Scripture To Consider: God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day.
-Psalm 46:5
Tom's Response:
I have felt God within me many times in many different ways. Moments of peace when you can feel your heart slow down, or be overcome with thankfulness, which leads to the start of a tear or a sense of true joy; you can feel yourself smiling inside. These instances come from His provisions. His provisions come in many ways every day. Sometimes it's just intentionally recognizing His daily care in your life. It might be a surprise opportunity, hearing from an old friend or an act of kindness from a stranger. A provision also might be difficult or unwanted, but it later leads to something positive God has planned all along.
In 2006, I had the opportunity to visit Tanzania on a mission trip through YoungLife Africa. I thought I was going to help others, and we did, but it was really what the villagers in the poorest part of Arusha did for us. Two different children changed my outlook on life. The first was a 5-year-old girl with AIDS, who lost both of her parents to the virus. She lived with her aunt and 2-year-old sister. Her aunt would leave early in the morning to work, and the little girl would wake up and make tea for her and her baby sister. She then brought her baby sister with her to the little school she attended. This small dirt-floor school, which housed 25 five-year-olds who all lost their parents to AIDS. These children were looked after and educated by a group of local women called the Mammas. They fed the children once a day: rice, beans, and ugali.
On day 3 of our trip, I met a young boy with no shoes and a bike tire he played with. He would roll that tire down the street and giggle. This was his only toy.... a bike tire. No bike, no soccer ball, no coloring book. He was happy. He had real joy in his heart. Provision is not about abundance. God shared with me that provision is about having what you need, when you need it, with gratitude. The 5-year-old who cared for a baby and had no parents was content and happy. The little boy with no shoes and an old bike tire was content and happy. I was so thankful to meet these children. God opened my eyes and gave me many gifts that week, but getting to know these children was the highlight.
Karen's Response:
It is just amazing how God meets us just where we are and lets us feel His presence within us. Recently, I felt God’s goodness, which provided strength and calm as we prepared to be on national TV. As many of you know, PrayerBowls had the opportunity to be on Fox & Friends.
As excited as we were, I was feeling so nervous during the planning and preparation, and if I thought about it too much, I would begin to spiral. I found myself questioning if I was capable, or if I would get on air and just freeze or stumble through my words. Yet over and over again, I felt God gently reminding me that He was with me and would give me the strength I needed for that moment. When anxiety and fear would creep in, He met me with encouragement and peace. One of the ways he did this, which was a great gift during the days leading up to the show, was seeing His provision through people. Family, friends, and the PrayerBowl Community sent uplifting and encouraging messages, prayers, and scriptures, reminding me that God knew just what I needed to feel ready and prepared. At Dillards, when Reagan and I went looking for a top at the last minute, the sales associate who asked what we were shopping for had been a Home Shopping Network TV stylist. She walked around the store with us to find something professional, comfortable, and reasonably priced. Then she took me downstairs to her co-worker's makeup counter for a tutorial on “camera-ready” makeup. They both gave me their cell numbers and sent encouraging texts the day before the show. You really can’t make this stuff up. God demonstrated his practical care every step of the way.
Then, when I turned on my phone after our flight to NY, a dear friend had sent a scripture from a Psalm we had recently shared in the Pause & Pray. “God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at the break of day.” Psalm 46:5. It was the verse I clung to on Saturday morning for stability. With a wake-up time of 4:30 (not ideal for a girl who isn’t a morning person), a camera-ready call time of 5:30, a last-minute change to the display table size, and them saying Tom couldn’t be on air with me, I still wasn’t shaken. I felt God’s peace within me.
After the fact, I thought about all the worry and stress I had over this short 50 seconds of my life. It almost seemed silly, but we can’t help the emotions and feelings we have. What we can do is know who we need to anchor to when we are called out of our comfort zone.
I must say, this was such an amazing experience and great opportunity for our company, but, more importantly, it was a wonderful reminder of how God always equips us when He calls us to do something. It is a promise to take into daily life. When we get overwhelmed or feel out of control, just turn to our Heavenly Father. For He is with us, He is for us, He will help us, He will provide for us, He will strengthen us, and He will give us His peace, because He dwells within us, what beautiful truths to rest in.
