All You Need is Him
by Sue Raines
Jim and I have been married almost 41 years now and saved for about
30 of those years. About a year or two after we got saved, I really
had a hunger to do something to spread the gospel. Jim wanted to do
anything that would give glory to God and see people saved and
walking with Christ. We had been born again and spirit-filled in
the Catholic church and had been listening to a Catholic evangelist
named Charlie Osburn. He was so bold and so black and white; we
were inspired every time we heard another of his teachings. He
challenged people with the sermon on the mount, and Jesus telling
people to love their enemy and bless those who curse you.
At the time we were living in San Antonio and Jim worked as a
private detective and hated what he was doing. We were watching
Charlie’s program one night when he announced he was going to open
the first Catholic school to train lay people on how to become
evangelists. At this point in our walk we had already read some St
Ignatius of Loyola’s teachings on discernment, so we both prayed
for God to speak clearly if we were to attend this school in
Pensacola when classes started in six months. We both agreed we
thought we were supposed to make the move, however, we were always
tight financially, God would give us what was needed ONLY when it
was needed. We used to joke that if we had anything extra;
something was going to happen. And it usually did, a flat tire or
an electric bill higher than previous ones. So our real difficulty
was not in moving to Florida but after calling Uhaul we realized
the move was going to cost us several thousands of dollars; and we
had exactly zero. As we prayed and felt more assurance this was
indeed His direction for us we were concerned over what to tell our
landlord. He was a close friend who lived right across the street
and we had always told him we would give him at least thirty days
notice. As the months went by we realized we needed to leave in May
so we could be totally settled before classes started, and did I
mention we had four boys at this time...ages 14 to 8. We continued
in prayer and felt we were supposed to tell our landlord on April
first that we would be moving May first. He had had this house up
for sale for a very long time, but the first week after we’d given
him notice, the house sold. Oh my gosh, now we definitely HAD to
move in a few weeks.
Sometimes while we had the desire to obey, our flesh would start to
rebel. Fears and questions would threaten our resolve. God would
mercifully burn all our bridges. By that I mean, He left us no way
out, no chance to retreat or turn around, our only option many
times was to only go forward with Him. It has really been His grace
for us because all we really wanted was to obey Him, so He lovingly
put us in places where we had no other choice.I am so grateful.
As the weeks ticked by we saw some money come in but only enough to
rent the big UHaul truck we needed to move all our belongings.
Slowly it seemed to be becoming clearer and clearer to us that God
was telling us to get the truck; even though we had no money for
gas to get to Pensacola. As the time approached we both felt
certain that he was telling us to trust Him and get the truck even
though we were about two thousand dollars short for this move. So
we went and got the truck. Mind you, they will not give you a
refund if we bring it back in a day or two because we didn’t
actually move. Fourteen hundred dollars was plopped down on the
truck, we drove it home and started packing. As we were packing one
of the men Jim worked for gave him a few new accounts to work, so
he could not help me and the boys load the truck. He was sitting in
a chair in our kitchen with the phone and a pad of paper on his lap
as we placed the last items in the truck. Right after we placed the
very last thing on the truck, Jim walked out with the chair and
told me he had just made the last two thousand dollars we needed to
move; and we had only thirty minutes to get across town to pick up
the check before the place closed for the day. This was a Friday,
and we only had the truck for a few days, we had to leave for
Florida today. We got all the boys praying as we sped across town,
in our VW van and the huge UHaul truck, we pulled into the parking
lot with just a few minutes to spare. PRAISE GOD!!! We were on our
way, and as usual once our rent was paid, utilities turned on and
the new house stocked with food; we had only enough money; nothing
left over. But hallelujah, we had enough.
God is so good He told us He would give us our DAILY bread, and He
had.. Remember when the Israelites were in the desert and they
tried to store some extra manna and it spoiled? He wants us to come
to Him daily, He wants us to remember we need Him daily, not just
for our bread, but for everything. Man liveth not on bread alone
but on every word that proceeds from the mouth of God. We have to
get a fresh word,every day, a fresh touch or we also begin to spoil
and are good for nothing. I have to remember these stories because
the truth still applies for me today. He will give me my needs, not
always my wants, but you know, my wants don’t give me life. They
don’t give me peace, they don’t make me feel loved or
cherished...they just feed my flesh. Something I really, really do
not want to get any stronger, I am actually trying to kill it.
Thank you Lord Jesus for always being there for me with ENOUGH, and
with exactly what I needed, when I needed it. Thank you for being
patient with me and not giving up on me when I griped and
complained about your provision being too slow, or too little. You
always knew what you were doing, and I am learning to trust You
more deeply and more completely.. AND that is just what I need! I
love you, Lord.
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