Actually, there are no longer any vacancies in my freezer, but not too long ago, I could have hung that sign on the front of it! Losing my job six months ago brought about changes and blessings I never expected when driving home from my last day of work. Yet, truly knowing that my God is sovereign and loving and caring and in control and . . . well, SO much more than even THAT, I truly had this heaven-sent knowledge that His way is perfect!

I hesitate sharing stories that sound like I’m crying “poor me” or making life all about money, but I trust that you will read the following true events and see in them the full hand of God pouring out its riches into my very empty hands. And by riches, I don’t mean a full bank account, a new car, or any “earthly luxuries” that might come to mind when you read that word. I mean TRUE riches!

My previous work was for a non-profit organization. Because of that, I was not able to receive unemployment during the months I was looking for work. For many, that can provide much-needed resources for maintaining life’s basics during the time of transition. However, the majority of churches and other non-profit faith-based organizations do not pay into unemployment, so I could not receive any of the benefits from that program.

Because I spent almost four months looking diligently 24/7 for full-time salaried employment and ended with zero results, I came before the Lord and asked Him to help me get work using the talents and abilities He has entrusted to me. It was at that point that I began PEP Writing Services so that I can freelance or do contract work using my training and skills in proofreading and editing. Some weeks I work 30 hours; some, only two. Any business or freelance/contract work takes time to build, and so I continue my pursuit of additional clients and more steady means of necessary income.

To say the least, things got lean. I determined, however, that since God had clearly allowed the event to occur, He would be faithful in providing for its resulting outcome. Again, please note that I write this ONLY to praise the One Who is Jehovah-Jireh! I have clothing, food, shelter and more, and I consider myself blessed beyond measure!

I am writing this particular post to share three specific, very personal but true, wonderful things in praise to the One Who provides in hopes that they will encourage others. Yes, He prompted human instruments to care for the physical aspects of these, but I know by the specific answers that He is the Ultimate Provider:

1. I needed a new computer program for my home computer. I had used the program at my previous office and now I was without the much-needed program for preparing my resume, cover letters, etc.  The cost was $150.00 to purchase this suite of programs, and an extra $150.00 was nowhere to be found. I prayed on Wednesday morning, telling the Lord I would not ask anyone for money, but that I was trusting Him to supply this as it was truly a necessity. Two hours later I went to the mailbox and found a gift from some dear friends…for $150.00. I praised Him for answering so quickly, and then realized, no, He kept His Word and answered before I asked—they mailed it on Monday!

2. Another very specific need for $100.00 arose. A need, not a want. Same thing as before. Exact amount. Mailed three days before I asked Him to provide.

3. Food has at times become a “luxury item” over the last few months. Yes, I have the necessities, but I will humbly and honestly share that there were a couple of mornings when I opened a can of green beans and carefully divided it into three bowls—one for breakfast, one for lunch, and one for supper. Again, I don’t share this as a “poor me” but only to relay to you what God has done, is doing and will continue to do! A couple of weeks ago, I received a gift of frozen meats that the giver had pre-cooked and pre-packed into one-person servings. It was enough to fill an entire large Coleman cooler! As I have had a VERY busy week of editing (another HUGE provision of work from the Lord), I have cried tears of joy with each packet I remove from the freezer and thaw to have for a ready-made healthful lunch or supper! Therefore, there is no more need for a “Freezer for Rent” sign to be hung! Instead, the door of my freezer holds a Post-it note that reads: Jehovah-Jireh (God, my Provider)!

He keeps His Word. That’s the bottom line. In Matthew 6:25-33, He reminds me that I am to put Him first. The rest is up to Him to provide for because He can,  He does and He will!

 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”

Knowing my love for antiques, a friend recently gave me her grandmother’s rocking chair. There’s something about a rocking chair that produces thoughts of wise elderly women rocking back and forth and knitting or crocheting as they exude more wisdom with every stitch. I often wish I could sit at the feet of these women as they speak the knowledge they have gained from their many years on earth and the experiences that resulted in the wisdom they are able to share.

Learning from others is critical to our own growth as individuals. The wealth of information available to us is increasing with every page we read from biographies, every article we read online, every Facebook status, every blog post, every tweet and so on. So why, and again I ask, why, would we not avail ourselves of every opportunity to learn from others?

The answer? I believe that our pride makes us think we are worthy of nothing less than being teachers; therefore, we naturally shy away from admitting our need to remain students even as we teach. I may not like everything a teacher/writer/blogger does, but I want to learn what I can from their experience, wisdom and knowledge, add in my God-focused philosophy of life and be better off for having learned what they were able to teach.

Let me quickly add that I believe we can learn SOMEthing from everyone—even if it is merely becoming stronger in our own beliefs by learning that we don’t want to be like them or follow their teachings at all! But the important thing is to approach each person, each day and each experience as though they were lessons from which to learn.

However, humility of heart is required, for in placing ourselves under the teaching of another we are admitting that we have not yet achieved perfection!

This desire to learn from others is prevalent in the Bible in the life of Joshua. His numerous references to all that Moses taught him demonstrate humility, gratitude and a teachable spirit that formed him into a great national leader. Though appointed by God Himself, Joshua respected the wisdom Moses had gained from following God. Joshua clearly intended to honor Moses—and God!—by applying that knowledge to his own life and to his leadership of God’s people. [I encourage you to read the Book of Joshua and note all the references to the teachings of Moses!]

No matter our biological age, there will be times when we are called upon to sit in the rocking chair and times when we will have opportunities to sit at the feet of others in the rocking chair. May we be willing to view both through the eyes of opportunity and with a heart of humility for the unique set of privileges that they hold.