Honey on Sunday

I met Trinidad Vasquez at her son's baptism.  Ronnie chose to follow the Lord after being in the Rehab Center for a month.  And that Sunday, his mom found me out (while I was still wet); to thank me.

Trinidad was with her 22 yr old daughter Maria Inis, whom I discovered was autistic.  She also told me that Ronnie had a younger brother of 10 yrs old name Diego.

The way she expressed her faith stuck with me for a few days, but some unknown something kept bothering me.  So I got her phone number from Ronnie and gave her a call. 

We met the next day and I found out the depth of Maria Inis' problems and how her daily care affected the family.  I also discovered the family was four months behind in their rent and in danger of being put out on the street if something wasn't done almost immediately. 

It was no chance meeting.  In my logical mind, I felt we should pay one month's rent to relieve the pressure of their being put-out on the street.  God however does not always operate according to our logic, no matter how well intended our thinking or even our natural love may be.  

Trinidad had mentioned selling honey products in the past.  A cache of product cost 800bs ($115).  And her rent was $100.  I wanted to do both; but finding myself at the end of the month, I couldn't.  So, if we could only do one of these two things, the most logical thing would be to pay some of the rent to preclude the risk of eviction, right? 

As we prayed however, something didn't sit right about that decision.  It seemed more like God wanted us to go another way.  It began to feel like paying the rent was a "reaction" to fear...and buying the honey products (to enable Trinidad's own efforts of faith) was more of an act of faith on our part... 

Thinking about those two contrasting views was easier than deciding which of them to choose.  Faith theory is easy to preach but another thing to place into practice.  It felt almost ridiculous, but in the end, we trusted God and followed His leadership. 

In three days, Trinidad had sold three-quarters of those products; paid one month's back-rent; and ordered another follow-on cache of product.  In three weeks time; a 350% return on the original investment saw ALL of the back rent paid as well as Trinidad's dignity restored and her faith & hope renewed in God's love!

One of the things that God taught me in this testimony, (which continues by the way), is that God does not want to just do "good" things.  He wants to do undeniable God-directed, God-done Things which raise people's faith; give Him joy; and create a testimony of His true character.  And in the process of doing such things; He wants to show Himself to me in reality, beyond all theory.

I'd ask you to think about Trinidad's story in relation to your own life.  I'd encourage you to trust God, knowing that He desires to use your life and your situation as a platform for His own glory.  All you have to do is submit your life to God in faith (Rom 12:1) that He might use it to glorify Himself in ways that other men can see, undeniably.  

You don't have to make it happen.  You just have to give yourself to Him.  It really is that easy.