I want to tell you a story, a story of God’s amazing, extravagant and miraculous faithfulness. And I’m not repeating something I heard or that I read in a book or got as an email forward (you know the ones I’m talking about). This one is my family’s story.
For the past five years our family has been functioning with one car. We chose not to go into further debt (that’s what a car payment is, after all) to have a second car. It’s been really hard at times and there were many sacrifices we made. Sacrifices like telling my son he couldn’t play soccer because Mommy simply could not handle another season of the transportation chaos it required, to all of us having to wait up until the wee hours of the night to go pick up Daddy from the church when there was a special event (inevitably on a school night), to walking to and from school in 100+ degree heat on days when there was no alternative. All of us shared the burden.
It doesn’t sound so bad when I say “For the past five years” but five years feels like a very long time when you are the one living it. It’s long enough for doubt to begin creeping in, long enough to start wondering if the tithing and giving really counts like God says it does. I wish I could write about how I always knew without reservation that God would provide and never had a moment’s worry, but recently when we would go to pay the tithe and give our gift to our church’s building fund part of me would add it up and think about how that would more than cover a car payment. It didn’t happen all the time and I was pretty quick to give it to God and ask Him for the strength to give with a joyful heart, but a small quiet part of me began to wonder if perhaps we had been forgotten.
Two weeks ago I got a phone call from a lady I didn’t know very well, but had talked to a few times and I really liked her. She asked if my husband, Jason, and I would come over to her home. She and her husband had been praying and had a word from God for us. My husband happened to have the day off, though he usually would have been working, so I went ahead and asked him. I will admit he was a tad reluctant. He had never met her or her husband (“Aw man, it’s going to be weird!”) But I thought it took serious guts to call someone you haven’t known for very long and tell them you have a word for them so I was pretty determined to get us there.
We went over and after some small talk she came right to the point and asked us,
“Is there anything specific you two have been praying for?”
I started to say that no, there wasn’t really anything, but for some reason I stopped. “Yes. There is one thing” I replied.
Without so much as a pause she said, with the biggest smile ever, “A car!!”
Her husband, grinning from ear to ear said, “We have a car for you!!!”
I felt like my stomach went all cold and tingly, but a good cold and tingly! We went to the garage to see the car. It’s not just any car either. It’s a 35th anniversary edition T-Top convertible Camaro Z28 SS with the Corvette LS1 engine. In girl language, a very fast, very sexy black sports car. I was so overwhelmed by the magnitude of God’s faithfulness and extravagance. It’s one thing for God to give you a car that meets your needs. It would have been wonderful and still a miracle. But somehow it just so touched my heart that God wanted to give us a car completely beyond anything we could have aspired to own.
I was also amazed and awed by the couple’s sacrifice. I came to find that they loved that car. It was the first car she owned, they had their first kiss in it, and it was sort of their baby. But they felt called to give their very best, their first fruits to God even when it wasn’t easy and He lead them to give it to us. God even woke the wife up out of a sound sleep to confirm it to her husband as he lay there praying and contemplating. (Please say a prayer for them as you read this, that God will bless them for their faithfulness and move their mountains.)
It has been amazing how it has changed my life the past two weeks; everything is so much less complicated and so easy to plan. Having two cars freaking rocks! But more than the convenience being wonderful, what has really been impacting is how I see God. Nothing seems beyond Him. Where I knew that before, now I believe it. I always felt awkward telling people about Christ but having experienced this miracle in our lives has given me the boldness to share the story with everyone I can. Sometimes it’s intimidating to “witness” to someone but just simply telling the story of how God has impacted my life is so natural. It just makes me sad that I didn’t think to do that before it was something so tangible, because there were plenty of amazing things God has done in my life I could have been sharing. I just wasn’t looking for my story.
