She's Pregnant!

I had been working at the same job for about 2 years. My newest coworker I had been working with for about 9 months. One day I walked past her desk and I felt the Lord say to me in my Spirit, "this young lady is pregnant and scared, I want you to encourage her." I should know better because this has happened before, but I questioned what I heard. I wondered if it was an overactive imagination. I thought about how silly I would look if this "feeling I had" was wrong. I must admit, I did cheat a little. When my pregnant coworker was not in the room, I wrote on a small sticky note, "She is pregnant!" and held it up for another coworker. They are friends outside of the office and I knew if anyone knows she is pregnant it would be her. Her "how did you know?" response put my mind at ease. 

A few days passed and I had gone shopping for a small gift and an encouraging card to give to my coworker. On this particular day she had to leave work early for a doctor's appointment. I told her to come talk to me before she leaves because I had a present I wanted to give to her in private. When she was about to leave I met her in the kitchen and gave her the gift. Since I knew no other coworkers knew about her pregnancy, I told her to open it later. She looked a bit confused but smiled and left. 

Later on I received a text from her asking how I knew and that I made her cry, in a good way. I told her God told me. To this day I'm still not sure if she believes me or if she believes her coworker friend told me, but I'm glad I listened to the voice of the Lord and had the opportunity to bless her. Being a new mom is scary and we all need encouragement sometimes. 

God Fund Me

The week my dad passed away in August 2016, I decided I needed to take that week off from work to grieve, spend time with family and prepare for his funeral. Aside from feeling the heavy weight of sadness, my only other concern at that time was whether I could afford to take a week off as my job didn't pay bereavement leave. 

A good friend and coworker of mine was always checking in on me and asking me how I was doing, offering her support, etc. I decided to confide in her about my concern. Just being able to unload that concern and share it with someone who understood helped. That wasn't the only feelings I shared with her at that time, I shared many as I processed what was happening. 

I can't remember exactly but I think it was the very next day, I receive a message from my coworker friend who told me she and her husband started a "Go Fund Me" account in the hopes of raising a couple hundred dollars to help out. They sent me the link and hoped I would be OK with it. I was so touched by their kind hearts, I was more than OK with it. Within 24 hours the "Go Fund Me" page raised over $1000. I could not believe my eyes. The kindness and generosity of strangers and coworkers brought me to "happy" tears. Here is a link to the page:

https://www.gofundme.com/2hkozvg

The outpouring of love and support I received not only from my coworker friend and her husband, but all of those who financially supported me lightened my burden. Being able to share my concerns and feelings and receive the love and support helped me through an extremely difficult time. I like to think of it as the "God Fund Me" account. I feel like God used what my friend and her husband started by giving me favor with the generous people who supported the cause. I will never forget what my coworker and her husband did for me. They are the sweetest, cutest couple ever and I will forever keep them in my prayers.

The Butterfly Gift

The Butterfly Gift

June 2016

As far back as I can remember my dad has always loved butterflies. When I was following my own plans for my life and not the Lord’s, my dad occasionally gave me a ‘butterfly suncatcher’ gift.

I believe one of the main reasons my dad loves butterflies so much is the Christian metamorphosis process which he shared with me in the past. Here is a link to learn more about this process  http://loyal2him.com/foundations/butterfly.htm

I believe my dad was giving me butterfly suncatchers to remind me about this process.

Once I discovered (THE LONG AND HARD WAY) that my own plans always ended up a complete disaster I decided to invite Jesus into my life, and then those suncatcher gifts became pretty special to me.

These are the suncatcher butterfly gifts from my dad. Since my dad has recently become very sick with an inoperable brain tumour and only months to live, these have become even more precious to me. I have had these suncatchers for decades. I have even lost 3 out of the 4 pieces of glass in the large butterfly suncatcher, but I continue to treasure it. 

This Father's Day I bought my dad a large glass butterfly ornament to hang outside so he could admire it from his wheelchair when he sits outside on the deck

Dad’s butterfly collection

 I have a young friend I like to call my Sunday daughter.

We became friends at church and she used to sit with me, hence the name.

We connected on some level and have been friends ever since despite the fact that she has since moved away. 

Pictures of us hanging out at church functions

I was dressed as a Sesame Street character called a Yip-Yip

She didn’t know it was me inside

 She discovers it’s me underneath. Look at that adorable toothless smile. J

Sweet hugs!

A video of Justin and I as the Yip-Yips

This was the day of my baptism

We were spinning

I had to publicly share my testimony. Public speaking was pretty intimidating for me. I remember telling her I was scared and asking her if she wanted to stand beside me as I stood up and shared my story. She was pretty surprised to hear that even someone like me (so old) can still get scared sometimes. She was happy to stay by my side.

