New Cars!!

April 20^th was my 35^th birthday. I love birthdays! Psalm 139 says that we are “fearfully and wonderfully made. And I know that full well!” In the depths of my heart and mind, I KNOW that God has created me. He fashioned me just as He wanted and has created me with a purpose that is unique to who I am. He does that for all of us. The Lord knows the number of my days and if I submit to Him fully, He can lead me down a path that although will not always be easy, will be the very best for me! And I want His best for me!

A week before my 16^th birthday I was at a track meet in College Station, Texas. As usual, my parents were in the stands to cheer me on. Just before the final relays a huge rainstorm blew over the stadium and several hundred teenage girls began squealing and scrambling to the buses. I remember stepping into our bus laughing hysterically because we were all drenched from head to toe. Then everyone started yelling my name and I had no clue what was happening. Parked directly in front of the bus was a small blue car with my parents sitting inside. They too were soaked from the rain but they were smiling and laughing and pointing to a sign in the car that said, “Happy Birthday Becky! Hope you like you new car.” The rain and lightening kept me on the bus while my parents sat in the car, but I could not stop smiling. My mom and dad had sat all day in those bleachers knowing that at the end of the track meet I would find that car. They were so happy to be able to give it to me and deeply wanted me to enjoy it. Thanks to my dad’s mechanical skill, that car lasted me through high school, university and my first two years of ministry service. I loved that car!

Derek and I have been serving the Lord in missions now for 10 years and have been through several cars. We recently sold our ministry truck and have been praying (and quite honestly, worrying) about how we would replace it. Last month on the morning of my birthday we woke up to an amazing email. A dear friend and supporter wrote to say that God has directed his family to give us $30,000 to purchase 2 new vehicles. To say we were overwhelmed would be a ridiculous understatement. I spent the day in a daze as I would move through emotions of thanksgiving, joy, and humility. Oh Lord, that we would be worthy of your gifts.

I’ve been thinking a lot about my parents and how they sat all day at that track meet knowing what was waiting for me. And I’ve been thinking of the Lord and how He knew what would be waiting for me on that Tuesday morning last month. In both cases I’m struck by His kindness, His delight in His children, His generosity, and His timing. And I feel incredibly blessed to know Him!