The Amazing Interventions of God

I started collecting little Christmas gifts at the beginning of the year this year. When I would see something I thought one of my loved ones would like, I got it and put it in my gift closet. In November, our oven broke, and then our car safety restraint system...the car alone will be $1700. I don't know what the oven will cost us. Anyway, the idea of buying many Christmas gifts became more daunting than usual. When I asked dear Matt, my son what he wanted, he said, "Nothing. Maybe donate a goat in my name."

So yesterday, I wrapped what I had accumulated over the year. None of the gifts were very extravagant, but they were chosen with foresight and love. I had 4 gifts for every kid and spouse! I wrapped the unexpected bonanza and put them under the tree. Not as many as past years, but I am consciously going to avoid excess this year. We can't afford it, and even more importantly, we already have more than we need...as does all our family, and most of our nation. It is time to scale back and look for giving more to those who have nothing. I feel very convicted about that this year, more than ever. But I kept thinking about what Matt said.

After looking over our scaled back gifts under the tree, I told my husband that this year I wanted a cow. I wanted my gift to be a cow donated to a poor person who had nothing, but who could use that cow to better his life. I have mixed feelings telling you this. We are commanded to give secretly so the left hand doesn't know what the right hand is doing. But I have to tell you this to go on with the story. I am not telling you this out of pride, because I have led a very selfish, self-absorbed life. I am telling you this because the end of the story shows God's attention to the tiniest details in life, and how doing His will leads to blessing and joy. Sometimes, as in my story, it leads to little miracles that show me He hears me, every cry of my heart, and He is with us in the battle to do good.

That afternoon, I went to get the mail, and there was the usual junk mail, but also, a magazine from World Vision, a charitable organization. I have never received a magazine from them in the past. I had heard of them, but never donated to them. As I walked inside, the magazine flipped open to a page with a picture of a cow on it. It had all the information I needed to donate a cow to an impoverished family! In the picture of the cow, a man was smiling, his arm around the cow. There was a quote by the man, telling how grateful he was for the cow because now his children had milk to drink each day. Knowing that God was showing me in no uncertain terms that donating a cow was exactly what He would have me do, I called immediately. I am so excited knowing that somewhere on earth some hungry child will be drinking warm milk in honor of Jesus' birth.

God hears us. Every cry of our heart. I wanted to drop to my knees in exaltation when I saw the magazine with the cow. What incredible validation that God is paying close attention to every detail. I am sure I could have figured out on my own how to donate a cow, but how persuasive and encouraging it was for God to send that magazine the very hour I formed the idea in my head! The family who gets the cow will be blessed, but I bet not as much as me.

World Vision: 1-888-511-6511

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Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’ “Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’ (Matthew 25:34-40 NKJV)




-save a dog- hollowcreekfarm.org
http://www.amazon.com/Vicky-Kaseorg/e/B006XJ2DWU