Just a Small Jar of Oil

When my heart is overwhelmed, lead me to the Rock that is higher than I - Psalms 61:2

Overwhelmed? I've been studying 2 Kings and I love, absolutely love Elisha. He has taught me so much. As I'm in my 4th week of homeschooling my superheros, perhaps it is my theory of education of homeschooling that gets in my way sometimes, but I have a 7th, 8th and 9th grader now. I'm running a household, running a business, serving at church, keeping up with relationships, trying to stay healthy....life can be overwhelming. (could be why I've not written in a while) :)

I was walking with a friend this morning and we agreed that everyone has issues in their lives that can easily bring them down. It's how we deal with those issues, how we look at our situation, what we focus on.

Whatever stage of life we are in, there are moments when we feel like we are faced with too many responsibilities facing us at every turn, or like we've run out of options and we're doing life on empty. I imagine that is how the lady in 2 Kings 4 felt. With her husband's death, she was in terrible financial trouble. When you think your financial problems are bad, read about this woman, it puts it in perspective. She was desperate, in fear of losing everything she had including her boys - to creditors.

We know the story. She asks Elisha for help, and he asked her what she had to work with and she said nothing! Just this small jar of oil.

Wow! Can you relate? Have you ever been in that place where you don't think you have enough, you feel desperation in your gut...what happens? We tend to focus only on our limitations don't we?

God sees our situations much differently than we do. I promise you, I serve a God that specializes in doing a lot with a little! 

God took one jar of oil and multiplied it so the widow cold pay her debts.

I just felt like someone needed to be encouraged this morning. When you feel like you've run out of options, or you are drowning and feel there is no way out,...remember you have all God needs. He's given you everything you need. Practice gratitude for those things in life that you do have...it totally changes our focus.  It's outrageous faith that Elisah teaches us! I want outrageous faith - I've got all I need and that's all God needs to do miraculous things in my life! Take a moment and write down what you have, what is your small jar of oil? That's all He needs.

Soul Ministry

Raw. Probably the best word to describe how I've been feeling lately. It hurts. It burns. I'm going through my own very private (for now), very painful journey. One that I'm confident will end up producing something beautiful. Isn't that how it usually is? I'm sure willing to go through the fire in order to come out refined.

He has worked so hard...against all odds..against all naysayers...he did it! It was very difficult towards the end. We lived a 5 loaf 2 fish miracle for almost 2 years. Now he has a job, a good job...but it is just the beginning. Time to make up for the last few months of famine.

I am able to see God's hand so easily when it comes to His provision. This time he is struggling to see the light at the end of the tunnel. The horizon just over the mountain. The land beyond the boulder. It is January. We were very intentional during this season (so proud of my family). He sees everything as falling apart...all at once....

Have you been there?

Obstacles, mountains, crisis after crisis, things literally and figuratively falling apart right before your eyes. I can see where if you don't  keep your focus..you can look at these "light and momentary troubles" and think they are never going to get any better.

Friends. We can't choose which scripture to believe or not to believe. I BELIEVE IT ALL! It is all for me. MY God longs to BLESS me. I'm the head not the tail. My Father own the cattle on a thousand hills. He has stored up for us...He WILL provide. I look back at His FAITHFULNESS. HE IS the same, yesterday...today...FOREVER.

I laid my hand on his head before the sun was even up this morning. (like he has done for me in the past). I called out to our Daddy...Oh Abba...remind him who he is...and the plans you have for him...the plans that are good, full of hope and a future. "Thank you" he says.."for caring for my soul." (We need each other.)

His Word is ALIVE and ACTIVE! It is! It doesn't matter that I feel raw...or hurt...or that he cannot see beyond the boulder..or that you think this will never end...it doesn't change the fact that HE IS!

This might remind you. I have a friend. She lives states away...yet the Holy Spirit uses her as an instrument to minister to my soul...PRECISELY...when it is needed. I mean...ALWAYS EXACT!  Never fails, whether it has been a timely card, a plaque, CD or a song link...the timing and message is PERFECT.

Friends...ONLY God can do that! He is intimately involved in your life, in my life, in his life. Whether you believe it or not...doesn't change the fact that it is true! He longs to bless you. So just wait a second.....

You have to do it like I did. Push play...and then close your eyes. If you are brave...raise your hands just a little to receive what the Holy Spirit has for you. I pray this ministers truth to your soul...as it has mine.

