Spiritual Provisions

Thanks Debbie for the following guest blog:

On the dresser in my bedroom stands a picture that has occupied the same spot, no matter where we lived, for twenty-five years the 25th of this month. It is one of our wedding pictures. In the lower right-hand corner is a scripture on a small card that I picked up early in our marriage. The scripture is found in Jeremiah, “for I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. I will be found by you, says the Lord…”

One of my favorite things to reflect on is how the Lord has provided for me spiritually. At the beginning of Matthew it lists Jesus’ lineage. In my study Bible, before the chapter begins, it has some questions to think about while reading. One question is, ‘God put Joseph in a long heritage to prepare for His work in Joseph’s time. What has God done in your heritage?’ I am a ‘margin-writer’ and wrote my answer down, ‘God was working His plan for me while I was very young. He was laying the groundwork to take our family away from denominationalism to His perfect will.’ The next question was ‘When did the Spirit begin to work in your life?’ My answer, ‘from the beginning of my life.’

Now an explanation of all of this…my dad died when I was barely three. My mom remarried, and the man she married did not go to church with us. We were Baptists. When I was in high school, both my grandfathers passed away and my dad decided it was time for him to go to church. He had some ‘Church of Christ’ background and we immediately started attending the Church of Christ. Our entire family was baptized within two year period.

All of that changed the whole course of my life. I would not be the person I am today if that one tragedy in my life had not happened. I would not have known the truth, I would not have met and married the Godly man that came into my life because of this change.

God had a plan. Romans 8:28 says, “and we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” My mom had always said that ‘if Dad ever decides to go to church, we will go where he wants to go, as a family.’ She always believed that Dad was the head of the family. She set the perfect example for me.

Am I sad about the tragedy that happened when I was so young…yes…but it is bittersweet. God had a plan. At the time, who could have ever seen what would happen down the road? Who could have known how the Lord was working in our lives? There had to be a passage of time for me to be able to reflect on my life and see how the Lord has worked His wonderful tapestry in my life.

Reflect on your life…what has God done for you to bring you where you are today?

Debbie Carriger