What’s your story? Maybe you’re thinking, “Well, that’s great but God didn’t happen to give me a sports car this month”. But what has Christ done in your life that changed you, restored you, or healed you? “Witnessing” is as simple as being open to telling that story to a family member, neighbor, or the lady in the checkout line with you. We love to share stories about our kids (or grandkids) and pets…it’s really not that much different! Sometimes we don’t speak when we feel prompted because we are scared of ending up in some weird discussion about evolution or dinosaurs or aliens or the rapture or some other issue people get all hung up arguing about. But it’s hard to argue with your story about what God did for you!
So, again, what is your story? Think about if for a minute. Maybe your story isn’t the series of events that lead to your salvation, maybe it’s something else. It doesn’t need to be as long and detailed as this one; sometimes it’s better if it isn’t. After all, if you want to share it with your bank teller and it takes an hour to tell, you’re going to get her fired!! Ask God to show you what your story is and then share it. You can start by sharing it here, on this blog. Leave it in the comments and let’s share our stories with one another in this safe place and be encouraged by testimonies of what God is doing in our sisters!
Then … lets tell the rest of the world!!
While I was praying this morning I felt prompted to read this blog, it so matched up with what I was hearing in my quiet time. I got the word EXTRAVAGANCE. I was reminded of when I got my wedding dress – I had a budget that I thought was great, but the dress I fell in love with cost more than 3 times as much. I wasn’t disappointed that I couldn’t get it, just accepted it wouldn’t work out. The next week my dad gave me a little wrapped box, when I opened it there was a check that covered the cost of my dream dress and he told me to keep the other money I had budgeted, with the biggest smile on his face and tears in his eyes because he was so excited to bless me. God gives like that! Beyond the desires of our hearts when we wait on Him. Love this story!
Thank you for sharing your story Celia! I was so blessed as I read it!! Our God is so cool!
Melissa,
How exciting!!!! God is so cool. I love how He is in every detail of our lives. Rejoicing with you and your new car and the tangible testimony you have shared with us all. My family dealt with the one car situation for many years of our marriage so I totally relate to this story and girl your attitude was probably so much better then mine:) God Bless!
Wow! Another great blog that truly hit home for me. Thank you for sharing.
Melissa,
Our story? Well, lots of it is here already when it concerns the foreclosure of our home in Bedford…and then God leading us to where we are now in Keller. In our loss, we were given more!
A car? Our story is similar, though less lengthy than yours. Anthony and I decided to turn in his lease car at the end of 2007. With him being self-employed and me being a home school mom, working within the confines of a one vehicle family required creative planning on many days, but it was easily workable on most days – except for when we both had places to be at the same time. We made the decision to free up money for getting out of debt.
When Anthony got offered his job outside of our home in August, that easily workable freedom changed. But, being a home school mom, I could still work the schedule more easily than you could have.
Just a few weeks ago, God amazed us again with His generosity and provision, once again, through the same couple from which we rent our current home. Through a discussion we were having, they learned of our one-vehicleness and asked if we were in the market for another car. Since it’s not in our budget yet, we told them so. Her response, “What if you could have one for free?”
Turns out they had recently given a van [that they had paid cash for] to her aunt to use and that the aunt wasn’t going to use it after all. Right there, on the spot, they offered for us to use it as if it were our own car, all we had to do was cover it with minimum liability insurance.
We were amazed at their offer. Not only were they blessing us with this home, but now they were blessing us with a second car to use! What’s ironic is that we haven’t really been praying for a second car because we knew it wasn’t in our budget…so why pray for it, right?
Well, God took care of that “small” detail and provided one anyway.
We don’t know how long we’ll have use of the car…probably at least for the next year…but that doesn’t matter. What does is that God continues to show us that He has many ways of providing for our needs…even when we’re not asking because of our own “in the box thinking”.
Praise God for what He’s done for your family and for the obedience of the couple who blessed you! What an inspirational story!
