That reminds me...

I just posted for a chance to win a scholarship to a woman's leading, writing, speaking contest and it reminded me of another time when God provided a way. Well, He always provides, but this was for a particular "want" and I wasn't sure I was going to get to go.

My freshman year of high school I was very involved with my youth group. We were in church every time the doors were open, but the premier event of every youth group member's spiritual/social life was, of course, summer camp. Camp was a week long event in an austere all-boys military school. Did I mention we would be staying on the fourth floor and there was no air conditioning? No? That's because these things didn't matter at the time. What mattered was that every one was going and all the participants lives were going to be changed and I just HAD TO GO.

The problem was, I didn't have any money. I was raised by a single mom and cash for camp just wasn't readily available. So, I saved my babysitting money and every other dime I could get my hands on. I also participated in every fundraising opportunity that came my way at church. I was working as hard as I could, but as the deadline approached I was shrouded in doubt. Finally, the deadline arrived to have all the money turned in and I was $30 short. I was bummed (meaning devastated) and set out to do what I always did back then when I was upset. I pulled my hair up into a tight, high pony tail that would swing with the appropriate life isn't fair attitude with each step I stomped. I made it about 15 feet from my house when I was hit. No, no, not by a car. I was hit by cold, hard cash. Two folded up twenty dollar bills bounced on the side walk in front of me then flew up and smacked me right in the chest. Just like that. I looked around expecting the true owner to be somewhere closeby, but there was no one. Just me. I turned in my money that night, and used the leftover to buy the snacks I needed for the week.

If you think about it in just dollars, it isn't all that impressive. $40 to the God who holds the world in his hand isn't even a drop in the bucket. But He didn't just give me $40 that day. He gave me more than I needed. He is a generous God who supplies all our needs. And by supplying those $40 that day all those years ago, I have known for a long time that my God makes a way for me.