MY REFRIGERATOR IS BROKEN!!!! In the words of my son Joel, here's the skinny: We rent a house. When we rented the house it came with appliances. Well in the lease (which I read every word) it said that the owner would not repair the appliances. I said that would not work for us. The owner agreed to not leave us "hanging" if there was a problem. Well when I started cleaning I realized that the refrigerator didn't work. They replaced it with a used one (probably from a junk yard). It was delivered by a drunk in a beat up truck (rather scary). When we opened it, it was filled with maggots! My wonderful husband cleaned it for 3 hours (I sat and cried). We plugged it in and bought groceries, but it didn't work. All of our groceries spoiled.
Next they bought us another one from the same place and the same people came to my house. Well this one had less maggots and was missing this front piece at the bottom, but it worked. It made extremely loud noises but... Well one year later (after I bought groceries) I noticed that it seemed a little warmer. My hubby didn't think so. But Thursday morning, when I got up to make turkey bacon and free range eggs, I noticed that the refrigerator was hot! My food had even unthawed in the freezer!
Now it was morning, my husband was at work, and I didn't have any food, milk anything or a car to get anything. My husband came home from work so that me and the 6 children could eat. So we used our only money for take out on Friday!!!!! I was hot! No $$, No Food, No Nothing! As I talked this over with my husband he replied, "God will provide." That made me even hotter!!!! Like I didn't know that. So I was mad at everyone (even God). So I decided to show Mr. "God Will Provide" a thing or two. Saturday morning as I was going to the post office, I said will you make a piece of toast for the 2 older children and some oatmeal for the 3 younger children and a bottle for the baby? He said yes (rolling his eyes). See its easy to say "God Will Provide" when you aren't doing the work! Well he did it. Then when I came home from ballet, he was feeding the children some of the thawed out food in the freezer! I was mad again.
Now I must say emotionally I was no good. I have a yucky cold, and it is that time of the month. Well, after church today I was feeling a little better, and we stopped at Sam's club to get a pack of chicken and bread. I was going to grill it, so we'd have dinner (We're out there like the modern day BOXCAR CHILDREN)! When we stopped at the Dollar Tree I had a bad attitude about something else. My husband looked at me so sad and said "What's Wrong? Please tell me the truth." I lied and said , "Nothing honey!" (At this point I had piled up sin, so what was one more thing--right?) But at that moment my heart was softened. I repented to God (to prideful to repent to my husband). But I did become my nice, loving self again.
As I cheerfully began to prepare my meal a hymn sprang up in my spirit. Please look at the link to see the words and hear the music! This hymn, that I grew up on, brought my attention back to the Father. At that moment the Father began to speak. He reminded me that even this "inconvience" was for my benefit. These were the things the Father wanted me to get:
Will I really trust Him to supply my "Daily Bread"
I said that I wanted to fast (He made it easy)
I wanted to get my eating under control but had been unsuccessful--I can do "ALL" things through Jesus Christ who gives me strength (or a kick in this case)
Be a good steward over my finances-always have an emergency fund (savings)
While complaining about eating out, He gently reminded me that I had not really made dinner all last week. I had spent lots of $$ eating out due to my own lack of planning. He was helping me not to need to make excuses for eating out
I had prayed Thursday that He'd give me wisdom on making healthy meals for my family (He answered quickly in a kinda bizarre way)
Not to limit His supply and get comfortable in a temporary situation
I must serve God from my spirit/heart not my mind (especially since it sometimes seems to be untransformed)
Be content so that I can say:
"Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything through Christ who gives me strength." Philipians 4:11-13
My response to the Father:
Thank you for loving me enough not to allow me to remain the same, in a way that would bring You no glory. Thank you for being a creative God that can bring my focus back to the throne and develop strength and character where there is frailty!
All that said. We still do no have a frig, but I do have a better attitude! Oh, did I mention that the oven hasn't worked since May!?
What a testimony! It's so bitter sweet when God wants to take us to a new place. I know when things are hard, I try to rest and ask God what it is in me that He is trying to draw out. I know as I have asked the Lord to reveal things in me, oh and He has, I am so thankful later. I will be praying for your family and be encouraged that when we think things are completely out of control, God is fully in control. The verse always helps me 1 Thess. 5:16-18
Be joyful always; 17pray continually; 18give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. thanks again for sharing and for reminding me that I don't have to be in control.
:>Michelle
Thanks for you humble spirit in sharing this. What an eye opener. Sometimes God really has to hit us over the head to truely have our attention, these are the hardest lessons to learn. But they are the best ones too. Did you get a new fridge? or did I miss that in the story.
Happy Monday!
I grew up in Southern Illinois in a small town of Carterville (45 minutes from the Kentucky border). I am now living in Lolo, Montana.
God diffinitely has a way of getting our attention. Random thoughts that go through my head is that I might eat top romen for a month in order to buy my own used refrigerator and a reputable store. At twenty bucks every time my family eats out that would add up pretty quickly and if you ever move you can sell it. I would also continue to ask God to provide one. He works way better than I do. But often what is true is he wants to get a hold of our hearts first and it sounds like he got yours! Hold on to God, don't fight him and be looking for him to give you the wisdom to know how to love and care for your family.
