okay, so i was, once again, astounded by God's faithfulness to me. he has a habit of blowing my mind when i let him :)
so i read crazy love by francis chan, and one of the huge things that i got out of the book was that christians don't truly trust God with their finances. we work so hard to become financially stable that even if we didn't have God in our lives, we would make it just fine... so i felt challenged. i've heard that it is impossible to outgive God. the one thing he asks that we test him in is our finances--will he come through for us when the money is thin or completely gone? well, i went out to lunch the other day, not knowing that God was going to use that lunch at applebees to show me his faithfulness. the bill came to $24 and so i was going to leave $30, but i only had two 20's...so i left them and went to use the bathroom. that was my mistake and the waitress assumed that the money was all for her--so i was out $40 for one lunch!!!!! well, my first response was "oh." cuz i knew it was my fault and i also knew that there was no way i was going to ask for my money back---how rude!!! :) so i said, "okay, God. i probably could have used that $40 for something else, but i'm going to trust you to provide for me." well, walking out, the girl i went to lunch with gave me a birthday/christmas present. i opened it and there was an adorable teddy bear and a yummy-smelling lotion kit...and a card. she told me to open it because she was pretty sure there was money in it. guess how much. Forty Dollars. Two Twenties. Exactly what i had left at applebees. i kind of just sat there in stunned silence and then i was like, "God, you are so cool." :) :) :) :) no matter how much money i give away to bless others or how little money i have, God will come through for me. he promises.
another way cool thing that God did that day was show me how he really does answer my prayers. i keep a prayer box up in my room where i write down and date different prayers so that i can go back later and write "answered" when they're answered. (yeah, i know, that's a duh! :) but it really is fun to write "answered." it makes me thankful. so anyways, i was reading through them all, and most of them i had to put back because they are still prayers that i'm dealing with, but there was one that just awed me. i wrote: August '08-- God, please send me one friend while i'm in san diego. i don't know anybody down there and i'm afraid because i don't want to be alone.
well, look what God did!!! i have four best friends as roommates!!!!!!!!!!! i couldn't have picked a better group myself! he placed exactly the right people in my life exactly when i needed them. i love you brindy, kim, stevie, and melissa!!! :)
God, you are so amazing---thank you for providing for me and blessing me beyond my imagination. i ask that when i go through hard times i would remember your faithfulness to me. you always know what's happening, and you are my Protector and my Refuge. help me to continue trusting you in everything, especially in my finances. you never let me down, even when things don't work out the way i think they should. i love you.
