“So Abraham called that place The Lord Will Provide. And to this day it is said, “On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided.” (Genesis 22:14 NIV)
As a Christmas gift, one of my sons and his wife gave me an exceptional gift. It is called “Storyworth.” You should check it out. Here is how it works. Every Monday, I receive a prompt question from “Storyworth,” that ask me something about my life. I write a response and it is stored in a way that at the end of the year I will have composed a book of small stories about my life. This week the question was “What store did you love to go to as a child?”
Here is the spoiler alert part of this meditation, a sharing of what will be included in my story, something brief that I wrote this past Monday in response to the aforementioned prompt.
“As a child, going to the store usually was related to picking up food or a bag of coal for the day. Rarely did we go to downtown stores. I recall walking over six miles to a discount store on the south side of town. They had jeans on sale for $1.99. Of course, this was in early 1960’s. Furthermore, after the long tread, they did not have my size. Bummer, right? There were other stores. For instance, Paul’s Department Store, within walking distance of my house and the store where Mom brought me some shoes in the morning so that when I came home for lunch from school, I would have some real shoes to wear back to school. That morning I wore my Dad’s rubber galoshes and there was not a drop of rain. A few Christmas seasons, we went to the J.C. Penny store to pick one gift from the downstairs budget department. Well, that’s my story for today. Only thing I can add is that the Lord did see us through.”
Now that you have read the “Spoiler Alert” portion, let me explain why the title says, “But Not Really.” You see, I may not have appreciated it as a child, as I tended to make comparisons with peers who were better off than me, but now, as I look back, my perspective has changed. Now I know that the Lord will see you through. The Lord will provide, just as He did for Abraham. The Lord will see that your need for food, clothes, and shelter are met if you seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. We may not have had an abundance in some of the tougher years growing up at home in my childhood, but in retrospect, I can look back and see that the Lord blessed us day by day to make it through those tough times. We may not have stood up in comparison with those in higher income brackets, but now I can look back, and see what happens when you stand up and walk by faith. I did not get it then, but I get it now! I realize that the words in the hymn we have often heard in the holy sanctuary, sang by God’s holy people was true! “Be not dismayed, whatever betide. God will take care of you.”
Of course, I’m sure you already knew that fact. So as far as my spoiler alert,” it is, “but not really.” Look back over your life, my friend. Look through the prism we shall call “Jehovah-Jireh,” meaning the Lord will provide! Have a wonderful day, that is after you get through praising God early this morning for bringing you through too! Be blessed!
“But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19)
Committed to the climb,
Mark L. King