This is an online devotion from Crosswalk, which I though was not only amazing, but very appropraite for everone's financial situation. ((HUGS))
April 30, 2009

God’s Provision – Part 1
Lysa TerKeurst
“Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God who richly provides us with everything ...” 1 Timothy 6:17 (NIV)

Devotion:

It seems you can hardly turn anywhere today without seeing reminders of economic hardships. A couple weeks ago the news reported we are experiencing the highest unemployment rate our country has seen in 60 years. Friends and family members are suffering due to the loss of jobs, investments gone bad, and cutbacks that seem to be everywhere.
I have a friend who has owned a thriving car dealership for over 30 years. This man and his family have been pillars in their community who are known for their generosity and kind Christian spirits.
This week he declared bankruptcy and has literally lost everything - including their cars. If that isn’t cruel irony, I don’t know what is.
So, I’ve had to have some discussions with God about the absolute heartbreak of this situation. I know God is the great provider, so why isn’t He providing for my friend? God is a miracle worker, so why isn’t He working a miracle for my friend?
These are fair questions about what seems like a terribly unfair situation.
Whenever I face situations I am having a hard time understanding, I have to park my mind with what I know to be true. Keeping my mind saturated with truth keeps Satan from being able to whisper dangerous assumptions, false accusations, and faith-eroding perspectives.
So, what is true in this situation? What is true no matter what situation we are facing?
God is a good provider.
This is true. This is where I must park my mind. This is the reality that must saturate my thoughts. This truth rises above our troubling circumstances and calls us to see life from a perspective outside our screaming realities.
God richly provides us with everything we need. Therefore I must trust that God is providing for my friend. What is in front of my friend is God’s provision. God hasn’t stopped providing just because my friend is in financial turmoil. This situation hasn’t caught God off guard. God hasn’t somehow run out of resources to help my friend.
Part of God’s perfect provision for my friend is to walk through this. I may not like it. I may not understand it. But, because my friend knows and loves God, I have peace that he will make it through this.
The Bible tells us in Philippians 4:8-9 that if we think on what is true, the peace of God will be with us. And ultimately, isn’t peace what we want? That’s what I really want for my friend. I want this precious man and his family to have peace more than I want their dealership to be saved, their finances restored, and their old life to suddenly come back and settle into place.
Praise God, His peace is but an utterance of truth away. So, sweet sister, park your mind with His truth today. And watch God’s perfect provision of peace flood whatever dry and lacking ache you are experiencing right now.

Dear Lord, thank You for being my provider each day. Help me not to fear these times of hardship. Rather, help me to trust in You and Your ways more each day. My desire is to focus on what is true and believe that You will make the rough places smooth. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.


Application Steps:

Every time a discouraging thought comes into your mind today:

▪ Replace it with a verse from God’s Word.

▪ Replace it with the truth that God is a good provider and that His unfailing love for you will not be shaken.

▪ Replace it by seeking Him and calling on Him for He is always near.

Reflections:

How can God’s peace restore your faith today?

How can God’s provision restore your situation today?

Power Verses:

Psalm 84:1-2, “How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord Almighty! My soul yearns, even faints for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.” (NIV)

Isaiah 26:3, “You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you.” (NIV)

Alright. I've neglected this...but PLEASE READ!

Hi everyone. I hope that I haven't lost every one of my few followers. :) I have very sad news, and I need your help. Most of you have heard me speak of Kayleigh Freeman, daughter of Adam and Aimee in Charlotte. Kayleigh was a preemie, born weighing just a pound. She is currently 10 months old, and is still in the hospital at CMC, where our Carly poo was. Kayleigh has been a fighter. She had heart surgery a few months back, and was the smallest baby to have this surgery successfully. She has fought off illnesses, overcome prematurity, and just been simply amazing during her journey. Sadly, she had some procedures done last week (G-tube, Nissen, and hernia surgeries). She did not wake up from them, and now she has no brain activity. God is so much bigger than this, however, and I am very aware that He has healed the sick and raised the dead. I also know that His will will always be done, and it will be the right thing, always. I trust in that. I do pray for miraculous healing. I pray that He touch her right now, and that she would wake up with no damage at all. If that's His will, that will happen, and He will get all the praise for it. If it's His will to go ahead and bring her home, I believe that that's healing her completely.
Her family is devastated, as you can imagine. This has been such a roller coaster. It is so similar to the journey with Carly, except that Carly didn't have to fight quite so long. Her parents were looking so forward to bringing Kayleigh home soon, and I think are still planning to. They will bring her home for the last little bit of time that she's here on Earth. Please constantly keep them lifted up in prayer that God will provide them with the comfort and peace that only he can provide.
Along with all of this devastation at possibly losing their daughter, they are up to their eyeballs in debt. The horrid economy, and the fact that they are Real Estate agents have left them in a mess. They have been paying close to a thousand dollars a month for medical insurance, and, because of that, they are in foreclosure on their house, they have had 1 vehicle repossessed, and the bills continue to stack up all around them. Now, unfortunatley, they may have a funeral to pay for as well. Jesus commands us to take care of each other. You can pray, and that's awesome, but if you have the ability to help, you should help. If we could pass this along, and get 250 people to donate $20, that would be $5000! If we could get people to donate $40, that would be $10000! This really isn't hard. How many times do we go to Wal Mart and spend $20 dollars on absolutely nothing? I do it all the time. All you have to do is click on the "Help Kayleigh Freeman" link at the top of this page to give a monetary donation. Please help them take some stress off. Keep checking this page, too, because I'm currently trying to come up with ideas for fundraisers to help. If you have any ideas, please let me know! Thank you guys! God bless! :)