The Amazing & Divine Providence of God

Florida Storm on Saturday Night

A series of events have occurred in the past 24 hours, that no one can say it happened by chance. As my brainy boy heard me speaking with excitement the turn of events of the day...he says to me..."Mom, what does Providence mean anyway?" (Not afraid to ask..that is why he is so smart!) Let me start by explaining that Providence basically refers to God's continuous upholding the existence and natural or of the universe (you know He created it..causes it to spin on its axis...all of that!), likewise Divine Providence refers to God's direct and extraordinary intervention in the lives of people. So with that in mind...here is what happened in my life.

I have this brain (yes that has been confirmed in my MRI from 8 months ago), and it has a swollen something or other in it. Believe it or not I forget the technical name...(hope that's not a sign of anything...just kidding). Needless to say, I was told that my doctor wanted to keep an eye on it and have an MRI every six months.

An MRI at this particular place that my doctor sends me is $860. That is a large amount of money for someone who doesn't even make that in one month. However, the Lord did provide for me to get this done. This past Sunday a woman from my church approaches me and asks if I had ever be seen by a chiropractor, she works for one and knows many people who had severe headaches get some relief.

I have cluster headaches. "Cluster headaches occur in cyclical patterns or clusters — which gives the condition its name. Cluster headache is one of the most painful types of headache. Cluster headache is sometimes called the "alarm clock headache" because it commonly awakens you in the middle of the night with intense pain in or around the eye on one side of your head. Bouts of frequent attacks — known as cluster periods — may last from weeks to months, usually followed by remission periods when the headache attacks stop completely. During remission, no headaches occur for months and sometimes even years." I've experienced this intense pain for the past few years...typically hitting me in early September.

We don't think that the swollen vein in my brain has anything to do with my headaches, but since it reappeared so quickly, I didn't think pushing the MRI further back was wise. I had made the appointment for Thursday at 8:30am and the Lord provided the funds for me to have it done. As I told this woman from church that I was getting an MRI, she asked where I was having it done. I told her and she told me that there was another imaging center close by that might be less expensive...and still do the exact same scan. She would make a few phone calls for me.

Next morning she calls and says that indeed this new place can do the exact MRI for $300. Come to find out, one of my guitar student's Mom had her brain MRI done at this facility and they were able to save her from a life threatening problem. The place is reputable, and is used all the time by this chiropractor that this woman works for. Just had to call my doctor and get the order transferred from one imaging center to the next. The office staff told me that they don't recommend that other facility. When asked why, they just said, they don't like working with them...so "No...we won't recommend them to you!" I felt a little bullied, so I called the friend from church and she said I should just call the imaging center and have them fax it to a new facility. I'm a self pay patient...I have rights! How could I in good conscience spend $860 when I could spend $300...I needed to be a good steward of what God has put in my trust.

Long story shortened just a tad. I was having such a hard time. While making all of these phone calls, I had a precious little girl here who had chosen to spend the morning of her birthday with me. She wanted to make cookies with Ms. Lisa...on her birthday. My heart was breaking because  my time with her was being interrupted with phone calls to people unwilling to help me change my appointment. I was hitting a brick wall. "We don't do that?" "We won't do that?" "We don't recommend this!" I finally called my friend and just said, in tears..."I need to walk away from this for 30 minutes. I've canceled my MRI, but I need to put cookies in the oven with this little girl...priorities after all!"  She said not to worry, walk away from it for a while and make cookies.

A few hours later, she called back and said she had called a friend at the new imaging center, they had my order faxed over and in fact the nurse at the new center was going to go pick up a copy of my last MRI from the previous center on her way to work in the morning. All I had to do was wait for a phone call to schedule my new MRI. Five minutes later I get a call from the new imaging center, confirming that it will cost $300 at the time of visit and I could have an appointment for this Thursday at 8:00am. (Almost the exact same time as my other appointment).

The one detail I forgot to mention was that for about a month now my car has been having issues starting. I would have to turn the ignition for about 3 minutes before it would actually start. I knew the starter was going, but couldn't afford to get it fixed, so just kept ignoring it and praying it would last until Mike got a nursing job. This particular morning, I knew that a special young lady had chosen to spend some of her momentous day with me and so I got up early to go buy her a festive birthday balloon. My car wouldn't start...at all! It finally stopped working. On the very day that the Lord saw fit to save me $560 of which now I have money to pay for my car to be fix. PROVIDENCE - extraordinary intervention in the lives of people.

