Right before harvest really officially gets under way for us, I am browsing the classifieds on Nextech. I have jumped onto their site a few times to check out the appliances that other people no longer need or want, and have listed for sale. I haven’t been especially diligent about checking and haven’t seen anything I am very interested in so far. Many of the appliances listed are white or too old or too far away. I am wanting stainless, for the appliances, in our someday kitchen and I’m really not expecting to find what I want in the classifieds. I’ve sort of decided that since I already loosely know what I want, it is going to be hard to find them secondhand. Especially since I want a stove, microwave, dishwasher and refrigerator.
But, I have prayed about appliances for my someday kitchen. I’ve told God the desires of my heart for my appliances. The basics, actually. I don’t think I went into too much detail. And amidst all the small trials and the big bumps that life always has, God has a way of dropping down blessings that leave me saying, “Wow!” And, “But why? I am so undeserving.”
On this Saturday morning, as I scroll through the ads, there is one that jumps out at me. A stove. An over-head microwave. A refrigerator. In stainless and black. A few years old. Not used a lot. Wanting to sell them all together, but will sell separately. Not right next door, but not too far away. I am very interested. I message the seller. And then I impatiently wait, hoping that I will hear back from him. Hoping that they’re not sold. Hoping that we can go look at them.
That evening, I come inside to get a drink and there is a message on our answering machine. I am excited and I call back. They are not sold and we can go look at them. We go and I am excited and hopeful. Buying appliances is not my favorite thing. They are so expensive, brand-new, from the store. Expensive, but cheap. I do not have faith in appliances. I do not think they are made so very well anymore.
We arrive. I’m not so good with people either. An introvert. I’m thankful for my husband, though he keeps telling me this is my deal. 🙂 I’m not usually the one who is calling about something someone is selling. That’s more in my man’s job description. The seller explains that he is moving to Montana. He works for wildlife and parks and has been offered this new position. He hasn’t used these appliances a lot. He bought them thinking he would have a need for them for quite a while. Soon after acquiring them, he moved again. His new rental home came equipped with appliances, so he didn’t need the ones he owned. He has stored the stove and used the refrigerator minimally as a second fridge for drinks and such. The microwave he used, because he liked it better than the one in his rental house.
I like the looks of them. They have features that I am glad about. We make a deal and I am happy. Happy and hopeful that they will run for us for a long time.
But God is in control of that. I know, because I believe He gave me this deal. I can see Him in the little details. Details like the range that has a convection oven, a feature I decided I would like to have in my range, for my someday kitchen. Details like a side by side refrigerator. Details like a microwave with soften and melt buttons. Buttons that my microwave has and I use them often. Details like black and stainless. Details like a husband who is willing to come back and pick up appliances, though harvesttime is now. Details that don’t matter compared to homelessness and hunger. Yet, details that I appreciate so much. Some might call it chance or luck. But I call it God, because I know. He heard me and He listened and He knew details that I hadn’t even thought of myself.
Why am I surprised when God pours out blessing upon me or when He answers yes to one of my prayers? When He gives me more than I can imagine? When He gives me better than I would have ever thought of? I am so quick to complain when life does not happen the way I want it to, yet still I am amazed when blessings are poured out on me. I am so blind to the simple, immense blessings which are part of my life everyday, that it leaves my faith weak and puny. I believe in God, but do I believe God?* Far too often I live in a way that finds me not really believing. I depend on the grocery store to fill my pantry. I don’t have to believe God to give me my daily bread. But, I want to believe God. I want to pray, “Your will be done,” and stand back and believe and watch Him as He works. I want to remember to give thanks and not complain when it looks like it is not playing out by my script. I want to remember it is according to His will. I cannot see the path ahead. He can. He is already there. How often do I miss the blessing because I am not truly believing?
*thanks to Believing God by Beth Moore
I am linking up here:
Becky King says
So good to get a peak at your “new” appliances. They look great! I’m glad you found the deal and praise God for His loving kindness to us. He is so awsome, blessing us “exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think”!
Mrs. K says
So very cool of God! He and I are working pretty deeply on contentment right now. I have to remember that just because He CAN, doesn’t mean He WILL….and sometimes the lesson He has for me is that I need to be content with what I have. But it is so very cool, and He has blessed us this self-same way numerous times, when He provides above and beyond what we could have asked or imagined!
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jill flory says
So excited to get to see pics! Can’t wait for your kitchen reveal! You need to link that kitchen before and after to some blogs out there! Seriously.
I’m like that with the ‘God Things’ too. I ask. I tell. I request. I hope. Then I’m so amazed when He does great things for me!!
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