Babs
Wow Melissa I thought for a moment that you were telling my story of not being forgotten. My husband and I were in need of a bigger vehicle and his 15 year old truch that had no air conditioner just wasn’t up to par so we began to look for a new car. We looked at cross over vehicles cuz there was no way we were going to get a mini-van we were too young for that. We looked for new cars for months and just couldn’t thing that getting into dept for a vehicle was worth it. Everytime we gave our tithe check that little voice in my head would say, “this could buy you a really good new car”. I finally gave up searching for a car and gave my hearts desire to the Lord. Withing a few months we received a phone call that said much like your own that they were praying and God told them to give us their vehicle. With such a humble heart to think God would give us a new vehicle was overwhelming to me and the fact that it was a mini-van was even more humbling and heart check for me. I can’t believe that I was concerned about the image of a car. My kids love the mini-van with it’s automatic doors and tv that all my dumb views of a what I wanted have flown out the window. The second blessing to this story is that we were able to sell the truck and get extra money to pay off a few looming debts. What a glorious blessing to have experienced. I’ve long listened to Roberts stories of receiveing cars and boats that I didn’t think we were worthy enough to get such an extravegant gift. We were not forgotten and it more than met our desires. Thank you Father
Such amazing stories! I am so glad you ladies are sharing! Please feel free to share any story of what God has done for you! Lets encourage one another and build up our faith- it doesn’t have to be something God gave you physically (but isn’t it cool when that happens?!!) it can be any story where God showed up!
Great story!
My favorite story (stories) are how God provides in small ways – I have a bunch of little ones that are cool to me – I’ll share a couple if that’s ok.
When I first moved out of my parents’ home and into an apartment with a roommate, my budget was tight – very tight. I remember vividly having to go to get an oil change on my car and thought I really don’t have the money but my car needs attention – so I go thinking I’ll charge it (cringe, sorry Lord, but I need this done) – I wait about an hour from the time I get there to the time it gets finished. No biggie right? That’s normal and I don’t think anything about it – I go to pay and the guy profusely apologizes for the long wait and says “it’s on us”. I blinked and thought, “what? um, you mean free?” Yup it was free – no charge. I sheepishly realized I didn’t think God cared about oil changes…but He does.
2nd story around the same period of time in my life – I was bored with my clothes – I was wearing the same clothes for years – bummed out with the lack of funds in my account. I had precious friends who gave me hand-me-downs which was cool, but I’m sure other people know – you just wanna feel normal and go to the store and get yourself something new and pretty. I went shopping with a friend at the mall – window shopping – and we came to a favorite store of mine and I just wanted to cry that I only had $4 in my account. On a whim I checked out the clearance rack – I found a dress for $4 and only 1 in my size and the color I loved. NO WAY HUH? Needless to say I snatched it up! God even cares about clothing us with fun new pretty things
Love you Melissa!
I needed to here this today!
I love your story Melissa! We also have one car and 3 little boys, so I don’t really go anywhere unless my husband can help me somehow. We’ve been given cars, given a car and offered a car that we turned down because we didn’t want a 2nd insurance payment, but we know that we are in a season right now for 2.5 more years while my husband finishes school. Can you tell I’m countin’ down the years, he, he! Then maybe we’ll decide to have two cars in the future. Truthfully, I wish we didn’t even have this car with it’s payment and we could just borrow our in-laws when we need to, but my husband thinks not. I wish we didn’t have a cell phone bill or internet bill as high as they are or a storage bill. It’s crazy how it all adds up. Soon we’re selling or giving away all of our stuff in storage and getting cheaper phones and internet. We should save about $200.00. per month.
again! You’re a giver and our Lord loves it. I also remember you gave your car away a looong time ago. You’ve showed me how to be a cheerful giver! Go Melissa!!! Lately I’ve been thinking on that verse he who is faithful with little will be trusted with much….and do not despise the day of small beginings. This’ only the beginging of what our Daddy has instore for us…woohoo…bring it!
Yesturday though, I was asking God to bring us someone who has a persimmon tree and a couple of hours later one of our friends called and said we could come and pick pomegranates with them. When we got to the fields they also said we can pick persimmons and keep coming with them to pick other fruits whenever they go. They also have cherries, appricots, kiwi’s, about 1,400 acres woth of fruits, yum, yum! This was a HUGE blessing to us!
