George Muller Moments

It's Thankful Thursday! This week I am so thankful for how the body of Christ has ministered to our family as my husband has been unemployed for 5 months.

THANK YOU to all who have prayed for us through this time.

THANK YOU to those wise, godly friends and leaders who have prayed with us, listened with us and encouraged us in what God is doing through this.

THANK YOU to those who have offered us interest-free loans.

THANK YOU to those who've taken out or invited over our whole family for a meal.

THANK YOU to those who have given gifts of money, food and other provision that have blessed us more than they could ever know. Many of you we have been able to thank, but some gave anonymously, with the happy result that we can only give glory to God--and suspect good things of many people! We truly can testify that we know believers who obey the Spirit's promptings to share generously with the needy. It encourages us in doing the same, when we are able to do so.

This has certainly been a time of growing in our faith. It has tested our children's faith as well, as they watch us pray and make decisions. Without overly burdening them, we've tried to be honest about what it all means--we might have to move, we might have to sell our trailer, they might not get everything on their Christmas list (well, that never happens). We've had to say no to many things we usually like to do and buy. We've explained about credit cards, credit limits, savings accounts and retirement savings as buffers between us and losing everything. Yet Bantam 6 persisted in praying for awhile that we "will not be thrown out into the street."

So it seemed timely to read a biography of George Muller, that great man of prayer and faith. Before long, it seemed we were having our own "George Muller moments." First a bag of treats, presents, baby food and a $25 gas card was left anonymously on our doorstep on St. Nicholas Day (Dec. 6) along with a story about the real Nicholas, a giver of anonymous gifts. Since then, we have received:

• $200 cash in the mail (no clue as to who from)
• a $1000 check from someone close to us ("you have a need and we have plenty--receive this as from the Lord")
• a mysterious check for $250 ("Happy Holidays from an anonymous donor to [an organization we belong to] on your behalf")
• a $75 gift card to Target from the public school system, which has been providing free lunches for the one son in the system
• a $40 Panera gift card from friends
• $275 in cash as Christmas gifts from relatives, plus $15 to each child
• a $25 Starbuck's gift card from parishioners grateful for my husband's ministry
• $400 in gift cards to Whole Foods from an anonymous parishioner

Most of these gifts came in the mail and were so unexpected that it felt like God himself pouring them out upon us.

"It's just like when George Muller prayed for things the orphans needed!" the kids said. And we've heard no more about being thrown out into the street.

*****

As I mentioned before, "Aslan is on the move"! Papa Rooster has been offered, informally as of yet, two jobs to choose from, by the same company; another, in ministry, may be unfolding as well. So we do need wisdom, discernment and the ability to hear God's still, small voice in the midst of a whirlwind. Thanks in advance for your prayers!