Oh girls!! Have I got a story to share with you!!! Its late, and I need to be getting to bed, but please, please remind me to tell the story of the Gap card!
God's timing sometimes is my timing, but usually is not. Since my struggles are mainly centered on financial crap, the timing issue is do I get to pay my bills on time? I hate being late. I worked in a financial institution for 3 years and I like to have at least $1k set aside for emergencies plus on month's mortgage, just in case. I don't get that luxury anymore. This past year God's been in control of my bills being paid. Regardless of how little we eat or spend money on spending time together, the timing of the bills is always last minute. So we've realized we must stop stressing and just trust God to give us the money in his time. Even if that's late. Because the truth is He's in control, not our creditors, not us, not our credit report. What's the worst that can happen? Could we end up separated from God? No. So it's not that bad.
D1, I love it when you share. You're so honest with it, and that blesses my heart. And you're right...NO, you can not end up separated from God. You know how God seems to hit at my value issues and security being rooted in him through guy stuff? I find myself wondering if he isn't using the $ stuff with you because of how much you know from your work, plus how you value that stability (which is NOT a bad desire!!!)? You think?
Here is the story I wanted to remember to share: yesterday I spent the day catching up with some friends in Durham. My girlfriend and I went shopping just to have girl time. I was given a Gap giftcard for Christmas and was excited to see if there was something on which to use it. Mind you, I am in great need of work pants. So I try on a pair, and they look dandy, and thankfully there is this lovely sale where you buy one top and get a second free. YAY! I realized that with the giftcard, I would be getting a really great deal. Only, as I went to get the giftcard I couldn't find it. AT ALL. I was so disheartened, because I had no idea where it could be.
I was going to leave without purchasing anything, but realized the shirts really were a good deal, and the gift card would offset the regular price of the pants if I ever found it. I went ahead and bought the shirts. As I finished, the girl told me "You've gotten one of our surveys. If you do the survey, you will get 20% off one item." !!! Ok, the pants were regular price, and expensive at that. Suddenly, I had opportunity to save $ on them!
When I got home, I had two choices: Catch up on the Beth Moore book (was 1 day behind), or look for the Gap Card. I felt like God was prompting me to do the study, but did I listen? NO. I prayed He'd help me find it and then I tore the house apart for an hour. When my efforts were unsuccessful, I finally settled down to do the study. At the end of day 6 (about timing) I started sneezing. I walked into my bedroom, where I put some tissues yesterday. Because of the angle at which I was standing, when I reached down to get the tissue, something red caught my eye. THE GIFT CARD. It had somehow fallen into a basket in such a way that I would have never seen it, but for God causing me to sneeze, etc. when outside that room!!
Not only did God allow me to save $ by not having the card with me, He very sweetly used it to illustrate the devotion of the day. I love stuff like that!
Oh girls!! Have I got a story to share with you!!! Its late, and I need to be getting to bed, but please, please remind me to tell the story of the Gap card!
ReplyDeleteGod's timing sometimes is my timing, but usually is not. Since my struggles are mainly centered on financial crap, the timing issue is do I get to pay my bills on time? I hate being late. I worked in a financial institution for 3 years and I like to have at least $1k set aside for emergencies plus on month's mortgage, just in case. I don't get that luxury anymore. This past year God's been in control of my bills being paid. Regardless of how little we eat or spend money on spending time together, the timing of the bills is always last minute. So we've realized we must stop stressing and just trust God to give us the money in his time. Even if that's late. Because the truth is He's in control, not our creditors, not us, not our credit report. What's the worst that can happen? Could we end up separated from God? No. So it's not that bad.
ReplyDeleteD1, I love it when you share. You're so honest with it, and that blesses my heart. And you're right...NO, you can not end up separated from God. You know how God seems to hit at my value issues and security being rooted in him through guy stuff? I find myself wondering if he isn't using the $ stuff with you because of how much you know from your work, plus how you value that stability (which is NOT a bad desire!!!)? You think?
ReplyDeleteHere is the story I wanted to remember to share: yesterday I spent the day catching up with some friends in Durham. My girlfriend and I went shopping just to have girl time. I was given a Gap giftcard for Christmas and was excited to see if there was something on which to use it. Mind you, I am in great need of work pants. So I try on a pair, and they look dandy, and thankfully there is this lovely sale where you buy one top and get a second free. YAY! I realized that with the giftcard, I would be getting a really great deal. Only, as I went to get the giftcard I couldn't find it. AT ALL. I was so disheartened, because I had no idea where it could be.
I was going to leave without purchasing anything, but realized the shirts really were a good deal, and the gift card would offset the regular price of the pants if I ever found it. I went ahead and bought the shirts. As I finished, the girl told me "You've gotten one of our surveys. If you do the survey, you will get 20% off one item." !!! Ok, the pants were regular price, and expensive at that. Suddenly, I had opportunity to save $ on them!
When I got home, I had two choices: Catch up on the Beth Moore book (was 1 day behind), or look for the Gap Card. I felt like God was prompting me to do the study, but did I listen? NO. I prayed He'd help me find it and then I tore the house apart for an hour. When my efforts were unsuccessful, I finally settled down to do the study. At the end of day 6 (about timing) I started sneezing. I walked into my bedroom, where I put some tissues yesterday. Because of the angle at which I was standing, when I reached down to get the tissue, something red caught my eye. THE GIFT CARD. It had somehow fallen into a basket in such a way that I would have never seen it, but for God causing me to sneeze, etc. when outside that room!!
Not only did God allow me to save $ by not having the card with me, He very sweetly used it to illustrate the devotion of the day. I love stuff like that!
D1 & D2, thank you for sharing.
ReplyDelete