Daily Bread
This week has been an amazing drain on our finances. . . not that we had much of to start with. We have been committed to using cash for every purchase for a very long time, and it's a good thing! If it weren't for that commitment, we would certainly be in over our heads right now.
As missionary staff, it is common to send out "appeal letters" asking for added gifts and support for special needs. In our 2 1/2 years of support-raising thus far, we have not done so. We have not felt a need to, nor have we (I?) wanted to. Chad did draft a letter in mid-December to send to a few key churches and supporters, but sent it only to our home church due to my discomfort with the whole idea. Now the idea has resurfaced, and even our coaches at the ministry say "Send out an appeal," but I get butterflies in my stomach even thinking about it.
Chad drafted another letter last night, sharing how the unexpected medical bills for LCD and other medical needs over the past four months have left us with about $4000 in un-reimbursed expenses. Taking an extra $4000 out of a salary that is already at 65% of budgeted need (another $4000 in "short" paychecks over the same time period) does not allow for any "margin." It simply cannot be absorbed with the cash on-hand. I think it took this week, with unexpected ear surgery for CAR and a $1500 skunk removal, plus several other $200 expenses (auto, vacuum, home) and $1000 in LCD medical expenses on the horizon, to bring him to the point of asking for help.
This morning, I continue to resist the idea. How about just sharing the $4000 medical bills we've already paid? Not the real "need" of almost $10,000?
He asked me simply, "Have you prayed about it?" (hung my head - "no") So, off I went to pray about it, but how do I seek God's direction on such a matter? Today He led me to pray through the traditional "Lord's Prayer," and it went something like this:
"Our Father (my Father, who knows all my needs and already wants to meet them),
Who art in heaven (Please don't let me view you as "across the lake" anymore - please don't let me see you only seated on your throne. You are not only the God of all who stands apart from us - You are my Father, and you came to dwell with us by Your own design. Help me to see how very near You are.)
Hallowed by Thy Name (You are to be esteemed, and you are worthy of all glory - all our praise. May the actions we take and the choices we make bring you more of that esteem and glory)
Thy Kingdom come (not just the everlasting one when You come again to reign, but right now in how we live our lives and how we share Your truths through our lives and through this ministry You've called us to - You are building Your kingdom through the people we reach and You are allowing us to play some small part. . . Thy Kingdom come)
Thy will be done (whatever Your will might be, Lord, if to finish this process and complete our team quickly, or to continue to teach us so much about You and about ourselves as we wait for further direction - whatever Your will is, Lord - and may it bring you even more esteem and glory)
On earth as it is in heaven (You are already in Your rightful place in heaven. What can we do here and today that will declare it to be so on earth?)
Give us this day our daily bread (Wow! You have truly given us daily bread, Father. You have provided for us each and every day. You don't promise all that we need for the future to be available right now, but You give us daily bread. Help us not to seek for more. Help us to be content to always live daily . . . thoughts of Richard Swenson here. . . I'll have to find that tape on "Margin" again)
Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors (What "debts" do we have, Lord? What "trespasses" have we committed? Has it been in not trusting you more? Has it been in not asking more readily? And how often have you allowed us the opportunity to forgive others - or at least to give them grace in providing for their needs when they appeal? Do you wish now to bless us because of the times we've been prompted to give so sacrificially?)
And lead us not into temptation (Lord, the temptation to "store up treasures" here; the temptation to accumulate, to have more than our daily bread. . . .Keep us from causing you dishonor, Lord, in the way we approach this subject and in the way we approach our lives)
For Thine is the Kingdom, and the Glory and the Power forever. (It's all yours, God)
Amen.
Help me to be humble, Lord.
As missionary staff, it is common to send out "appeal letters" asking for added gifts and support for special needs. In our 2 1/2 years of support-raising thus far, we have not done so. We have not felt a need to, nor have we (I?) wanted to. Chad did draft a letter in mid-December to send to a few key churches and supporters, but sent it only to our home church due to my discomfort with the whole idea. Now the idea has resurfaced, and even our coaches at the ministry say "Send out an appeal," but I get butterflies in my stomach even thinking about it.
Chad drafted another letter last night, sharing how the unexpected medical bills for LCD and other medical needs over the past four months have left us with about $4000 in un-reimbursed expenses. Taking an extra $4000 out of a salary that is already at 65% of budgeted need (another $4000 in "short" paychecks over the same time period) does not allow for any "margin." It simply cannot be absorbed with the cash on-hand. I think it took this week, with unexpected ear surgery for CAR and a $1500 skunk removal, plus several other $200 expenses (auto, vacuum, home) and $1000 in LCD medical expenses on the horizon, to bring him to the point of asking for help.
This morning, I continue to resist the idea. How about just sharing the $4000 medical bills we've already paid? Not the real "need" of almost $10,000?
He asked me simply, "Have you prayed about it?" (hung my head - "no") So, off I went to pray about it, but how do I seek God's direction on such a matter? Today He led me to pray through the traditional "Lord's Prayer," and it went something like this:
"Our Father (my Father, who knows all my needs and already wants to meet them),
Who art in heaven (Please don't let me view you as "across the lake" anymore - please don't let me see you only seated on your throne. You are not only the God of all who stands apart from us - You are my Father, and you came to dwell with us by Your own design. Help me to see how very near You are.)
Hallowed by Thy Name (You are to be esteemed, and you are worthy of all glory - all our praise. May the actions we take and the choices we make bring you more of that esteem and glory)
Thy Kingdom come (not just the everlasting one when You come again to reign, but right now in how we live our lives and how we share Your truths through our lives and through this ministry You've called us to - You are building Your kingdom through the people we reach and You are allowing us to play some small part. . . Thy Kingdom come)
Thy will be done (whatever Your will might be, Lord, if to finish this process and complete our team quickly, or to continue to teach us so much about You and about ourselves as we wait for further direction - whatever Your will is, Lord - and may it bring you even more esteem and glory)
On earth as it is in heaven (You are already in Your rightful place in heaven. What can we do here and today that will declare it to be so on earth?)
Give us this day our daily bread (Wow! You have truly given us daily bread, Father. You have provided for us each and every day. You don't promise all that we need for the future to be available right now, but You give us daily bread. Help us not to seek for more. Help us to be content to always live daily . . . thoughts of Richard Swenson here. . . I'll have to find that tape on "Margin" again)
Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors (What "debts" do we have, Lord? What "trespasses" have we committed? Has it been in not trusting you more? Has it been in not asking more readily? And how often have you allowed us the opportunity to forgive others - or at least to give them grace in providing for their needs when they appeal? Do you wish now to bless us because of the times we've been prompted to give so sacrificially?)
And lead us not into temptation (Lord, the temptation to "store up treasures" here; the temptation to accumulate, to have more than our daily bread. . . .Keep us from causing you dishonor, Lord, in the way we approach this subject and in the way we approach our lives)
For Thine is the Kingdom, and the Glory and the Power forever. (It's all yours, God)
Amen.
Help me to be humble, Lord.
posted by MyFairLadies at
5:35 PM
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