a ramble that turns into something worthy of reading

I am very very antsy right now. I am trying to study for my test tomorrow in the fun and exciting Integrated Marketing Communications but I can't because all I can think about is: I'M GETTING AN iPHONE IN 2 DAYS! I normally would be able to get it tomorrow, but they don't open until 10 and I am busy all day from 11am-930pm and I have things I need to do before work at 11 so I can't go the store at 10. ANYWAY, I think i'm also stirred up from watching the Oscars and having it be interrupted by a TORNADO WARNING even though it is about 30 minutes away from where I am...still really scary because there have been some SUPER SCARY winds howling tonight and some loud thunder. And my mind has always been the type to put myself in the position of the natural disaster and stress out FOR the people actually going through it.

Anyway, I can't wait to get an iPhone, but lately..like in the last 24 hours, i've had huge reminders that America is sooo rich and we are sooo beyond privileged and we take everything for granted. And also about how you can't serve money and God. Because i'm like spending all my money and freaking out that I have no money...and now i'm like what the heck, I have way more than I need...like this whole iPhone thing is just a want not a need. Basically, while being reminded of this, it just makes me want to give more of my money to people who need it. And I completely believe that all money is God's money and if you invest it in others, that he will bless you in return. Like today in church they showed a testimonial video of this guy from our church who told his financial story about how God provides for you if you are using your money how He wants you to.

Basically the guy's story was this:
He has 6 kids and works in construction. in 2008, the construction business went down the toilet so this led to this man not knowing how he was going to pay his bills the next month. Then he was at one of our church's meetings about how the church isn't receiving enough money from the members and how each church member would need to give $125 per family member to get rid of the church's debt. The man said that he did the math and that meant his family should give around $1,000. He said even though he didn't know how he was going to pay his bills the next month, he felt the Holy Spirit tell him he needed to give that amount. So he did. He said he prayed "God, I fully expect 100% return on that investment, not 30% but 100%." He said he expected to see the money come back to him in about 4 months. But it took 7 months until one day he was at home watching t.v. and his son came in with a red envelope and said, "Dad, what's this? It was stuck to our door." The man didn't know what it was or where it came from. He opened it up and it was 5 $100 gift cards to Walmart and Hyvee. Over the next few months they kept getting gift cards in the mail randomly. Also, he noted that during the 7 months of waiting, they never missed a bill payment of any kind.
SOOO COOL :) I LOVE stories like these!!!!!

I love how God pushes you to trust him. To step outside of your comfort zone and trust that he will provide for you. Whatever you need. a HUGE example of this in my life is my housing situation for next year. OH MAN. I told myself I would not stress over it...that I would give it to God and pray for His will to be done. I prayed and prayed that he would provide me with Christian roommates and that everything would work out with 504. After like 4 months of waiting...I am suddenly living in my dream "college house" with 3 awesome Christian girls who all want the same thing as me? God really provides. in whatever way you need him to.

And if he's not providing something for you, it is probably because you think it is what you want, but he knows what you NEED. His plan is ALWAYS better than our own. It's easy to get caught up in praying for what YOU want, but pray for what HE wants to be done with your life....I am currently dealing with this as I pray for my summer plans...I'll be sure to let you know how those turn out! :)

Katie