 Getting baptized was a huge step of obedience for me as I was in the middle of the process of overcoming Agoraphobia and severe panic attacks. God placed this sweet little girl into my life to help me through it. Isn’t she adorable?

 We had a play date and hung out one night. We had so much fun together. 

This was 2 years ago.

 This June 2016 we had the opportunity to have another play date

She gave me a very special gift. It’s a glass butterfly jewelry holder

Inside were two bracelets. 

On the pendant are the words, “my other half.”

 I didn’t understand the significance of this gift until days later when God began revealing it to me. Once I fully understood, it brought me tears of joy. God reminded me about those suncatcher gifts my dad gave me. He reminded me why my dad loves butterflies. He showed me how far I have come along in my faith and battle with fear. He revealed to me that although my dad can no longer bring me butterfly gifts, He, my heavenly Father, can. He had Sadie, my Sunday daughter, act as his messenger who brought me a butterfly gift. She had no idea I loved butterflies or the meaning behind them.

I had to share this with her mom and let her know how God used her daughter to bless me with her butterfly gift. When her mom told her how God used her, her mouth dropped open, a huge smile crossed her face and she said, “I feel happy. I’m grateful that God used me. I didn’t even know that about butterflies. I tried trading the butterfly one with a heart one but Sierra said no, but God knew that’s why.” 

This one simple butterfly gift has since blessed me, Sadie, her family and now all who read this. 

God is a good God! 

Coincidence or God incidents?

In May 2013 I received a large unexpected bill that was due to be paid in full June 30. God had recently blessed me with a better paying job, but as a single mom and homeowner I had not yet reached a point of being able to save up money for unexpected bills.

As I stood in my kitchen, I stared down at the bill and began to worry. Then the Holy Spirit whispered to my spirit saying, "Give it to God." That pulled my mind off the all too familiar "worry trail." While still holding the bill in my hands, I spoke out loud, "God, I believe you're going to provide the finances I need to pay this bill. You've provided for all of my needs so far and I trust that you will continue to do so." I put the bill down and walked away.

On June 10 I noticed that almost the exact amount of money I needed to pay that bill had been deposited into my account. It was my income tax refund, but normally I never receive a refund. It turned out that there were mistakes in my two previous years of income tax returns. Some people might call this "coincidence," but I immediately recognized it as a "God incident." 

Not convinced? I have one more story. In the middle of July I found some lumps on my dog Jezabell's chest. I found out they were mammary tumors (breast cancer) which is common with intact dogs. When I received the estimate for surgery, I gasped. 

A few days later I was weeding in my garden and asking God to provide a way to pay for Jezabell's upcoming surgery. I told him I trusted Him to provide as He always had. I thanked Him for that and for the most recent provision when he provided the funds I needed for the last large bill the month prior. 

Minutes later my friend showed up and told me his friend suggested I try his vet. I gave him a call. He sounded very knowledgeable. He put my mind at ease as he reassured me that it would be a simple surgery. That was a major relief compared to the conversation I had with the first vet who instilled fear in me as they repeatedly went over worst case scenarios and the costs associated with it. 

On July 23 Jezabell had successful surgery and when the vet found out who referred me he gave me an even better price on his already very reasonable price. Four days prior I had checked my bank account and found a child tax deposit that was more than double its usual amount. When I subtracted the usual amount from the total amount, the amount remaining was within $8 of the cost of the vet bill. 

I believe there are two reasons for God's perfectly timed provision:
1)  I have become a faithful tither, giving a portion of my income back to God Who has provided me with this income.

Malachi 3:10

New Living Translation (NLT)

10 Bring all the tithes into the storehouse so there will be enough food in my Temple. If you do,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, “I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you won’t have enough room to take it in! Try it! Put me to the test!

2)  When I was tempted to worry I stopped and instead chose to verbally thank Him for the ways He had already provided and then I spoke positively about my trust in His ability to continue to provide. 

Philippians 4:6

New Living Translation (NLT)

6 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.

Philippians 4:19

New Living Translation (NLT)

19 And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.

In the message God gave to the people through Malachi regarding tithing He said, "Try it! Put me to the test!" Since I started tithing, I have seen how God has opened the windows of heaven and poured out His blessing on my life. I put Him to the test and He passed with flying colors. I think it is important for me to mention here that I did not begin tithing so that I could get something from Him, I did so out of obedience and my love for Him.

Be careful what you ask for

Over the Christmas 2009 break I had just finished three years of college training and finally graduated. My son and my niece just left by plane to spend some time with my parents in Fort McMurray. For the first time in a very long time my house was quiet and empty. Not only that but now I suddenly had all of this extra time that used to be spent on my studies. I was feeling rather bored and a tad lonely. The reason I say "tad" lonely is because on the first day I always start out feeling really lonely when I am alone and then I slowly begin to enjoy my quiet time and begin working on projects that I just never have the time to do otherwise.

