I recently had the privilege of being absolutely broke. 

Yes...that's right...I DID say privilege!  And No...I did not recently suffer from some tramatic head injury causing me to mix up my words. ;-)

What it all boils down to is money that was expected to come in (and counted on coming in!) did NOT come in. Can you say 'Ai yi yi'?? 

Now, I have always been a very big faith person.  I just simply believe that God can.  So much so, that I have been called naive more than once in my life!  It has always been very easy for me to believe in the great and amazing things I hear of God doing around the world...cancer being healed, blind eyes being opened, the dead being raised.  I have been in the presence of more than one of these miracles during my lifetime...how awesome is that?

So here I sat that week, absolutely broke, and wondering what in the world I was going to do.  At the same time, the church I am attending was announcing that they would be taking up a 'First Fruits' offering...a sacrificial offering they take up each year for a special project. This year's offering was going to help a young couple who are on their way to Cuba as missionaries, and to help build the church there.

I am not bragging when I say that it has also always been easy for me to give in offerings such as this.   So I began thinking and praying about what amount I would give, knowing that I had a payday coming up the Friday after the offering date, and hoping that would be enough time.

Then on the way to work one afternoon, worrying about what I was going to do about gas and groceries for the week, I felt God dealing with me about the 'First Fruits' offering.  And what I felt, wasn't to wait and give the larger amount from my next paycheck...Oh no!  That would have been too easy!!!

What God laid on my heart that day was to give the remaining balance...though small...in my checking account.

Talk about fear. The amount may have been small, but it was my safety net!!  I could get at least a few things at the store with that amount!!

Immediately, however, I was reminded of the widow's mite...how she gave all that she had...and how much that meant!  As I thought of that, the tears began to flow, and I said, "Ok, God...I am going to do this...and whatever happens this week, I will praise and thank you for it!"

That Sunday night, I gave in the offering.  The whole church gathered around what we had all given and began to pray that the offering would be blessed, as well as those who had given.

I felt such a peace, and I just knew that God was going to do something awesome!!!  In my mind, I wondered what would happen...maybe those checks would come unexpectedly...or someone would walk up and hand me money!  (Go ahead...admit you do the same thing and try to figure out how God is going to work!!!)

A huge financial blessing would have been the perfect ending to this little story....maybe.   But I actually think what happened, was even better!

You see...there were no checks in the mail, no people handing me money, no unexpected money found on the ground.  None of that!

But what there was.....was 'just enough'.

Just enough mayo for those bologna and cheese sandwiches.

Just enough milk for 4 more bowls of cereal.

Just enough gas to get to another day at work.

Just enough groceries to see us through.

Just enough laundry detergent...soap...shampoo...whatever!

The list could go on and on.  I think you get my point!  Everything that I was 'almost' out of, somehow stretched to make it another day...and then another...and then another!

And each time this happened, I would thank God.  I am not kidding.  It may sound silly to some, but I did thank God when there was enough mayo for my sandwich.  And enough milk for the cereal. (Ever tried to tell just 1 kid outta 4 they aren't gonna get cereal that day??? You bet your booties I thanked Him!!!)

I sing so many songs about God being 'More than Enough' for me...but I have to wonder how much I have let Him BE enough for me?  It would have been so easy for Him to lay it on someone's heart to just give me money...but for me to totally trust that God, Himself, was going to provide each day?? THAT was a lesson in faith!

As I walk this new path my life has taken, I am learning to trust God in ways I have never trusted Him before.  And He is continually asking me 'AM I more than enough?"  At least...that is the question I feel on my heart. 

When troubles come...do I turn to Him first?  When I am hurt and lonely, do I call up a friend, or seek Him in prayer?  When the blessings come...big or small...do I remember to thank Him?

I am reminded of the verse that tells us to "seek first the kingdom of God and His rightgeousness"...and the rest will be added unto us.  In both big matters and small matters, I know that I can rely on Him...that He will always be there for me, and that He knows what is best for me. 

I am so thankful for the lessons He is teaching me daily!