Miracles Happen

My 40 day fast ends in two days and as always… God is faithful. 

He has absolutely given direction and how grateful I am for some new irons in the fire!  As with many transitions there are bittersweet aspects but I am so ready for a new season…bring it!  But first… as promised; MIRACLES HAPPEN. 

So my bestie from Kona is getting married.  She lives in Canada and as I have mentioned a gazillion-jiggabilllion times I have not been in the most money making season of my life, hehe.  But my bestie asked me to be IN the party and even if she didn’t- of course- I want to go!!  So how would I EVER be able to afford it?  I asked for a miracle. 

I’m not sure if you guys believe in God’s economy.  The whole tithing and gifts thing.  But I DO.  His word is perfectly clear on the matter.  Nowhere in the New Testament are we commanded to tithe but it is a principle of faith.  It’s a discipline that is meant to teach us and contribute to developing our character.  It’s the only place in the bible that God actually says, “Test me in this!”  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.”  I don’t know about ya’ll… but… I could stand for the floodgates of heaven to be poured out in my direction, right?!! Granted, He is talking about food…the ‘first fruits’ of the crops and harvest so that everyone will have enough.  In that not all of us are farmers, the ‘first fruits’ of our culture tends to be money. So even when things are painfully tight… I choose to exercise what I know to be true.  You cannot out give God.  I have tested Him in this…and He never fails to give it back to me.  Don’t get me wrong.  I’m not saying there haven’t been times where I was so hurting that I cried out, “Lord!  I know You see me.  I know You see this situation.  Have I not tithed?  Have I not been faithful? Please!! Open the floodgates already!”  NOT that He needs my reminders but His timing is not always as I would prefer it.  And the blessing doesn’t always come back in money.  Favor is favor.  (Not to say I am trying to pay for His favor…good heavens, no.)  At any rate… I asked for a miracle. 

Even in my poverty someone said to me, “You know… I know God understands when you are that broke that you don’t give the full tithe.”  And it’s true.  He does understand.  But 10% is only a lot when you are giving it.  It really isn’t that much when you are applying it to all the everyday stuff.  It’s called Sacrifice for a reason.  I’m sorry… I feel myself making this about tithing and it is SO NOT.  As a matter of fact, tithing is a VERY personal thing and people come to it…or don’t… at different times. Again…it’s a principle of faith. 

The point is… the floodgates of heaven have been poured out upon me and… I have to give Him GLORY!!!

I have a friend who lives in Norway.  I met her in Kona as well.  We actually only got together like 2 or 3 times before she left.  We barely had time to deepen the connection we both felt.  She messaged me recently saying that she was coming to Las Vegas for a wedding and how close was it to me?  ugh.  So close and yet so far away.  I can’t afford to drive to Vegas.  I can’t afford to take the time off of work and even if I did I wouldn’t have the gas money or extra for accommodations and food.  So I had to break it to her that I couldn’t afford it, how sorry I was, and that I was praying for a miracle to make it to a wedding myself this summer. 

A couple of days later she messages me that she is not coming to Vegas after all…but ‘there is no reason why one us of shouldn’t make it to our wedding this summer.  How much did I need to comfortably make it?’  My American, hard-working, prideful initial response was to say, ‘Noooooo.’ But… I had asked for a miracle.  You can’t ask God to rescue you and then not accept it. (Like the old joke about the guy on the roof in a flood, right?) So… I told her how much tickets were (about $600.) and that ‘I would never expect her to give that much and thank you for the consideration.’ She responds, “It’s just really clear to me that I don’t own anything.  It is all God’s and how He chooses to take care of His children, is really up to Him.  So, I try to obey even if awkward, hoping it will be less awkward over time, because it is really wonderful to feel Him taking care of us with the material stuff as well as the spiritual.”  She continued, “I asked Him about how much and I felt Him saying $1000.  But I was like, ‘what if that’s not enough?  What if she needs $1500?... $1000. it is.”

$1000.???!!!!!  DOLLARS?!!!!!! I would call that a miracle, boys and girls.  Flat out.  She wrote, “I don’t think it is a coincidence that I reached out at this moment, and the funny part is that I was considering spending money on a wedding…Little did I know God was planning for me to spend the money on a wedding, just not the one I had in mind.” 

How absolutely humbling it is to receive.  I never, ever get over how abundant God is and how generous people can be.  It is the hardest thing to receive such gifts- but the truth is- if I had it go give, I so would!!  And the blessing that the giver receives is abundant also.  To know that without your gift they would not be able…is a feeling like no other.  To be used by God in His orchestration.  #priceless. 

So, MIRACLES HAPPEN.  They truly do.  Thank you, my dearest Norwegian Friend!!!  I have no words; but trust that God in His glorious riches will convey the magnitude of my emotions and gratitude in ways that He alone can.  I pray His richest blessings upon you and grant you favor.  I thank you, my bestie thanks you, everyone who will be inspired by your faith and obedience thank you!  You, sister, are the real deal.  (((HUG)))  Praise God from Whom all blessings flow.

This girl is Canada bound.