Hang in there! I will look forward to hearing the rest of the story.
on how we went through a similar experience our first year of homeschool. We were often down to our last dime as we learned how to transition our lifestyle from that of a 2-income family to a 1-1/2 income family. Then, at what seemed like our lowest moment, the refrigerator, the car, and the dryer went out in the same month. That was in July, and we lived out of a cooler for over a week. BUT, I saw an evangelist talk about how God specializes in doing things in a season when it doesn't look as if it could happen, and how September (when leaves begin to die and fall from the trees) would be the birth of some things. Lo and behold, I got contracts out of nowhere, my husband received bonuses, and things turned around for us in such a way that we've only moved forward since then. I don't know what September or October or November will bring for you, but I do know that the Lord will bless your ability to praise Him in the midst of the storm. I'll be praying for your strength as this is a tough place to be for a family.
Are you familiar with Craig's list http://chicago.craigslist.org/hsh/
It is like the ads in the paper only you don't have to pay to post things that you have for sale. They have free stuff, which I check in our area on occassion and stuff for sale. We have got a couple of great deals by checking it out. You never know what people are getting rid of. Just a thought.
It always seems the more aggravating the situation, the more He uses to teach us. Kind of like a spiritual 'paddling' if you will. I appreciate your situation. So many of us have 'been there, done that, don't want to do it again' : ) Thanks for your open-ness and frankness. You've made me rethink some of my own situations.
I pray that He will bless you with all new appliances.
Ginny
Maggots?! That is completely and totally disgusto-busto! Ick.
I do love that song. While I can say with my mouth that I trust God to provide, it would be hard to actually live out my faith... especially when it hits home with my children being hungry! It's hard enough to cook 3 meals a day, but without an oven or a working refrigerator?...
But I am thankful that we live in a country where 3 meals are more normal than not. That I don't have to grow the food to begin with but can just go to the store to buy it. And that I have three little blessings to feed in the first place! Let alone my one big blessing of a husband. :-)
Good job allowing God to speak into your life under such hard circumstances! I know it can be tough because God can "fix it" so easily and at times we wonder why He just won't. Because there is always a lesson to be learned. He is teaching us and preparing us - thank you Jesus! You have come out stronger! :)
Thank you for stopping by my blog! Hope to stay connected!
I have done the same exact thing (maybe not the same circumstance) Thanks for reminding me of being grateful and how much we can learn from our trials. Thanks for adding me to your friends list, I have added you as well.
Baby wipes.....My best calculations come up with about 1 penny per wipe versus the store bought (if you buy bulk) at about 2 cents each...so about half price! It depends a little on what paper towels you get and if they are on sale :)
For example on my last purchase I could have gone to costco and gotten Huggies 832 wipes for 19.99, instead I bought Bounty 8 rolls for 6.99 and can make 864 wipes, if you add in the soap and oil at .99 each I paid 8.99 total and got 30 more wipes :)
I think it's worth it. Have a great day!
~Laura
I just wanted to thank you for responding to my recent rant. It is a good point that not everyone was brought here willingly, sadly. Christians aren't without sin that is for sure, but Christ was/is and that is who I try to follow. (I'm from the anabaptist background). I didn't address every group b/c tonight I'm just ramped up over the specific groups I was writing about. But, just so you know where I'm coming from, there are certainly cases where people need a hand, but I tend to think they are the exception and not the rule. That's not to say I'd do away with any program that offers a hand up, I think we need good programs to help train and equip those who are struggling so they can stand on their own two feet. Democrats want to give a hand out and keep people under their control. I want to see people having a will to provide for themselves and work hard, and if they need help to have insurance or make ends meet, then we should be striving together to help them. Even so, socialism is a dangerous way for our nation to go. I've yet to see a country run this way that I would want to live in. Again, I really do appreciate your sharing your thoughts in such a kind manner. God bless you and your family.
I'm a wife to a wonderful, loving husband of 12 years. I'm a mom with 6 children aging from 9 years to 8 months. I have 1 princess and 5 superheroes. This is my place to share our home, our school and my heart! Welcome! Stop by anytime.
. Well this one had less maggots and was missing this front piece at the bottom, but it worked. It made extremely loud noises but... Well one year later (after I bought groceries) I noticed that it seemed a little warmer. My hubby didn't think so. But Thursday morning, when I got up to make turkey bacon and free range eggs, I noticed that the refrigerator was hot! My food had even unthawed in the freezer
!
! Like I didn't know that. So I was mad at everyone (even God
). So I decided to show Mr. "God Will Provide" a thing or two. Saturday morning as I was going to the post office, I said will you make a piece of toast for the 2 older children and some oatmeal for the 3 younger children and a bottle for the baby? He said yes (rolling his eyes). See its easy to say "God Will Provide" when you aren't doing the work! Well he did it. Then when I came home from ballet, he was feeding the children some of the thawed out food in the freezer!
I was mad again. 
) But at that moment my heart was softened. I repented to God (to prideful to repent to my husband). But I did become my nice, loving self again. 
! Oh, did I mention that the oven hasn't worked since May!?
