Since mentioning last week that we are going to begin doing Memorial Box Monday on the first Monday of each month, I have been so excited.
Many of you are new to our Place Called Simplicity, so let me briefly explain.
In the Old Testament God told the Israelites, after a miraculous intervention on His part, to gather stones and place them in a strategic place where they could be seen for all.
Then, each time they passed them, to tell the story of God’s faithfulness to their children, reminding them of God’s provision, protection or providence.
This week’s Memorial Box {Monday} story is one of my favorites. It struck me as I was preparing to type this, that so many times I receive letters from people concerned about God providing for them. This story will pump you up and remind you that God does indeed provide for His kids!
First though, I have to tell you the whole story. For many years I prayed for a prayer partner. I am so passionate about prayer. I am convinced that God not only loves when we pray, but He also loves when we agree together in prayer with a partner.
So many years ago I began to ask the Lord for a prayer partner. I asked the Lord that she be someone that would come to me and ask me first. I didn’t want to pursue a prayer partner and make them feel like they “had to” accept the offer {cause I was the pastor’s wife – sigh!!}. I wanted someone who loved prayer as much as I do, believing in the power of prayer and that she would have to ask me first.
For years I prayed that prayer.
Nada.
Nothing.
I was pretty dumbfounded. But my prayer remained firm.
Then, a few years back I was mentoring a small group of young women at a coffee shop early, early one morning each week. One of the young women was named Chelsea. She was such a delight. She passionately loved Christ. She prayed with deep conviction. And one day she asked me if I would consider being her prayer partner. I was elated! Finally, finally, finally, my prayers were answered.
That was just about 8 years ago. And so once a week Chelsea and I began to meet to pray together. We met at a local coffee shop at 6:15am. In almost 5 years we’ve both overslept and missed our time together only once. We love each other and we love praying together.
Chelsea’s husband’s job took him out of state. We were unable to keep up for a season, but then, as the Lord would graciously allow it, we began to pray together again, this time via Skype.
We have prayed through some tough seasons in each others life. We have cried together on so many occasions….we have fasted together…..we have stood in faith together….we have texted in the middle of the night when needs were great….and most importantly – I know that I can tell Chels anything and with this girl? – Yup mums the word!! Someone could shove matches under her finger nails and light them and she would not budge!
Loyal.
So wait till you hear this amazing story from a few years ago….
Chelsea’s husband is a contractor. Work has been slow. Actually almost a standstill.
Chelsea and her husband were needing to sell their home. Badly. But they had to finish remodeling it to get it ready to sell. One day we were meeting to pray and Chelsea was talking about needing to finish the house to sell it. They needed the resources to finish the remodel….and there was no money in sight. And of course, with the remodel not done, they couldn’t put it on the market and not on the market, it wouldn’t sell.
Like so many of you, the situation was desperate!!
Hugely desperate!
So while Chelsea was telling me this request, I said to Chelsea,
“How much exactly do you need to finish?”
Without pausing she said, “$10,000.00”
Ten thousand?
Yup.
Ten thousand.
And they needed it right away!
God’s word says we must ask in faith specifically.
So we finished sharing our requests and bowed our heads to pray.
We prayed with fervor.
We prayed with expectancy.
We prayed with passion.
And we prayed for $10,000. exactly.
After our prayer time we headed our separate ways.
Within about 2 hours, Chelsea’s number came up on my cell.
This was highly unusual…we had just parted ways….
I couldn’t imagine what was up as I answered my phone…
I couldn’t imagine what was up as I answered my phone…
On the other end it was her….yelping with joy…
And here’s what she squealed…
“Guess what??
You are not gonna’ believe this!!
You are not gonna’ believe this!!
You.are.not!!
Guess what?
The mailman came by not long after I got home from prayer…..
and
he handed us an envelope…
and inside the envelope?
You are not gonna’ believe this!
You.are.not!!
I opened it up and guess what? There was a check inside!
It was from the IRS…
They said we overpaid them and guess how much it was for?
GUESS!?!!
Inside was a check for $10.000.00.”
I was giddy as I listened to her.
Really?
Yes, really.
$10,000.00
Exactly what we had prayed for just hours before.
Not weeks. Not months.
Hours.
Chelsea and Pete were able to finish their home and shortly
thereafter, the Lord allowed them to sell it!
thereafter, the Lord allowed them to sell it!