When I am spending time with my Heavenly Father I often ask Him to show me someone He can bless through me. Some of the larger ways He has answered that prayer request started in the summer of 2008. This is when, I believe, I first began praying this particular type of prayer. I was walking my dogs and asking "Daddy," which is what I now like to call God, to show me someone He could bless through me, someone who needed help. Not long after that request I ended up welcoming an abandoned ferret into my home. Throughout this process he was pooping and peeing all over my house and getting into huge amounts of trouble, more trouble than I ever thought one small fuzzy could find. I had no idea how to care for a ferret nor what they ate. I kept telling myself I can't keep him, he is way too much work, there is no way I can keep him. My intention was to only keep him until the SPCA opened on Tuesday and then I would turn him in.

I quickly joined an internet ferret forum and enlisted the help of ferret "experts." I had to get him eating and he wouldn't eat the ferret food I bought. I had to make something called "Duck soup" to get him back to a healthy weight fast. He still wouldn't eat. I had to syringe feed the duck soup to him only he squirmed so much I couldn't get it in his mouth. I learned from the ferret "experts" that I had to roll him up tightly in a towel and then syringe feed him. That finally worked and eventually he began to eat it on his own. Through this process we bonded and I fell in love with the little fuzzy. By Tuesday there was no way I could even think of letting him go. He now brings so much joy into my life and I feel blessed to have the opportunity to care for him. I, I mean he, has even started his very own blog for children and youth to enjoy. You are welcome to read his blog at http://dukes-diary.blogspot.com/

The second large way that God answered my prayer request for someone to bless was when He reunited me with my long lost niece whom I hadn't seen in 12 years. She had been kicked out of her home and needed a place to live so she could continue attending her high school. This was a large step of faith on my part but I knew God wanted me to do this and if He wanted me to do this I knew He would equip me with everything I needed to be able to do this. Since October 2009 my 15-year-old niece has been living with me.

This Christmas when my son and my niece were away visiting my parents I prayed that same prayer again. I laughed and said to my Daddy, "You are pretty much going to have to bring that person to my doorstep because it is too cold outside for me to be going out much." It was that evening or the evening after that when my doorbell rang. A neighbor that used to live a block away from me was standing on my doorstep. I invited him in and he talked to me about his cat that had surgery three months earlier and had a feeding tube and how he has been nursing her back to health and feeding her through a tube. He had to do so every 2 or 3 hours. The feeding tube was finally out and she was now eating on her own. He desperately wanted a break and to go and visit his family for Christmas. He asked me if I would be interested in taking care of his cat while he went away for a few days.

At first I was very hesitant. This meant, since it was very cold outside, that I would have to warm up my van three times a day and drive to this man's car lot and go into his office to feed his cat and make sure the cat was not getting worse but better. As I was hesitating on this I could hear the Holy Spirit inside me saying "Remember, you asked for someone God could bless through you and you said they would have to arrive on your doorstep and here he is." Even though it wasn't convenient for me I knew I had to say yes. This was something I wanted to do for Daddy. I am attaching a picture of the cat. Her name is Nella.

At this very moment as I write this blog post God has answered this prayer request once again. Right now there is large Portuguese water dog in my house named Bella. This is no easy feat in my small 1000 square foot home, not when I already have two dogs, two cats, two guinea pigs, a chinchilla and a ferret already living in my home. After praying this prayer my ex-husband called and asked if I could care for his dad's dog while he goes out of town for the weekend. My ex-husband is dog sitting his dad's dog only he was called out of town on business and was in desperate need of finding someone who would be willing to care for a large dog. Of all the people God could choose for me to bless He asks me to help my ex-husband. You may find this surprising, especially if you have read some of my other blog posts, but I gladly obliged.

You will notice a pattern here, that there are a lot of animals I am blessing rather than humans. All I can say is God knows my heart and my love for animals and He meets your passion with His need. In this way I am able to help an animal in need which, in turn, helps the human attached to the animal. He also knew my heart for my niece and how fervently I prayed for her over the years.

The conclusion of this blog story is this; be careful what you ask God for because when He answers it will most likely not happen at the most convenient time and you won't necessarily "feel" like doing it. You will be required to move past your flesh (what you feel like doing) and move in the Spirit (what the Holy Spirit inside you wants to do). This is not always easy to do and it does require some practice but once you begin to allow God to use you in this way it is unbelievably rewarding. So go ahead, I dare you to ask God to send you someone He can bless through you and see what happens.

I offer this challenge to all of my readers. If you will do this challenge and God answers your request please send me a message and let me know what happened. I would love to hear about it and if it is alright with you I would love to share your story on my blog. Some people are deceived into believing that being a Christian is boring and for wimpy people. I can definitely say from my own personal experience that that statement could not be further from the truth.