“This summer God gave us a tremendous blessing, we had filed bankruptcy and it was not due to mis-spending, it was due to medical bills two years ago I spent a month at Cameron. Anyway, we decided to give up our house for several reasons. In July we were standing on the front porch of the rental where we were living. [My husband] pulled out the mail and it was a letter from the mortgage company giving us the house back free and clear. We were to take it back and they were no longer pursuing any settlement. They were done with the property.”

Wow! Have you ever heard of a financial institution doing that? That is provision that only God could organize. What provision from God have you recently seen?

He authored a book entitled ‘After the Storm’ that was a history of military chaplains in Operation Desert Storm when the military invaded Iraq. A couple of notes I made when reading the book were:

• Three times as many Vietnam veterans have committed suicide than died in that war.
• There were at that time 123 Full Gospel Chaplains, 58 serving in Desert Storm.
• 25% of Desert Storm soldiers made first time decisions for Christ.
• Before Desert Storm began, terrible south winds blew. It was hot, dirty, and soldiers were miserable in their tents. However, the winds uncovered land mines the enemy had planted. The winds made it impossible for Iraq to use gas they may have had, which strengthened the confidence of Allied soldiers.

I was encouraged that what appeared to be a natural problem (sandstorm) was actually a natural assistance. Let’s keep our eyes open for problems that could be a solution. God’s ways are not our ways.

“Some years ago I placed a squirrel feeder on a fir tree a few yards from our home. It’s a simple device – two boards and a nail on which to impale a corncob. Each morning a squirrel comes to enjoy that day’s meal. She’s a pretty thing – black with a round, gray tummy.

“I sit on our back porch in the morning and watch her eat. She plucks each kernal from the cob, holds it in her paws, turns it around and eats the heart out of the kernel. At the end of the day no kernals remain, only a neat little pile of leftovers under the tree.

“Despite my care for her, the creature is afraid of me. When I approach, she runs away, taking refuge in her tree and chattering at me when I get too close. She doesn’t know that I provide for her.

“Some people are like that with God. They run from Him in fear. They don’t know that He loves them and richly provides them with everything for their enjoyment” (Psalm 65:11).

Some of us fall apart when the manna ceases. “Lord, what’s wrong? Nobody’s helping me anymore!” Nothing’s wrong. It’s time to grow up and start believing God to bless you so that you can become a blessing to others, instead of constantly asking Him to bless others so they can take care of you! It’s time to discover your gifts and start making a difference. You don’t need God or anybody else to do for you what you can do for yourself.

It doesn’t require a lot of talent in the wilderness, just faith for your next meal. Instead of us going to the world for advice, they should be coming to us for it! Jesus said, “You are the light of the world” (Matthew 5:14). That means you should be the brightest student, employee, parent or leader around.

1) At first, you may not recognize your provision. The word manna means “What is it?” (Exodus 16:15). They’d never seen anything like it. It required faith to receive it. Don’t be afraid of something because it doesn’t come prepackaged the way you like it. Instead say, “Lord, if it’s according to Your Word I’m going to receive it, thank You for it, enjoy it and start living off it.”

2) It had to be gathered first thing each morning. Why? Because by noon the sun had melted it. Before you do anything else, go get your manna. Feed yourself on God’s Word before the enemy gets a chance to hit you. Once you’ve done that, you can handle whatever the day brings.

3) You receive according to your need, not your neighbor’s. God won’t bless you so that you can keep up with the guy in the next tent; if your neighbor has more kids to feed, he gets more manna. Stop measuring your blessing by what somebody else has. Your blessing is predicated on 2 things: a) The amount needed to fulfill your God-given assignment. b) The degree to which God can trust you with it. So quit comparing and complaining about what God gave your neighbor; and start being grateful for the “What is it?” that He’s placed at the door of your tent.

Notice the words of Jesus: “Shall men give into your bosom” (Luke 6:38). When God wants to bless you, sometimes He’ll send a person! But if you’re too proud to accept their help, you won’t get it. Or, if you limit Him to working through people you know or like, you’ll miss the boat again. God used Pharaoh because Pharaoh’s not the kind of guy you’re apt to fall in love with. God doesn’t want you getting hooked on anybody but Him. He can bless you through your boss, the IRS, the car dealer, the mortgage lender, or even those who mean you no good!

It was betrayal by his brothers that eventually caused Joseph to become Prime Minister of Egypt. People will enter your life and people will leave it. Praise God when they come and praise Him when they go, and remind yourself: “If He blessed me before, He can do it again.”

Egypt only became a problem when God’s people stayed there too long! Don’t lean on the arm of the flesh too long, or the instrument of your blessing can become an idol (or a source of control). And that’s a problem, for God said: “You shall have no other Gods before me.”

Later that same day, the agnostic went to hear Meyer speak to another group of passengers. But before he went to the meeting, he put two oranges in his pocket. On his way, he passed and elderly woman who was fast asleep in her deck chair. Her arms were outstretched and her hands were wide open, so as a joke he put the two oranges in her palms. After the meeting, he saw the woman happily eating one of the pieces of fruit.

“You seem to be enjoying that orange,” he remarked with a smile. “Yes, sir,” she replied, “My Father is very good to me.” “What do you mean?” pressed the agnostic. She explained, “I have been seasick for days. I was asking God somehow to send me an orange. I fell asleep while I was praying. When I awoke, I found He had sent me not only one but two oranges!” The agnostic was amazed by the unexpected confirmation of Meyer’s talk on answered prayer.

Before the trip was over he had put his trust in Christ. How has God provided for you?

The next day the pastor met a neighbor. “You’ll never believe what happened yesterday!” she exclaimed. “My little girl had been begging for a kitten, but I told her she could hav one only if Jesus gave it to her. So she ran outside, knelt down, and prayed, ‘Jesus, please give me a kitty of my very own to love and care for. Amen.’ Just then a kitten with paws outstretched fell right out of heaven!”

The Lord works in mysterious ways and He can for you, as well. Ask Him.

But Pastor Harold is a very humble man and has never made a lot of money. Now in his fifties, he lives in the church parsonage and has no plan for retirement; he just trusts God.

He took me aside this week at our conference to tell me of his excitement. He had an aunt that died and left him her house. A nice house. On Treasure Lake! In the mountains! Mortgage free! For the first time he is able to offer his wife security in their retirement. God is so good!

The commissar’s countenance quickly changed. With a scowl, he said, “But comrade, this is a communist state and we are atheists. You must not forget, there is no God!”

“Ah, that’s my point,” the farmer replied. “No God – no potatoes!”

Believe it or not, God is the source of all things (Psalm 136:25). The apostle Paul told a group of unbelievers, “In Him we live and move and have our being” (Acts 17:28). God does provide as we acknowledge Him.