Use What God Gives You

Do the best with what you have been given!

    I have to share a little story.  A long while back, I posted about ‘purposeful prayer’.  One thing I have had on my prayer list is to ‘do the best with what I have been given’.  I have a very bad habit of getting very downtrodden and weighted by a lack of funds.  With a family of 6, money is tight, very tight.  BUT, we have a good house, magnificent yard, clothes on our backs and food on our table, and cars that get us where we need to go.  No wiggle room, but God has always taken care of us.  Anyway, back to the point.  I have prayed to do the best with what we have been given, to make things work with the finances God has blessed us with rather than wishing for more.  God has shown me that ‘more’ is not the answer, it is finding better ways to work with what we have.

   I have been doing much better.  I have culled down impulse purchases; I have planned ahead for needs.  As the school year approached I knew we had some big expenses coming.  One thing that I needed to find money for (other than school lunches, student fees, school supplies, and clothes for 4 teenagers) was new shoes for myself.  I have resisted new boots because decent dress boots are expensive.  I wore the same 2 pair of shoes all last year as the rest fell apart – the 2 that I wore began to fall apart towards spring.  No more avoiding, I had to have shoes for school.  I was expecting a minimum $40, and those are the ones that fall apart in 4 months.  So I prayed again to do the best with what I have been given.  I set aside money to go boot shopping.  To best use what I have been given, I first headed to a thrift store that usually has decent stuff (even though I rarely have luck finding decent boots at thrift stores).  I walk in the door and I am face to face with a long rack covered with boots!  On both sides!  Any kind of boot you could have wanted, all in good shape, and under $15.  At that stop I bought not one, but 2 pair of good boots for $26!  A few days later, I found another pair for $3.  A week later a woman at church gives me a bag of shoes, 3 pair of dress shoes and 2 pair of short boots!  Now, for under $30 I have more ‘teacher shoes’ than I can wear in a week, more shoes than I have EVER owned at one time!  I know this may not seem like a big deal to some.  But I see the miracle.  God has his hand in even the small things of life.  God hears our prayer.  God teaches and guides us.  God answers prayers and rewards.  God always provides!  Power of prayer!

Now I have to decide which pairs to pass on, so others can also be blessed!

God's Grace and Peace in All Situations

Today, was a day.

A day that makes you want to go back to bed and never come out.
 I had to go to Lincoln for a few appointments.  No worries there.  During a gap of time between appointments, my son and I decided to 'kill some time' at Target.  Didn't buy anything, just looked around, tried on clothes that didn't fit right, and headed for the car.  Half way through the parking lot... "Where are my keys?"  No keys in the pockets, no keys visible in the car.  I didn't not get out of the car right after parking it... those are the times I am most likely to leave my keys behind...  No keys in the dressing room, no keys in the store at ALL, no keys at the service desk...  No spare key hiding under the car.  Call a locksmith - don't want to ask husband to take time from his day to drive 2 hours to help me, I can deal with this myself, besides the keys are probably in car.  Prices start at $20, should be okay.  Locksmith comes, unlocks car, wants $120!!!  I do not have $120, locksmith takes $80.  Now, I have no money, AND the keys were NOT in the car.  Missed appointment, have to reschedule for later in afternoon.  Husband drives up anyway and gives me spare key.

We went to lunch (hubby paid - I had no money), and 'killed some MORE time' - keeping close track of my key.  Went to rescheduled appointment (received more money than I had planned on - that was good)!  Called my principal to let him know I lost a key ring with keys to the school on it... Left town... Target called --- they found my keys!!!!  Blessings!  Called principal back with the good news.  Turned around and went back to Target (in the middle of town) to retrieve the keys!  As we were pulling into the parking lot "Scrape, thump, thump" says my car.  Turn into a parking stall, "scrape, thump, thump" says my car.  Now what...  now nothing, there are no visible issues with the car...  Got the keys.  Headed for home - with occasional sounds from my car, coupled with stops to circle the car and look underneath - we made it safely home....

$80 and several hours later... what is my point and what did I learn?

1) Stay calm.
2) Let others help you (letting my husband come up the first time -like he wanted to- would have saved me $80!).
3) Let God have your worries and accept his peace!
4) Locksmiths are a last resort - and it is okay to cry in front of them when they overcharge you.
5) Focus on the blessings and see the humor in the rest!!!
6) DON'T CARRY YOUR KEYS THROUGH THE STORE!!!  THAT IS WHAT POCKETS ARE FOR!!