Waiting on the Lord

Never a dull moment around here!

This phrase (waiting on the Lord) has stuck out to me a lot lately whether its through scripture or song or conversation or in the stillness of just me and God. One way He is teaching me this is with finances. I’ve always justified spending, even if its for a good reason or purpose. What I’m learning with a budget is if its not there, then I can’t spend it. I’ve had to say no to many good things but each time I am blessed with the confidence of having done the right thing.

I am in awe of what happens when we actually do wait upon the Lord, when we submit to WAIT and exercise self control. When we were out of town last week we went to Walmart where Kaylee wanted a horse for her Ariel doll to ride. We told her no and went on the day (but of course we had to have at least one melt down before leaving). Later while Matt was getting ready for a concert a woman in the church called me to see if I wanted to bring the girls to her farm. It was perfect timing because I had been asking God-what are we going to do here today? We had a blast as we rode a four wheeler in the rain and saw a pig the size of a pony and petted horses. Afterwards we went back to this ladies house where she began to pull out some toys she had been saving to give to someone. She asked if we wanted them and when she turned around she had a horse, no 2, in her hand. God spoke to me-see what happens when you wait. I had to fight back the tears. She also gave us a doll house which Kaylee has been wanting and 2 suitcases of barbies. When we got in the car it was an awesome opportunity to talk to Kaylee about the situation-we didn’t have money to buy a toy so we waited and look how God blessed us! Of course its in one ear and out the other but I know if I keep talking to her about these things and model this for her, then hopefully she will SEE God all the days of her life.

As if that wasn’t enough we received a $600 reimbursement from Matt’s accident in the suburban along with our tax refund check. All of our bills are paid for this month and even into next! I received a $250 check in the mail for my travels coming up and a friend of mine gave me a $25 gift card to Belks. It was given to her but she said God told her to give it to me. We just used it plus $4 to buy Matt a shirt for his photo shoot today for the cd. When I told her she said, “I feel like I had a part in this project”. I rejoiced when she said that because that is exactly what this cd has been-the church being the church. I have seen Matt grow from his music being about him to it being about others. God has had His hand all over the making of this cd and that brings me great joy and excitement knowing it is going to help a lot of people.

The blessings are too much for me to take in. I have made some amazing relationships from our travels to Williamston and Gastonia last week. The conversations themselves have forever changed me. I’ve been encouraged and honored in getting to pray and see growth in these people. We were blessed by someone giving us money home for gas and a family that made us the best country cooking lunch I’ve ever had. I feel so loved and I’m incredibly appreciative of those God has put in my life. I want to stay wide-eyed so I pass this love on to those who are in need of love and compassion and just a friend to listen.

One of the greatest things from our time in Gastonia was when Matt was singing at a coffee shop. I was in the back with Abi but Kaylee was in the front of the stage with all the “big kids.” Everyone was singing “How Great is Our God” when I heard a little voice off key but belting it out. It was my baby! She had her hands raised and was worshipping! My three year old was singing about Gods greatness-it just doesn’t get better than that. Because she is such a hand full with her tantrums (passion) I often feel like I’m not doing something right or others are looking at me like I don’t know how to raise my daughter but God has since given me something to fall back on and thats this experience. At three something is welling up inside of her to praise the God of all creation. That is cool.

And now, the BIG news. I have to take a deep breath as I write this because it is such an encounter with God. I have cried, praised, and been left speechless. Our house has been on the market since January. We have had a total of 10 people look at and no offers. We are a week and a half from foreclosure. After I put the girls down for a nap I began praying-God I just want you. How does a day go from smooth to chaos in a matter of moments? Please wash me with your love and hold me close. That’s when the phone rang. It was Matt saying there are 3 offers on our house today!! This is so much to take in. As I sit here and write I’m reminded of the lady at Walmart who was checking me out the other day and said, “You will have blessings come to you this week.” I left crying because it was as if Jesus was in her talking to me. I’ve had this happen a lot lately where peoples words are truth being spoke into me and my life. I know when its happening because I’m moved by it and something inside of me agrees with it which allows me to receive it. This is all new for me.

So this is the verse I am seeing play out in my life. It is at the end of the passage I last wrote about in Daniel. After Daniel interprets the dream he then says this, “But the stump and the roots were left in the ground. This means that you will receive your kingdom back again when you have learned that heaven rules. O King Nebuchadnezzar, please listen to me. Stop sinning and do what is right. Break from your wicked past by being merciful to the poor. Perhaps then you will continue to prosper.” (Daniel 4:27)

God is good.

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