Praise & Promises

We have been so blessed to have a car that is paid for and that not only gets great mileage, but also requires very little mataince. Saturday after running around all day, I went to pick up Rick at work. I got there a bit early, so I turned off the car. It was raining and I wanted to just sit and enjoy hearing it rain. It was already dark and getting cold. When Rick got in to start the car, nothing happened. The first thing he did was go check the battery, the first thing I did was pray. I have learned that in situations like these, God wants to work.... maybe to get our attention, maybe to show others of his faithfulness, maybe to teach us something... but I've learned that when faced with something like this I have two choices... 1)I can "OH NO!!! Just what we need... especially here at Christmas time" or 2)Take a deep breath, and look to what we have to be thankful for. I will admit that so many times, my choice has been the first. BUT NOT this time. Rick and I both talked to each other about how many times we have been in situations like this and God has provided and things just 'worked' out. This time, both of us together, decided to get out of the car and put up our collars (or my hood) and walk the block and a half in the pour rain and rejoice in the fact that this didn't happen when I was on the other side of town or that it didn't happen when we went on our last road trip through the mountains. We're not sure what the problem is our how much it will cost, but we know God's faithfulness in that if we give him the first of our fruits, he WILL take care of all our needs. Now we are awaiting and watching how God will work :)

The other day as I was reading my Bible, I came across the passage below and just got so much comfort from it. If you're going through something... whether you've lost your job, or your hours have been cut, or are facing a medical emergency, or have problems with relationships, or things just not right at home, may I reach out to you and tell you, God is the answer to all those things. Both Rick and I have been through all these things and more, and through each situation, we saw God working. If he can do these things for us, he can do them for you.

Psalms 37
3 Trust in the Lord and do good.
Then you will live safely in the land and prosper.
4 Take delight in the Lord,
and he will give you your heart’s desires.

5 Commit everything you do to the Lord.
Trust him, and he will help you.
6 He will make your innocence radiate like the dawn,
and the justice of your cause will shine like the noonday sun.

7 Be still in the presence of the Lord,
and wait patiently for him to act.
Don’t worry about evil people who prosper
or fret about their wicked schemes.

8 Stop being angry!
Turn from your rage!
Do not lose your temper—
it only leads to harm.
9 For the wicked will be destroyed,
but those who trust in the Lord will possess the land. (NLT)