i am completely humbled, and so completely stunned by the faithfulness of God. His kindness, His goodness, His compassion... its never ending, and He loves to love, loves to lavish blessing, loves being kind.
And before all of you, I stand here to bare witness to the faithfulness of Papa.
Earlier this year I was challenged to give. Not with the agenda of receiving, but with the agenda of being obedient to Papa and loving Him, regardless of having a computer, or a camera or money in the bank. And through this season of intense giving, i feel that the walls of my heart were and are being expanded and stretched, and that kingdom perspective was released like a flood gate in my life and the rushing waters of the Kingdom of Heaven are flooding in. I was blessed (another ridiculous Papa provision story, would love to tell you) to have gone to the OneThing conference in Missouri at the International House of Prayer (IHOP) in late december early january. And whilst being there, in a God way, Papa just got in my face and started challenging everything in my life, and speaking so clearly to me that if I say "yes" to Him, yes to the fullness of God in my life, its going to cost me everything. Im not talking about salvation-- which that indeed costs you everything, but that in which you gain makes it not even a question of it being worth it.. it nips all selfishness and self-righteousness right in the bud when you get down to the absolute need and desire for Jesus... but, thats for another blog- What im talking about here, is giving my everything to God, all hindrances, all distractions, all of my trust and longing. And you might be asking, "why does she have to give her stuff away, isn't the Lord just after our hearts?", and yes, completely, He is, and I think thats why a part of this giving thing has arisen in my life. I needed this. I needed Him to challenge me to give, because I was comfortable, I had a lap top and money in the bank, and a beautiful camera that I loved taking pictures with, and Papa totally blessed me with all of those things, but I think the biggest question here was "what is the state of my heart?" and the Lord hit it spot on. At any point, we need to be ready to give things away upon request. Because, ultimately, its the Lords anyways. He was cutting away and chopping off any hindrances that would keep my heart from being completely His. And challenging me and getting me to a place where He truly is enough in my life, and that He satisfies all things in me.
I have been so so blessed, and so overwhelmed by the utmost provision of the Lord. To the smallest things such as a cup of coffee, to Him providing rent and groceries for me every month, to the unexpected friend whom I havnt seen in a year, fly in for a visit on a round trip ticket for 40bucks because of forgotten air miles that the Lord reminded her to check. To a beautiful crew of people that I have the privilege of running with and start a house of prayer with. He is good, and He is most certainly God.
I am writing this, because I want Papa glorified in my life. I want to lavish praise upon Him. I want to bless Him. And, I want to stir faith in the hearts of those who are watching me live life and whom are reading this.
WE HAVE A PAPA WHO PROVIDES.
and on countless, countless occasions, I can completely testify to this.
in January, i gave my 12 inch macbook pro away to a beautiful friend in texas, 4 months later I was given a 13inch macbook. Also, the same month, I gave away my Canon Rebel XTi SLR, and just last night, i was given another camera. GLORY TO GOD!
Hear my heart, I am not writing this to boast or to tell you how im some good christian, that isnt my heart in writing this, and to be quite frank, this blog has nothing at all to do with me. God is good. And He will praised in my life. Time and time and time again I see His heavy hand of love upon my life, and it has and does and will, cost me everything, but ah, it is so worth it, not always easy, but always always worth it.
I pray that this has stirred faith in your heart, and an expectation that Papa provides, and that He will provide for your every need.
AH, to God be the glory! For He is so faithful to His own.
shalom,
brit j chaney
