What Do You See Outside YOUR Open Window Today?

What Do You See Outside YOUR Open Window Today?
Remember: "When God closes a door, He always opens a window!" You never know what might be out there waiting for you!

Monday, December 5, 2016

2016 Advent Day #9: Joy Comes in the Morning

(This is a reprint of an Advent post from 2015, but the message still rings clear....)

Here we are again...and I can still say, "Yes, Joy DOES come in the morning!" We just need to learn to trust in and wait on the Lord to hear our prayer and attend to our needs. He always comes through, just in the nick of time...His perfect timing!




This particular story was written back in the 1970's...at a time when my husband and I and our two very young sons (before son #3 made his entrance) had left our loved ones behind and moved to another state so that my husband could attend graduate school and prepare for the ministry.  We soon found out that this would be a time of great testing...perhaps a way to determine whether or not we were really serious about this "calling" or not.  The narrative below is a portion of a larger book that I hope to complete someday, telling the tale of our journey into the ministry.  

Just prior to this excerpt, difficult circumstances made it necessary for us to leave the position we had as "house-parents" at a home for boys and move to an apartment closer to the school my husband was attending.  We did not have any "visible means of support"...and our faith was being tested severely.  Read on:



Ephesians 3:20-21  “Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.”
We knew that we could not continue to expect our friends and relatives to come to our rescue each month to pay our rent and bring us food.  God had used them this time because our need was urgent.  We just didn't know what to do next.  John still had about six months of school left for the year.  Our experiences with finding employment hadn't worked out very well.  We needed money for groceries, gas, and utilities.  And Christmas was just around the corner! It was already December, and I hadn't even thought about Christmas for the children! Before we had left our home to come to school we had paid off what few credit cards we had and had let our accounts lapse with the local department stores.  I thought, “Well surely since we had good credit with those stores, there would be no problem in getting our credit cards reinstated in time for Christmas shopping.” 
 So I went to the local department store and filled out an application for credit. I handed it to the credit manager and she looked it over and then called me back up to the counter.  She asked me to please complete the section regarding place of employment and salary.  I explained to her that we had just moved into the area and at the present time we did not have a place of employment.  She looked over her glasses at me and responded rather disgustedly that they could not give us any credit if we did not have any visible means of support. 

I asked her to please check our credit history and she would see that we had excellent credit and all of our bills were paid off. She said it really didn't matter how good our credit had been before. She could not at present extend to us any further credit since we had no source of income!  By this time I was near tears, and yet was also fighting mad…not a good combination in a redhead! I blurted out that I hoped that SHE would have a very Merry Christmas! And with shame stealing up on my cheeks, I turned and fled out of the store.  I cried all the way back home.  John tried to console me, but all I could think about was that we wouldn't be able to buy any gifts for our children for Christmas, and that it was all that lady’s fault!!  I blubbered out that I was certain that SHE would have a good Christmas for HER kids, so why should SHE care about us? 
  Joy in the Morning Psalm 30:5  “Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning!”


My faith in humanity and God were at an all time low!  Why was God allowing us to go through so many trials anyway?  Didn't He know that we were only trying to do His will?  It was because of our faith in Him that we had gotten into this mess in the first place, and then our baby had been almost killed. (For more about THIS story click HERE) Now our children were going to have to miss out on Christmas!  It just wasn't fair!  I carried on like this for some time even while I tried to fix some lunch for the family. 

One of our neighbors happened to stop by, and before I knew it we were telling him our sad tale of woe.  He was very sympathetic and understanding.  But inside I was feeling some resentment toward him too! After all, he was attending school on the G.I. Bill, and had quite a nice savings account in the bank as well!  His family wasn't going to have to suffer on Christmas!  Oh, how the bitter feelings were rising to the surface and depriving me of any joy or peace!  Perhaps it was just all the weeks and months of struggle, disappointments, and stress that were beginning to take a toll on me.  Whatever my excuse, the Lord understood my heart.  Even though I was acting like a spoiled child crying because I was being deprived of some treat, God looked down and had compassion on me.  In a few moments after our friend had left our apartment, he returned with an envelope.  Inside was $60.00 in cash.  He said very lovingly, “Here, please take this as a Christmas gift from us.”   I was so ashamed for the way I had felt inside, and for the way I had acted outwardly.  I really couldn't receive his gift.  But he insisted, and we very humbly accepted.  God had provided again, and I knew in my heart that I didn't deserve such a gift.  But isn't that just like God?  Doesn't He always give us what we don’t deserve?  Hallelujah! What a Savior!"

