Superabundantly!

I received a notice to stop by the apartment office to sign a new lease due to a change in a formula used to determine my disability rent reduction. I wasn't sure what that really meant. 

Today, on the way to my Chiropractic appointment, I stopped by the apartment office. The manager brought out the new lease....and my rent has been LOWERED! Yes, God has provided $5 per month due to the rent reduction. But that's not all! I also was given a CREDIT! So, God provided $50 plus the additional $5 per month for the next few months.

Once again God uses a VERY creative and unique way of providing! I've been on disability rent reduction for about 5 years now, and never has my rent decreased during that time...it usually increases each year. Never could I imagine my rent being reduced MID-LEASE! But God is not bound by disability rent formulas or time! He is ABLE to do EXCEEDINGLY ABOVE all we can ask or THINK!! 

"Now to Him Who, by (in consequence of) the [action of His] power that is at work within us, is able to [carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly, far over and above all that we [dare] ask or think [infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes, or dreams]." Ephesians 3:20 Amplified Bible

So, let's recap so far.....

• March 9th I bought the new MacBook (Screen Went Dark; March 11th).

God has provided money the following ways:

1. The money I had saved for a new Wacom Tablet.
2. The discount at the gas pump (God did it AGAIN!; March 22nd).
3. The gift from friends via the mail (Hugs!; March 27th).
4. Rent reduction and credit (today).

I wonder what God has planned
for the balance due on the MacBook! Stay tuned!!

I'm so thankful that God is so creative! It sure encourages me to continue creating positive days!

Hugs!

There were some tweets going around on Twitter the other morning, about giving and receiving hugs from friends. The tweets were encouraging people to go hug someone. I thought, well, "I'm single, who am I to hug and who will hug me?"

It didn't take me long to begin receiving HUGS—from God! First, God shared a hug through Max, my parakeet. Max was extra loving and silly throughout the morning. Max's antics made me laugh. 

But God wasn't done yet.

Then the mail arrived. I received an encouraging and kind note from some friends. That was a warm hug from God. 

But God still wasn't done! God had prompted those friends to send some money toward the new MacBook! Now that was a "BEAR HUG" from God! God continues to supply the money for the new computer....and He is supplying in creative and encouraging ways!

But God still wasn't done!

A friend called, she was in the area and wanted to drop off some groceries! And you know what? When she brought the groceries by... she gave me a hug! That was a double hug!

God loves me, and that includes sending hugs!

Receiving hugs from God creates a very positive day!

God did it AGAIN!

Once again, God provided in a VERY creative way! I love it when God does things out of the ordinary to supply my needs. It's so cool!!

Today, I needed to buy gas for the car. I normally buy it at a gas station near my chiropractor. But when I left his office tonight, I was so excited with my weigh-in results (see below), that I drove the opposite direction from the gas station. I soon realized my mistake, but figured I'd just stop at another gas station I pass on the way home.

I stopped at the station, got out and scanned my gas credit card. Then there was a question on the screen: "Do you want the $1.64 g/ discount?"

I stood there trying to figure out what it was asking, then looked at the price of the gas: $4.399 per gallon! YES, I want the discount. I pressed "yes" then this message appeared: "Car wash is not available, but you will still get your discount." So, I paid only $2.759 per gallon!

My car took 9.775 gallons to fill the tank. So, God provided at total of $16.03 today!! How cool is that???

If you read my last post about my computer dying, I mentioned in the last paragraph, that God could supply the money all at once or little by little. Today, God provided $16.03! I'm not sure what I like best...that God provided the money or the way He provided the money.

________________________

Oh, and now about my weigh-in results. On Feb 6, 2012 I posted: "Changing to Improve" about a new diet plan my chiropractor is offering. As of today (March 22nd) end of week 6, I'm down a TOTAL of 14 pounds and I've also lost inches and fat and gained lean muscle mass. I'm so excited that this program is working for me. I still have more weight to lose, but I'm heading the right direction.

Creating a positive day is taking notice of when God provides for my needs—especially taking notice of His very creative ways!

God is good all the time, and all the time, God is good!

Screen Went Dark

Last week, I was using my MacBook and left it for a few minutes to check on my dinner. When I returned the screen was dark. "No problem," I thought, "the sleep mode just activated." I tried to wake it up, and nothing happened. My computer had died. 

As I sat staring at a dark screen, I tried to figure out what to do. I had been saving up for a new Wacom Tablet (used instead of a mouse) since my tablet has a short in the cable and isn't working properly. I wasn't saving for a new computer—yet.

I thought maybe....just maybe, if I tried to restart the computer it would "magically" fix itself. Nope, that didn't work. I tried all the "tricks" that the Techs taught me, but nothing worked. The computer was dead. 

I tried to figure out, my next step. I couldn't even research new computers online, since my computer was dead! It's amazing how "attached" I had become to my computer and the Internet. Information was always at my fingertips. I started thinking through what I could do, and started to put together a plan to replace the computer. The Wacom tablet would have to wait.