Yeah, we’re in a place right now where we are believing God to provide for us everyday, it’s a very humbling place to be, but we know that soon we will have more than enough to give to others and we can encourage others with little to go for their dreams of becoming what they want to be and financially be able to pull themselves out of poverty. For our family God is encouraging us to believe in what we are capable of doing and how to accomplish it. It does take time, like 8 years of school to become a doctor, but eventually we will have more money than we ever dreamed. Our biggest prayer and concern is that we will not buy alot of things when we have alot, but that we will save and invest.
God is good…even when He gives and takes away. I remember you gave me alot of money to help pay off my Celebrant Singer’s bill and just recently blessed me with some cute clothes. Thanks
Truthfully one of my greatest desires is to have a beautiful home with lots of fruit trees where we can raise our many children. Ohhh, it brings tears to my eyes when I write it. My other desire is to have a little girl. I know that God knows, so I will wait. I am thankful for the place I’m at now. He’s building huge character in us. We’ve lived with other people our whole lives and at times it is very challenging. My in-laws are amazing givers too. They do sooo much for us and expect nothing in exchange for their kindness. I love being on the receiving end of their love!
Love you, Heather
I am in tears after reading your stories of God’s faithfulness and hearing about your desires! I *know* that God cares about our dreams and secret wishes! Keep sharing your stories everyone- this is amazing!
I love you all so much!
Thank you so much for this reminder of God’s faithfulness today!
I have a story to share…I am a single mom and don’t receive any financial support from my ex-husband so things can be a little lean. When I saw that the Jonas Brothers were coming to DFW, I got online and looked at the tickets and parking prices and they just weren’t in the budget. My heart ached that I couldn’t provide that experience for my 7 year old because she is a huge fan. I sat at my computer at work and prayed, “Lord, I know this is silly, but I know that you love me and my daughter and you care not only about our needs, but also about our desires. I would love to give my daughter this experience and I am going to trust you, that if it’s your will, we’ll be able to go.” I prayed that prayer and didn’t really think much more about it for the next month.
Two days before the concert, someone donated two concert tickets to the church and they were passed on to me, as well as an extra $100 from someone who was paying me for some side work that I had done for them quite a while ago and forgot about. So not only were we able to go to the concert, but we had money to pay for parking and buy a concert t-shirt! When the person presented me with the tickets, I absolutely lost it…my God really cares about the littlest things, like my desire to take my daughter to a concert! I didn’t tell her about the concert until we pulled in to the parking lot and took the shuttle to toward the new Cowboy’s stadium. She thought we were going to a football game, until another little girl in the shuttle told her we were going to see the Jonas Brothers! As a mother, it was so cool to be able to surprise her like that and create an awesome memory that she won’t forget.
Things have been tight lately and over the last several months I’ve been looking at my tithe and building fund gifts thinking…that money could go towards ______ (car repairs, etc….just fill in the blank). Like you, I quickly repent and thank God that I’m able to give and for who He is. It’s crazy that even after that cool experience, I still forget who my Jehovah Jirah is sometimes. I definitely needed that reminder today! Thank you!
You continue to amaze me! Another great blog sweetheart! Kepp up the amazing work.
jason
First of all WOW! You are such a gifted writer, I can feel you humbleness through your words. God honors a humble heart and you are worthy of His blessing. We know that patience is a virtue, and you waited patiently for five years (which is like an eternity for a wife and mother of two) so now it is your season. Enjoy what God so perfectly through His grace had planned for you. He is so proud of you, He knows it takes time and courage to write a blog like this and you willingly do so…May God continue blessing you for it.
The Lord has been so faithful to me throughout my life, my story isn’t about a car but about my NOW wonderful husband. I was in a dead end marriage, married to man highly addicted to pornography. Eventually his urges drew him to act out in a attempt to take advantage of my very own sister. After being manipulated and threatened by him my sister ran away from the family, never to hear from her again. She was told by him “Your family would never believe you and this will destroy the way everyone thinks of you” he said she was dirty and not worthy. Sound familiar? Sounds like the lies that the devil feeds us daily, in his attempts to have us run away from our father.
