He equips those He calls

This morning my former pastor (AKA hometown pastor) posted on FB that "God never assigns a task and then deprives His agent of the tools required to complete it." An agreeable statement.

I've always defended my ability as a home educator as a matter of being 'equipped' NOT that I was "right for the job." Often I get "I could never do it' (typically followed by a list of reasons why they are too impatient or incompatible with their own children). I rarely believe a Mom is unable to do the same so I give my rote reply, "He equips those He calls." Although my reply is always the same, to each skeptical Mom it means something different. Usually they think it means "I'm not called!" But for some it means trusting God to provide the tools (i.e., patience, confidence, strength, perseverance, support, belief, knowledge, faith, money, time, a supportive husband/in-law, etc.). The tools they would need obviously would be different but yet God's tool box is overflowing. I am learning the way He provides is non-ending, better than expected, and fully sufficient! Can I get a witness?

I've been overwhelmed with gratitude lately as I've seen God's mighty hand at work before me, setting before us the tools we need to minister in Costa Rica. For those of you who see me daily...you can spot that fullness by the tears in my eyes. As the day gets closer, my heart and eyes well up fuller and faster. Initially, the tools we thought we would need were mostly financial (and an okay for hubby to miss work). We are so limited in our thinking! Sometimes it's so nice NOT to know what we really need to complete a task. When the Bible talks of His loving-kindness I'm convinced it's that He only reveals bits at a time ☺. Given the whole enchalada, I'd choke!

We stepped before God willing (meaning we purchased our tool box or brought that old rusted one we keep in the shed) but we were ill-equipped. We continue to hold out our arms embracing our empty box (fully relying on Him to fill it). Eyes wide open and mouths gaped open, we have watched and continue to watch as He has filled the box (not our own personal box but our team's box). "He never assigns a task and then deprives His agent of the tools required to complete it."

I equate God's handiwork, fully Home-Depot equipped, to watching an artist draw those silly pastel charactures of your face at the amusement park. You know the ones---an exaggeration of the real for the purpose of expanding or enhancing the visual effect. As the artist looks intently before him, his hand easily flowing over the paper...like a good typist, rarely looking at his page...you begin to see a form taking place but no resemblance to it's object. Then as the colors are shaded in you can see the exaggerated features of a familiar face. We all know the picture, large head with a small body. And as a bonus, the artist captures a glimpse of your personality by enhancing your large nose, unbelievable eyelashes, pointed ears, high cheek bones, or dimpled chin and maybe even adding a tennis racket in your hand, your name in bubble letters, some vacation scenery or a hint of your political stand. Wow, you respond. I can't believe the likeness. I knew there would be a final picture, humorous no doubt, but I couldn't imagine what the artist would see, what would he draw, how would he envision me? And this.... this is the final picture. It's art.

God's provisions are art, too. We know He will provide. He has in the past and promises to in the future....but we can't see the full image, or recognize the picture as He begins but when He is done....we stand amazed: Wow, you respond. I can't believe this is the final picture.

Needless to say, we have been assigned a task of going to Costa Rica. We knew nothing but a date when we signed up. We didn't know who'd we'd go with, what the cost would be, our message, our purpose, or what resources we would need. As God has slowly revealed the answer to each of those questions, He has given the tools to complete our assigned task. Most recently God has equipped us with our mission theme: Trusting Jesus as Your Friend. Our vision was a skit, maybe a story using an intrepreter. But God's vision was a puppet show, in Spanish, pre-recorded. But God...we have no tools? I'll share His provisions next time☺

And Dear Reader....may you know God stands behind the big Home Depot counter in the sky waiting for you to take your assignment and hold out your tool box so He can equip you!!