The Lord will provide.

This week our church is having its annual Missions Conference.  Last year we even hosted a family in our home for the entire week - this year, I am just hopeful to arrive ON TIME for every service!  A baby changes everything ...

Anyway, my point is not to complain or talk about my pathetic inability to organize myself ... my point is that missionaries always inspire me!  In fact, one man tonight spoke about the seeming resounding theme in my life:  PROVISION.  (Yep, Amy - our mutual, on-going subject!) ...

Who needs provision more than a missionary!?  And who is stepping out more on faith than a missionary who is headed to a foreign land, depending only on the gifts of God's people?!  It makes my faith seem so small because we have steady income, we just need to use it wisely.  Our bills get paid each month; we just don't have much left over for the "wants" and updates we'd like to have right now. 

Missionaries, I think, are very blessed to get to experience provision in such a mighty way as they travel and see God meet their needs and raise their support to be able to go do what He has called them to do.  It takes a huge (in my opinion) step of faith though, a conviction that you are called to do this work, and a very self-less life. It is one that would SCARE ME TO DEATH!!

Obviously, I don't have a call to be a missionary or faith to go ... but I should have faith to GIVE to those who do.  Our church believes in a "Faith Promise" missionary giving program, which kind of makes you commit to an amount over your tithes and offerings to give to missionaries.  The "catch" is that it should be money that you really logically shouldn't give (I mean, they aren't advocating that you don't pay your bills and give all your money to the church - but to give up something for the Lord that you might "want" so you can give to the missions program).  It can all be backed by Bible verses, but that doesn't mean it is the only way to support world-wide missions; it is one way.  

I will give the testimony - and this is more to my husband's credit (and ultimately God's) that we have done this ... we have not adjusted our missions giving since we left the military and had a higher income.  And yet, God provides our "wants" over and over - we have all - and more - than we need!  It is only because I always want MORE or want it EASIER that I am not always satisfied; it is never because God has failed me.

Even today, my son went to the dentist.  He is a brand new, greenhorn dentist who is just starting out ... and to drum up business, they gave us a $10 Walmart gift card (I had no idea they were going to do that).  My daughter looked at the receptionist and said, "How did you know we were going to Walmart after we left this office?!"   Well, apparently, GOD knew.  We had $0 left in our Walmart "envelope" for July (thankfully, the month is almost over)!  I was only going to buy something there for our church that they would reimburse me for, but now I had $10 extra I could spend on something I've been wanting for a while (just some silly RoC skin care cream stuff for my vanity!! and rats!  just now I linked up to their website & saw there was a $3 coupon I could have used!!)...

PROVISION.  In the littlest of things in daily life.  And PROVISION.  For those who take on the great ministries and missions of world evangelism.  PROVISION.  For all Christians.  It is there - we just have to trust Him, Jehovah Jireh (which means "The Lord will provide").