Ok, so I am just going to be completely transparent. I overwithdrew my bank account last week. Luckily, I am taking and implementing Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace class... so I had cash on hand. I took some cash to the bank and could have never imagined or planned the events which took place. BUT my Heavenly Father who adores me, who knows what I need and when I need it... orchastrated something pretty spectacular!
The sweet lil lady behind the desk asked how my day was going and I couldn't help but mention my regrets for overwithdrawing my account. {Dave Ramsey would have preferred for me to apologize. And now that I think about it, I chose to go in the bank to own up to my behavior, versus taking the easy way out and using the drive-thru window.} She asked if I was interested in an "overwithdrawal protection" plan or something along those lines, I said, "Yes". So she sent me into one of those small rooms for a lady to tell me about my options.
Well, about 40 minutes later, I was walking outta that office on cloud 9!
At first I was on the defense in case she tried selling me something- ya know. Then I was getting lost and confused trying to keep up with what each option offered! I side stepped all of that when I told her I'd be back to set up a savings account (which would provide a safety net in case overwithdrawal happens- which it will not) as soon as my tax refund comes. While this sweet woman was informing me about options, she asked where I work. I let her know I am a campus minister at ECU... but am still raising support. So we got to talking. There were several moments when I wondered if I was keeping her from doing something work related... but was grateful for her time! Once the phone rang, I asked if she needed to take it- but she didn't. Her son called her cell, and she'd forgotten to turn off the ringer. I think the ringer was that "Boom boom clap" song, and I said, "go ahead girl"... kinda forgot where I was. I had obviously gotten quite comfortable. She'd mentioned church, so I asked where she goes. To make a long story short, I am going to church with her this Sunday so she can introduce me to her pastor and other folks. She's been going there her entire life. She told me several testimonies of missionaries who have dropped almost everything to follow Christ's call on their lives! THIS IS WHEN I REALIZED GOD USED MY OVERWIHDRAWN BANK ACCOUNT TO POSITION ME FOR A HUGE BLESSING OF ENCOURAGEMENT. He knew I needed to hear these testiments of His faithfulness. Six years ago her church gave $6,000 to missionaries. Last year they gave $40,000. She and I were both getting "goose bumps" as we told about God's glory!
Whewy am I glad I didn't go through the drive-thru window!
Oh... and I fogot, the bank gave me back $8 of the $35 penalty. Pretty cool stuff!
Monday, March 15, 2010
Friday, March 12, 2010
Can't keep stuff this good to myself
I want to share the most recent adventure that raising support (in order to be a campus missionary at East Caolina University) has taken me on! I had the honor of attending a church function in Kinston a couple days ago and have been bursting at the seams to tell someone about the excellent events which occured... so I've been prompted to blog!
Before I even got out of my car, I saw an elderly woman slam into another car. I fear she hadn't bothered to check her mirrors. I knew it couldn't get much worse... well, I thought it couldn't.
Most everyone knew one another so I just tried following suit, which meant getting my sweet tea, bowl of salad, and dessert before taking my seat... Then a Pastor stood behind the podium to open the meeting and welcome everyone. He mentioned that we should be trained for the retirement community, now that we've learned to get dessert first, and then something about how when we're really old we'll eat our dessert first becasue we may not have room for anything else. Come on people, help me out here! I was dying inside but had to keep cool because I didn't know anybody well enough to giggle with. Then he prayed for our meal and we all went to get our bowl of chilli.
When it came time for someone to present the "Good neighbor of the month" award, a very precious, aged fella' (who may have had his dessert for lunch :-) got behind the podium. He began reading from a sheet, stumbled a bit, then put his glasses on. The glasses did not help much, they seemed to be a bother as he kept hving to push them up his nose. That's about the time I realized the frame of his glasses were missing an arm- or whatever you call that thing that sits on the ear. This just tickled me pink and reminded me of where I was. You see, I have been in the process of raising support well over a year and have recently decided that I will embrace each moment instead of trying to hurry it along. God surely does not go by my time table.
As people were leaving I went to speak with a woman I recognized. We got into a pleasant conversation. I thought I noticed her looking at my scarf, and in preparation to respond to her compliment, I put my hand on my abdomin. Well it turns out she was looking at my belly... and asked, "When are you expecting?" Oh my, I just burst into laughter (something I had been waiting to do for quite some time now) and said, "Oh no, I am not pregnant..." Well of course she felt horrible for calling me "fat" but I continued to laugh in hopes she would not feel bad. Another effort of mine to try and save her from feeling bad was to say, "I would like to be..." So she then askes, "How long have you two been together?" I burst into more laughter and wasn't sure how much worse it could get... luckily we just laughed it off. I told her, "I did eat my whole bowl of chilli" and maybe that was it!
Before I even got out of my car, I saw an elderly woman slam into another car. I fear she hadn't bothered to check her mirrors. I knew it couldn't get much worse... well, I thought it couldn't.
Most everyone knew one another so I just tried following suit, which meant getting my sweet tea, bowl of salad, and dessert before taking my seat... Then a Pastor stood behind the podium to open the meeting and welcome everyone. He mentioned that we should be trained for the retirement community, now that we've learned to get dessert first, and then something about how when we're really old we'll eat our dessert first becasue we may not have room for anything else. Come on people, help me out here! I was dying inside but had to keep cool because I didn't know anybody well enough to giggle with. Then he prayed for our meal and we all went to get our bowl of chilli.
When it came time for someone to present the "Good neighbor of the month" award, a very precious, aged fella' (who may have had his dessert for lunch :-) got behind the podium. He began reading from a sheet, stumbled a bit, then put his glasses on. The glasses did not help much, they seemed to be a bother as he kept hving to push them up his nose. That's about the time I realized the frame of his glasses were missing an arm- or whatever you call that thing that sits on the ear. This just tickled me pink and reminded me of where I was. You see, I have been in the process of raising support well over a year and have recently decided that I will embrace each moment instead of trying to hurry it along. God surely does not go by my time table.
As people were leaving I went to speak with a woman I recognized. We got into a pleasant conversation. I thought I noticed her looking at my scarf, and in preparation to respond to her compliment, I put my hand on my abdomin. Well it turns out she was looking at my belly... and asked, "When are you expecting?" Oh my, I just burst into laughter (something I had been waiting to do for quite some time now) and said, "Oh no, I am not pregnant..." Well of course she felt horrible for calling me "fat" but I continued to laugh in hopes she would not feel bad. Another effort of mine to try and save her from feeling bad was to say, "I would like to be..." So she then askes, "How long have you two been together?" I burst into more laughter and wasn't sure how much worse it could get... luckily we just laughed it off. I told her, "I did eat my whole bowl of chilli" and maybe that was it!
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