Thankful Thursday

~God's Provision~

Recently I've been struck by the faithfulness of God's provision. As a former missionary I can recount thousands of times God has provided for our family and our missionary friends. Now that we've re-entered the "real world" it's been interesting to see God's provision in a different light. I have to admit that there have been times that I've struggled with many 'why' questions...why didn't God do this? why didn't God do that?, etc. For reasons known only to my heavenly Father at this point, He's provided differently for us this past year and a bit since we've come home from overseas. God HAS provided for us...just in different ways. Using just one example--during our 1 1/2 yrs in Madang, PNG Joel had a gallbladder attack and we needed to come home to the US for surgery. God provided in full for those tickets! It was amazing because we knew we could never ever pay for them ourselves. When we came back home from Madang in Dec '05 God didn't choose to provide in the same way. And that left us with those pesky 'why' questions.

But lately I've been thinking alot about it...I've been looking to "fix it"...for ways to "get out" of this debt. Instead of looking to HIM I've been looking to myself...and guess what folks, He never lets that work! So I've been struggling with this trying to think of ways to help earn extra income for our family, etc. And I guess God's just let me bang my head against the wall for a year. See, I KNOW He is Jehovah Jireh...that title does NOT belong to me! I need to just let go of whatever 'control' I think I have and let God do what He does best. And to also refuse to believe the lie that God has forgotten us or left us. That is KEY.

In the past few weeks (I'll share later), God has done some pretty cool things that have really blown me away. He IS providing...and I'm so thankful that He does it HIS way and not mine. His ways are not mine and His thoughts are not mine...good thing cause I'd really mess things up. So I'm determining to STOP SQUIRMING in the place my Father has me and to REST...rest in the truth of what I know about Him. He IS my provider and IS providing for me even when I don't see it or if His provision is a process and it takes more time than I think it should. (I think I'm so smart...not!) :) So today I'm sharing things I'm SO thankful for big and small...praising my Jehovah Jireh that HE knows what's best for me and He never looses sight of that and He is so lovingly patient with me, His child. Have a blessed day!!

• I'm thankful for God's Word that I can pick up and read (in several versions) any time I want...it is my anchor, what makes sense out of life and shows me more of HIM!~wow
• I'm thankful that God has provided a warm, safe and spacious place for us to stay with my parents~what a provision!
• I'm thankful that Alex gets to go to one of the best schools in the area because we live in this town
• I'm thankful for delicious food on the table every meal/every day~can't take that for granted!
• I'm thankful for HEAT that keeps us warm in the winter
• I'm thankful for plenty of clothes to get dressed with
• I'm thankful for several pairs of shoes to protect my feet
• I'm thankful for a car to drive my kids around during the day
• I'm thankful for Joel's job~it may not pay alot right now but it fits him perfectly and he comes home HAPPY!
• I'm thankful for my family's good health, we have no terminal illnesses or chronic conditions~much to give praise for!
• I'm thankful for the kids' insurance which covers everything for them~wow!
• I'm thankful for the freedom, rights and privileges we are blessed with as Americans
• I'm thankful for a comfortable bed to sleep in and a soft pillow to lay my head on (hey it's the simple things, right? ;)

WOW, I could go on and on with the many tangible/practical provisions God has poured out on my family and I! These are just some that come to mind this morning. I am a BLESSED BLESSED woman...and I pray that when I'm tempted to gripe and whine and complain that the Holy Spirit continues to gently nudge me and remind me that I have MUCH to give thanks for. A cheerful heart is good medicine! Nothing changes your attitude like looking back and taking stock of your life and the things that God has done all along your journey. Blessings...