As I lay in bed that night, I was talking with God about the computer and the entire situation. I had to smile. God wanted to teach me some lessons and He knows that I learn best visually. So, God provided an object lesson to teach me more about Him and my relationship with Him. 

Some of the lessons God taught me

The Dark Screen

I'm in the process of making some decisions regarding my pain management. One decision I've been having a hard time making is in regards to my spinal stimulator (like a pace-maker for pain). My stimulator is broken and either needs to be replaced, or removed. I've been praying about my decision but in actuality I don't just want to know if I should remove it or replace it—I want to know: 1)will the new one work?, 2) will it give me problems?, 3) is it worth the money?, 4) will the surgery cause more damage to my back?—I want to know ALL that will happen in the future.

However, God doesn't work that way. He knows those answers—I'm to walk by faith and trust Him. If He guides me to have the stim removed. Then I need to trust that He'll supply other ways to manage my pain. If He guides me to have the stim replaced, that no matter what happens, God has a plan and purpose and will use each and every aspect of the stim to accomplish His purpose.
Yes, as I look at the "screen" for answers regarding my stim, it's DARK. But God knows exactly what is on the screen. He is the SOURCE of knowledge and WISDOM. He'll supply the knowledge and wisdom necessary at the precise moment and time.

No Information Highway

I like information. I like to study. I like to research. And I even research the research. When I my computer died, I lost my connection to the Information Highway. I have been enjoying my study in the Book of Job. Using the computer, I've been able to read commentaries and do word studies as I work through the Book.
When I went to have my study time, I had my Bible. No internet. No computer. Just my Bible. At first, I was frustrated that I couldn't do my "normal" study. But once again, God wanted to teach me a lesson. "Rhonda, read the Bible." Just, "Read the Bible." So, I did. I started reading and realized that some times, I get so caught up in the details that I forget the "big picture". It was a joy just to read the Book of Job and see what God is teaching throughout the Book. Now, I'm going to make it a point, to "just read" the Book of Job each week, not looking at the specifics, rather just seeing what God is teaching in the Book as a whole.

No Connection with Friends

Email, Facebook, Twitter have all become "lifelines" to friends. It's so easy to email, post, or tweet about what is happening. But with no computer, no internet—how do I connect with friends? I picked up the PHONE! What a blessing. To talk with friends and reconnect using more than 140 characters. To get caught up on what is happening in their lives was such a blessing. And now I know better how to pray for those friends. I plan to use the phone more in the future. 

Today, a friend called me and was such a blessing. She even took time to pray with me over the phone. Yes, the computer has made connecting easier, but are we really connecting? Or are we simply sharing general information, jokes, pictures, etc. Perhaps, it's time to make time to really talk and listen to others and let them know that I care and that God does too.

_______________________

Hopefully, as I work on my new MacBook, I'll remember the object lessons God taught me when the "Screen Went Dark".

Some of you might be saying, "But wasn't that an expensive object lesson?" Depends on how you look at it. Since God takes care of all my needs, I'm not worried about how to pay for the new MacBook. I did my best to research prices and find the best price for what I need. I'll tighten my budget a bit more and do what I can to pay it off as soon as possible. I've learned over the past 11 years, that God is VERY creative in supplying my needs. He is VERY capable of paying for the new MacBook instantly. But if He chooses not too, that is okay too. I'm sure no matter how God takes care of this need, He will teach me another lesson in how He cares for me. And the truths I learned from the object lesson, the "Screen Went Dark", are priceless!

Creating a positive day when the screen goes dark, is possible! It all depends on if you focus on the darkness or the Light of the World—Jesus Christ and His amazing love and grace.

"Why doesn't God heal you?"

Many times I'm asked, "Why doesn't God heal you?" or "Why does God allow you to be in such pain?" 

What happened today, is a good example that...

"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28

I went to the Department of Motor Vehicles today. Waited 2 hours for them to complete the transaction in about 8 minutes (ordered a disability license plate). I was VERY thankful I was done in time to make it to my Chiropractor appointment for an adjustment and treatment. (Desperately needed after the 2 hour wait!)

But the 2 hours of waiting was not wasted as I talked to several people and shared that I could smile in spite of my pain—because GOD is good! If I had been "just another person waiting" I don't think anyone would have talked with me. However, since I was standing and pacing from time to time in the back of the room, people noticed me. Several standing near by asked if my injury was recent, or how long I'd be on crutches, etc. And questions such as those provided opportunities to talk about how much God cares for me and loves me—and them too. Seeds were planted today. Wonder who will water & reap?

So, to answer the questions: "Why doesn't God heal you?" or "Why does God allow you to be in such pain?" Living with chronic pain has provided many opportunities to share that God's love is real, and that He provided a way of salvation to all who believe. It seems like on the "higher" pain days, I'm given more opportunities to share God's Gospel with others.

I'm thankful that God's love and joy is able to shine through the pain and radiate to those around me. And that is in direct relation to all those who pray for me! Thank you for praying! God is Good all the time and all the time God is good!

The key to creating a positive day is remembering that God has a specific plan for my life. No matter how I feel or what I'm doing, I have a responsibility to share His love with those I meet.