An encouragement to Sister Forever

[In His Service]

Dear Sister,
I know the other day in a post you spoke of this being a time of financial trouble for you. God move on me to share part of my families testimony with you.

A little over 6 years ago God spoke to us to move over 800 miles from where we lived. My father at the time was working for a company that he had 25 years in with. He made very good money and was only 5 years away from a full retirement. I at that time was in slightly better health, though still things where beginning to get harder for me to do. I had an antique business that did pretty good and had just opened a small antique and crafts mall in a small town near to where we went to church at the time. My wife and I where expecting our second child, ( first living).

During prayer God began to move on us to move. Not a light decision in any way. Dad quiet his job, I closed my mall and we rented the largest moving truck and packed it full along with a care and a pickup. I mean it was stuffed, I can help really pack. Then we went back and got another slightly smaller truck and packed it full. We left to go to the place God sent us. No job prospects, no house, nothing.

God was preparing us for a very important learning experience, one that will last us a life time. 25 years with one company would seem to help open many doors for my father. It did not. He ended up working in a meat processing plant making less that a third of what he made before moving. He many times was up at night with his arms hurting so bad he could barely stand it. He froze in the near freezing temps day after day. IT took many, many weeks to find a house to rent. Got a great house but got a bad land lord and that is a whole other story. Suffice to say he took great advantage of us and we moved from a large house with a large garage for storage to a very small three bedroom trailer.

The money was tighter than anyone can imagine. We fed 5 people on about 60.00 a week. When it got to the point that there was several days left to pay day and we where out of groceries God provided serveral times right on the day when nothing was left.

Why in the world we thought did God send us there, then allow us to go through a hardship that was so long, ( a year) and have us give up so much? He was teaching so a great lesson. To rely on him, more than we ever had before. To teach us that there is much we can do without that we thought was essential. That there where many things we could give up if we needed to. He helped to show us humility when our car did not work and we he provided an old worn out, beat up, rusted 70's model car to get back and forth in. How to hang your clothes on the line in freezing weather and let them freeze and then dry.

When God moved on us to return to near where we had left in the first place and in the area we grew up, we thought when leaving that God would not ever bring us back. He was wrong. We returned with only one moving truck. After a very short time here while we still learned a little my father got another job making good money, not as much as his previous employment in town, but still good. God moved on someone to actually buy two houses, one for my family and one for my parents and younger sister and give them to us. We learned to do without much. I finally got on disability and we live on a very small disability check but my, now five, little ones don't do without. The have lots of toys, clothes, all the things kids want. Our table is always full and we are blessed.

A tough lesson learned but one that I am so thankful for having the opportunity to go through. Didn't like it while in the midst but it turned out for my good in 100 fold.

Maybe God is working in your life in some similiar way. Look for wisdom to learn and lessons that he would teach and get a blessing that will last a life time.

Love and prayer your way,
Bro. Timothy

[Oldpreach]

Bro. Tim !!!!! How are you ??? This is Bro. Silva , Lori Silva's husband . Wow , i saw your picture and was like , hey !!!!! Well , i was sure touched by your post above. I sure look forward to reading some of what you write here, you have a gift for writing Brother ! I was thinking of you last week , wondering and hoping about having more cotact with you. Perhaps this will bring some ! Of course , since it takes me 30 min. for one post , im sure ill be doing most of the reading. Sooo Good to see you pic up there ! You have more posts in 1 week than i do in the last 6 months that i have been on here !!! Bye for now :)

[In His Service]

Bro. Silva,
I thought that was your old log name you used to send emails and such through. Then the Los Angeles location really got me wondering. I was working on a post and thought I would send a PM but then got tired and forgot, LOL LOL!!!!!

Hope all is well with you and yours. We just had a new baby, Chloe Grace. She was 8 lbs 15.7 Oz and 21 3/4 inches long. I will send ya'll a picture later today.

Thanks so much for your kind words!!!! It is funny I made ultra poster in one week, LOL LOL!!!!! I don't talk a lot but a type a lot, LOL LOL!!!!!!

