seven

Writing this post is going to bring me a lot of joy. Hopefully, it will point to the glory of God! Our journey of "little or no" income started last year. It was November 24, the Monday prior to Thanksgiving. I thought it was incredibly rude for Eric's main client of 5 years to tell him the Monday before Thanksgiving that they were finished. Since then, we have survived on a small deal here or there and the totality of our savings. Cleaning houses and photography have helped as well.

We had put up two rent houses for sale, knowing we could survive on the proceeds if need be. We were also able to list our Toyota Corolla for sale, since we have been able to drive Eric's Grandmother's car. Eric has had a ton of meetings with various people in order to get new business. But things were moving s-l-o-w-l-y. And the savings account wasn't going to feed us another month.

But, last Wednesday, things changed. We got a buyer for our Corolla. Sweet little college girl who called at 10:30 p.m., begging us to hold the car for her til the morning. We confirmed a closing date (it's today!) for one of the houses. And, last, but not least, Eric had a very promising meeting to help someone raise funds for his business. The contract hasn't been signed yet, but if it goes through and he later finds funds for the company, we might even be taken care of for the next year.

If you have studied "Esther" by Beth Moore, then you are thinking what I am thinking: "Reversal of Destiny!"

But, here is where it gets good. I imagine the Lord had us lose our income on the Monday before Thanksgiving so that I would remember the day. It was exactly 7 months ago. Last Wednesday, June 24th was exactly 7 months after November 24th.

Ahh, the number 7! It is rich with significance and meaning in the Bible. It took 7 days to create the world. Jesus used 7 "I Am" statements in the book of John to describe himself. There were 7 feasts that the Israelites had to partake in. There are 7 churches listed in the book of Revelation. In the book of Ephesians, there are 7 elements of the armor of God that believers are instructed to put on. And it goes on and on...

The number 7 represents completion. It symbolizes rest.

Praise God, I think we are entering it. We have had 7 months of testing. We have had to rely on Him to be our complete provision. Eric has fully acknowledged God as the One who makes things happen and brings about work. God taught me that he doesn't need us to work in order to take care of us. The Israelites wandered in the desert for 40 years and he was their sole provider. I am not saying God didn't institute work; he had Adam working in the garden before sin ever entered the picture. I am just saying that he may strip work and the financial comfort it brings in order to allow us to fix our eyes back on Him, the giver of all good things.

I think our vision has been changed on other things, as well. We are content to stay in our small, older home. We long to give more and more to things we believe in because we know how painful it is when you can't afford to. We desire to be totally out of debt in the crazy days to come.

I specifically remember our community group asking us at the end of last year how long we would "Be OK" financially. I told them February. If something hasn't happened by February, we will be coming to live with you all. Ha. Well, God likes to make good on His faithfulness. He also likes for all the glory to point to Himself. I think He did a good job of both, don't you?