 God is so good! I’ve been waiting to share, but haven't, because the testimony isn’t complete yet, but will share in part. Recently, I received a HUGE and unexpected blessing! Someone who wants to remain anonymous gave me a check for $30K to go get a new vehicle!!! So generous and kind!!! And he had no idea about how precious and touching the timing was related to a deep heartache I recently experienced. I burst into tears when he offered the gift .
The timing of the gift was a clear message to me, that God sees me and is with me and He is my provider! I'm guessing most of you know that I am in ministry full-time. Many may not know however, that I live by faith in terms of financial provision. I could post screenshots of the 8 or so texts that I have received from my bank with alerts of balances below $50 over the past year. Yet, I have NEVER been without and God ALWAYS provides! Over the last 6 years of ministry God has moved in various people to gift me money at various times!!! People suddenly step in and have taken care of things. It has happened over and over at just the right time. But in the midst of it, there have been real times of stretching my faith and trusting in very humbling moments. In it, God has taught me to be content in all circumstances. “Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5 NIV When I started ministry 6 years ago, my church covered my mortgage for a month and paid for me to get my car fixed. At the same time, a leader told me to just do ministry as a hobby and go get a job. There were real moments of challenge to buckle under human reasoning and critics. Or I could choose to believe in God’s promises and step out in faith. God led me to work part-time (2 days a week) and do ministry as main focus. After 4 years of working part-time, He moved me to believe in full support and within 2 weeks of that decision, the donations were there! In first years, the part-time job and donations did not support my needs. So God sent people who came to me saying, “God told me to give this to you” and gave me money. And over all years, others have come and taken care of house things… buying me new windows, a lawnmower, a humidifier, a dishwasher (hand-washed for 2 years), new gutters, electric work, new kitchen and bath fixtures, plumbing repair, etc. One very special person has cared about my work/rest balance and arranged for me to get away 2 times this year and also been beyond generous with sudden blessings! God has gifted me with faithful monthly donors, all of whom I am so thankful! Some have been donating monthly for 6 years! I AM SO THANKFUL FOR EACH ONE WHO SUPPORTS THIS MINISTRY AS A MONTHLY OR YEARLY DONOR! For the one who gives $10 a month up to the one who gives above and beyond the others, I am so very thankful! This is a boast in His provision and faithfulness, not that He owes me anything at all! It’s always been evidence of His promise that I do not provide for myself; He provides for me. I am just to keep Him first and serve Him as led. Walking this way has been so humbling and amazing!!! His favor and kindnesses have always been perfect timing and supernatural expression of the promise of Matthew 6:33. I pray that you will consider the promise of Matthew 6:33 if you have not. (Many of you have your own testimony of this provision. If you would like to tell me your story, I would love to hear it! My email is [email protected].) Some people are about to go into tough times and will need to know where hope will come from. We have just hit 2 successive quarters of negative GDP growth, i.e. recession. God promises to provide as you trust in Him and walk with Him. Remember Psalm 23:1 and read Hebrews 13:5 above again. In my research on how to buy a vehicle yesterday, I learned that car repossessions are already at 2.2 million for first 6 months of 2022. Compared with the previous 12 months of 1.8 million. Predictions are for auto prices and home prices to start major correction. Some will be upside down soon on car loans and mortgages. Layoffs are beginning and inflation continues with interest rates rising. Times are setting up for many to call on the Name of the LORD to be rescued. He can help you. He wants you to ask for Him for wisdom and help. As practical example of asking for wisdom... for a vehicle purchase, God has been putting on my heart to “wait”. I didn’t understand why until I stopped looking and started researching what was happening in the auto industry. Now, I understand that the market is about to be flooded with repossessions and dealers will be desperate to sell. I had been hearing "wait", but stopped looking when God stopped me from making a wrong purchase last week. I prayed on the way over to a dealership that if He didn’t want me to buy the vehicle I was interested in, that He would intervene. When I got to the dealership, I could not get the key out of my Jeep ignition, neither could the sales manager or the sales person. This meant my battery would drain while I was there. So I could not focus and left. When I got home, my key came right out! And so this weekend I took time to learn more, and saw the bubble is about to pop. So I will heed God’s good counsel and wait. I share this as evidence that when you ask God for wisdom, He answers. See James 1:5-8. I could insist on my own way, but have learned (the hard way at times) to heed the whispers (mostly ). Where do you need God’s help today? In what areas of your life do you need supernatural provision and wisdom? Ask to know Jesus in these ways. He is not a vending machine or a genie though. He is a Savior who forgives, rescues, redeems, sets free, heals, and supplies beyond what you deserve. I pray that you ask Him for what your soul needs today. “Lord Jesus, I lift this one up to you. I pray for their heart to be open and receptive to your grace and truth. Move upon the waters of their heart and soften them towards your ways. Flood their soul with light, the light of Christ. Prompt them in the direction of your will. Humble them to surrender and trust in any area of self-sufficiency. Lead them into fellowship in the Body of Christ, to safe relationships and bible filled counsel. Thank you for being merciful to this one. Thank you God for gifting all who call upon your Name with a supply of life and power that we do not deserve. We are not worthy of such kindnesses, but that is who you are. May we know you this way and so seek first the kingdom of God. Then all that we need shall be given to us. Amen.” Hope this encouraged you! Please forward to a friend who needs to hear of God's faithfulness!
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The chair of my board invited me to spend the week by some quiet waters with her in Iowa, at Lake Okoboji during the last week of June! The video above is from June 30th at sunrise! A couple of mornings, I rose before sunrise and positioned at the end of the dock to be with Jesus. It is such a sweet time of day to spend with Him! We can follow in His footsteps... He chose this time of day to pray too... Mark 1:35- Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. What time of day do you prefer to pray? Do you position in the stillness of late or early morning hours? There is gift waiting for you there... When creation is quiet and still, it is gift for us. Creation and its regular rhythm speaks of God's faithfulness day by day, morning by morning. Creation is God's great act of power and awe inspiring creative work! It is meant to be a part of our time with God! Many of us know this, but too few of us position to apply the knowledge to deepened experience with Him. Selah. (Pause and think about your habits for stealing away with God. How is creation and the stillness of late night or early morning helping you connect with Him?) Challenge yourself to rise before the sun and be positioned to greet the sun, or plan nights to head outside after midnight to gaze at the stars and talk to God. Schedule date times with God this summer! On one of my mornings by the lake, I took a walk deeper into a wildflower field/bird haven that was set up by a neighbor and open to all. I asked God to let me find baby birds. I've really wanted to happen upon a nest for many years now; and believed that this could be my morning! Here is who I found :)... And then the next morning, Cheryl and I found this baby robin who seemed to have fallen from her nest. We got her out of the open path and under a bush. So little. So vulnerable. Seeing that sweet little robin on the ground should make us think of Jesus' words- "Are not 2 sparrows sold for a copper coin? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father's will." These are words of Jesus found in Matthew 10:29. Jesus is in control. He is aware of every finite detail at all times. It's mind boggling, but true! In what ways do you need to find inspiration from the birds of the air, who do not sow or reap or stow away in barns, yet your Heavenly Fathers feeds them? These are words of Jesus found in Matthew 6:26. Which one of you by worrying can add one cubit to your stature? These are more wise words of Jesus found in Matthew 6:27. Make a date with Jesus. Leave your house. Find a sweet spot. Steal away and talk to Him in the still hours of early morning. Click on any of the images above to listen to that episode!
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In Capernaum, Israel, by the Sea of Galilee, where Jesus lived.
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Into the Waters Ministry, Inc.
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Rochester, NY 14617
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