How do we forget that He loves us that much? Saving money so I don't have to go into debt...is important to my Father God because its important to me. The course of events played out in the exact right time and order. Had my car broken down a week ago, I wouldn't have had the money to pay for it to get fixed. Small details...maybe...coincidence...definitely NOT! Divine Providence....absolutely!

Romans 11:33-36 says it best...and I'm using the Message, just because it is so much fun...

Have you ever come on anything quite like this extravagant generosity of God, this deep, deep wisdom?

It's way over our heads. We'll never figure it out. 

Is there anyone around who can explain God?

Anyone smart enough to tell Him what to do?

Anyone who has done Him such a huge favor that God has to ask His advice?

Everything comes from Him;

Everything happens through Him;

Everything ends up in Him.

Always glory! Always praise!

 Yes. Yes. Yes.

Happy Thanksgiving...in February?

This past Saturday, February 18, 2012 we celebrated Thanksgiving! Several people asked..."Why?" Our response was, "We have so much to be thankful for...why not?" So having a small turkey in our freezer and being blessed beyond words served as good enough reason to celebrate. Here are some of our 1000 Gifts. #290-299...

We started our morning with the white board ready for us to fill up as the day went on. Such precious words penned by precious people..who know full well that every good and perfect gift comes from the Father above. When you see the very hand of God work miracles day in and day out..providing food for our table, money to pay our bills and provision in many ways...there is NO doubt in your mind...who is taking care of us.

My man and our quiver!

Even though our Pop has been in a different home since August, he lived with us for 8 years and he will always be apart of our family unit - I love that my children feel that way about him! If he didn't get so confused when he is away from his norm, we would have loved to have him eat with us.

Even though it is February one cannot think of Thanksgiving without thanking the Lord for that special relationship between the Pilgrims and the Indians...this put a smile on this homeschooler's face!

My son Kyle, ever the creative artist...had to write his list inside the leg of a turkey and yes, he is the one who drew the turkey...with the fork and spoon in the first picture!

Ahhh...this superhero was so excited to "fancy it up". That would be my table. I'm not a fancy kind of girl. I don't own china, or center pieces, a table cloth or glassware (I don't own a set of glasses..sad right?...lol!)...but I'm resourceful, and my best friend Lorrie had all the goods I needed to "fancy it up".

Love that man of mine! Mr. Incredible! The one above and the two below were his contribution to our 1000 Gifts (gratitude).

Admitted our children can drive us insane...yet we are thankful for that type of insanity!

 As we sat down we bowed our heads and prayed. We camped out on Adoration and Thanksgiving! Thanking Him for his many blessings.

 I was able to make dessert...lightened up a little. Sugar free pudding with light whipped cream. It looks delicious right?

 It was scrumptious...and less than 2 points per slice. Very few calories in this!

 So...I'm thankful for our family time, our special Thanksgiving and hearts that are being grown up in faith...yes just like George Mueller.

 Oh and my favorite picture of all...

framed in a priceless frame of little fingers. Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Living Manna

"Then the LORD said to Moses, “I will rain down bread from heaven for you. The people are to go out each day and gather enough for that day. In this way I will test them and see whether they will follow my instructions." Exodus 16:4

My children have been reading 1 Kings about the story of Elijah. I just said to them yesterday, imagine pouring out our milk onto your cereal every day and the carton never goes empty. (We go through about a gallon every two days...3 superheros go through a lot of milk.)

We have been praying for Mr. Incredible to get a job. He has been applying everywhere. Still only closed doors. Then two days ago my 8 year old reads these words in his Bible in Matthew chapter 18:20...

“Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” He leans over to me and says..."Does this mean that if you and I pray right now and agree and believe that the Lord will answer?" Yes! If it is God's will...absolutely! My 8 year old superhero bows his heads, folds his hands and prays...

"Please Lord, help my Dad to get a job, so we can have food to eat and money to pay bills and Dodger can get his checkup. Please help my Dad be the best nurse ever so he can get a great job as a nurse someday and make be feel better."

