Miracles

I am going to let you in on a little secret...one I would rather not share...

but I will because it is directly related to the miracle that just occurred at my home. 

I have been a little stressed. 

Yes, I just said that like I belonged in a 12 step program...

Hello, my name is Leah and I am stressed. 

Specifically, I have been stressed over finances and the growing cost of our food bills. We drive 90 miles (each way) to purchase very expensive specialty foods for 3 members of our family who have food allergies. And these aren't just allergies to things you can leave out...they are wheat and dairy. 

It is hard to have a balanced diet without wheat or dairy and not substitute them with any specialty (gluten free and dairy free) foods. Sure, we can go without cheese or yogurt...but milk is essential (we use almond milk) and it is EXPENSIVE. We also buy some gluten free pasta and gluten free bread - although we go without most things like hamburger buns and specialty bread items unless it is a special occasion. 

I do make most thing from scratch...but  

a 4 lb bag of gluten free flour costs me $14.

So anyway, I was chatting with a friend earlier this week about the growing cost of food and how difficult it is getting to feed our family. Money is tight and well, like most of you, the grocery shopping trips are getting stretched because we just can't afford what we used to. 

 Especially since it costs so much money just to get there! 

My friend reminded me of how YHVH (Yahweh, the Lord) provides and told me 

how so many times people just show up at her door with food. 

I thought, hmph...that never happens here...and if it did...

we wouldn't be able to eat it because of our allergies. 

Yahweh just doesn't provide in THAT way for us.

That thought has been stuck in my head for days. 

And then, this morning, when I had surely reached the end of myself...

I cried out to YHVH (literally crying out - face down on the bedroom floor)...

for help...for reassurance...for a glimpse of His glory...

Show me, YHVH, just show me, please.

And so tonight (just 12 hours later), 

as I was rushing my children to bed and my husband out the door to work...

our neighbors stopped by to tell us some news... 

Remember the raffle we entered a few months ago...

for the FCCLA fundraiser...

for the 1/2 BEEF?

We won it. 

WE WON 1/2 OF A WHOLE COW.

Do you know how much beef that is? 

(roughly) 400 lbs of fresh grass-fed beef.

That would cost over $800. 

We know...we recently asked the butcher and he told us. $850 for 1/2 Beef.

Our neighbors just showed up at our door and gave us food to eat. 

And we can eat it despite our allergies. 

I guess Yahweh CAN provide in that way for us. 

"Great are the works of יהוה, 

Searched for by all who delight in them.
  Splendour and greatness are His work, 

And His righteousness stands forever.
 He has made His wonders to be remembered;

יהוה shows favour and is compassionate.
 He has given food to those who fear Him; 

He remembers His covenant forever.

Psalm 111: 2-5

Oh YHVH, thank you for your provision...

but even more...thank you for showing me...

for giving me the "glimpse" I so desperately needed. 

You are so good to me. Thank you.