Wild Wednesday!

I told you Spring Break was filling up, right? Yesterday the boys and I spent the day at my friend Maria's house and visited my grandma in the hospital.

Today and tomorrow I've temporarily gained 3 children during the day. I'm watching my cousin's kids (Amanda & Jordan), as well as their friend Luke who flew in from CA for the week. I'm actually going to use it to my benefit. Since the two older kids are 13, I can leave them "in charge" for a short period of time to go run some errands. Plus my boys are very happily engaged in play for the next two days. The noise level in the house gets quite high at times, but I think the tradeoff is worth it.

In the past 4 days I have had two friends who have been an incredible blessing to me and the boys... because of them, I was able to pay all of my bills in cash today. You two have no idea how huge that is for me and just how much you have been Jesus to us. I think often of the day when it will be me who is able to reach out to single moms and help them in very tangible ways. It is a strong desire of my heart.

Last Thursday I was taking time to sit and do my devotions. I am embarrassed to say that it had been a little while since I had taken the time to just sit with God like that. Because of that, I was feeling extremely guilty as I started praying to Him. Have you ever felt that way?.... I prayed a little and then opened my Bible to read. I was really craving the Word. I opened to where my little ribbon was marking the last place I had read in that particular Bible (I have a few that I use). It was Isaiah 41. Verses 9, 10 and 13 jumped out at me because I had them underlined in red. They said:

I took you from the ends of the earth, from its farthest corners I called you. I said, 'You are my servant'; I have chosen you and have not rejected you. So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. For I am the LORD, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.

I was immediately emotional and just felt God's love for me. My guilt slipped away...

I continued reading and was again moved when I came to verses 17 - 20:

The poor and needy search for water, but there is none; their tongues are parched with thirst. But I the LORD will answer them; I, the God of Israel, will not forsake them. I will make rivers flow on barren heights, and springs within the valleys. I will turn the desert into pools of water, and the parched ground into springs. I will put in the desert the cedar and the acacia, the myrtle and the olive. I will set pines in the wasteland, the fir and the cypress together, so that people may see and know, may consider and understand, that the hand of the LORD has done this, that the Holy One of Israel has created it.

I believe with my whole heart that this is God's promise to me... that He is going to provide a way to take care of the boys and me in a way that will leave no doubt that it could have only been Him. I have no idea who or what He will use to do that. I have no idea if that means answering Drew's prayer that I will get "100 clients", or if that means another job or means of income, or if it is something I couldn't even begin to dream up. But I do know what He's promised me and that He always keeps His promises.

Until that day, my heart cannot begin to express enough gratitude for those of you who have stood in the gap for us and have given of your own means to help us through this time. Your reward in Heaven will be great!