I prayed after him that the Lord would indeed provide for our every need. We were standing on holy ground. My boy looked up and wanted to call his Dad, right then and there. Instead he called my friend and when he told her what he had read in his Bible she responded by saying that he certainly found a golden nugget in God's Word and that she too would agree in prayer. He hung up the phone and immediately said..."Well, Mom...that's three. God's totally going to answer our prayers!"

I've been reading through the Bible chronologically. I'm in Exodus now...the Israelites are in the wilderness. God has rescued his people and they have already started to grumble. I know this story. I am aware that in our humanity we could easily grumble. I am conscious of how I respond to God in times of need. We are in times of need right now, and I continue to praise Him. I've done the grumbling thing in the past..that only serves to make me feel horrible. I've learned that lesson..so I approach the throne in love with my Rescuer! Longing for His presence!

This is hard for me to write about. He has provided in miraculous ways for my husband to go to school. We do not have any debt..praise God. We have had incredible expenses come up and while my husband's school is completely paid for...we are struggling to figure how we will make it for the next few months. I have two part time jobs and am so thankful! We are faithful to give back to the Lord a good portion of what He has so graciously given to us. It is all His! We try always, to live by the Word and walk in obedience.

In the quiet of the night last night I thought to myself that I would begin to ration our food. Only 2 cups of milk a day for each child. Only one for Mike and I. PB&J every day for lunch for all of us...we have beans and that can go a long way. One serving of food is all anyone really needs per meal. My children and friends do not need homemade cookies or cookies at all. We need to make this stretch..if in fact we are going to be able to pay our bills this month and next and next.

This morning I thanked the Lord for His provision. I read that verse I have above and know in my heart that He is indeed my Manna..He is exactly what I need. I wasn't hungry, or in need. He is my supply. My mind did wander to George Mueller and thought about when he had nothing for those orphans to eat, he prayed and thanked God for his provision. His provision of Himself. I shared with my boys at breakfast about how I think we will be eating hot meals for dinner and sandwiches for lunch. No more "leftovers" for lunch..lets save that for dinner..it will feel more like dinner and get us through the night. They were fine with that and the limit of the milk with two meals a day...water can be with lunch.

We were joyfully starting our morning with devotions when we hear a car in the drive way. Jesus stopped by today. He brought us Manna! "Food to eat!" as my 8 year old prayed. My children ran out to the van and said..."We have been praying that God would give us food...and you answered our prayer." No boys, the Lord answered our prayer...through this saint. He is our Provider, our Supply, our Manna!

I think this covers...#280-289 of my gratitude list, my 1000 Gifts.
 

Goodwill Towards Men

Early this December I was riding down my street and noticed a new bench by the bus stop sign. (The little yellow note says, please leave this bench alone..it is for the comfort of those who ride the bus! It touched my heart to see that there are some wonderful people who are still showing that they care..that it is not all about what you are going to get or not get, but it is about what can I give.

It is important for me to instill this in my children's hearts. We have been so blessed by the Lord when it comes to provision. I'm not sure why..other than He says it in his word. Philippians 4:19 "And my God will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus." or 2 Corinthians 9:8-11 "And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things, at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. As it is written: He has scattered abroad His gifts to the poor; his righteousness endures forever. Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us you generosity will result in thanksgiving to God!"

His Word is truth! For years I sat in my prayer spot and read these scriptures along with others back to the Lord. (Malachi 3:10-12, Habakkuk 3:17-19...)We have never ever gone without...because He says He takes care of His children. Anyway, back to the picture. Whenever there is an opportunity to give when we can..we will...and sometimes even when we can't we still will.

We don't have much, but the Lord has provided a way for me to stay home and homeschool my children, my husband to go to nursing school full time and we have food on our tables, a roof over our heads and we are even going on vacation next week. He is so good to us and we are so grateful for the blessings He has bestowed. I will be starting a small job when we return from our vacation as well as teaching beginner guitar lessons. So excited for the opportunities that the Lord has placed before me. In the meantime, we practice hospitality and generosity in any way we can.

My little boy with a big heart..made candy canes with little messages he printed out from the computer. He handed those out to all of the homeless people that we serve once a month. His idea completely!

 We made snowman soup and delivered these to special neighbors and family.

 Of course, we delivered lots of cookies...apparently next year my boy with the big heart says.."Mom, if we deliver cookies to all the people you love and care about we would be like Santa..can we do that next year!?"...I'm thinking I need to get started pretty soon in my planning.

