Friday, October 10, 2008

ask and ye shall receive

Just last night, I stood in Alice's closet with her, noticing that she "had nothing to wear." It's rare that I'll ever agree with anyone on this, but in her case it's pretty true. As the oldest in the house, she's at the top of the food chain as far as hand-me-downs go, so for her there are none. No biggie, we go through this with her every change of season...make a list of her needs, and eventually we get around to shopping for them. We both agreed she could use some jeans, a pair of khaki's and maybe some sweatpants for gym days. I laughed and told her to "put it on the list," which is something I find myself saying many times throughout the day.
Anyhow, as John came in the house tonight he was carrying a large cardboard box. I asked him about it, and he laughed "I know you just finished cleaning out all the closets...but there are 3 more boxes just like this one in my truck." Clothes from a coworker of his who has passed on some really nice things in the past. As he headed out to get the others, I nosed through the first box. Wouldn't you know the first items I pulled out were 4 pairs of jeans, a pair of khakis and 2 pairs of sweatpants in Alice's size. And all looked as if they'd never been worn. (as a matter of fact, a few of them still had tags.) I laughed out loud. God wasn't even a little bit subtle about fulfilling our needs this time. I shouldn't be surprised by His goodness, I just never cease to be amazed at our Awesome Father though. He has been so generous to us, His blessings abundant!

Luke 12:22-31
22 He said to his disciples, ‘Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat, or about your body, what you will wear. 23For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. 24Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds! 25And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life?* 26If then you are not able to do so small a thing as that, why do you worry about the rest? 27Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin;* yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these. 28But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you—you of little faith! 29And do not keep striving for what you are to eat and what you are to drink, and do not keep worrying. 30For it is the nations of the world that strive after all these things, and your Father knows that you need them. 31Instead, strive for his* kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.