especially since I don't work anymore and I have no savings.) But God has reminded me again this past year when you take care of His business, He will take care of yours.
Well, that brings us to more recent miracles and answers to prayer!
As we've been getting close to completing the cabin, I knew that there would be appliances and specific furniture items needed that I/we couldn't afford. However, as I've been growing in faith and learning how God provides, I was reading again those verses in Matthew 6 where it says, "Take no thought about what you'll eat or drink or how you'll be clothed." I've read those verses hundreds of times, but somehow I still keep "taking many thoughts" about these needs. After all, we all have them, right?! Where is the money coming from for next month's bills? How will I be able to afford this or that?
Well THIS TIME, as I read over Matthew 6, I decided… "If God says to take no thought, I'm going to stop taking thought. I'm going to let Him worry about providing those things and I'm going to focus my prayers on the salvation of souls and more eternal issues." So I made myself a list of all the things I needed (these are needs, not just desires) for my new home, and I told God, "I don't know how you are gonna manage to supply these things when I live way out here in the middle of no-where. But you are God! I'm gonna let you deal with these needs and I'm gonna focus on praying about
your needs!" And I put the list aside and didn't pray about those things anymore.
Would you believe it…one week later, the eve of Thanksgiving, I got a letter from someone with $1,000. It was the day my incredibly skilled and talented carpenter brother finished installing my kitchen cabinets, and we needed appliances. It was also during the famous "Black Friday" sales, when many things are majorly discounted. (Tell me God doesn't have good timing!?) With that timely gift, I was able to buy both a fridge and stove and save over $400 in the process.
Where did this miracle gift come from?
Well, the last year I lived in Portland, God impressed me to invite a young lady that was in need of a home, to come live with me in my home. (She'd been in some pretty rough circumstances and was really struggling!) She ended up living with me for almost a year. I took care of her and also tried to be a blessing and share Christ with her. During our time together, she decided to give God a chance, and we had many beautiful times of prayer together. Finally, when I left the area, she went to live with her parents. Finally, after searching for a job for literally months, she got one. However, a few months later (this past August), she had a seizure and tragically died. Her mom called me broken hearted this past August 17th to share the heart breaking news. At that moment I felt so horrible. While I'd helped Becki a lot, I found myself wishing I'd done more. But God knows our hearts, and we just do the best we can with each day that He brings.
Later on her sweet mother contacted me again and asked if there was anything of Becki's that I wanted to keep. I remembered this "PRAY" plaque that Becki had gotten when she lived with me, since we prayed so much. And I told her that I'd love to keep the plaque as it meant a lot to me and also encompassed so much of my life and ministry now.
Two months later I received a package with the plaque and things I'd given Becki. The "PRAY" plaque is the first decoration I put in my new living room! I also was shocked to receive with this package a $1,000 check her mom was giving me from Becki's account. She wrote, "You helped Becki so much and as soon as she got her job, the first thing she said was, 'Now I can help Melody like she's helped me.' So I'm giving these funds on her behalf!" (Melody Sniffles…)
I asked my mom, "What could I do with such a special gift? I feel like this is blood money?"My mom and I cried together as I read Darlene's letter. Then my mom told me: "Well Melody, you need a fridge and stove right now…and it looks like God has provided. Remember, when you feed the poor and needy, God will feed and take care of you!" WOW….I was just speechless...
So…that's how God gave me my miracle fridge and stove!!! (Pictured below with newly installed cabinets that Daniel built himself!)
Isn't God simply amazing?? I took no thought… but thankfully He did! He saw my need!
It's Christmas Eve, and so instead of writing more, I think I will do what is most fitting on such a night. I'm going to go back to my cozy little cabin and play Christmas carols, and read about that night long ago when Christ was born because He saw a GREAT NEED we all had! Even though we don't know the exact time of Christ's birth, I'm so thankful to be reminded each year of His gift. I pray that He may continue to not only be born, but to LIVE in my life…and in yours…not just today or tomorrow, but all year long!
Merry Christmas!