 These are our precious neighbors Mr. Paul and Mrs. Helen. We love them so much! We made them a tray of cookies along with some snowman soup for each of them..left them smiling big!

 Some people stopped by for cookies..which I love!

But, the best part was delivering. We were able to sing Christmas carols instead of knocking on doors...delivered cookies with a smile and every single person was touched.

 We even received a gift...and we were serenaded too.

You know it isn't always about the gifts we give, most of the time, it is the love and hugs that are most meaningful. The genuine love of a child is one of our best examples of how to love another!

This is one of my favorite pictures. Kyle with our dear friends from Michigan...we call him Grandpa Jack. He and Grandma Carla are just so special to us. My boys absolutely love them from their core!

One of my all time favorite authors, Randy Alcorn says in his book The Treasure Principle.."Gaze upon Christ long enough, and you’ll become more of a giver. Give long enough, and you’ll become more like Christ." Oh how I love that quote!

You see, with Jesus living in us...we have Peace on Earth....and if we can remember to have a generous spirit and goodwill toward men..we will be more like Him!

Love is...

My children will tell you that we may not have much, but we are rich in love, faith, friendship and family. The rest of the posts for February will show just that. The Lord is faithful to sustain us, actually often times bless us...at the end of this post I will continue with my 1000 Gifts. Here is how we do Valentine's Day. It's a day to reflect on how much we love each other and we make an extra effort to practice loving in special ways for each other. Shane made those very special cookies while his brothers were at church on Monday night. He couldn't wait to surprise them.

We had an opportunity to share a beautiful day at the park with all of our homeschool friends.
Finally, Mike and I really don't have the opportunity to do much by ourselves, and that is ok for this season. (Although I must confess, I miss him!) This season as we care for Pop I know is a time that we are enduring so that the Lord can work something out in us...and His Grace really is sufficient...I'm learning...that is for sure! Anyway, I digress, I want to close our little Love blog with the all familiar verse from 1 Corinthians 13: 4-13

"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love."

We may not have much, but we've got this down pretty good...I've got a man who loves and shows how to love every day. For that we are more than blessed.

Continuing my 1000 Gifts:

Thank you Lord for:

155. Your Perfect Love.

156. A husband that knows how to love, be loved, and freely demonstrate love.

157. Provision - time and again, even though we hand our last bit of money with our tithe, or we make a meal for someone else when we have no food for ourselves, YOU ALWAYS provide!!

158. Your Grace...that really is sufficient!

159. The freedom to do what isn't necessarily the easy thing to do, homeschooling is a sacrifice, but one I know I walk in obedience to You for this time in our lives.

160. Opportunities to sit back and enjoy each other - just snuggle bugglin' with my boys!

161. My full and beautiful quiver.

162. Healing in my body and spirit.

163. New friendships.

164. The memories of my Mom and Dad when I get to feeling like I want to be a daughter and not just the Mom, Wife, and Caregiver.

165. Your very real presence early in the morning when we spend time together.

166. The opportunity to minister your Love to women and to see some come to a saving knowledge of you! I never ever tire of that!

167. Opportunities for my children to see my faith worked out. When I cry out to you, and you answer me from your Word, my children see that and I'm trusting that is where they will go when they cry out to you too!

168. Duplication. I've been blessed to witness some women in my life whom You've called me to place under my wing and disciple. Praise you Lord for the constant encouragement they are to me of your faithfulness in their lives!

Miracles on My Street!

Surprise Gift Package from NC!

To God Be The Glory -

Great Things He Hath Done!

Well, there is power in the testimony of the goodness of God! So, as someone requested, I will list some of the most recent miracles that have found the Engel family. Let me just say this. God has always been good to us...ALWAYS! I remember praying years ago, "Lord, please don't let us be wandering in the wilderness for 40 years...help us to be grateful and recognize your blessings in our lives and help us to remember your faithfulness even to a people who are not always faithful to you!" Lately, as I'm sure I've mention in another blog, I have been truly walking out my faith in the Word of God! It is after all God's Word!! His Word is TRUTH! We either believe it or we don't. We know we believe it when we act like we believe it. I'm not talking name it and claim it...not at all. I'm talking...read it and believe it!

So when it says in Philippians 4:19 "And my God will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus." I believe it. When 2 Corinthians 9 tells me "God is able to make all grace about to you, so that in all things, at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. As it is written: He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor; his righteousness endures forever. Now He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God." I understand that to be truth!

