Matthew 6:31-33--"Therefore, do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you."
I was recently in a conversation with my son, talking about God's provision. We were discussing the difference between needs and wants and what prosperity means in the eyes of God, that he supplies our needs, not always our wants. A few days later, I was praying with the kids about our financial situation. I was considering applying for food stamps. When I shared with that same son that I was thinking about food stamps but didn't have complete peace about it because I thought that maybe God wanted to provide for us in a different way, he told me to, "Just wait, then, Mom." I decided to hold off and wait a little longer.
Two days later (this past Sunday night) on our way home from church, I came to a wounded deer in the middle of the road. She was alive and suffering. Her nose had been ripped, and presumably she had some kind of brain damage as she wasn't moving her body except for banging her head on the ground and grunting. I stopped and called the police. The officer arrived and started trying to get the deer to move off the road. He didn't want to have to shoot her. Then, a hunter stopped to help. The officer had told us we could have the deer meat if he had to kill her, but when the hunter came, I offered some to him. He said we could have it all because we had gotten there first, to which I told him how thankful I was, that we have a family of 8, and the deer meat would definitely be appreciated! He helped the cop move the deer off the road and showed him where to shoot her for a clean kill.
When the officer asked me if I was going to be able to take care of the deer right then and there, I told him I had someone coming to help, and I thought we could maybe strap her to the roof of my van to move her. The hunter heard and offered to transport her to my mom's house in the back of his truck. He then decided to field dress the deer right there on the side of the road before moving her, teaching our oldest son how to do it as he went along. After taking her to my mom's, he decided to stay and "help"--meaning that he helped hang and then skinned the deer and cut off the feet and head by himself, again, teaching our son how to do it in the future. I kept insisting that he take some of the meat, and he refused saying, "I only want to help!" He then offered to take our oldest son hunting with him this year, and he told us we could bring some meat over to his house if we want him to make it into sausage or jerky because he loves doing that and has all the necessary equipment.
Incidentally, there was absolutely no damage to any of the meat because the deer was hit in the face by a car. The cop shot her in between the ribs, so we didn't lose any meat at all to damage. She was about 3 years old, so she was a good size. We got quite a bit of meat from her (34 pounds-decent for a deer). I am amazed at God's goodness. What an awesome testimony to our children of the power of prayer and the provision of the Lord! Not only did He provide food, but he provided a man to transport and prepare it.
I am reminded of I Kings 17. The prophet Elijah had just given a harsh prophecy to Ahab, that God was stopping the rain and dew from the land, except by the word of Elijah. God told Elijah to go hide from Ahab at the Brook Cherith. As Elijah obeyed God, he was provided with water from the brook, and God caused ravens to bring him food. When the brook dried up, God instructed Elijah again, telling him to go to a widow's house. As he obeyed, he was provided with sustenance yet again, this time, through the widow. The widow and her son were also provided for miraculously, as a result of her obedience in giving to the Lord's prophet, even as it appeared her own food had run out. When her son fell ill and died, he was miraculously raised from the dead.
I also think of Matthew 6 and Luke 12. We are told not to focus on material possessions or worry about what we will eat or wear. He provides for the birds and flowers. He provides for His creatures. We are much more important to Him than the flowers and birds. If we focus on God's kingdom instead of on material gain, then He will provide our needs. The key is to obey God and have faith in Him, following His leading and focusing on our relationship with Him. As we understand and walk in our position as His children, we will begin to live with peace and not worry, and we will experience our Father's provision in our lives.
In Christ,
Lori
I was recently in a conversation with my son, talking about God's provision. We were discussing the difference between needs and wants and what prosperity means in the eyes of God, that he supplies our needs, not always our wants. A few days later, I was praying with the kids about our financial situation. I was considering applying for food stamps. When I shared with that same son that I was thinking about food stamps but didn't have complete peace about it because I thought that maybe God wanted to provide for us in a different way, he told me to, "Just wait, then, Mom." I decided to hold off and wait a little longer.
Two days later (this past Sunday night) on our way home from church, I came to a wounded deer in the middle of the road. She was alive and suffering. Her nose had been ripped, and presumably she had some kind of brain damage as she wasn't moving her body except for banging her head on the ground and grunting. I stopped and called the police. The officer arrived and started trying to get the deer to move off the road. He didn't want to have to shoot her. Then, a hunter stopped to help. The officer had told us we could have the deer meat if he had to kill her, but when the hunter came, I offered some to him. He said we could have it all because we had gotten there first, to which I told him how thankful I was, that we have a family of 8, and the deer meat would definitely be appreciated! He helped the cop move the deer off the road and showed him where to shoot her for a clean kill.
When the officer asked me if I was going to be able to take care of the deer right then and there, I told him I had someone coming to help, and I thought we could maybe strap her to the roof of my van to move her. The hunter heard and offered to transport her to my mom's house in the back of his truck. He then decided to field dress the deer right there on the side of the road before moving her, teaching our oldest son how to do it as he went along. After taking her to my mom's, he decided to stay and "help"--meaning that he helped hang and then skinned the deer and cut off the feet and head by himself, again, teaching our son how to do it in the future. I kept insisting that he take some of the meat, and he refused saying, "I only want to help!" He then offered to take our oldest son hunting with him this year, and he told us we could bring some meat over to his house if we want him to make it into sausage or jerky because he loves doing that and has all the necessary equipment.
Incidentally, there was absolutely no damage to any of the meat because the deer was hit in the face by a car. The cop shot her in between the ribs, so we didn't lose any meat at all to damage. She was about 3 years old, so she was a good size. We got quite a bit of meat from her (34 pounds-decent for a deer). I am amazed at God's goodness. What an awesome testimony to our children of the power of prayer and the provision of the Lord! Not only did He provide food, but he provided a man to transport and prepare it.
I am reminded of I Kings 17. The prophet Elijah had just given a harsh prophecy to Ahab, that God was stopping the rain and dew from the land, except by the word of Elijah. God told Elijah to go hide from Ahab at the Brook Cherith. As Elijah obeyed God, he was provided with water from the brook, and God caused ravens to bring him food. When the brook dried up, God instructed Elijah again, telling him to go to a widow's house. As he obeyed, he was provided with sustenance yet again, this time, through the widow. The widow and her son were also provided for miraculously, as a result of her obedience in giving to the Lord's prophet, even as it appeared her own food had run out. When her son fell ill and died, he was miraculously raised from the dead.
I also think of Matthew 6 and Luke 12. We are told not to focus on material possessions or worry about what we will eat or wear. He provides for the birds and flowers. He provides for His creatures. We are much more important to Him than the flowers and birds. If we focus on God's kingdom instead of on material gain, then He will provide our needs. The key is to obey God and have faith in Him, following His leading and focusing on our relationship with Him. As we understand and walk in our position as His children, we will begin to live with peace and not worry, and we will experience our Father's provision in our lives.
In Christ,
Lori
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