Blessings and the 50 Pounds of Beans

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Some of my greatest blessings and spiritual growth came in an unlikely way. This journey began when my husband was led by God to take a bi-vocational pastorate at a little country church that paid $175 a week. He already worked in a corporate office in advertising at a very good paying job, so the money did not matter. Then corporate office was re-locating. My husband prayed long and hard in his decision: either move and leave the church or stay and quit his job. Deep in his heart he knew that God had specifically called him to our little church. He quit his job.

That was the night he brought home a 50lb bag of beans and said that we weren’t going to starve. Things got tight quickly. We were homeschooling four children at the time. I can only say that it has been absolutely amazing how God provided for us during that time. My husband quickly started a business building houses to supplement our church salary. HOUSES!! Really? How did he know how to do that? I truly believe God gifted him just like Bezaleel in the book of Exodus.

When you don’t have, there are a lot of things you just don’t do especially if you can’t afford the gas to get there. That’s just how it is. My children had to learn to get along with each other, and they had woven a tight bond with each other during those years of being “stuck” with each other’s company. When the time for “real friends” was needed, we prayed; and God provided for that too. Perfectly.

God provided funds. When my mother-in-law died, we didn’t know how we were going to make the 7 hour trip to the funeral. And then the precious cards from church members came in. Each contained condolences and money that perfectly met that need. And then there were the schoolbooks. A Christian school closed and sent us books for every grade just in time to start a new school year.

There was lots of garden produce from our church family, too. One of my favorite blessings was a trip. The kids and I were eating $1 hamburgers at a Wendy’s when we saw a drawing to win a trip to Silver Dollar City with cabin accommodations. We never sign up for those drawing because there’s always a gimmick, but this time we did. It’s kind of funny, but we prayed for our food and we also prayed over that little piece of paper we had filled out that God would bless us with recreation and time with Daddy. We dropped it in the box. And two weeks later, we won. It was unbelievable, inconceivable, and definitely an act of God. What Joy we were filled with to know our precious heavenly Father was even concerned with providing our family with something fun we could all do together away from the house. What a tangible picture God gave my children showing them He had a listening ear and was involved in their lives. I hope and pray they never forget it.

I can’t say I stayed in worry free trust and perfect peace through those lean years. God did have to do a work in me that would direct my focus first to Him. The more I saw Him provide, the more it became natural to trust in His timing, and know that it would all be OK. I would never in a million years trade the blessing of having to live off that 50lb bag of beans and all the precious blessings God provided to us during that time. I have a wealth of evidence and experience that constantly reminds me of His provision, His watch care, and His presence, and it only makes me want to love and serve Him more.