Say What?

More blessings.

This past week someone succeeded in completely blowing our minds. No easy task given who we are and the people we hang with. What did they do, you ask?

They gave us an envelope with $685 cash in it…just to bless us. Who does that?

Our season of barely is ending, we’ve moved on into the stewardship portion of this lesson. Making careful decisions about what to do with this season of income and seeking God’s direction in it, so why would this happen to us now? Why now when we have gas in the car and a nearly full case of Ramen Noodles left?

We balked, objected, pleaded and explained that we’re not in need. They said they were aware but had been praying diligently about what to do with this portion of money and felt very certain that God wanted them to give it to us. We didn’t know what to do. This gift completely prostrated us. In all of our years of scarcity, no one except our parents ever gave us a dime. And even our parents weren’t in a position to give us all that many dimes since we each come from rather large families.

We took the envelope home, prayed over it, wondered over it and it sits on our desk. We’re completely humbled by the gift, neither of us feeling worthy to touch it. There’s so much need around us we could do a thousand things with it, but what does God want us to do with it? How can $685 make the biggest ripple? It feels like a huge responsibility to have this money and we know how hard the person works who earned it. We have been searching God’s direction all week.

Why did God lead them to give that to us and how could we multiply that $685 and honor God with it in an everlasting way? That was the question…

Then the answer came. Roger and I have been praying about his going on a missions trip with our church to NOLA. There’s a group going down to help rebuild a church that is a huge support to the community there and it’s still in shambles. Literally. This is a trip he wanted to go on but he hadn’t gotten the green light from God yet…that is until he got an envelope with $685 in it.

5 fishes and 2 loaves of bread. I can’t wait to see how God uses this $685 to change my guy’s life. And through him, change mine and the ripples of that, everlasting.

What kind of people hand you an envelope with a wad of cash in it and say “here, God lead me to give this to you. Do whatever you want with it”. I want to be just like them when I grow up.

Where? Where did all this stuff come from? I was wondering around my house today, particularly in my basement and just looking at all of my possessions.  Some of these things are not even identifyable. I wonder what I was thinking when I had to have whatever this thing is that I can no longer even identify. One of these things I rediscovered is a Thighmaster. Now that’s laughable.

I hate clutter. and yet…

Want to host and outdoor party for 30 people? I have all the outdoor table settings. Want to go on a long-distance motorcycle trip? I’ve got all the proper hardware for your bike. Want to play games? We could play for weeks and never play the same game twice. Let’s not even talk about books. and rubberbands. and paperclips. and owner’s manuals.

I feel like I need to purge, as if the weight of my possessions is somehow weighing me down. I suggested to Roger that we sell everythig we have and try to live at on half our income for a year. We’re thinking about it. What if? What if we could all discover a simpler, less complicated lifestyle. Would it be worth it?

This is what happens to me at 3 a.m. I’m going to bed.

I really need to know:

What’s your favorite pair?

Button or zip?

Boot or flare?

Tight on the thigh?

Waist down to there?

A poll is in order

I need a new pair!