Tuesday, January 1, 2013

A New Stove

When we bought our house we didn't have the finances to purchase new appliances but that didn't matter. We were happy to buy a second hand washing machine for $40. and a $50. stove. Several people of our church blessed us with a brand new refrigerator and we were set. We were happy just to own our own home once again and it didn't matter that two of our appliances were pretty worn out when we got them. They served the purpose, except when it came to baking cakes in the stove. I could bake cookies and muffins and cupcakes but breads and cakes, actually anything that took a longer time to bake, always burned no matter how hard I tried to catch them before they did.

 It was discouraging especially since I love to help out with our church bake sales. Cookies and muffins don't really sell that well, its the breads and cakes which do. Just before our last bake sale I apologized to the ladies running the sale that I couldn't do any baking because my oven burned. Instead I made a donation and that was fine, but I still felt bad. I knew we couldn't afford a new stove right now. Our family had just had two weddings in three months and while our sons and their wives footed the bulk of the wedding expenses we still wanted to help out and bless them with a good financial gift for their wedding present. So a new stove was out of the picture for this year.

I am not one to bemoan needing this and that  because I know that when the Lord thinks I need something He has always provided it for me. I have seen Him do this time and again in my life so I can confidently trust in Him. I knew He would take care of my needs. But from time to time when the subject of someday getting a new stove would come up, I would say to my husband "wouldn't it be nice if it was self cleaning?" and "it would be nice if it had an extra plug in since I only have one counter top outlet." And we would both say "some day" and we were fine with waiting for some day to come. 

Just before Christmas this year, I got a call from a friend. She was so excited! She and her husband had purchased a new stove with a double oven and wanted to know if I would like to have her old stove. It was only six years old and  since she was running a home bakery with it, I knew it baked well and didn't burn cakes. I gladly accepted, knowing this was a gift from God. When we went to pick it up I found out that it was not only self cleaning but had two extra plugs on it! The new one she purchased didn't have a plug in at all. 

I was thrilled! I thanked her over and over again and I thanked the Lord over and over again too! I am so grateful that He cares for my every need. There is no detail that is too small for the Lord. He delights in blessing His children. I waited patiently for the Lord and He heard me. No, I didn't actively pray for a new stove, I didn't have to. I just had to put my trust in the Lord and know that He would take care of me. 

Maybe you haven't got to that point in your relationship with the Lord. Maybe you try to make things happen on your own. Sure, I could have done that. I could have gone out to the appliance store and bought a new stove on credit but then I would have a bill waiting to be paid. Instead I waited. We live in a society that hates to wait. Whether we are waiting in line at the grocery store or the fast food drive through, we hate to wait. Because of that we hate to wait for our prayers to be answered or our needs to be met too. Let me encourage you to learn to trust the Lord. He will work everything out for your own good in His time. It may not be in your time because we are an impatient people, but He does all things decently and in order. Wait on Him and allow Him to receive the glory and praise! 

Be still in the presence of the LORD, and wait patiently for him to act. Don't worry about evil people who prosper or fret about their wicked schemes. Psalm 37:7

Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD. 
Psalm 27:14

Galatians 6:9 
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. (NIV)

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