The Lord knew that we have had pillow woes for months! Today the UPS man delivered 5 brand new firm yet fluffy pillows! Thank you Jesus and thank you to the person that sent them.

"Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse that there may be food in my house. Test me in this says the Lord Almighty, and see if I will not throw open the flood gates of Heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it!" Malachi 3:10-12 I believe it so I'm obedient to His Word. There have been numerous times when we have written a check, offered it to the Lord, saying..."Well, Lord, we are trusting you!" He ALWAYS comes through.

My personal favorite: Habakkuk 3:17-19 "Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen, & no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior. The Sovereign Lord is my strength; He makes my feel like the deer, He enables me to go on the heights!" I have changed this verse around to make it more personal...like "Though there is no food in the freezer, no job on the horizon, our cabinets are bare and the gas tank is on empty, yet I will rejoice!" We purposed to rejoice - no matter what! I will say these verses back to the Lord and remind Him of His Word. (He hasn't forgotten, but I want Him to know I'm leaning on Him!)

Here are just a few miracles: (wish I had pictures of all of them).

Serious tooth trouble...$2,000 worth of trouble. Went to bed and husband prayed Lord, how am I going to pay for this? Next day, a knock on my door...$800 in cash from random anonymous people...by the end I believe we're only having to pay $600 of this because of the Lord's generosity. Amazing Grace right?

Since Mike's unemployment over a year ago, we have received gift cards to food stores, cards and letters of encouragement filled with scripture and hope. Exactly when we have really needed to hear those very words.

One night, I remember sitting on my couch quoting that scripture from Habakkuk and I changed it around like I've written above. The very next day, I was driving someone home from a meeting at church and she said she had to clean out her freezer because her Father-in-law was on his way to fill up theirs and they had no room. She was going to throw out the food, unless I wanted it! (Freezer full!) That very same night a friend of mine was leaving the church and handed me an envelope and said...someone stopped by my store today and gave this to me to give to you...it was $300 in cash. No one could have possibly known that I had $25.00 in my checking account. God knew.

This past summer the Lord heard my private cry regarding my husband's grandfather whom we care for. This person came and blessed us by cleaning Pop's room and bathroom. Huge undertaking and one that I have so much trouble doing. Thank you Jesus.

Above you see my children painting. Private art classes are very expensive. This dear friend wanted to do this (I never in a million years would have even thought to ask), she fully supplied my children with their own container of 10 professional paint brushes and a set of 8 acrylic paints. She is also planning to come every week to give my boys a lesson for as long as she is in Florida. What can I say, but I'm so humbled that the Lord would provide for every need! Praise Him!

One day as we were walking into church, a lady came up to me and told me that she use to take care of elderly people. She wanted me to know that it would bless her to help with Pop if we needed it! WOW!!

That same Sunday, a man went up to my husband and shook his hand while handing him a $100 bill. Mike looked shocked and the man clicked Mike on the head and just said.."I don't know man, God just told me to do it - so don't give me that look!" He had no idea of my husband's silent prayers either. But God hears our prayers and answers them.



Last week we got a call from a friend of ours who says that the Lord wants them to provide Pizza dinner for my family every Friday night for as long as they can. (We should'nt worry about the food we eat..God feeds the birds of the air and the flowers of the field...)

That same week a woman came up to me in church and says she wants to take me to Sam's Club -- her treat! She said, it has been on her heart for awhile..she didn't really know why, but every time she thought about it, it made her heart so happy. WOW GOD!!

One day a friend of mine said, "I'm tired of just hearing about what God is doing, I told God I wanted to do something too. So the Lord told me as I was food shopping to buy the Buy-One-Get-One's and give the Get-Ones to the Engels!" She was so tickled!! She has done that a few times.

Most recently, we were at this place again where I had bills to pay, hardly any gas in my car and no money to buy groceries. My husband is so good to make so much with so little. He is really amazing that way! It appears that we have an IRS mistake to rectify as well. Learning not to be discouraged, I went to the Lord and thanked him for his provision and for wisdom on how to handle these things. The next morning, someone came up to me at church and handed me an envelope with yet another amazing answer to prayer! HE IS!!

Just today Mike got another rejection letter from nursing school...but we are trusting Him who has our future planned!

I could go on! Please remember this -

To God Be The Glory --

Great Things He Hath Done!!