He did it again.

One attribute that I love the most is faithfulness. We all love someone we can count on. We all love when we have a hero during our time of need. We all love when someone is ready for the spontaneous. We all love receiving great gifts that we actually will use. We all love people who are constant and true to their word. This person sounds incredible and supernatural. Fortunately, for us children of God, we have exactly what I mentioned above.  He has us on His mind all of the time. He’s planning all things to work for our good, and His glory! Win-win!

Let me tell you what happened recently that has increased my faith like crazy! This week, God proved to be true to His word in a huge way.

 In the early months of 2013, my DTS in New Zealand (mission school), gathered around to have an intentional giving day. We prepared for this day a week in advance. Each of us asked God what we could give that would honor him the most and that would serve someone else well. I also asked that what I was called to give would make a change in my heart.

A young couple was serving as staff members on my school. I knew they were in need of a huge financial gift, and I wanted to be apart of fulfilling that need. For several weeks during the course, I remembered telling God that if I had the money, I would give to this couple. They were on my heart and mind a good bit, and I believed in their mission and their devotion. I wanted to show an act of practical support and involvement in their lives. The day before our big giving day, I still didn’t know what I was offering up. I heard other students around campus talking about what they were bringing. Some prepared cash money, some were taking distractions out of their lives, some gave up things close to their heart, and others gave up entitlements.

I sat down with the wife of this couple that I wanted to support. Three other student girls were with us. None of us girls had any idea of what to bring the next day. We all sought God together. In that time of prayer, we believed that he would tell us what we were to give the next day. He surely spoke, loud and clear! As I looked at that staff member, again I was reminded how bad I wanted to give money. I was also telling God how empty my bank account was. He began to tell me how I actually did have money. I went on to tell him that I didn’t. Come to find out, I did have a good bit of money, just as He said! He responded with two words, ‘your car’. I didn’t say anything back to Him. My tears did the talking. I knew what I had to do. I was to sell my car (located back in the US) and give the profits to this couple.

Although I did want to give a large gift, I didn’t necessarily want it to come from my car.

This was my first vehicle. It was all mine, meaning I paid every single payment on it. My Explorer represented an achievement for me. It was something that I found pride in and something that I could always fall back on if I needed to. I could always sell it if I was in a bind, or I could sleep in it if I ever became homeless! Haha.

The idea of following through with what I heard hurt. It was going to be tough to give. In reality, it is just a car that can be replaced. It was the prayer I asked about my heart being changed in this process that really took a toll on me. God was tugging at the strings of pride and security that I found in my car. I took a few hours that day to grieve my car and to work through my heart issues. I became peaceful and certain of my gift and immediately began working towards getting my car sold.

The next morning we began our giving time. We all gathered in our classroom. We had worship playing and we stayed there until everyone was able to workout what the Lord wanted to do! Hours went by and people had given substantial gifts. Gifts like surfboards, long boards, laptops, iPods, and many other material things were laid up on the stage. All for the sake of blessing others and honoring God!

I didn’t know how to ‘lay my gift’ at the front of the room, so I talked with one of my school leaders about it. He suggested that I write down what I was giving and place it in an envelope. He also instructed for me to write whom the gift was going to on the outside of the envelope. He went on to say that I should pick up the microphone and share what I was giving. He thought it would release faith in the room to give things that are close and meaningful to us. I was nervous, but I did. Things did seem to pick up after I spoke, but also, I was held accountable to make sure that I followed through and that the gift was in the hands of the couple.

Within that giving time, I had a sweet visit at my chair. The staff member that was receiving my gift hugged me. We cried together. She was overwhelmed with what I was giving and I was overwhelmed to see how much of a blessing it was to them. In that moment, it all became worth it. Once we wiped our faces, she told me how they were behind on rent. She said that not many people had been supporting them financially and believing in their kingdom work. She said it was hard to hold on to hope, but continued to seek provision from God. She knew it had to be a large gift, but she had no idea how it was coming or whom it was coming from! That day, my car became an answer to prayers!

My car sold rather quickly. It went to the home of a young guy that I hope enjoys it as much as I did. Within one month, all things were finalized. At this point, I was on outreach in the Philippines and I was at a random lawyer’s office behind a market getting the ‘title release’ signed and mailed to the US!

During that giving time, I heard from God to not worry about my next car. He assured me that it would be given freely to me. Fast forward to this week, His word was fulfilled! (a little over a year later!)

I returned to the US in December of 2013, so I’ve really only been without a car for three months. Mom has been kind to share her car with me. We’ve worked out a system on days that I would need transportation. I’ve even had a few friends give me rides every now and then. It was only a few times that being without a car was inconvenient. I’ve been pretty content, but still expectant, knowing what God told me. I was asked to babysit for a family that I’d never met before. I don’t usually say yes, because I already have a few families that I’m committed to, but I felt that I was suppose to agree to helping. The day that I needed to babysit, mom ends up needing to go to the Doctor. Usually I would take her car with no problem, but on this day, she had to drop me off! (this was an inconvenient moment) I was taken back to my younger days of not having a car. Humbling, I admit. The mom of the family was curious to why I was dropped off and why I didn’t have my own car. I said, ‘long story short, I was a missionary last year, and I sold my car. Now I’m waiting on the lord to provide.’ She said, ‘okay’, and smiles. We went on inside and we got to know each other for a short amount of time. She headed off and when she returned I was out in the front yard with the kids. After a few minutes went by, she pointed my attention to the red ford explorer that was sitting in her driveway. She asked me if I liked the car. I told her that it was a nice car and that I did like it. She asked if I would like to have the car. I wasn’t sure that she meant ‘have’ as in, ‘I want to give it to you’. So I responded with, ‘Well, it depends on how much you are asking for it’. Her response became the answer to my prayers and the fulfillment of what God had spoken to me! “Well, we want to give it to you!”, she said happily. Just like that, I am the owner of my freely given car! I thought it was funny how the car I sold was an explorer and the car I was given was an explorer!

He is faithful. He gives good gifts. He is spontaneous. He is generous.

All of the details of the story were significant and worked out especially for this moment of giving to take place. My hero in a time of need!

This family was given a truck and they didn’t have use for their explorer anymore. They had it for a while, but didn’t just want to end up selling it. They were waiting on the right person to give it to, someone who needed it. God already had my name on that car, and I didn’t even know it!

I thought the gift would come from someone I knew. In this case, it came from some one who ‘knew’ me for less than 10 minutes.

I am thankful for my Father who I can take at His word. He does what He says He will do. I’m thankful for his obedient and generous children, who heard the word to give and who acted upon it immediately. The timing of this gift was unexpected and perfect. I am thankful for this new car that opens up many new opportunities for me in having some ‘anytime’ transportation! Hallelujah!

Be encouraged everyone! Whatever it may be, it is worth giving and although we would be fine without anything in return, the blessing is more than we could ask or imagine!