Yep, we're going to be parents! Sometime around December 2nd, we'll be welcoming our first Baby Butler into this world, and the timing couldn't be better. We actually found out on March 27th, about two hours before we found out that we'll be moving into a [basically] fully furnished duplex upon arrival when we get back to Idaho. I posted this on Facebook right after we found out about the duplex:
Feeling so incredibly blessed right now.
Almost 7 weeks exactly until moving day, and God is working everything together!
I'm just in awe. So excited for the last few pages of this chapter and the beginning of the next!
How awesome is God?! What a Provider. There was no way in the natural that we would have had the money to furnish a new place with a baby on the way, but God (two of the best words EVER) always makes a way! We do have to buy the furniture, but for everything we're getting at the price we're paying? You're too late to tell me that it's not God's favor.
It may not be considered polite to share everything that we're getting or the price we're getting it for, even though I really want to because - hello, God is AWESOME! - but let me just say it's an incredible deal. In the two and a half years we've been married, this will be some of the nicest furniture we'll have ever had. We're still in awe about the whole thing. Not just the great pieces of furniture and the price, but the fact that we'll have a fully furnished place to move into, and to bring our baby home to this winter.
Is that the provision of God or what?! He is so good, and He gets all the credit. He takes care of His children!
In all honesty, Brent and I don't really pray for finances or needs. We're not at all against it, and it's not that we haven't before or won't ever in the future. It's just that we choose to take God at His word. In Matthew 6, Jesus is very clear that we're not to worry about our needs - like food, clothing, and shelter - because God will take care of us, and so we needn't worry. We're simply asked to trust Him - to keep our eyes focused on Him and His Kingdom and to not worry. So...we keep our hearts focused on Him and we don't worry! And He comes through for us, always, because He's already met our needs anyway!
We are never in want, and we are never lacking. Even if money is tight, we know that He's got it. We do our best to make wise financial choices while seeking the Lord, we tithe and love to responsibly bless others, and we don't worry about the necessities like food or clothing or housing - we know God's got it! He's come through for us every time, without fail.
Yes, we do "our part" and God "does His" (if you want to word it that way), but at the same time, God's goodness and love towards us isn't based on anything we do. He loves us; we're His kids! What loving Father doesn't want to provide for His children? And besides, "our part" is ultimately just trusting Him and not worrying about things or trying to do it in our own strength - that's really all we do.
And the best part is, God doesn't play favorites! If you're thinking, "well yeah, but you're in Bible school. Of course God is going to do those things for you," or, "you always talk about God and you serve God and I barely even pray - He's not going to bless me until I do something for Him," or anything like that...STOP IT! That's a lie from the enemy. God is not a respecter of persons, and His love and care for us is not based on our works or our goodness. If He's going to provide for my household, He'll provide for yours, because what He does for one, He'll do for another! It may look different in how it comes, but it'll still be God's provision. He just wants you to trust Him!
If you're worrying right now about your needs not being met because in the natural it just doesn't seem possible or you don't see how you're going to make it, I encourage you to take Jesus at His word and give Him your worries, fears and anxieties. He cares for you, and He will meet ALL of your needs according to HIS riches...not yours.
So what do you need? Is it money to pay a bill this month, or to buy groceries or clothes, or to get gas? Do you need a job, or even just an interview? Are you worried about how you're going to make ends meet this month? How will you afford to fix the car in time? Where will you end up when that eviction goes through? Do you need furniture for your home - a bed for you or your child to sleep in? Do you need to get something fixed in your home? Maybe you need a car or a bike or some kind of transportation. Maybe you need a new tire, or a new stove or a new washer and dryer (because they're broken, not just because you want a new one, hehe). Do you need healing in your physical body or in your emotions? Don't limit God...He wants to provide for you!
Of course our physical needs come first, but God wants to meet our personal needs too. Is there something that may not be an actual need, but that you really "need" for just that little extra oomph this month? Maybe you'd really love (or need) to get your hair cut, or maybe getting your nails done is the one nice thing you do for yourself, but this month, you just don't think you'll be able to do it. Maybe you'd love an extra $10 in the budget to go out for coffee with your spouse or a friend, or to buy your child a birthday present. Maybe you're like me, and sometimes you really just "need" a new pen to write with or a new notebook to write in. Don't limit God...He wants to bless you!
I encourage you to stop worrying and to TRUST Him! If it's a physical need, trust Him to do what He said He would - let Him be your provision! If it's a personal need, you can ask God and watch Him come through for you even on the little things. And just like we're expecting a precious baby, trust God and EXPECT Him to show up in your life and meet your needs! He won't let you down.
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Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting ALL your care upon Him, for He cares for you.
1 Peter 5:6-7
And my God shall supply ALL your needs according to HIS riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:19
And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.
John 14:13-14
Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and ALL these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
And my God shall supply ALL your needs according to HIS riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:19
And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.
John 14:13-14
Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and ALL these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
Matthew 6:25-33
