Spiritual feasting
The three-day retreat I was invited to at one of the Family International Homes was probably this year’s first best spiritual gift the Lord has given me. (I like to think of it as His pre-Valentine’s gift to me!) At a time when I needed surcease from the every day struggles, and a rest to steady my foundation, He gave it.
One of the Homes here in Manila is located in a hilly region—the weather slightly cooler, and the air much less polluted than downtown Manila. It was the perfect getaway place, and I’m grateful to my parents for letting me vacate for awhile.
We spent those three days in prayer, fellowship, and good feasting on God’s Word. Like cool waters to a thirsty soul it truly was. As such freedom of spirit I experienced!
To tell you the truth, I was initially reluctant to take the 3-day leave. With a huge family to support and a million things to tend to, my mind’s first instinct was to blow off the invitation with an “I’m way too busy” excuse. It just didn’t seem convenient. Worst of all was a financial struggle (yes, another financial struggle!—trying to feed an army here!) But something deeper told me I’d need this time of spiritual recuperation, and that maybe at this point, the best thing was to be more like Mary in that Bible story where she just sat at Jesus’ feet while overly-concerned sister Martha troubled herself with many good things.
Oh, there were many good things I needed to do at that time, of course, but the Lord told me, “One thing is needful”. My mom encouraged me as well. She said I’d done my part, done a lot of work in serving that week, and that the Lord would do his part to provide.
And did He? Exactly the same night when I was about to leave to the retreat, someone sent a large donation for my family to my bank account. I was overjoyed. It had come at such a crucial time. This person had spoken of wanting to contribute to our missionary work, but the gift hadn’t come for months. And now it was here—just when I needed it most! (But wait, the story gets even better!)
So I went happily to the retreat, safe in the peaceful knowledge that the Lord had provided—and would continue to provide—for my family, while I did this thing He’d asked of me.
And I told you how those three days were—and I’d recommend it for anyone going through any kind of crisis. Take a leave…sort out your mind…meditate a bit, and get your heart in place with God. You’ll find that he is able to lift the burdens, ease the stress, and solve problems as if by a miracle.
So, at the end of the three days, I’m getting a cab to go home, right? Short on cash, I stop by an ATM. Withdrawing my receipt, I could hardly believe my eyes. And you probably will find it hard to believe this story, too. There on the slip of paper, I found that my account had, in those last three days, MORE THAN DOUBLED! I couldn’t believe my eyes! I stuck my card back in the machine, thinking there was some mistake. But there wasn’t. It was money dropped from Heaven! (Yes, I told you I live a very exciting life!) You can be sure I thanked God aloud the rest of the day, and in the days that followed!
A few days later came the letter in my email from the donor who had sent the second donation as a contribution to my work. I feel so honored, so blessed, and sometimes undeserving of the love that the Lord shows me as one of his children. No one can tell me to my face that it’s impossible to live by faith. My life is living proof, and this story is just one of many that I’ve been collecting from my own experiences.
The happiness that the Lord gives is real, tangible (yes, sometimes it comes in the form of dollar bills, ha!) …and these last few days I cried quite a few tears of joy, reveling in His goodness (can’t you tell in the last picture here). If anyone out there have more personal stories about God’s providence for them in their time of need, please share. I’d love to hear them!
