A Story of Provision

 About 2 years ago at the end of the year I was evaluating how we could be better stewards in the coming year. And the Lord began to speak to me as I ask him what He wanted me to do. I heard “do nothing.” Now give me something to do and I am on it. But it took me back to the first day at the Mission when I step out of the apartment into the hall leading to my office. As I heard the door shut behind me and I said Lord I am not ready for this and I heard him say “just show up and get out of the way.” And that has been my position for 14 years now. I just keep showing up and staying out of His way so He can do what only He can do, change lives. Now I was being ask to do nothing again. And them I heard him say something that in the natural made on since. “STOP BUYING FOOD,  THERE ARE LEAN TIMES AHEAD AND I AM GOING TO INCREASE YOUR FAITH AND SHOW YOU MY PROVISION.” Along with donations we were spending over $1000 a month just for the bear necessities to feed about 35 women and children, Now the Lord was saying I want you to stop and do nothing.  So I told my staff the next day we were no long buying food to feed our ladies. They look at me like I was nuts and I was beginning to wonder myself. So the first thing we ran out of was coffee and you can imagine what 35 women in the morning without coffee would be like. So when the cook came to me and ask if we could just buy a little coffee for in the morning I thought sure. But the spirit stopped me in my tracks. “I said nothing” so I said if the Lord wants the Ladies to have coffee He will provide it. At that moment I look up and a man had just walked in with 3 big cans of coffee. I shared that story with the Ladies at devotions that night and told them when they had coffee the next morning it was a gift from Jesus and just picture him pouring it for you. I looked up and several women were crying and received the Lord that night. I realize this was about so much more than food. To make a long story of provision short. Here is a list of some of the things he has done.

Give us the strength to kept running the mission through, my Associate Director having a double mastectomy and losing her Mother and Father to cancer 2 months apart and a life and death situation with her first grandson. My mothers heart surgery. Jaci’s cancer, Daryl two surgery’s in a week gallbladder related, a broken leg and knee replacement.

We have not bought one food item in 2 years. And we have more food in our panty than ever and had to buy another freezer for meat. We have also been able to help another Feed the Homeless Ministry. We tithe our food ever month to someone in need and God used that to convict a man who refuse to tithe and was losing everything to start tithing and the Lord gave him a job and helped him pay off all his bills in 6 months. The Lord laid it on someone heart to replace all of our broken down beds with new ones,  over 40 new beds, a furniture stores to donate new furniture. But the best of all is many have come to no Jesus, as many as 21 in one service. I could go on and on but this is just a few examples of stepping out and doing the opposite and for some of us that is nothing. It is amazing what God will do when He asks us to do nothing. Several people have said I make running the Mission look easy. Well now you know my secret “get out of the way

Bitter Waters Made Sweet

In Exodus 15:22-27 Moses brought Israel from the Red Sea to the wilderness of Shur. They came to Marah and the waters were bitter. The people complained and the Lord showed Moses a tree. When he cast that tree into the bitter waters, they became sweet, and the Lord promised to heal them.  They then moved on to Elim.  My favorite part of the scripture is, “So they camped there by the water”. I love camping out at the water of His Word. God is faithful to keep me moving on. I thank the Lord my God that through the bitter waters of my life I have learned to camp out at the foot of the Tree the Lord has shown me called the Cross. It has always heeled me and makes my bitter waters sweet.

My Creed

I am Passionate about justice, I can't be at peace until I have done my best to help the oppressed. I am not afraid to speak truth to people, though I have paid a price for doing so. I will sacrifice for the good of others; I desire to be true servant-leader. I do not ...rely on my own power. I don't have to. I have seen Providence step in to change what looked like disaster into victory. At the same time, I have suffered and been lonely as a result of my refusal to go along with the crowd. I know that the great plan is beyond our limited comprehension, and what looks like a loss to me may eventually turn out to be a win.