Have a blessed day Brother and talk to you later,
Bro. timothy

[foreverblessed]

Inhisservice,

Thanks for caring to post an encouraging word.

God has proved his faithfulness to me many times. I have been a continual work in progress. He has continually chipped away at my pride, and self reliance for quite some time now. He has been through every dark trial with me, and I don't expect for him to fail me now.

I am divorced raising three girls on my own. My husband left last Aug for a lifestyle of drugs and alcohol. I married out of the will of God 14 years ago, and this isn't the first time he (the ex) left for this lifestyle. I forgave and married him again. There will be no third! :) I have three beautiful girls and their lives are at stake. I just have to go forward and raise them to the best of my ability.

Without child support, and my job which pays approx 200 a week, things are more than tight around here. Because I made some unwise decisions several months ago, I am suffering from my income going to pay a debt. No cash flow? Bills unpaid, phones shut off! :) Yes, both of them.

I do own our house though (inherited) and good vehicals. Can't touch equity, don't make enough for loan approval. I just need a better paying job, and at least then I think most of my problems would be over. Actually if I could just sell my Pickem'up truck, now that would do it too! :) Anybody need a pickup truck? I will sell it cheap! :D

I keep wondering what I am supposed to be doing right now. I have applied to jobs that I am qualified for, and even with connections to employees in management and still not being hired for positions. This has really been confusing to me.

I guess that when it is the right time or place, God will open the door. Now I just keep asking God if I am supposed to be going back to school?


Just thought I would answer your post. Thanks for praying for me. Now you can keep on praying, but pray in specifics. :)

[In His Service]

Dear Forever,
Being disabled and living on and income very near to what you do I understand. God blesses and we take care of me and my wife and our now 5 little ones.

With my benefits we keep food on the table and all the bills paid and clothes and such for all of us. IT is God believe me. For with only a little over 900.00 in benefits to stretch for 7 people anyone can see that it is God!!! To God be the Glory.

Might I suggest that you take some time for consecration and fasting about this. During certain times we need to get ourselves totally out of the way so that we can hear the voice of God better. When we focus away from or situation and on direction greater our answers many times are understood more quickly and clearly.

We will be praying for God to direct you in his perfect will and for you to be able to hear the voice of God.

Prayers your way,
Bro. timothy

[Adoniyah]

Forever,

As a child of God, you are entitled to certain privledges. One of them is, you are entitled to a hearing. You are entitled to plead your cause before the throne of Grace.

I have learned a few secrets over the many years that I am willing to share with others that will be a blessing if they are inclined to take it to heart, prayerfully considering it.

My darling and I have gone through a few serious financial scrapes in our younger years. There were times that we scarcely had two nickels to rub together and the outlook for the immediate future looked rather bleak.

However, God is a "showout." Indeed he is. He loves showing his mighty power to his beloved people over whom he flutters and thrills. He only asks for a chance to prove himself to us.

There is not one single issue in our lives that he is not concerned about. There is not one single issue in our lives that he does not desire to get involved with us. He wishes to involve himself with us in every facet and issue that we are involved in. Let us let him prove himself to us.

First of all, all sin must already be dealt with. Next, communion with him in prayer and fellowship is indispensible.

There is a law of the harvest. That principle is most absolute in the spiritual real even more so in the natural. That law is: Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. It is an inviolable law. That principle works in every facet of the spirit.

God said:

Mal 3:10 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, AND PROVE ME NOW HEREWITH, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that [there shall] not [be room] enough [to receive it].

Here God is asking to be proved. He desire to POUR YOUR OUT A BLESSING UNTIL THERE IS NO MORE ROOM TO RECEIVE IT. Imagine that, no more room to receive it.

Every child of God should be paying their tithes. However, in this chapter God is talking about more than tithes. He is also talking about offerings.

If you look out over your financial garden and see no prospect for a harvest, you need to sow financial seed in the spirit.

I know that this may sound a bit like the "name it and claim it" doctrine, but it is not. This is Bible. It is something that we, in Apostolic circles have been woefully ignorant. Therefore, we pay the price for that ignorance.

