I love the verse in Isaiah 65: 24 that says, “Before they call I will answer; while they are yet speaking I will hear.” I think I love it so because we see it in action on a daily basis here at Shepherd’s Gate!!
We have seen God send shoes for a lady needing a size 11 (not a size we get too often!) and just the kind for which she had been praying! We have received pajamas, underwear, toothpaste, towels, sewing needles, tea bags, Ranch dressing, yogurt, cheese cake–well, just about anything that you can imagine right after we expressed the need (or want) of it to God. Sometimes we get things and don’t even know why, and then something happens and then we do :-)! God sends the big things, He sends the small things, He sends the needed things and sometimes He sends us our “wanted” things as well!
I had been praying for just such an item several years ago when we were redecorating some offices. Now, for those of you who don’t know this, the Miracle Hill Adult Ministries do not receive government funding. This means that everything in our building is donationed–either the item or the money with which to buy the item. We are very careful about the money that we spend, and so–that is why we are always praying for God to send things. The office that we were re-doing belonged (and still does) to a lovely lady from Africa, and I so wanted to decorate with items that would make her feel at home. I had seen those lovely, tall, wooden giraffes in some of the area stores and knew just the place to put one if I had it, but they were so far out of my price range it wasn’t even funny! So I think I just “thought” that it would be so nice if God might send one to me.
A day or so later I was in my office working later than usual. I don’t think that any other people were on the main floor that evening. I left my office to walk to the front desk and then back to my office again. Nothing going on out of the ordinary. A few minutes later, when I was ready to leave for the night, I locked my office door, turned around and—oh, my goodness—standing there, looking right at me, was a wooden giraffe!!! I hadn’t seen or heard anyone bring it, I hadn’t told anyone I wanted a wooden giraffe, but there it was as big as life!
Everytime I see that giraffe I remember the overwhelming feeling of being hugged by my heavenly Father and feeling so privileged to serve a God who says, “Before they call I will answer. . .” and He does!
Wow! That is so amazingly awesome!!! Gotta love Him!! I remember when I was there at Shepherd’s Gate, it was Christmas time and someone donated stamps so we could send Christmas cards. I thought wow, God had put it on someone’s heart to give those. It was seemingly a small detail but in reality it was a huge form of wonder and amazement. When I become worried about something and I remember this wonder, I can rest assured that God does provide even the smallest need.