Living the Pantry Lifestyle - Trusting God to provide

How can there not be a Creator... lovely.

This is the first day I am officially returning from my blog break.  I took pretty much a complete break from the computer during my birthday week with the family and last week I had some required posts and fun photos.

I also took a break from the news while away with family, at least as much as one can in today's world.   It can be quite overwhelming with all the stuff happening on the planet.  We hear of wars, rumors of wars, pestilence, earthquakes, genocide, hurricanes, economic woes, and so much more.  We feel totally out of control.

Of course, God is truly in control.  For those of us whose theology tends toward the soon return of the Lord, we see in His Word that He told us what the world would look like and we can rest assured in Him.  Even if at times we let concerns about the uncertainty of it all get to us.  We are human that way.

To me, that is when living a Pantry Lifestyle brings comfort.  When I have a full pantry then I know I can put food on the table.  By giving thought to what is purchased, there will be at least a few favorites among the beans and rice!  ;)

I get e-mails all the time from people who say they do not have the resources to stock up, they are just barely making it as it is.  Believe me, I feel your pain.  We pretty much live on miracles from God as our income is about what we need to cover expenses... except for food and gas!

We could stomp our feet.... and have... and whine before God... and we have.  We remind God that we did everything right from the world's standards in the way of education, we tithed, we gave offerings, we helped old ladies across the street.  Okay, we didn't do the latter but our works seemed to be in the right place.

Yet, we find ourselves at a stage in life when most of our friends have their houses paid for, take cruises, and have extra spending money... depending on God pretty much entirely for food on the table and much less in a pantry. 

It is not fair.  But then again, life is not fair.  My husband's illness and then my own (which together depleted our savings and our equity and all of the crutches we depended on financially)... it is not fair.

But instead of fretting about it all, I have learned to take it to prayer and watch as He answers.  I believe that He does provide... and He does.  Ask Him to deepen your pantry.  Make a list and have it ready and expect a miracle.  He may send unexpected cash your way to use for stocking up or He may provide a way for you to earn extra cash.

I've been reading through the Book of Acts and there are a few things that keep coming up.  I will ponder most in the Sunday posts from time to time but one that is essential here is that... they took care of each other and God took care of them.  This occurred when their world was falling apart.

So the very best pantry advice I can give anyone today is... Trust.  I'm doing the same thing here.  I know everyone has some area they need to Trust, even if it is not in the area of deepening the pantry.

I told my husband this morning... when as the Eeyore he tends to be he mentioned everything that needs repairing around the place... that I believe trusting God is the Jacob experience we all go through.  You know, when Jacob wrestled with the Angel all night and then came away with a limp the rest of his life.

We wrestle with God when we do not understand, when we find it hard to have faith... to believe.  I give my faith a place to land (so to speak) by praying and then making a grocery list, or praying and thinking of how the room needs a piece of furniture, or praying and asking God if He does not mind (because I truly do not need another teacup) but if there is a beauty cheap at Goodwill...

For you see, God knows you need food and water and shelter but He also knows you need a book or a teacup once in awhile.  He made you that way.  Never be afraid to ask. 

If it is something you need like food, He will answer although it may not be steak.  

If it is something frivolous like a teacup, he may answer with that or something better.  

If it is something He knows you do not need, well... you didn't need it.

A great deal of the joy in the journey is looking for the ways He is meeting every need.  Including deepening your pantry.  :)