. . .to make His point.
Adoption teaches a lot of hard truths. Typically, in the midst of the journey, He brings the lesson. Sometimes, it hurts. One thing He taught me as I went through it was that He was in charge. No matter how hard I wanted to try to exert control. . .it was not in my power to do so.
Guess what? I'm still learning that lesson. Recently, a business that I co-own was thrown a curve ball. The place we host our event was possibly no longer going to be available. It's a great venue. The place, the people love Christ. It shows. People constantly comment about how amazing the facility is but more importantly how kind everyone is. We love it there.
So, we have been praying fervently about where our home will be. God knows that the desire of our hearts is to be there. But, the bigger desire is to desire His will. . .then there is never disappointment.
As we prayed this week, this is the Bible study lesson that was in my face with the small group of ladies I have been meeting with. . .Breathe by Priscilla Shirer. Well, if you want anything to "get into your business", do this study. MAN! OUCH! The study in on the Sabbath, Shabbat--God requiring us to "pause" or to "bring things to an end" so that we can remember "who we were (slaves to sin and stuff)" and that we are NO longer slaves. This time that we can set apart to change our slave mentality and to remember to walk in freedom. To remind ourselves that there should no longer be chains.
Exodus 16:16-27 says, "This is what the LORD has commanded: 'Everyone is to gather as much as they need. Take an omer for each person you have in your tent.' The Israelites did as they were told; some gathered much, some little. And when they measured it by the omer, the one who gathered much did not have too much, and the one who gathered little did not have too little. Everyone had gathered just as much as they needed. Then Moses said to them, "No one is to keep any of it until morning." However, some of them paid no attention to Moses; they kept part of it until morning, but it was full of maggots and began to smell. So Moses was angry with them. Each morning everyone gathered as much as they needed, and when the sun grew hot, it melted away. On the sixth day, they gathered twice as much--two omers for each person--and the leaders of the community came and reported this to Moses. He said to them, "This is what the LORD commanded: 'Tomorrow is to be a day of sabbath rest, a holy sabbath to the LORD. So bake what you want to bake and boil what you want to boil. Save whatever is left and keep it until morning.' So they saved it until morning, as Moses commanded, and it did not stink or get maggots in it. "Eat it today," Moses said, "because today is a sabbath to the LORD. You will not find any of it on the ground today. Six days you are to gather it, but on the seventh day, the Sabbath, there will not be any." Nevertheless, some of the people went out on the seventh day to gather it, but they found none."
God's directive was clear. Gather for today. Not for tomorrow. I will provide what you need when you need. Then, when I ask you to pause, I will give you a DOUBLE PORTION. But, the people still went out to gather--even though it had already been provided. Really, Lord? Do we ever get this lesson down? Do we ever stop gathering more than we need when You have promised to care for us.
Well, today we learned that our sale will continue for the fall while they continue to evaluate the future beyond that. Hmmm. . .the fall is my "manna". It's what I need now. He will provide it. I think He is really trying to prove His point. I'm hard headed, so it takes real lessons. He is in charge. Not man. He will make the decision, not man. And, He will provide when I need it and not before. He's also teaching me amidst other struggles. I'm in prayer about other major decisions in my life. Wondering if He is pushing me towards a "pause"/"an end" in order to show me His double blessing. I don't know where He is calling me or what He is calling me to, but I continue to need prayer. Amazed by His gift given today. Right when I needed it. Of course it was.
