FROM THE VAULT: Jehovah Jireh

Introduction Written by Jacquelyn Davis

One of the most amazing things about being a part of missions is getting to see firsthand the provision of God. There are so many aspects of God’s provision, and I want to point out a few of them today, to remind ourselves of the goodness of our God.

         1. God intimately and intentionally provides.

It blows me away to think that God, the all-knowing, all-powerful, creator of the universe cares deeply enough to understand my needs and wants. Our Father truly desires to give us good things and, as James tells us, “every good and perfect gift comes from above.” There are times when we have prayers and deep desires that we could live without but it would just be amazing if they could work out. Our God knows and cares enough to listen and respond. When He responds to the small details in my life it always leave me in awe. I will never forget one winter as I was coming home from Kansas, where I had spent Christmas with family, I lost my cat in Alabama. I was devastated! My cat was awesome and went with me everywhere. He was a good gift from God and I was so sad when he disappeared. I drove the rest of the way home to Tennessee crying and praying. I thought I had lost my cat for good but someone found him a month later and we were reunited! As I snuggled with my cat the night he came home, all I could think was, “WOW! My God cared enough to listen to my plea for a cat and answer it.” Our God provides intimately and intentionally. 

       2. God uses us in His provision.

Not only does He provide for us in some amazing ways but He also allows us to be a part of His provision! I love when God gives me the opportunity to be the one person that someone needs to hear from or to be able to provide for a specific need that they have. How amazing it is that our all-powerful God, who can speak things into existence, allows us to be a part of providing for other’s needs?! It is a very humbling thought. 

       3. God provides in just the right time.

God’s timing is not often my timing. He knows when we need things. He sees way more than we do and puts all the pieces together. There have been many times in my life when I looked back in awe at all the little pieces God put together to answer a prayer or bring about provision. I encourage you to take a moment to look back at what God has done, and write it down and praise Him for it!

Testimonies of God’s provision are encouraging and strengthen the believers. As you contemplate the great provision of the Lord today, take a few moments to read of some unique provision stories from CBM’s past.

Originally printed in The Shertzer’s Stockade newsletter, 2005:

“Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised.” Ps. 48:1

“I will bless the LORD at all times, His praise shall continually be in my mouth.” Ps. 34:1

As you read these verses would you praise the Lord with us. We had a great month in February using the new Released Time classroom trailer. It was a great improvement over using a bus: at the time, Camp was using the bus and it worked fine, but when we began to teach, we had real problems–Steve can’t stand up in the bus! The children enjoyed seeing him bump his head on the ceiling, and he was stiff from bending over all day long. So, we were thrilled when Camp decided to fix up the trailer for this purpose. We used our old ’85 pickup truck to pull the classroom to the schools since it was the only vehicle heavy enough to tow it around, but it only got us 5 miles to the gallon! We had been prayerfully looking at newer trucks to replace it with, but we found out that Steve can only sit up in GMC or Chevy trucks. (Some people suggested we cut Steve down a few inches…). So, we traded the pickup for a used ’99 Chevy. 

From Shertzer’s Stockade, October 2005:

Much has been “out of the ordinary” for us as a result of “Katrina.” I was able to use our truck and RT trailer to help our church deliver food, ice, water, gas and a generator to 2 churches in Mississippi. That was quite an experience. Two churches were north of the Biloxi area. The devastation was incredible and we weren’t even in the “bad areas.” The second church had been without power since the storm, they had no generator, and few supplies to help their community members. But they had been praying that God would send them supplies so they could minister to their unsaved neighbors–and we got to be a part of the answer! 
When they saw the charcoal, lighter fluid, lamp oil, flashlight batteries and food, etc. they were so thrilled.  It blessed us being with them for that short time.   

God provides for all our needs. 

From the Vault: this excerpt is from a newsletter from missionaries with Camp Victory. To learn more about CBM and all their areas visit our HOME PAGE. 

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