Even though Easter has passed by and yet another year is almost half over, I am humbled and amazed by God's blessings and provisions. To be completely honest, this is the first time in a long time that our family as a whole is celebrating God's provisions and being obedient in tithing. Tithing could be a whole blog post in itself, however, that's not really the point! The point is that God spoke to both Philemon's heart and mine last year about being obedient. Just like we are being obedient in moving to Mozambique to open a children's home, we must first be obedient here, right where we are. Part of that obedience is listening to God's word and what asks of us. And honestly, my new scripture that I have memorized is Malachi 3:10 -
"Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,' says the Lord Almighty, 'and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.'"
This verse has taught our family so much. It has taught us most of all to TRUST GOD in all situations, in all problems, and to rejoice in Him with all of our joy and blessings. In times that we don't know what direction to take with Project Little Feet, or we start to feel discouraged, God always has a way of putting someone in our lives and providing scriptures that comfort us and lead us in the right direction.
I'm sure many of you know as well that "financial mountains" stand in our way of getting this project really going. We first must get our personal finances in order because we don't want to get to Mozambique and become destitute as well. We want to help, and by helping, we must be prepared physically, spiritually and financially. We must make sacrifices in order to get where we want to go. But these sacrficies are NOTHING compared to the sacrifice that Jesus made for us.
We know that God can do anything in our lives. He has already brought us through so much. And over the last few months, we have been praying as a family for many needs that we've had. For instance, we've needed a logo, to update our website, to get printed materials put together, etc. The list could go on and on and on. But each time something new comes up, God takes care of it in a matter of days! How amazing is that! The GOD of the UNIVERSE cares about this project!!
God put this project on our hearts and has instructed us to go. The God of the UNIVERSE cares about those children that don't eat every day. God - the Creator of Life - cares about those children that have nothing and no one to call home. God - the Alpha and Omega - cares for those children that have been abused and tormented and hated EVERY day of their lives. The GOD of the UNIVERSE cares!! He CARES!!
God also humbles us in this process as well. I have the most wonderful, hard working husband around - a garage with 2 cars in it - money in my purse - food in my fridge - a beautiful, healthy, happy little boy - a job waiting for me tomorrow morning - wonderful parents that love my family - siblings that would lay down their own lives for me - friends that would give me the shirt of their own back. I could go on for days and days and days with all the blessings that we have!
By the standards of the world, we may not be anything but a middle class family that fights to move forward in their dreams, but to those children we long to love and care for, we are wealthy. We are BLESSED beyond what we could ever deserve. Most importantly, we are wealthy in the eyes of God. We are the children of THE KING!
Often times, we have been asked that if life is so wonderful here and we are so blessed, why would we 'give it all up' to move to Mozambique? The only answer I can ever muster, with a lump in the back of my throat - trying not to cry, is 'if we don't go, who will?'
God clearly knows what he is doing. We are so energized by telling people about what God is doing with us in Mozambique that I often times feel my face get bright red with excitement! What we must realize is that God's timing is perfect - we will do as God has asked us to do, but we will only do it His way. God has instructed us every step, and we must be obedient. And, really, if we don't go, who will? Quite honestly, I don't want to find out the answer to that question, ever.
We know that God can do anything in our lives. He has already brought us through so much. And over the last few months, we have been praying as a family for many needs that we've had. For instance, we've needed a logo, to update our website, to get printed materials put together, etc. The list could go on and on and on. But each time something new comes up, God takes care of it in a matter of days! How amazing is that! The GOD of the UNIVERSE cares about this project!!
God put this project on our hearts and has instructed us to go. The God of the UNIVERSE cares about those children that don't eat every day. God - the Creator of Life - cares about those children that have nothing and no one to call home. God - the Alpha and Omega - cares for those children that have been abused and tormented and hated EVERY day of their lives. The GOD of the UNIVERSE cares!! He CARES!!
God also humbles us in this process as well. I have the most wonderful, hard working husband around - a garage with 2 cars in it - money in my purse - food in my fridge - a beautiful, healthy, happy little boy - a job waiting for me tomorrow morning - wonderful parents that love my family - siblings that would lay down their own lives for me - friends that would give me the shirt of their own back. I could go on for days and days and days with all the blessings that we have!
By the standards of the world, we may not be anything but a middle class family that fights to move forward in their dreams, but to those children we long to love and care for, we are wealthy. We are BLESSED beyond what we could ever deserve. Most importantly, we are wealthy in the eyes of God. We are the children of THE KING!
Often times, we have been asked that if life is so wonderful here and we are so blessed, why would we 'give it all up' to move to Mozambique? The only answer I can ever muster, with a lump in the back of my throat - trying not to cry, is 'if we don't go, who will?'
God clearly knows what he is doing. We are so energized by telling people about what God is doing with us in Mozambique that I often times feel my face get bright red with excitement! What we must realize is that God's timing is perfect - we will do as God has asked us to do, but we will only do it His way. God has instructed us every step, and we must be obedient. And, really, if we don't go, who will? Quite honestly, I don't want to find out the answer to that question, ever.
