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Bring Back the Joy --- B B t J . O r g
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OUR GOD WILL SUPPLY MY NEEDS
As I look around my house, I am continually amazed at how much "stuff" Mark and I have accumulated in the 14 years we've lived here. Some of you may remember that day we arrived in October 1988. We moved ourselves from Alaska with all our possession in our aged vehicles. Mark and the cat drove the 1974 Chevy van towing a trailer he had made out of the back end of a Datsun pickup. I drove our 1976 Chevy pickup with the camper on it and towing my car. The story of our drive down the Alaska highway during a blizzard is a whole story in itself. We never thought we'd fill up our house. We and our belongings just sort of rattled around in the 3004 square feet. But gradually things changed. The Jim Cobbs let us take some furniture they had stored. Several people gave us beds. Others have given us couches and other things. Since Mark and I tend to keep things and not throw them away, we still have most of these blessings. As an "aside"... Earlier this winter I put on a pair of knee high socks that used to belong to my sister. I really should ask her when we bought that outfit. But my guess is that they came into the family about the same time as bell-bottomed pants (and I'm not talking about the recent revival of bell-bottoms). There are advantages of being pack rats. We're not the "average shopper." For most things we just have to wait until a fad comes around again and just pull it out of the back of the closet. During the years when I suffered from Multiple Chemical Sensitivities, someone once asked me how I managed to keep myself in clothes when I couldn't go shopping. No problem--I've been so blessed by people giving me things. My closets are so full that when I pack for a vacation it's impossible to tell that I've taken anything out of the closet. Recently, I asked myself why I have a clinging mentality. The answer came to me that I have "fear of the future." I never want to get rid of anything because I'm afraid I won't have enough money to replace it. Yet, when I face that fear, I have to admit that I've never missed a meal, we've never missed a house payment, we've never...the list goes on. For me, the whole thing boils down to lack of trust in God. I inherited this fear and lack of trust from my parents who were products of the Great Depression. We used to joke that my family thought we were about ready for the Poor House even when we ate steak for dinner every Friday night. This habit stayed with me. However, I realize that if I really trust in God, I shouldn't have this paralyzing fear. In Philippians 4:19, the Apostle Paul wrote "But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus." (KJV) This doesn't mean that I'll have cadillacs and mink coats. But it should mean that if I put my trust and faith in him, that I should have the basic needs taken care of: food, shelter, etc. But I also believe that blessings will also come my way. As I said earlier, I've never missed a meal or really done without. I've been going through my closet. I realize that I really don't need 10 pairs of jeans, especially in sizes that I cannot wear. I should just keep the ones that I can squeeze into and give the rest away to a good home. From experience, I know that I'll either be blessed with hand-me-downs from someone else or the money to buy new ones. So why should I dispair and cling to things I don't need or use. Instead, I should share the blessings I've received with others. Christ himself gave the principle that we should show love and compassion to others in Matthew 25 . So, I'm at a crossroads in my life. I'm no longer young and without excuse. I plan to live many more years. Does my life have meaning? What does God want for my life? That, my friends, is the answer for which I am seeking. I do know that I am being led to quit being so possessive. To give of myself and my possessions. Proverbs 31 pictures the type of woman that many of us long to be. But we often feel defeated because we don't think we can ever live up to that image. Therefore, I have determined to study the Word daily and apply the principles therein. To learn to listen to the guidance of the Holy Spirit. If I do that, then I believe that I will be a blessing to my husband and others. I know a couple of older women, Carol Wilson and Faith Verbal. They are so "nice." The word "genteel" comes to mind. Not to say they are wimpy or frail...but when I'm around them, my thought is "that's the kind of woman I want to be when I grow up." The kind of woman that can fulfill Titus 2:3-5 . I've kind of strayed from the subject of trusting in God to supply all our needs. I guess what's I'm trying to say is that I've been given a new perspective on life. That material possessions, TV and movies, etc. aren't the important thing. The biggie is our relationship with God, self and others. I've still got a lot to think about. |
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