Here is my suggestion:

Scrape together a very liberal offering. Let it be an offering of money that would be such a sum that, with the loss, you would be deprived, leaving you in need.

Next, take that good SACRIFICIAL offering to the Lord in prayer while holding it up to him with your right hand. In prayer, tell him of your need. Tell him that you would like to PROVE HIM HEREWITH. Ask him to lay it on your heart as to where to plant your seed.

He may direct you to send it to some missionary. He may direct you to give it to a struggling man of God in some Home Missionary work right in your own District. He may call your attention to some poor widow woman that is in dire need. Remember the scriptures teach us that when we give to the poor we are LENDING to the Lord. He repays with great increase.

Look, you must not do this if you cannot do it with a glad heart. There is great joy to be found in giving sacrificial, leaving yourself in need while knowing that which you have given is going to the cause of the work of God. Try to discover that joy, even in your own financial pain. God does not look at the size of the offering in the same way that we do. Remember the widow's mite?

Many years ago, I learned how to set certain laws in motion. They do not fail. God will not fail.

However, a giver sowing into the field of "return" must not do it with a spirit of greed. The conditon of our hearts are most important. God loves a cheerful giver. He does not love a greedy giver, nor a begruding giver, a suspicious giver, but one whose heart runs over with joy inspite of the pain of financial lack.

I have one more scripture, though I could give you many. Here it is:

Luk 6:38 Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again

This must not be a one time show. Let this become a way of life. Watch, you will see it. The blessing of God will soon run you down, overtaking you and heap his blessing upon you. It will not fail. However, none of this is about money. It is about a relationship with your God who own the cattle on a thousand hills. All the treasures of silver and gold belong to him. All you need is a financial relationship with him.

Then after you have sown into the spirit with your sacrifice, start praising God for a harvest. Start praising God for his increase. God desires to be faithful to his Word. He only needs an opportunity to be so faithful to it. He will PROVE HIMSELF to you.

I can tell you of a good number of examples of financial miracles because I put in a "prove me herewith" offering.

With love....

[Truthseeker]

How about every one on this board send Our sister 25-50 dollars.


50x20GNC Posters=1,000


testimonies are great but our sister needs some dough.

COULDN'T WE BE HER TESTIMONY OF GOD PROVIDING???

15. If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,
16. And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?
17. Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.


Any takers??????


If any willing post you will on this thread.

Maybe she will give her address

[survivor4christ]

Bro. Timothy, Elder Adoniyah....

You guys do not know it, but this all has ministered to me in some areas of my life that I am battling as well.

God has been dealing with me about making a move; I ask God what will we do, how will we get there?

Bro. Timothy, your testimony is a great encouragement at the provision of God. I wish I could be outta here tomorrow!

If you guys do not hear from me for awhile, do know we are in God's hands and He will take care of us. Keep us in prayer as I have to go to court tomorrow w/o a physical lawyer and on a wing and a prayer....

But that is all I need, right?:)

Forever:

Even in the midst of great trial, I can testify of how God has provided for me and my kids. How God has fought our battles. How God has justified us and given us joy overflowing.

Checks unexpectedly coming in the mail. Money mysteriously showing up in my bank account. People giving me and my kids clothes, shoes, and I didn't even have to ask. Having favor with my creditors....I couldn't pay for light bill for months, but they did not get cut off until almost a year later! And then it was only for a day or so...a neighbor let me plug in my refrigerator into her apt. until I got service restored seeing I just made groceries! Debt cancellations, I called a utility company that I know for a fact I owed money to. Trying to clean up my credit, when I called they could find no trace of the debt....as a matter of fact, it was two separate utility companies this happened!

Finding money in my clothes pockets, I worked for a human svc agency and with child care and car note, rent, utilities, and other bills, I could not afford to buy groceries and toiletries. W/o me even having to ask, my boss asked me if I ever needed to utilize the food pantry that I could, NO questions asked! For months, my job supplied all household toiletries, diapers included!, food and other necessities to me and my kids! I almost got evicted but my job lent me the money to pay the landlord the back rent!

