As I was with Moses.......

God often takes us back to promises He has given in the past, to remind us of His faithfulness.

He did that just a few weeks after we returned to Oklahoma from Pennsylvania. I was wrestling with God again over the call to CMU. I gave Him every excuse in the book as to why I could not go:

"Lord, I can't go to a smart school. You know I'm a dingbat. I can't carry on conversations with techies!!!"

"You know I will never be able to drive in a big city like that!!"

"My parents just retired in the States! I need to be near them!"

But God spoke again, loudly and clearly, through a scripture from our Daily Bread promise box. I pulled the card out that morning, and the words almost jumped off the page at me.

"As I was with Moses, so I will be with thee." --Joshua 3:7c

God was clearly reminding me of His faithfulness, through the exact same verse that had impacted me on our vision trip.

Just a few days ago He did it again. We have been receiving boxes and boxes of "Christmas in August" stuff from churches all over the United States. My favorite part of those packages are the handmade cards from all the little kids.

It had been a particularly tough week (in the midst of a difficult season) when the mail carrier arrived at the door one morning with a package from a little church down South. I was emotionally drained and spiritually exhausted that day, and had cried out to God for some encouragement. What happened next blew me away.

As I cut open the box, there was a little purple card laying on the very top. It had star and flower cutouts pasted on it, as well as a "Daily Bread" card. Guess what verse was on the card?

"As I was with Moses, so I will be with thee." --Joshua 3:7c

I opened the card. Inside, someone had scribbled in black marker: "We are thinking of you and praying for you. Don't forget--God is always with you."

That was the only card--amidst the 1,000+ we have received--which had a daily bread card pasted to it. I truly believe that card was from God to me, because I needed to hear Him that very day.

That card is now taped to my refrigerator. It's a reminder that I serve a very present and personal God who provides for my deepest needs.


Psalm 36:5-9

"Your steadfast love, O LORD, extends to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds.

Your righteousness is like the mountains of God; your judgments are like the great deep; man and beast you save, O LORD.

How precious is your steadfast love, O God! The children of mankind take refuge in the shadow of your wings.

They feast on the abundance of your house, and you give them drink from the river of your delights.

For with you is the fountain of life; in your light do we see light."