Seeing the Lord work, personally....

Like you, I am sure that you can name numerous times when you have seen the Lord work personally in your family. We have so many stories. Stories that always point to the faithfulness of God and of His provision.

Something has happened recently which made me think back to an incident that took place back in the early 1990's. My husband was to have the first of two shoulder surgeries and I was quitting work to stay home and take care of him and to be a full time Mom again. It was major surgery, because once they got in, they discovered there wasn't anything holding his shoulder in place. They had to reattach with pins and screws etc.

Well, it took a long time for the disability money to kick in. We were quickly going through our savings. But, Jim had told me that this paycheck that was coming would be enough to pay the house payment. Well, payday arrived and Jim told me his check stub was in his work apron. He went to bed and went to sleep. (He worked the night shift.) I tip toed in and pulled out his 'stub' and returned to the kitchen to make the housepayment. I looked down and the amount is over half less than what I expected. Now, I admit, I immediately sank deep into the "pit." It was so dark but the thing that I remember the most was the smell...it smelled like sulfur! I couldn't believe that satan hooked me so easily. Of course, I panicked. I began to moan and cry to the Lord. In my mind, I began to ask questions...such as, "Claire, name one time when I have not been faithful, just one time." Well, I sat there softly crying and trying to think of when the Lord had never been faithful. Right, you've got it! Naturally, there has never been a time when the Lord has not been faithful. Never, ever!!! He cannot be unfaithful!

I finally got up from the table, still not understanding how it was all going to work out but knowing that somehow it would. I slowly tip toed back into the bedroom to replace Jim's paystub in his work apron pocket. As I reached to put the stub back in, I noticed another stub. I looked at the stub in my hand, then back to the apron. I reached for the stub in the apron and pulled out another pay stub!!! The stub I had was from the previous pay day. I quickly crept back out of the room, into the light and looked down at the "new" stub. I'm sure you can imagine the elation and thankfulness as I saw the full amount that would cover our housepayment!! I immediately knelt and asked for the Lord's forgiveness and wept for joy over His provision.

That incident was a "faith changing" moment in my life. I'm sure there have been short moments of doubt, but all it takes is a moment of my recalling the smell of sulfur and I am back, fully recognizing that God is in control, faithful as always. I've come a long way (at least in this area) from that time.

Now, jump forward to the end of March 2001. I gave my two week notice to quit my job (which was a wonderful job if I had to work) because my parents had moved in with us (fall of 1999) and my Dad had just had his hip replaced, and I was needed at home. His eyes were deteriorating so he didn't want to drive anymore and all those types of things that factor into decisions that needed to be made. Well, one week after giving my notice, my Dad died, very unexpectedly. I thank the Lord my sister was here at the time! But, that was a big financial adjustment and, my husband, bless his heart, kept telling me the Lord knows our situation and it will be okay. And, it has been!

Now, this present time....we have found out that because our insurance premiums went up drastically, our present net, take home income has decreased by $250.00 a month! Imagine my shock when we figured out the loss! Now, like most of you, we can't afford a loss of $250.00 in spendable income. The big difference between now and back then is that I am NOT smelling the sulfur!!! I cannot see how logically it will work on paper, however, I do know that the Lord is faithful! He has provided over and over again! Now, when something like this happens, it is actually exciting to see how He will provide!!! Oh, we are making cuts, drastic cuts. My mother is pretty much a recluse, but she does like to go out to eat dinner. We have our favorite restaurants that we make the rounds. But, that has come to a screeching halt. Once a payday, we take her out to eat, not more than that.

Our family has seen the Lord work in such personal ways. Very personal ways. I would not want to trade that for anything! In fact, when we had come into a little money, I told Jim that we needed to really look, each day, and notice how God was working within our family. I didn't want to ever not see His hand in our life! Well, we continue to get our wish! He is continuing to deal directly with us and, as a result, we continue to be stretched and pulled, all for His glory! But, by His interceding on our behalf, we always have something to share with our unsaved friends that points right back to our great and awesome God!