Even when I was not able to work, due to family problems, God has been faithful. Has supplied every need we have had.

I thank God for His faithfulness!

I am encouraging myself as I am attempting to encourage you! Be encouraged my sister!

Let's seek the face of God for our situations, knowing God is faithful, no matter what is seems like or feels like.

Love, Sis. Wenona

[foreverblessed]

Thank you Adoniyah for those words of wisdom and encouragement. I appreciate your taking the time to share with me your experiences.

God has shown himself very real and made the way for my children and I for several months after my husband left. I also know what it is to give sacrificial, and I know that blessings come from doing that. Thanks for reminding me of what I need to do.

The night before my final hearing on my divorce, I went to church and we had a missionary there. I was so impressed at the slides the missionary showed of half finished buildings, and that they needed any extra change that anyone could give toward these buildings. I emptied my pockets that night, and even told the Lord, I have a house and my minivan, but I actually gave my last dime that night. I asked the Lord, What else can I do?? As I stood at the altar, he said "You still have your diamond" I argued with the Lord a little. I didn't want to get rid of my ring, it was sentimental to me, in addition to the fact that I used it in case of emergencies. When I needed quick cash, I could pawn it for a quick 100-150 dollars on a loan, and get it back out on a better day. I have done this for years, it was my little security blanket. I always had my diamond.
I knew I wasn't going to get away from the prompting of the spirit that night, so I went home and came back and gave it to the missionary with a note. I cried all the way back to the church, I am such a sentimental sap. I prayed before I gave it to him, that God would allow him to be able to get the most he could for it and bless it.
The next day I went to court, I was scared, but I knew God would work everything out. I went alone except for my legal aid attorney. I was divorced in less than 20 min. The judge read over everything, talked to me for a few min, and gave me everything from the house to my van to even my husbands pickup truck. I received total custody of the kids, and basically all rights of my husband as a father were taken away from him. I don't ever have to worry about my children being subjected to a lifestyle of parties and alcohol. This had been a real concern of mine. I left the court that day and felt a weight lift off my shoulders.
There has been times over the last seven months that I have had cash given to me by strangers. My co-workers took up collections at both schools I have worked at. I came out of the school one day to find my passenger window busted out of my van, I put my head on the steering wheel and cried, it was probably 10 degrees out, I had to drive the van, it was my only transportation. I didn't have any money to fix the window, I was broke until payday. I went home and there was a check in the mailbox from a neighbor that had been written out several days before and mailed. It was within one dollar of the amount it took to fix my van window. There has been several instances that I just knew that God had his hand in it, and knew exactly where I was and was taking care of me.
Like I said in my first post, I made some unwise financial decisions and even personal Character decisions that were unwise. I placed it all before the Lord, and repented of my not being a good steward and other things. I have placed my life and all my problems into his hands. I know that he will not fail me, he has proven himself faithful too many times before.

I took today off from work, and took care of some business. Made arrangements to pay the debt spread out over the next several months. This should help out some.
I visited Child Support Division and got the ball rolling on making my ex be responsible for his children.

I do need the pickup truck to sell, It would take care of a lot of bills.

Thanks for all of your encouraging words, and for all your prayers.

Thanks survivor for sharing your experiences. I will pray that God continues to lead and guide you.

Love ya all,

[foreverblessed]

Just wanted to thank those that had showed concern and had prayed for my financial situation. I appreciate the prayers.

God answered prayer, and I sold my pickup truck this weekend. I am soooo thankful! The bills had been stacking up and I was in a heap of trouble.

An older, retired man bought the truck, that was kinda funny considering it was a 4x4 Ram with big oversized tires and no muffler where it growls at you when you speed down the street. I am gonna miss it. :cry:

It has been a good feeling though this morning, as I have made my way around town paying everything from Property taxes to utilities. Everyone was so glad to see me. :)

Love you all, and thanks again Adoniyah for your words of wisdom.