Faithful Provider

Things have been tight in recent months. For most of our marriage, except for the two years we lived in Seminole, finances have always seemed tight. When the pressure has squeezed tighter like a vice grip, we have seen God be "Faithful Provider" time and time again. We experienced this twice in the past two weeks.

Brenda and I have made it our habit over the years to take our financial needs to God. We have trusted Him to hear and to intervene. We have been humbled over the years watching Him provide in dramatic ways. A week ago we were at the end of our resources and we needed groceries and to buy Tanner a birthday present. We did not have any extra money. A man who loves our family here in Paradise saw Brenda and gave her a generous gift without either she or I soliciting the gift. With that gift our needs were met for the week. We prayed and God heard and moved a man to come across Brenda's path and to give a generous and sacrificial gift. God is reliable.

This is the toughest week of every month for us. Our house payment is due back in Seminole and it takes just about all we both make to pay the house payment and utilities. We laid our needs before the Lord and as only a Faithful Provider can do, God moved a family from Seminole to send a love gift to us that came in the mail today. Brenda teared up when she opened the envelope and we both gave praise and glory to God. This has happened over and over again in the past six months. More than that it has happened over and over again over the past twenty years of our marriage.

We have never made finances the determining factor in following God. I have never asked a church what they could pay me. All we have been concerned with is where God wanted us and we trusted Him to provide for our needs. He has done that faithfully for two decades. O, the stories I could tell and have told. We were given meat by a family once that helped feed our family through some lean times. We have found groceries on our door step before. We have been given a television when a man found out ours had broken and we could not afford a new one. We did not ask and he took me to the store to help him move a new television he bought for his family. He picked out one for us as well. We have had money sent in the mail and put in our mail box anonymously. I have even found money left under my windshield wiper on a vehicle. Two times I have been given miracle vehicles and once given the money to buy the truck I now own because of God's provision through three families. I have had a front row seat to behold the faithfulness of God multiple times over the course of my ministry. He gets all the glory and all the honor.

Each time He provides, God gives me a larger platform to testify to His faithfulness. Isn't this what He promised to do for His children? "I have been young and now I am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his descendants begging bread." [Ps 37:25]

"Do not worry then, saying, 'What will we eat?' or 'What will we drink?' or 'What will we wear for clothing?' For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness and all these things will be added to you. So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." [Matt 6:31-34]

"And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus." [Phil 4:19]

When we have a legitimate need, we have a Faithful Provider to supply that need. When Elijah stayed at the brook God sent the ravens to bring him food. When the brook dried up God used a widow to provide for him. God is creative in the ways He provides for us.

One of the things Brenda prayed for this week was for money to be able to tithe. My entire check will go toward the house payment plus some of hers. God heard her petition and supplied what we needed. As we have faithfully tithed over the years we have witnessed the truth in [Malachi 3:8-10] come true before our eyes. "Will a man rob God? Yet you are robbing me! But you say, 'How have we robbed You? In tithes and offerings. You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing Me, the whole nation of you! Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house, and test Me now in this, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you a blessing until it overflows."

Our desire for provision included not only to meet our financial obligations but also so we could give to the Lord. God honored that desire by moving a family from west Texas to be the vehicle through which He faithfully provided for our needs. Their generous gift paved the way for us to be able tithe and make the house payment.

There are many times when I have wondered why we have continued to live this way. We always have what we need but on rare occasion do we have a lot of extra. Despite the transition in our financial situation in leaving FBC Seminole, we have never been late on a bill. Praise the Lord. Though our house has not sold every single house payment has been made on time. We have gas in our vehicles (both of which are payed for) and our pantry is stocked. We have more than enough clothing for every season of the year. We had more than enough for a great Thanksgiving and Christmas.

As God continually shows up in our lives and faithfully provides for us, I want to faithfully testify of His faithfulness. Be encouraged. Your heavenly Father knows your situation too. He is just as able to provide for you as He did for Elijah and has done for me. Glory to His name.