$10...

Wow. I really do feel sorry now that I haven't been keeping this blog up throughout the last week and a half. Our church has been hosting a team from the Life Action ministries, putting on a Life Action Revival Summit. It's every night for two weeks. I know, I know, I thought the same thing at first, "Every night?! How in the world will I find the time?"

Well, let me tell you, it sure has been amazing. I suppose another time I will write all about that. Today, a few stories that illustrate just how God is making me more aware of His presence--and the Holy Spirit's leading--throughout my day.


Story 1: so I wanted to get Mamma a little iTunes gift card for Mother's Day. I had very little money, and then last weekend I was given a couple of very nice monetary gifts--including a really shiny, snazzy new $10 bill.

My younger sister is always much more on top of things like gifts than I am, so she purchased our group package of gift cards for Mom and I had to repay her. As it turned out, I owed her $10... and all I had was a few $20's and that nice, shiny new $10. At first I asked her if she could make change, but when she couldn't I took a long, hard look at that $10 bill. I prayed, God, I can't let this money be more important to me than You are! It's just a bill... and one You gave me in the first place to boot. It's not like I earned it. And then I "sucked it up" and gave my sister the nice shiny $10. When she heard it was a new bill, she tried to figure out how she could make change so I could keep it, but I had made up my mind. "It's just money," I told her, "It's not like it's a person. I sure don't want to become married to my money!"

WELL,

Here's where it gets funny. I didn't even think about it after that. Mom of course loved the gift (and the funny card that went with it), and then we went along our merry ways. And then... THEN... yesterday I was sitting at the kitchen table with Dad when Mom strolled over and tossed a couple of $10 bills on the table. "Here's your ten dollars," she said, "And yours... and yours..." and she kept doling out money. Buh?! Turns out that this was money we were supposed to get weeks ago for filling out a survey about our radio use in a typical week. This was money I had given up on a long time ago and totally forgotten about! -- But God hadn't forgotten! Boy, He sure takes care of His own :)... not only was it $10, but it was a shiny new $10 to boot!

Cool, huh? I'm actually pretty excited about the friend I'm going to invest that in next. During this Life Action Summit I have asked God 1) what He wants me to give, and 2) where He wants me to give it. I know that one thing He is asking for from me is my time, but judging by the fact that I have suddenly been given several decent monetary gifts, I have a hunch that He's allowing me to invest in His Kingdom financially now, too. I love that!