All in Provision

Chaos Control

Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me –

put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

Philippians 4:9 NIV

 

 

When doing a sewing project, my sewing utensils get everywhere. Multiple pairs of scissors never seem to be handy when I need them. Thread pullers, pins, clips, spools of thread, and bobbins end up all over the room. I wasted time looking for things instead of sewing. It made me so irritated.

 

I decided to get things together. I went to a local craft store, and there it was – a fabulous organizational system for people like me. Now, everything hangs right on the wall at my fingertips. I can just reach up and grab whatever I need. I look, I see them. I use them. Easy as that.

 

How silly would it have been for me to have bought the organizational system and not hung it up and used it?

 

Sometimes life gets chaotic. Irritation with myself and even God happens. Frustrated, I ask him why he will not just fix whatever bothers me.

 

Then, he lovingly reminds me that he has already provided me with the “system” I need for any situation. My Bible sits right beside my bed as does my Bible study book. He has given me scriptures to memorize. Bible studies help me dive deeper into his Word and to fellowship with other believers. All these things at my fingertips, but I must grab on to them and put them into practice to receive any benefits.

 

When I look at that organizational system hanging on my sewing room wall, I get such a joyful feeling. Sewing is so much easier. No more mess everywhere. Likewise, looking to him and utilizing the tools he has provided bring me even more joy and peace.

 

Father, you lovingly lead us to what we need to manage the chaos in our lives. May we remember your words and put them into practice.

 

 

Susan Partida

 

 

(Spiritual Growth, Wisdom, Provision)

 

 Then, he lovingly reminds me that he has already provided me with the “system” I need for any situation. My Bible sits right beside my bed as does my Bible study book. He has given me scriptures to memorize. Bible studies help me dive deeper into his Word and to fellowship with other believers. All these things at my fingertips, but I must grab on to them and put them into practice to receive any benefits.

 

 

Satisfaction, I Like It

On a recent trip to a car wash I tried to tip the young man who washed the baked-on bugs off of people’s vehicles before they passed through the wash. His response totally caught me by surprise.

“No mam! This is my job! It’s what I do!” He made this statement with a huge smile on his face and in all sincerity. I totally believed him.

When God Sends an Angel

Ladies, the rebuke of the unnamed “prophet” (Judges 6:8-10) sets the stage. The people cry out; God reminds them of the reason for the oppression, before coming to the rescue—perhaps a little like making sure my children understood why they were being punished before showing them mercy.

One Foot in the Promised Land

The book of Judges has been a hot topic in Bible study this year. Why Judges? Some of the stories are downright gruesome. Take Jael in Deborah’s time—the woman who tent-pegged Sisera while he slept (Judges 4:21). And there’s always Samson and Delilah (Judges 13-16); everybody knows those names. Well ladies, it sure seems the lessons in God’s history book are applicable today. Focus in with me on the key verse of Judges: People did whatever they felt like doing (Judges 17:6; 21:25, MSG). Hmm!

How Service Paid Off

Olga felt weary.

Anyone would in her situation — especially six months into a pandemic. She desperately needed a job, but all her leads seemed to go nowhere. Then, her mom died. She couldn’t even go back to her home country for the funeral.