“Momma always said there’d be days like this”. Sometimes however, those “days” are more like “weeks”, or even “months”. Yet when Jesus addressed prayer in Matthew 6:6-8, he encouraged us to bring our personal needs to Him privately. He didn’t want us to even risk being considered in any way to have an ulterior motive. I don’t mean for that to be criti
cal of any other person or any other ministry. There is nothing wrong with letting your needs be known. There is everything wrong with letting those needs be known for the purpose of motivating someone to meet that need. At least that’s the View From My Window.
We have been true to our word and never made any appeal for financial support. We plan to maintain that stance throughout our ministry. I believe that telling this story however, is worth the risk of being misunderstood. I hope this is an encouragement to you. It also lets me say thank you one more time to all of you who genuinely pray for us on our Journey, and for those who have chosen to support us financially. Understand please, we are good and I am not asking for anything here. We don’t need cash and I am not even curled up in a fetal position. We don’t even need any extra prayers. Well… scratch that last one. We’ll take those anytime!
It’s been an interesting couple of weeks to say the least. We finished up two great Sunday services in Ohio on August the 20th, and then had plans to move to our next campground for nearly the remainder of our time here. That next place is one of our favorite spots, and oddly enough, one of the least expensive. What I tell you next, I’d LOVE to blame Shaunda for, unfortunately however, this one’s ENTIRELY on me.
Last week when we were ready to move, we went through our regular departure routine. We cranked down the TV antenna, brought in the slides, removed the wheel chocks, adjusted the mirrors and did everything we needed to do in order to have a safe trip. Everything that is, except… set the latch on the hitch pin. Funny how the truck moved, but the trailer didn’t. Instead, as I drove away, “the Virge” came crashing down on the back of the truck, smashing and freezing the tailgate in the up position. For the record… I DID NOT CURSE! Although when I asked Shaunda if I did, she replied “No…but you were close”.
Finally hooked up correctly, we arrived at our favorite spot in Ohio, set-up and lifted the trailer to about a 25 degree up angle in order to get the hitch pin over the smashed, unyielding tailgate. I unloaded the bicycles and we headed out for a therapeutic bike ride, only to pass the CLOSED dump station. The dump station that is out of order for the season, and we were there for two weeks. The same two weeks that include the labor day weekend when EVERY campground is full. Smell the problem?
Finding an alternate campground, we then moved again to a new location and set up just in time for Shaunda to ask if I wanted some fresh cookies. Why sure I do! I think she considered them as a form of therapy. The first batch melted and burned in the convection/microwave, the second batch did the same and then the convection microwave blew up. LOL! And then almost immediately we heard a persistent noise in the bathroom. The RV toilet valve had failed and the toilet wouldn’t shut off. (Seriously, can’t make this stuff up!) Does this sound like a soap opera yet? Oh yeah, I’m writing this from the dentist office while Shaunda gets her RTRC… “road trip root canal”. She developed a toothache upon our arrival in Ohio.
So how did this all end up?
• The original campground refunded our money, apologized and let us stay without charge the days before that new place opened up. We headed out the next day and secured a reservation at a state park for Sunday through next Friday morning, the start of the holiday weekend. Thankfully we were heading out next Sat/Sun for a Church in Michigan. I was able to booked a 3 1/2 star hotel for Friday for $66 as well. Unexpected road trip, Holiday weekend covered!
• The toilet was an easy fix last night.
• I ordered a replacement microwave, due to arrive here soon.
• Our new campground is now our new favorite… one of the nicest state parks we’ve been to anywhere.
• I didn’t damage the truck at all other than the tailgate. I just dropped the truck off at the body shop. Should be an easy fix.
• SHAUNDA’s root canal went well! No more pain.
Now here’s the truly amazing part…
Only a few days before this all started, we received through the mail an completely unexpected, very generous, totally anonymous financial gift. Generous enough that it almost exactly covered the cost of the replacement microwave, the deductible on the insurance, the extra night’s hotel AND the entire dentist bill.
I, of course, didn’t know any of this would happen, but then again neither could the person who sent the donation have known. Seems that God met all our needs before we even knew they were there. And that makes Matthew 6:6-8 (emphasis mine) very real to me.
But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. Mt 6:6-8 NIV
My Father knows what I need even BEFORE I ask Him. As a matter of fact, He met my need before I even knew I had a need. No wonder in the words to follow verse 8, Jesus instructed us to begin by saying “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name”.
Once again I am reminded that trusting God is an amazing way to live, and that I have nothing to fear. When I arrive at a destination on this Journey I find that God is already there waiting on me. Good thing! The check engine light on my truck came on today, Anyone know how to install an oxygen sensor? And NO! That was not a hint, only another of my feeble attempts at humor. 🙂
That’s The View From My Window.