"Your greatest contribution to the Kingdom of God may not be something you do, but someone you raise." ~Andy Stanley

March 9, 2007

His Faithfulness

My most memorable Christmas shopping trip and what I learned from Job chapter 5

My four kiddos (who were then 4, 6, 8 and 10 yrs. old) and I were Christmas shopping for our relatives at the mall. (not inside the mall but the surrounding stores) To keep me within budget, ; )
I had taken cash out of the bank and still had it in the bank envelope. After shopping at Barnes and Noble, we were in our second Christian bookstore, when I went to pay for an item and found out that the envelope I'd been taking cash out of was gone!!! Oh my goodness! I figured out that it had $100 left in it. AHHHH! So, off we went to tear apart the car, my purse and to retrace our steps. We searched and searched but couldn't find the envelope anywhere. By then my gang was so tired and so was I, so we headed home where I called the three stores that we had been shopping in. No one had turned in a bank envelope with cash in it. And who would?!?! Did I mention it was Christmastime at the MALL! : )
I probably just made some body's day!

When we got home, I was so bummed out!
I prayed and prayed. Then the Lord brought "Job chapter 5" to my mind. When I read it, I sure could relate to these words:
"Man is born to trouble as the sparks fly upward." (yes indeed!)
Then I read this:
"But as for me, I would seek God. And to God commit my cause..."
So, I took that as His word to me for this awful moment and just kept committing the situation to Him in prayer. Then me and my splitting headache took a little nap.

When I got up, I had this amazing message on my machine from someone at the bank.
It said a deposit of $100.00 had been put into my account today!!!

When I called the bank back, I found out that I dropped the envelope outside the Barnes and Noble which was next door to a branch of the bank we use. The person who found it, RESISTED EXTREME TEMPTATION ; ) (I imagine) because they did not head off to the mall, but went inside the bank and turned it in!!! The envelope still had my withdrawal slip in it and that is how the bank knew what account to deposit the money in and how they were able to call me. Amazing!!!

"And to God I commit my cause.."

Here is the rest of the verse:

"who does great things, and unsearchable, marvelous things, without number." I love that! He does!!!

Every year when the kids and I Christmas shop we reminisce about this and are amazed again. We always pray a blessing on that dear, honest person who reminded me that 'with God all things are possible' even at Christmastime at the mall. : )

~Becky

2 comments:

Toni said...

I loved this story, Becky. A year ago at Christmas, dh found a Best Buy card in a parking lot. We called and checked the balance and there was nearly $150 on it. Yes, Satan attempts to deceive us ("They won't miss it; they should have been more careful; this is my lucky day" and garbage like that).

We knew there was only a small chance of finding the owner but we decided to try. We called Best Buy and asked if they could verify how the card had been purchased. They could (credit card) and thus were able to credit the account of the purchaser for the amount on the card. Hearing your story is confirming to me that we too made someone very happy.
Blessings,
~Toni~

Becky said...

What a great thing to do!!! : )
Thank you for sharing your story.
I'm sure they were dumbfounded! Praise the Lord!