God Will Provide
Fourteen years ago, God provided for me in an unexpected way and today God mirrored that provision in an even more unexpected manner. When I was in my early twenties God called me to return to my home city to start a ministry reaching out to higher-risk youth. During that time, I worked as a volunteer missionary. I made no income for my full-time mission work. On the side I worked odd jobs such as house sitting and helping my mother at her fitness club. I lived in my parents' basement.
My mother suggested that I redecorate the basement guest bedroom to make it my own. We hung some greenery around the ceiling. My uncle helped to cut some boards into shelves for my books. My mom gifted me a beautiful pastel green and blue quilt. When I looked around my newly decorated room, it seemed like something was missing... a chair. In my mind I could picture a pastel green bean bag chair sitting in the corner. But I wasn't sure if anyone even sold bean bag chairs in that color, and even if they did, it would be too expensive for me to purchase on my meager income.
Shortly after decorating the room, I went to the church for a meeting. The parking lot had several additional cars in it because the ladies in the church were preparing for the rummage sale. This annual sale raised funds for scholarships, of which I would later be a recipient. The church was full of tables of clothes, dishware, knick-knacks, and typical garage sale items. But, for some reason, someone had decided to put a few items outside and in-between the entrance doorways. So, as I walked up to the church, much to my surprise I saw the pastel green bean bag chair I had visualized in my mind. Prices weren't yet listed on items, so I asked how much they were selling it for and the woman said, "$2." Inside I was crying tears of joy, God had provided for something so insignificant, yet meaningful to me, I knew that God would continue to provide. That gift encouraged me to continue the mission call I was on despite the lack of financial resources. God would provide and God did.
Fourteen years later, I find myself once again in that church parking lot on the day before the rummage sale. For the first time in five years the area clergy for our denomination are having our monthly meeting at this same church. As I walk up to the entry of the church, in a place not far from where I had found the bean bag chair, there is a jogging stroller. I am in shock and immediately ask if they would be willing to set it aside for purchase when the meeting is over. The volunteers agree and when I ask how much, I am told "$15."
Now it is important to note that I often don't carry cash. I look in my wallet and I just happen to have $13. I give it to the woman who told me the price and promise that I'll pay the remaining $2 when the meeting is over. When I finally have time to rummage through my purse looking for loose change I find a one-dollar bill, four quarters, one dime, and five pennies. Basically, I have the exact cash needed to pay for the stroller!
Now, let me tell you about the significance of the stroller. My sister is a stay-at-home mother who recently gave birth to her second daughter. One of the things she has enjoyed doing with her two-year-old daughter is go on walks on our local trail. She has shared with my mother and I multiple times that she would love a jogging stroller, but that they are just too expensive. A jogging stroller is about $150. The nicer ones range in the $200 - $300 range. The jogging stroller is my sister's version of the pastel green bean bag chair. God provides.
But there is even greater significance to this story for me as a pastor. In just two weeks are congregation will be starting our Capital Campaign to fundraise for a permanent building. We need to raise at least $300,000, preferably $500,000. For this congregation this is a big step of faith. It is a time in our lives as a community where we need to trust in God to provide in a way that only God can provide.
In preparation for the Capital Campaign, a woman in our church has been putting together plans to create a prayer room in the space we currently rent. In her drawing of the space she has included a couch and a chair. We have asked a few people for a donation of furniture, but haven't yet been successful in acquiring these two items. Several individuals in the church have worked to clear and clean the room preparing it for its new purpose. Paint was donated and a church member will be coming in this week to paint the wall. And today, within thirty minutes of my dropping off the stroller at my sister's house, I received a phone call from a church member who knew nothing about the proposed prayer room. This church member was calling to share that she has some furniture to donate to the church.
I share all of this to say that I believe God is trying to send a message here. God will provide. I can trust Him. And our church family can trust God to provide as well!
My mother suggested that I redecorate the basement guest bedroom to make it my own. We hung some greenery around the ceiling. My uncle helped to cut some boards into shelves for my books. My mom gifted me a beautiful pastel green and blue quilt. When I looked around my newly decorated room, it seemed like something was missing... a chair. In my mind I could picture a pastel green bean bag chair sitting in the corner. But I wasn't sure if anyone even sold bean bag chairs in that color, and even if they did, it would be too expensive for me to purchase on my meager income.
Shortly after decorating the room, I went to the church for a meeting. The parking lot had several additional cars in it because the ladies in the church were preparing for the rummage sale. This annual sale raised funds for scholarships, of which I would later be a recipient. The church was full of tables of clothes, dishware, knick-knacks, and typical garage sale items. But, for some reason, someone had decided to put a few items outside and in-between the entrance doorways. So, as I walked up to the church, much to my surprise I saw the pastel green bean bag chair I had visualized in my mind. Prices weren't yet listed on items, so I asked how much they were selling it for and the woman said, "$2." Inside I was crying tears of joy, God had provided for something so insignificant, yet meaningful to me, I knew that God would continue to provide. That gift encouraged me to continue the mission call I was on despite the lack of financial resources. God would provide and God did.
Now it is important to note that I often don't carry cash. I look in my wallet and I just happen to have $13. I give it to the woman who told me the price and promise that I'll pay the remaining $2 when the meeting is over. When I finally have time to rummage through my purse looking for loose change I find a one-dollar bill, four quarters, one dime, and five pennies. Basically, I have the exact cash needed to pay for the stroller!
Now, let me tell you about the significance of the stroller. My sister is a stay-at-home mother who recently gave birth to her second daughter. One of the things she has enjoyed doing with her two-year-old daughter is go on walks on our local trail. She has shared with my mother and I multiple times that she would love a jogging stroller, but that they are just too expensive. A jogging stroller is about $150. The nicer ones range in the $200 - $300 range. The jogging stroller is my sister's version of the pastel green bean bag chair. God provides.
But there is even greater significance to this story for me as a pastor. In just two weeks are congregation will be starting our Capital Campaign to fundraise for a permanent building. We need to raise at least $300,000, preferably $500,000. For this congregation this is a big step of faith. It is a time in our lives as a community where we need to trust in God to provide in a way that only God can provide.
In preparation for the Capital Campaign, a woman in our church has been putting together plans to create a prayer room in the space we currently rent. In her drawing of the space she has included a couch and a chair. We have asked a few people for a donation of furniture, but haven't yet been successful in acquiring these two items. Several individuals in the church have worked to clear and clean the room preparing it for its new purpose. Paint was donated and a church member will be coming in this week to paint the wall. And today, within thirty minutes of my dropping off the stroller at my sister's house, I received a phone call from a church member who knew nothing about the proposed prayer room. This church member was calling to share that she has some furniture to donate to the church.
I share all of this to say that I believe God is trying to send a message here. God will provide. I can trust Him. And our church family can trust God to provide as well!
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