If You Don't Believe in God You Won't Believe This

This is considered a small miracle to the world, but it's so personal to me I took it as a pure gift of love from God.

Just before I found out we were pregnant I was wrestling with the idea that God was a giver. I saw Him more as a taker. Why I saw that is a whole other story and my own perception, because I've had many answered prayers, but there are two or three that were close to my heart that weren't answered in the way I would expect. That's colored the way I've chosen to see God. I saw Him more as someone who would take my material possessions or people precious to me and give me spiritual lessons. I was really praying that He would show me that He truly is a giver, because His Word, the Bible, tells us He is.

So, then we have a surprise pregnancy when I had previously given away all of our baby items. I basically talked honestly with God and told Him that this whole thing really rocked my world. If He wanted us to have this baby He would really have to provide for our needs. I know, as if He didn't already know that. And as if I didn't know already that He provides. Hello? I was praying to Him in a three-bedroom apartment no one thought we'd get!

Anyway, it became a journey for me and I knew it.

Our midwife is going to cost us $3800.00. It's a personal choice for us to spend that amount of money on a midwife and not just go through the hospital and have it all paid for by insurance. We have this money in savings, but it was still an "ouch" pulling it out. We also got a bit of a discount from her for paying in whole and in cash. So, it's tax return time. Before Brad and I started the process I thought, "Wouldn't it be 'funny' if God gave us $3800.00 back in taxes? That would cover the midwife." How much did we get back? $3750.00!

We decided to use that money to help us with bunk beds for the girls. The next day was Sunday. Brad and I aren't usually in service anymore, because we teach 1st grade Sunday School. However, this Sunday was Family Worship. That morning I thought, "You know, if it should happen to be 'Haves-and-Needs". I'm going to ask for bunk beds. Who knows what people have out there."

Wouldn't you know, it was "Haves-and-Needs"! This is an opportunity for the congregation to share what they have just sitting around the house or garage that can be given away. Other people, like us, might say, "We're looking for... whatever." So, this morning I nudged Brad and asked him to say we were looking bunk beds. Not two minutes later another hand shot up in the congregation. They had bunk beds!

Now these bunk beds aren't exactly something I'd pick out at a store. They were previously loved by an older boy and his dog. They are kind of beat up. However, they work and they were free! I'm hoping to beautify them this weekend with some paint. We'll see how that goes. Anyway, we still had to buy the mattresses and a sheet set, which wasn't cheap, but that bunk bed saved us quite a chunk of change.

I have to say that when we were told someone had a bunk bed already disassembled and sitting around waiting for us, I sat in church and just cried. I was overwhelmed by God's faithfulness and my lack there of. What a lesson we're are learning right now on waiting on God and seeing His faithfulness pour out on us. God is not all about giving us everything we want, but He is all about giving us our needs, and I am relishing in His love at this time in my life.

I've had so many "it just so happens" experiences just in the past five years I could write a small book on the testimonies. How do I know God is real? Oh, if I could only count the ways for you.

If you still think I'm crazy for believing in God, and think I'm grasping at straws... all I can say is He's waiting to bless your socks off too! :)