Now, I suppose some of you are wondering how $60.00 could make much of a difference on Christmas when you have two young children, along with other financial responsibilities looming.
Here are some pictures from that Christmas morning so long ago:

Christmas Eve...

As you can see...the $60.00 went pretty far.  The tree looks a little lopsided, but it was a happy little tree.  "Happy Hobo" was smiling and ready to play...



















Christmas Morning:  First Look at what "Santa Claus" brought....

Oh wow! Is all that for me????









Can't believe how small our sweet little boy was...but he sure gave the "Happy Hobo" a real workout!!









Look what we found! A NEW CAR! Only problem...there was only one...and there were TWO boys...

But when all was said and done they both had a wonderful Christmas, and never knew how close they came to not having such a wonderful day....God knew exactly how to take care of us...in more ways than toys for the kids...

Precious children our son Matthew on left, and Benton on right.
 And our Advent message for today?  Listen to these verses that God directed me to this morning in our devotions:

"I would have lost heart, unless I had believed
that I would see the goodness of the LORD
In the land of the living.

Wait on the Lord;
Be of good courage,
And He shall strengthen your heart;
Wait, I say, on the Lord!"

Psalm 27:13-14

Don't lose heart dear friend!  The Messiah IS COMING!  The Babe in the Manger came to bring us hope...to strengthen our hearts...and to answer our prayers.  He is still living and working on our behalf today! And He IS coming again to take us home to be with Him forever in heaven. So carry on...have faith..."BE OF GOOD COURAGE!  WAIT, I SAY, ON THE LORD!"


28 comments:

  1. I loved this sweet look back. We have so many of those stories too. Money just in time to save the day! Yay for being able to be on the giving side and the receiving side, both are amazing aren't they?

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    1. Yes...and so many lessons in pride vs. humility, trusting and obedience, hope and joy...We've been privileged to be a part of such a much bigger picture. So thankful.

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  2. is everybody breaking rules this month? lol...OH< I love that "mr. Boppy" as I call him. Pam, the blog looks great, love the new image at the top. I also appreciate your honesty in this post. God's faithfulness, as always comes through!

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    1. Thank you Dawn. Rules? What rules? Did I miss something? We have rules? Oh my...Ha ha. Thank you Dawn, for putting up with us in spite of the rules. We love you, truly we do. Thank you for your kind thoughts too. Yes, God IS faithful, even when we aren't.

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  3. Oh Pam, you speak from such experience. How strange it must feel to look back on a time of such trial and turmoil, and see how God helped you even when you didn't understand it. I have never been as close to nothing as you have been, and I know I'd feel the same way you did.

    It's always easy to feel grateful when things are going well. You were tested, and look at you now! What a faith you have, that has carried you through so much heartache. And that lights other's hearts too. God has done great work in you, and I thank you for sharing your hope in him.
    Love those photos too :) It reminds me of our old photos too.
    Blessings,
    Ceil

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    1. Thank you Ceil. I think we all have experiences that taught us about the faithfulness of God even during the lean times. Oftentimes we tend to forget all the things He brought us through already and we panic when we come up on a new problem. But God is always faithful...and He continues to bear with us in our weaknesses. I sometimes have to go back and look at these old stories and remind myself of how God worked then...and He NEVER changes...so why should I fear now???
      Thank you for your kind thoughts. I love to read your posts as well. Always right on! Blessings to you dear friend.'

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  4. Pam: God truly blessed you. This is a very special story. Thank you for sharing it with us. Blessings on you and yours during this Advent season.

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    1. Thank you Cecilia. God's story is always special, because this is HIS story. He was faithful then, and He continues to be faithful now...no matter what this old world throws at us. We just tend to forget that. Thank you for your kind thoughts today. \Blessings to you and yours as well.

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  5. Pam- Love how you tied the two together...fun photos! We can see the goodness of God in the land of the living! Hallelujah!

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    1. Yes...God is ALWAYS good...no matter what! I love to look back and remember what He did then...and remind myself that He never changes. Always faithful even when we aren't.
      Yes, Hallelujah indeed!