I still gasp as I think about this….$10,000?
Only a couple of hours after we prayed!!
They had no idea that the IRS had done the math and yet it was true!
Only our Miracle-working, Mountain-moving, Awe-inspiring,
Gasp-giving God could orchestrate all this…
And the amazing thing is that He has a miracle for you.
He does.
Promise.
Do you have need?
He is more than able.
No doubt, He doesn’t always provide like He did that day for Chelsea,
but the point is: He is faithful. He will meet the need.
Sometimes He uses the IRS and sometimes He uses ordinary people
like you and I to meet other’s needs.
And this story was the one I had to share today, because
at this moment,
at this moment,
I need God to show up in a huge way.
To provide for a situation that is deeply troubling.
That’s why I choose to share this story today.
Because I need to remember how God met the need – exactly when it was needed.
If you don’t have a prayer partner, ask God to provide one.
Then get together and pray….and watch what He does!!
What about you? What has God done for you? Please do share your Memorial Box story with us.
Post your permalink below…The stories people post are total faith builders to all who read.
Wonderful testimony of provision and prayer, Linny!!!! In fact, it brought to mind one that I need to write down as to not forget. So glad MBM is back up and running!~~
Love you my friend. Write it down!
How awesome is that?!
That's our God!
Love it – Thanks for the reminder!! Always ontime…always exactly what we need!
Love,
Julie
Always on time. Always. Never late.
Oh, thank you! I was hoping you would return to MBM's! They are a blessing to me. What a wonderful story! God is so kind to His children and so faithful, and it is good to share each others' stories.
I am so glad you are happy. I have missed doing them…His faithfulness is too overwhelming to not tell the stories {again, and again and again!}
Hi Linny, I was wondering if you would pray for me. I have been so lonely and I feel so sad for most of the day, every day. I don't have many friends or close friends, and of my friends I feel like no one has the time for me because they all have husbands and children. I'm 29. Really I just wish I had a boyfriend/relationship that was leading to marriage, as I feel like all I've ever wanted was to be a wife and mommy. I don't even really know any Christian guys. But anyway, I don't want to be so lonely and sad all the time. I have been praying about it. Will you please pray for me too?
Yes, Mallory I will pray for you. I'm sure other bloggy friends will pray also, as they read this. I know that whether married or single, loneliness seems to plague woman. Many can relate to feeling lonely. Having been a counselor for many, many years I saw many, sadly, rush to marry in hopes of easing their loneliness…however, if you could be a fly on the wall in my office back then, you would see that marriage isn't always all it's cracked up to be. I would urge you to do mission trips in the mean time. Serve. Serve some more! God has an amazing bunch of treasures to be unlocked on the mission field…and one day, when the timing is perfect Mr. Right will come along. And while you waited, you would have had a blast serving others…and who knows…maybe Mr. Right is on the mission field somewhere right now.
Thank you Linny! I appreciate your prayers. Doing missions seems like a great thing for me to do right now…I will look into it and see what I can do. Thanks again for your prayers 🙂
Jehovah Rapha… Jehovah is Almighty
this came into my mind when I read about His awesome provision, tears here. Love how He knows the future from the present… from before the foundation of the earth! We can safely trust in Him 🙂
A-MA-ZING!!!!!
I just wanted to share with you something that happened today. I am a follower of your blog and love your posts,I just don't comment usually. Last night I was checking up on your posts and after reading your memorial box I said a quick specific prayer for some mail box money. I lost my job unexpectedly last month and was the bread winner in the family and we have been barely making it by. When I checked the mail today there was a check from my insurance company saying we had overpaid them. It wasn't but a few hundred but it was a few hundred we needed badly! I cried tears of joy. The Lord is always faithful. And I love how he ministers thru you to other people's hearts, I wouldn't have thought to say a specific prayer because usually I just talk to him and ask for help but nothing specific! Your blog is a blessing to many, thank you for sharing!
So happy you shared this story Linn – what an amazing God Jehovah Jireh is. This testimony still blesses my socks off and it has served as a foundational reminder to me of who God is – He *is* a provider – he won't not be, because it's His name – it's who He is.
So blessed also to have you as a prayer partner and to have walked through so many highs and lows with a faithful friend and fervent prayer servant.
xoxo, C