Abundant Provision

My husband is a Pastor in a small, Canadian, rural church. We have been married for nearly 17 years and it has always been a financial struggle. God has always provided for us and we have always had our basic needs meant plus many extras. However, we will run across times in our lives where we simply do not have enough money to pay unexpected bills....making us like most other people. Odds are, you can identify with what I am saying here. Well, our God is such a gracious and generous God. He gives to us at times and in ways that bring Him maximum glory and that helps us to praise Him all the more. What He gives is not necessarily what you expect. This is one of those stories in our lives....

We have a lovely minivan. It is red....my favourite colour if you have read my previous post on the colour red! ;) In anycase, that is of no consequence. What does matter is that we have had many troubles with this minivan...it was our first Ford...which I have also blogged about before...do not buy Ford! Last year, we had to replace the engine even though the minivan is only a 2001. The engine cost $5,000, plus other additional costs for related items, plus a car rental for a week....end result was us owing $7,000 on this beauty. We managed to charge it and have been paying it off ever since. We dwindled it down to a reasonable amount, if any of it could be called reasonable. We praised God at the time that although it was a financial blow, the whole family was safe and it was caught before an accident took place.

Fast forward to about 2 months ago. We needed some more work done. Over a 1 month period it had to be taken in on three different occassions. Once was for $300, once for $500 which included needed summer tires and the third visit was for $1,500 for a grand total of $2,300. Not fun, but we were able to charge it...again...and we are of course still paying for it.

Fast forward once again to this week. The dreaded engine light came on. Always a horror in our family since the first engine light experience. This happened after a lovely family day at 5 pm on Saturday night. We could do nothing until Monday and hubby was flying out for a board meeting on Monday evening. Hubby brings it in Monday morning. Only $668, which seems like a fantastic bargain considering our history. We drive him to the airport on Monday night and we hear a noise. *sigh* Back it goes to the garage on Tuesday. The verdict: Bring it back in on Wednesday when they have time to work on it. Good news is, it is free because the noise is a result of the previous days work which only cost $668. Hubby flies back in, we pick him up at the airport, we see him for 15 minutes then he is back at the garage for what was supposed to be a 1 hour visit. Well, 4 hours later he returns with the noise still there but more faint. They say it is fine.

You are now up to date and are with me this morning. Hubby and daughter are slated to leave on an 8 hour trip to a weekend conference this morning. Thus the added concern that the minivan is in working order this week! We pack the minivan and say our goodbyes. I am standing in the window waving since is pouring rain outside, hubby puts the minivan in reverse to pull out and *CRACK*. Oh my. He gets out and looks around, gets back into the car and the brake light is on. He will stop at the garage on their way out. He calls a few minutes later as he is driving down the road..."The light went out." At this point I am crying, "Bring it in anyway, you have my baby with you in that car!" Hubby says, "I will, do not worry." We get the call from hubby at the garage, "The rear brake pad had cracked, that is what the noise was." I break out in more tears, "Praise God that it happened in our driveway and not when you were on the highway for that 8 hour trip!!! Praise God that hubby and daughter are safe!!!!" Such thankfulness fills my heart that God in His sovereignty had the brake break (lol) while in our driveway. However, the flesh is weak and I then say, "How much will it cost?" I see the mounting bills in my mind. Hubby say, "I am not sure, but a few hundred dollars for sure." I cry but we praise God again that they are safe. Only a few minutes later I get a call back. Hubby, always the joker, gets the manager of the garage to call me. "I have some news for you....*pause*...we have to replace the brakes but it is going to be ......FREE!! You are under warranty for those brakes still!" Overjoyed housewife says, "HALLELUJAH!!! I am so thankful!!!" I just got the call....they are now on the road and headed towards their destination. Praise God with me.....He cares for His people in such wonderful ways!

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine,
according to his power that is at work within us,
to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations,
for ever and ever!
Amen.
Ephesians 3:20,21