The God who Provides

Sorry I haven't blogged in a while. Can't believe it's been a week since my last post. We've been busy with some projects at home, and getting Drew ready for camp. He left out on Sunday and will return on Friday; his birthday is Saturday; and we leave for a week at the beach on Sunday! Can you say overwhelmed! We're working on a little remodeling at home as well as picking up birthday presents and trying to figure out how to fit in the Little Mountain Reunion and Drew's birthday!

This morning in my quiet time, I read 1 Kings 17. What struck me about this chapter on Elijah was the different ways God provided for him. He ordered the ravens to feed Elijah at the brook. Then when the brook dried up, God sent Elijah to a starving widow in Zarephath. Out of her emptiness, God provided for both Elijah and the woman and her family. Then when the widow loses her son, God, through Elijah, performed a miracle. And all of these to the glory and praise of God.

I'm also doing the No Other Gods study by Kelly Minter. In the session I did last night, Kelly discussed how God provided for Abraham - a ram in the place of Isaac. She noted that even though Abraham thought God was going to do it a different way, He still was Jehovah-Jireh - the God who provides. Are you going through difficult times? Are you looking for God to provide in a specific way, and can't see it? Maybe He is providing in a totally different way than you think.

See from my 1 Kings 17 reading this morning, I think God provides for us in many different ways - through nature, through others and through miracles. What amazes me, is that through the destitute widow, God provided. She would never have dreamed that by sharing what little she had with a stranger, Elijah, that God would bring her back from the brink of death - "She went away and did as Elijah had told her. So there was food every day for Elijah and for the woman and her family. For the jar of flour was not used up and jug of oil did not run dry, in keeping with the word of the Lord spoken by Elijah." (1 Kings 17:15-16)

In all these rambling words, I want you to see Jehovah-Jireh today. When your life is helter skelter, He provides. When you feel empty, He provides. When you feel on the brink of dying - maybe not literally, but emotionally or spiritually, He provides. Maybe not the way you think...maybe not in the way you're looking for...maybe through nature, maybe through others who seemingly have nothing to offer you, maybe through a miracle. "The Lord is faithful to all his promises and loving toward all he has made. The Lord upholds all those who fall and lifts up all who are bowed down. The eyes of all look to you, and you given them their food at the proper time. You open your hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing." (Psalm 145:13b-16) What more do you need?