Eighteen months passed and still no word from my sister the one person I called my best friend and made my maid of honor at my wedding. After praying many nights and shedding what then seemed to be endless tears, I received a phone call from my parents . My sister was ready to tell the truth and come home. After several painful hours my nightmare had ended and so did our marriage. I prayed and felt a release from him.
Immediately the devil attacked me with thoughts of pride and arrogance. I felt cheated, I thought “But God I did everything right, I was a good girl I didn’t do anything to deserve this.” I was hurting and confused, I felt embarrassed to call myself a Christian and be divorced.
Meanwhile a gentleman named Sean that I knew a few years back from church had been going through the same thing. His wife and two year daughter went “to go visit family in California” and was actually staying with her X-boyfriend having an affair. After discovering this he gave his wife an ultimatum come home to you husband or we’ll get a divorce. Much to his and everyone’s surprise she stayed. So he prayed, fasted and seeked God for answers until one Saturday at church he felt the peace of God come over him, and he was released from her. Later at church that day Sean ran into my family. It had been years since they’d seen him so they stopped to chit, chat for a moment. Sean was told about me and my situation and immediately felt love for me in his spirit. Later that night he prayed in his bedroom: “Father I don’t know what your plans are for me but please let Priscilla be in there.” His whole disposition had changed, after months of depression and suffering he couldn’t help but smile.
Later that same day my mom called me to tell me everything going on with Sean. When she first called me I didn’t even remember Sean’s name, so I was like “Sean who?” I hardly knew him from church, in addition we were both married to other people.. so we never spoke to one another. I could hardly believe it, this wonderful, handsome, God fearing man had been cheated on too! I felt better in a strange way, knowing that it wasn’t just me somehow helped.
Sometimes woman loose self confidence and self worth when they’ve been cheated on, and unfortunately that had become me. After years of feeling that I wasn’t enough for my husband, that I didn’t satisfy him so he had to choose pornography. It’s like the lies suddenly were set to mute. I felt a sense of hope hearing that Sean was feeling the same way I was. That he too was hurt, confused, and embarrassed… and it was nothing he did wrong. Needless to say the Lord worked it out perfectly and today we are married, we have two of our own kids and I’m blessed with a beutiful step daughter. I’m now have this amazing husband, he’s everything I dreamed of as a little girl and more. Thank you Daddy!
This is awesome Melissa ! I love your story and I love that you have opened it up for others to share theirs too. It’s been an encouraging day.
Wow Melissa, such a great testimony! Very encouraging. Guy & I have been in that place of choosing to trust the Lord for every kind of provision and really needed the reminder that God never fails, never forgets us! His ways are far above ours & worthy of our trust & faithfulness!! Thankyou sweet friend!
Melissa, I’m just so happy for y’all! You don’t know how many times I’ve said, “Melissa and Jason are so good with their finances!” I’m totally serious! I’m especially happy for Jason, i remember you telling me about how he had to sell his cool truck! Y’all are gonna look so hot in that thang!!!
I’ll have to tell you my story later… I’m so happy for y’all though! Thanks for being such a good example!
Go Melissa! Sometimes I want to tell God where I need a miracle, but quite often it doesn’t work that way! While I believe and stand fir victory in different areas, I also trust in Him! Some of our miracle come with time, but so many are knock me off my feet, suddenly!! This lver of m soul is so not boring! He sends me miracles & kisses from heaven every day that come from parking places to restoration of a dead marriage to miraculous provision that bloomed in the detest part of my life!! Oh the love of our extravagant God! Thanks for shouting it out!!
Melissa, your story is beautiful and very inspiring. I can only hope that God hears my wish of curing my son’s terminal illness as he heard your wish for a car. You are truly blessed.
So you know that I just LOVE this story because I have seen first hand your family be faithful to the Lord … and love this tangible love gift He has given to you guys that says, “I see YOU, I see your faithfulness, here let me bless you … like you bless me!”
It’s in times like this I think I couldn’t love Him more and then I reflect on how much He loves us and sees to our needs that my heart gets bigger so I can love Him more!
Rejoicing with YOU!
~Ris