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  6. Hm. Deprivation. "No visible means of support." (Because God is not visible...) Kids seemingly about to "have no Christmas." Yep. Been there, done that, and saw the wonders God can do because of it! I think every potential pastor and family ought to go through this kind of "boot camp," and I don't mean that in a mean way, but because that's how we see the provision of God dropping right out of heaven into our laps. What joy that is! And how it helps prepare us for the trials that are bound to crop up ahead of us. Thanks for sharing this.

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    1. You sound like a "soul sister" to me...one who has been there and done that, as in a "Pastor's Wife?" Yes, even though the trials we went through early on seemed so terrible at the time, they were God's way of strengthening and preparing us for the future bigger "events" in life. I am thankful for God's love and mercy and grace...He never let go of us even in the midst of the deepest valleys. Our God is always faithful to take care of His children. Thank you for stopping by today. Blessings to you and yours.

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  7. Joy comes in the morning. How far you stretched the $60. That would be great if you could find the kind neighbor from years ago and share this post with him; it would make him very happy.

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    1. Yes, I would love to do that. I don't even have a clue as to where he could be at this time. It's sad that we lost touch after we all left that college and went on to pursue the ministries God planned for each of us in different parts of the world. But God knows...and I am certain He has blessed that dear soul for his kindness to us. Thank you for your thoughts today.

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  8. Loved this once again Pam. Such a great way to help us all keep perspective and our current "riches" in all its forms.

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    1. Yes, I guess that's why I like to go back and remind myself of all He's brought us through,,, and how He has NEVER let us go, even in the darkest valleys. So thankful. I sort of cheated on the RJD again...hope I don't get fired. LOL.

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  9. Pam, Thank you for sharing your testimony of how the Lord provides. It's amazing how God blesses His children.

    Blessings,

    Kim

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    1. Yes...He never lets go of us. Sometimes we may feel like we are stretched out pretty far and that He seems so far away...but He never lets go...and He's always ready to help us when we call. Praise God.

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  10. Pam- Great look at God's faithfulness...I loved this the first time and seeing the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living is a favorite pasttime of mine. Merry Christmas!

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    1. Even during the hardest of times, God is faithful and takes care of His children. I just told my husband...our children never went without a meal or a roof over their heads...and God provided all the extras as well. Our God is an awesome God.

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  11. I think the Happy Hobo would cause a WAR right now...lol. Yikes. A kiddo punching up a happy hobo...oh, bot some would have a field day with the fact that toy existed. Political Correctness (meh) aside...I loved it the first time and even more so the second time. Look forward to all of your stories, now that you have time to focus on telling them, and writing your own book as well.

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    1. Thank you for indulging me again with my repeats...but yes, now that I am retired, I do hope to spend a little more time on current events as well as past events. One day at a time. Blessings to you dear friend. I had a "Happy Hobo" when I was a child. I named him "PeeWee" because that was the sound he made when I squeezed him. I'm sure I gave him a hard time too, but all in innocence and good exercise as well!!! Life was much simpler then. Someday I will write about that.

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  12. This is a great testimony. God has used so many people to be a blessing to me through the years.

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    1. Isn't it wonderful to look back and remember those special times of blessing? It helps to increase our faith now for the bigger issues of life. God is faithful in the small and the big issues. So thankful. Thank you for your kind thoughts.

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  13. Hi Pam, Sorry I've been so very absent lately. It was refreshing to read this again and see how the Lord provides at just the right time.

    Blessings!

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    1. Oh sweet Kim...I should apologize to YOU> I noticed that you have written something new...and I've been remiss to read and comment. Please forgive. I think we all get caught up in "too much" at this time of year. Praying your Christmas season is blessed and happy. And may the Lord provide ALL that you need at just the right time!!!

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  14. Pamela, this is such a touching, beautiful story of how our great God always pulls through when we wait upon Him in hope and in faith. Loved the photos, too! Such cute, handsome little boys! I know they're all grown up now, but isn't this the way we remember our children best?
    Blessings to you!

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    1. Yes, Martha Jane, these are indeed precious memories of our sweet children. God has been so gracious throughout the years and has given us much joy for mourning. The younger son in this story, our sweet Matthew, was taken into heaven in 2014 at the age of 41 after a 4 year battle with cancer. We are so thankful for the years that we had, and the priceless memories of so many good years together. We give God the glory for all that He has done. Matthew left us with a wonderful son, our only grandson, Noah, who is now 17. So we rejoice in that gift.

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