July 1
We have been provided for again! God has moved a brother to give his support earlier than usual. His support will cover our needs for the next week.
July 4
There is a Solid Rock event in Lander, WY that I have been praying about attending. We don't have the money to cover the travel expenses so I have been asking only God for the means to get me there. By only asking God He has heard my prayer and blessed me with what I asked. A brother in Christ was moved to cover the entire cost of the trip.
July 7
Today I took it to the Lord the need for the money to fix our van and a new church that is wise in God's word.
Three to four days ago our evaporative coolers stopped working, I prayed for cooler weather and the Lord graciously provided. The weeks before the coolers broke the high temperatures were reaching the low 100s. They next day after they broke the sky was overcast and breazy, bringing the temperature down to the mid 90s. Everyday since then we have been met with cooler weather. The Lord can and always does provide.
July 14
Again the devil is trying to dampen our days and turn us towards him. Our brand new cooler stopped working the day I returned from out of town. We have no way to cool the RV from the 100 degree days. Thankfully the devil's attempts to harden our hearts towards our Lord are easily stopped. The weather for the net week will be cooler. Proof again that God knows our needs before we even ask!
July 18
Yesterday we were down to eight dollars, but he Lord graciously provided us with another week's worth of money exactly when we needed it.
Although the Lord has provided for all of our needs exactly when we need it, I feel that I have been shorting the sovereignty of God. I live on God's provision and prayer alone to Him, and I don't ask for much. I request our simple needs at the time needed, and nothing more. We live on a shoestring budget, but I wonder if this is because it is all I'm given or all I ask for. In Psalm 81:10 the Lord commands us to, "Open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it." Our Father gives us good things when we ask it, and it is within His will. He will not give us a stone when we ask for bread, nor a serpent when we ask for a fish. If God provides me with $100 and I cut costs and stretch it as far as possible, am I having faith that He will provide again? Or, do I fear He will not provide more again?
July 21
A brother in Christ and supporter of our ministry stopped by last night. He inquired of our needs and how we are doing financially. Oh how easy it would be to bring my own deliverance! How easy it is to beg for our needs to man! If I did, where would my faith lie but in my own abilities? I have decided to follow Jesus,to believe all of His commands and promises. I beg God alone for my needs. If God so desires to provide to us through this brother than He will do so without me eloquently asking this man. I do not want any glory for any success we have. By asking God alone through prayer to provide for our needs and richly bless this ministry He alone will obtain the glory.
When this brother asked about our need we had less than three dollars in our account and an empty tank of gas. The next day we had to drive 90 miles to pick up Bethany's mother. How easy it could have been to ask this brother for gas money! But, I had faith in or Lord and He came through as always. This morning an online return finalized and arrived in our bank account. This provides us with the money needed for gas and extra to serve Bethany's mother during her time here. Do you have eyes to see the grace of our Lord? The Lord is the only one who provides for us.
Is your faith in God or your job? In God or the government? Is it in God or your abilities? We are told, "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth." But instead, "Lay up for yourselves treasures in Heaven." Because, "Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Where is your heart? To find the answer simply seek where your treasure is. Do you give a measly 10% of your income to your church yet pour out 50% to your new home, 20% to your new car and another 10% to secure a comfortable retirement? "Fool! This night your very soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?" (Luke 12: 20) Can you prove to yourself that your treasure is not in fact in your own comfort and well-being? Where is your treasure?
Do you know of missionaries who are struggling to do the will of God and of churches that are barely getting by and people that do not have bibles in their language, yet you sit in your home in your chair in front of your TV every night while your bible, the words of God, collects dust? Where is your treasure? Oh you of little faith! "If God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you?" Where is your treasure? That is where you heart is. If you do not have the works to justify your faith in God our father than you do not have faith in Him. "For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead." (James 2:26)
July 27
Three days ago our fourth child was brought into this world. I love her. She is born, sadly, into a world of evil. I am not pessimistic, in fact I would say I am an overly optimistic man. But, the truth of God's words describe this world. Man, when left without the influence of the Holy Spirit, is doomed for destruction and harnesses only thoughts of self.
