The Lord’s Favor

We have a running joke (but
not really) at our house about having the Lord’s favor.  We say it
jokingly but we can’t help but notice just how much God seems to be
blessing us time and time again.  Every time we ask for something,
somehow and some way God provides exceedingly beyond what we could have
asked.  I will list some examples for you:

Our house – When Matt Ruple, Seth Jr, Neil
Bruinsma and I were in Haiti, we began discussing what it would look
like to live together in Gainesville and how we really wanted to find a
free place or somewhere super cheap.  We’re all broke missionaries so we
just trusted on faith that God would provide.  Well, it wasn’t long
after that He opened the doors to this beautiful lake house where we are
only paying $100/month/person for our utilities and home repairs. 
Unreal.

Furniture already in the house
or that we’ve received as gifts or for free –

5 Couches

8 Beds

1 TV

Washer

Dryer

Pantry Rack

Piano

Fully stocked cabinet with plates, silverware, glasses,
everything

Refrigerator

Large Freezer

Large dining room table

Kayaks

Deck fire pit

Food

Free Access to tools from Habitat for Humanity to work on our house

Our most recent surprise was a recliner that
Weston had won in a raffle in the mall when we were touring around in
our ugly Christmas sweaters for our family portrait.  Oddly enough,
we’ve named the recliner “The Lord’s Favor”.  All of these gifts have
come from us asking.  Seriously, it seems like every time a desire has
arisen, we have asked the Lord to provide these things to our house and
sure enough, it just happens.  Most of these were given to us.  It would
be easy to overlook it as a string of good fortune, but I can see
clearly that God is radically blessing us with some pretty great gifts. 
And the best part about it all is that it’s not because of anything
we’ve done to merit it, it’s who He is.  He is a giver.  He lavishes his
love on us in a variety of ways, this happens to be one that we see
manifest itself in the physical.