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Katie and I met seventeen years ago in a church in Oklahoma. My husband was in Bible college at the time and we were working in a small church there in the music and bus ministry. Our son Jonathan was seven years old and her two oldest girls were around the same age. After we surrendered to go to the mission field and were on deputation, their home was a refuge for us in between church meetings. We brought ourselves through their doors carrying laundry, tired bodies, and sometimes sick-with-a-cold-bodies, too. They let us sleep and wash clothes, and they fed us well. They took care of us and Jonathan had a place to run around and be a kid. He fed goats, rode horses, jumped on the trampoline with their six kids and we adults visited til way late in the night. Her husband is a professional electrician and came down with a mission group to Mexico one time and helped my dad rewire his church building. The kids still keep in touch here and there. The older ones are in college like Jonathan and busy with classes or work. Katie and I keep in touch regularly.

Recently, one of Katie’s daughters was in a car accident and wrecked the mini van she was driving. The man she bumped into had a heavy duty truck and bumper so no damage was done. He made sure she was okay, that she had help coming, and he didn’t want to file a report. Katie and her husband were trying to figure out the value of repairing the van versus purchasing another vehicle when they heard about a couple who was selling their mini van. Katie never really liked mini vans in the first place. Theirs had issues with the sliding door, the seat adjustments and other things. If ever they were to get another mini van, she had a long wish list of features she would like to have. This mini van that was for sale was four years older than the one that was in the wreck. There were a few things that needed to be fixed, but nothing like a bent-in radiator and fan, though. After the couple had heard about the accident and that Katie and her husband were debating about what to do, they offered their mini van – for free. What did Katie think of the mini van? “It was a major upgrade!”, she said. All the things she had on here wish list? Granted.

Isn’t that amazing? It is so good to hear stories of God’s provisions.

Other Tell Me Something Good stories: Sheilia Michelle MaLinda

The art of being wise is the art of knowing what to overlook.

W. James

The day might start with a bad night’s sleep and then continue on to a hurried morning, troubles with traffic and construction, more bad news on the radio. When I lived in the city, it could take less than one block of driving before frustration would already conquer my day and my attitude. With that frame of mind, an impatient spirit followed closely on my heels in the hours to come. Small annoyances became a bigger problem than they needed to be. It is then easy to overlook my own faults and difficult to overlook those of others. Before my feet touch the floor in the morning, I want to aim for a peaceful day, a gentle spirit, and above all- mercy.

James 3: 17-18, …”the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.” 

PRAYER REQUEST!

My cousin Stacy’s son is having surgery tomorrow. He has scoliosis. This surgery is to put a rod in his spine. It will help him not need a brace, will keep his spine from resting on his heart, and will relieve pressure from his lungs. He has been wearing this halo for the last three weeks. Ayden is 12 years old. Please pray that all goes well, and for Stacy as she is SUPER nervous. This surgery is a big deal.

Perhaps the opposite of faith is not doubt, but fear.

Ann Voskamp- One Thousand Gifts

I call myself a “believer”. I believe that God sent His Son to die on the cross for my sins, that Christ rose from the grave, and that He came to save me. I was saved at a young age and one would think that I, on the sunny side of 49 years old, would have no trouble trusting that God is a good God. I trust the Savior for salvation from sins, yes, but do I trust Him for the salvation from fear? A lot of setbacks, a few surgeries for John (a shoulder one coming up in June), some changes in plans, and the question marks about the next year have caused a bit of worry. Is God surprised by these things? My mind says, “No”. My heart is wary.

Much (if not all) of the apprehension in my life over whether or not God will take care of me (us) has proven a waste of time. If I had stilled the doubts and waited for God to prove He is the “I am” in everything, I would have had a better way to use up my energy.

“Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.” John 6:29

Stress and questioning God seem easier than trusting. Fretting and fearing are a lot less work because they require no discipline, no training of the mind to do the hard thing, no letting go of control. They cause the heart to be lazy, forgetful, and wild. Anxiety never brings joy. The work of God for me is to believe on Him, to believe Him – that He is watching, that He is in the making of our future, that He is able to care for all the details in life. With a trusting heart, I can thank Him for salvation from sins to salvation from fear and worry – whether or not I have answers about what the future holds.

“Can God be counted on? Count blessings and find out how many of His bridges have held…Trust is the bridge from yesterday to tomorrow, built with planks of thanks…I can walk the planks – from known to unknown – and know: He holds.”

Ann Voskamp – One Thousand Gifts

You are never a number with God. With Him, you are always at the head of the line.

Countless times I have been waiting on the phone to schedule a doctor appointment for my dad. Most times, I am unable to talk to anyone immediately and receive an automated response, “Please hold. The next available operator will be with you shortly. You are number 6. Thank you for your patience”. With God, I am never on hold. I am never a number waiting in line until He is available. At this moment, He is ready with an instant ear and a willing heart to hear the voice of His child.

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”

Psalm 46:1

Faith makes things possible, not easy.

On my blog, I have quite a few drafts that I had started writing a year or so ago and had intentions of posting someday. Now that I am home more due to the ‘social-distancing’, I have been reviewing the drafts. What I wrote two or three years ago concerning a Scripture verse still is relevant for today. I am reminded that God’s Word is timeless. I do not remember the circumstances that surrounded the Fixed on Faith #16 a few years ago (for reference, I have up to twenty-six Fixed on Faith posts total at present), but, “Faith makes things possible, not easy” sure can apply to today. My husband was in the process of applying for work after his two hip surgeries and now with uncertain days ahead, we will trust God to work out the timing and our finances. With our son’s college being on lockdown and classes only online the rest of the semester, we will trust God that it can be done and be done well. We have a church across the border in Juárez, Mexico and the border is closed to us crossing. We will trust God that the man He has placed there during my husband’s recovery will continue to capably lead the church. “Trust God” may sound trite or too easy of an answer to the question, “What do we do?” And yet Christ simply says, “Come unto me…and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).

Courage: the quality of mind or spirit that enables a person to face difficulty, danger, pain, etc., without fear

Dictionary.com

Life can be scary right now. There is a lot of uncertainty and fear of the future. I believe faith has more power than fear and even though some things may not be easy, convenient, or pleasant, I can determine to keep a quality of mind that will enable and not cripple. I cannot do anything about curing this virus, but God can, and I will do my part in staying home. I will pray for those who must go to work and who face this thing head-on. What I can do, too, is to live every day with courage, with my thoughts on the Savior and not on the situation …even through the hard things.

Through God we shall do valiantly: for he is it that shall tread down our enemies.

Psalm 60:12

Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

John 14:27

When I hear advice about what to do during this ‘quarantine’, I hear, “Don’t listen to too much news”, “Get outside in nature”, “Enjoy learning a new hobby or language”, “Stay calm”, “Bake!” and the list goes on. Here in our house, we are working on a few projects such as cleaning out the shed, tidying up the yard, planting wildflower and sunflower seeds. Indoors, there are few things needing to be cleaned, aired-out, and organized. Each day, we commit to being productive and to using our time home wisely. And some days, we commit to rest and enjoy not having to go anywhere or do anything. Whether we are working, playing, or resting, we have peace because we know God is in control and His grace will still be there tomorrow when we wake up and commit our day all over again.

Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. To these I commit my day. If I succeed, I will give thanks. If I fail, I will seek His grace. And then, when this day is done, I will place my head on my pillow and rest.

Max Lucado