It can be so tempting to want to hold onto stuff…just in case. We’re moving so I’ve been doing a lot of sorting lately. Our dream to embrace farm life is slowly becoming a reality. Hooray! We don’t yet have a home to rent but we know the city God has called us to, the church, the farming community and the time-now…(roughly 3 short weeks).
I’m holding onto what we DO know instead of focusing on what we don’t.
So, of course I’m packing. We have moved 11 times in 10 years. By now, I am an experienced packer!
I actually love the process. For me, it’s an essential part of the letting-go, saying good-bye and looking ahead that happens with change. I sift through stuff with precious memories, give away stuff with relief, carefully pack stuff with hopes for the future. I have always loved to organize. It may sound strange but I would actually say it’s fun. I know…go ahead and laugh! But I do!
Freely Giving Increases Our Trust in God
Today, I was convicted about how I was handling our “stuff” while reading about George Muller to the boys. He was man of faith who ran an orphanage in England. He prayed to God for the money he needed for everything rather than taking a salary or asking people for it.
In a letter, George Muller wrote:
” I have never thought it necessary to save for the future or look out for myself or my family except that we trust God. So, when we see someone in need-an old woman, a sick person, or a helpless infant-I freely give whatever I have at the time. I know that later, when I am in need, God will provide for me.”
He must have lived with such freedom. No extra weight of “stuff” holding him back. Fearless.
Freely Giving is an Act of Faith that Invites God’s Provision
Yesterday, I was trying to sell our triple stroller hoping to make a little spending money for my homeschool needs. The mom who was interested in purchasing it is soon to have twins but said money
was tight. However, I held my price firm. I had math curriculum in view (a mom on a mission). The,n the Lord began to speak to my heart (3 times before it actually clicked and I acted on it!).
He reminded me of a garage sale I had gone to a few weeks ago. I gathered armloads of priceless used books etc. but when the cost was tallied, it was way more than I could spend. I told them I’d have to take some time and decide what to put back. The garage sale mom said to simply pay what I could because she wanted to make sure these wonderful homeschool resources would get into the right hands.
This mom had been so generous with me, even providing for some of our homeschool needs, and here I was, trying to save money for the future instead of just responding to a fellow mom’s need for a stroller by freely giving. With a smile, God seemed to be reminding me that some of what I wanted to use the money for He’d already provided.
Now, would I trust Him to take care of the rest?
So, I called today and gave the stroller to her. Boy did it feel good! It gave me more joy to give than the money in my hand would have. I feel as I give by faith, when it comes time to buy my math curriculum, God will provide what I need. I don’t need it today. There is time for the rest of His provision to come.
May the Lord Give You Increase More and More (Psalm 115:14-15)
George Muller embraced a kingdom principle that was at work even 2000 years ago. A small boy with 5 loaves and 2 fishes experienced it too. After he had given of what he had, responding to the need before him, Jesus took it, multiplied it and 12 baskets full were left over.
In the end, there was more than there had been in the beginning! I’ve never thought about what happened to the leftovers. But I bet Jesus gave them back to the little boy to take home. The increase was his! You reap what you sow!
“He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.“ (2 Corinthians 8:6)
Open my eyes Jesus and give me the courage to give the time and resources I have to meet the needs of those around me, knowing that in the end, there will be MORE than when I started. How limitless and abounding is our God!
May you give fearlessly today of what God has freely given you! Have fun partnering with God for others’ provision while trusting Him with your own! It is truly an adventure!
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{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
Great blog, Ashley!
We are not in the habit of moving as often as you have done. It’s definitely time to have a good clear-out and a spring clean!
Ashely this is great! I love it!! Ill have to look into that George Muller. There is nothing as exciting and freeing as living a life of trust in God.. so great.
Hi Ashley! I remember you from our LAM 1 class about a year and a half ago. I’m 19 weeks pregnant with my first baby and I am glued to your site. I am overwhelmed about all the baby stuff out there, especially because I want to do cloth diapers. It has been great reading your baby basics and recommendations. I also love your great posts like this one that are so encouraging.
blessings!!
Thanks Heather! Congratulations! How exciting to be pregnant with your first baby! Pregnancy is wonderful every time because of the unique life we carry but the first is special. Everything is new and sometimes overwhelming! I am so glad to hear my site is helping. You can email me questions or comment with ideas of your own. I’d love any feedback about topics to cover in baby basics. There is so much I’d love to write and yet not enough time daily to do so. I’d love to respond to specific questions if you have any! Blessings on your pregnancy!!!! Hooray!
Hi Ashley!
This is so great. I am so sad I missed every single goodbye before you left
We love you and your family so much and have been inspired by you all. About books for your kids. I just called my parents a bit ago and to ask them about some of their old homeschooling books. They have homeschooled off and on for the last 28 years and actually currently are with my sister who’s a Junior in HS. Well they said they have a couple of box fulls of books and I’m planning to go in June or July to visit, so if you like I could call you while I’m there and sort through some of these if you like any of them I’d be glad to send them to you. My little sister has gone a lot to private school in the last 8 years so a lot of the books are probably from my childhood, but some of them I think could still be relevent. I know my mom was a big fan of Saxon Math books so she might still have some of those; do you like Saxon? Let me know! 
Thank you Holly! I love used books. How thoughtful of you to think of me! I have a new cell phone number so I’ll have to email you privately with it! We love it here but are missing all our special friends in Redding (especially my mom’s small group!)