Tuesday, December 23, 2014

God Will Provide.....




"If you happen to find some money on the ground and looking for some place to share it.....remember us."  These words were spoken to me this past Monday as I delivered Meals on Wheels to the people of Winnsboro.  The week of Christmas, I find myself in a dirty, rundown apartment complex, where the sound of TVs blaring and the smell of cigarette smoke was the norm in this fishy section of town.  The lady, probably in her 50's but looked closer to 70, looked down on the ground as she slowly spoke these words to me. 

As our eyes finally met....I saw the most beautiful hazel colored eyes filled to the brim with sadness and fear......loneliness and hurt.  She explained the only food they had in the house was the Meals on Wheels meal I just brought them....they had no money....and their six grown children were spread out across the country with one sitting in prison....again.  My gut told me a series of bad choices was how they found themselves in this condition....and if I were to give them money, I might be enabling them....giving them money for vices instead of food.  I hugged her, told her I would pray for her, and left.

As I put the Jeep in reverse and started backing out, I paused.  I watched as she picked up tiny pieces of trash from the parking lot and put them in her hand....and a war was raging inside of me.  Do I help her or do I not?   Would I feed her belly or would I feed her habit?  All the way down Walnut St. to the next house on my list, I prayed.  I prayed if God wanted me to help this couple, He would drop the money in my hand. 



As I entered the next house....a simple, clean house of a dear friend that I have visited many times on my route, I handed her the Christmas gift Chuck and I had made for her.  It was a simple wood frame with a picture and the words, "I will provide for you.  Don't worry!"  Luke 12:22-34.....and she handed me a tiny envelope with my name on it.  As I opened the card, a $20 bill fell into my hands.  I just stared at the $20 while playing back the prayer in my head I had just prayed not 5 minutes earlier.  I looked into her eyes, told her the story and asked if I could give this money away.  She ran into the other room, handed me another $10, and said, "I want to be a part of this story too."

I was downright giddy as I headed back up Walnut St. towards the rundown apartment.  I found the man sitting in his recliner, and as I knelt down next to him, I asked if I could tell him a story. I shared how much God loved him....that this money came straight from Heaven....and was earmarked just for him.  With tears in his eyes, he whispered, "But why?"  And with tears in my eyes, I whispered back, "Because He loves you!!".


"I Will Provide For You.  Don't Worry."
Luke 12:22-34

34 comments:

Joy Starks said...

I loved this. Thanks for sharing. Have a Happy Holiday. Would love to see you. Come by if you are in town over the holidays. Hope Chuck is doing o.k. .Think of you often.

Love,

Joy

Lulu said...

Awesome

Lisa DeMOMMIO said...

Awesome story...........Merry Christmas and thank you for doing this...

Donna Jeter said...

Liz, thank you so much for sharing! I hope you have a Merry Christmas, sweet friend!

Sean Kennedy said...

God is Good!

Judy Kirby said...

WOW! If we pray, listen and are obedient, God will provide. What a beautiful testimony of Gods love! Love you, my precious friend

Jeri Proffitt said...

Liz, that is beautiful! amazing what God can do!

Cheryl Hood said...

Praise God for His providence and the generosity of your friend from Meals on Wheels. Go God!

Rohini Drake said...

Wonderful story! Thanks for sharing!

Lynn Bates said...

Awesome real life story Liz. Amazing what God can do!

Ellen Louro said...

That was awesome

Israel said...

Like the good book says, It's better give than to receive. Blessings, And Merry Christmas

Israel

John said...

Thanks Liz, this is absolutely AWESOME! He does provide for us, at times in the most remarkable way that we wouldn't even think of, or like you did. PRAYER! You are a very unique and remarkable young lady. Bless you my dear friend.

Love You,
John

Chris said...

Wonderful story, Liz. You made me cry.

Kathy Rachal said...

Liz, God has blessed all of us through you....the encouragement just oozes out of your mind, body and spirit. Thank you for being His vessel of hope. This is a wonderful blessing to me....as you are. I love you.

Chuck Armstrong said...

Oh wow brings tears to my eyes. God Bless You

Denise said...


Wow, what a beautiful story, thank you for sharing it and thanks for making me tear up this morning, ha !
D

Sandee said...

What a beautiful story.....You are truly God's vessel for good. Thank you, thank you for spreading His love for us. I'm in tears....love, Sandee

Julie Smith said...

Ok so now I'm sitting with my parents waiting to be seated at I-hop I. cleburne with my eyes all filled with tears. Thanks so much for sharing.

Sharon said...

Thank you for sharing your experience, doubts and faith.

Owning a restaurant gives us so many opportunities to share within the community, and we are so humble by those opportunities. However, we have also become so cynical because of those who “play the system”! I struggle every week with: is this a real need or just a scam; am I really helping or enabling someone unwilling, but able, to work? I finally came to realize that I can only pray every morning: “God, please give me an opportunity to help someone today”. Then miraculously, I don’t have to question when that person/opportunity shows up. I just have to know I’ve done my part, it’s in God’s hands what happens next.

Thank you for your Christmas message!
Love, ss

bloempje said...

What a great story, especially at this time of year. Merry Christmas to you and Chuck, Molly and Murphy. God is good.

Tom and Mary Lee said...

Oh Liz, that's about all I can say right now as tears fill my eyes! How beautiful you are as an angle for God and his glory! This is truly Gods' light shinning thru you.

So proud to be your friend,
Love, Mary Lee

Debra said...

Brought tears to my eyes.

Mary said...

Tears of joy ! He is something isn't HE !!!

God Is Able

Debbie said...

So beautiful and just like my sister… to look for Gods hands in everything so does. Love you so very much.

Carla said...

Wow!! That was an amazing story and you are an amazing woman, Thank you for sharing it . You inspire me."

Rita Ray said...

What a wonderful Christmas story!! May you and Chuck have a very Merry Christmas!! May God bless you for being His hands and feet to the needy and broken down. Best story I have heard this Christmas!
Rita

Betsy said...

"GRACE. Provided by our Lord and shared by one of His most enchanting servants! Love you, dear!"

Cherie said...

Omg girl.....that made me cry! What a sad and wonderful story...all at the same time! You are an angel. :-) delivering for God and sharing his love! Merry Christmas!!!!!

Cherie said...

Cherie wrote: "Oh Liz...what an awesome story! LOVE LOVE LOVE it! And you should be a writer, truly girl....you have an amazing talent. What a wonderful wonderful gift you have, and such an big and amazing heart. I had to share your story... I didn't hit "share"... I just shortened it, and typed myself...but got the "jist" across....hope you dont mind! You my friend, are truly blessed and are a blessing to all who know you! MERRY CHRISTMAS!"

Marie said...

Oh Liz! what a beautiful story. I love you for sharing it with us as we anxiously await the anniversary of the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ.
love you Sister loved by God.

Marie

Ellen said...

I would think that is the best Christmas present you've every received!

Jackie said...


Liz,

I wanted to wish you and Chuck a very Merry Christmas! Again, as your words usually do, this blog touched me. I always move about most days, feeling that all is right with the world. In truth, all is NOT right with the world, but is RIGHT with me, do to Jesus! This story is truly amazing, God does answer prayers! Sometimes in not as blatant ways as in this case. Bless you and Chuck for all you do for your friends and others that you touch by your emails, your Meals on Wheels deliveries, and your sweet gifts like the one you made for your friend.

Love you .. miss you .. Jackie

Jennifer Morales said...

I love love love this story. The simplicity of trusting and fallowing The Lord. He leads us so gently and then enables us to fallow through.
Thanks for sharing!