My Mom shared a story with me yesterday that I have never heard before. Part of it I knew, like how she and Dad donated money toward a new church building in North Huntingdon, PA, 30 years ago only to see it tied up in scandal. Half the church wanted to use the donated money toward remodeling the historic building while the other half wanted to use the money for what it was intended ... a new building. I knew about the scandal. I knew about the split in the church. It was my confirmation year, and I knew as I was confirmed, my vote on this matter suddenly became very important. And I even knew about the angel that visited my mother on the edge of her bed, asking her to give a message to the pastor as to what needed to be done. The church was to split, and a new church built with only a portion of what had been saved. All that I knew.
Then I learned something new. Just recently my mom went back to visit the church. In true Moses fashion, after my Mom and Dad had saved and given so much to see this new church built, the Lord carried them away to Chicago. My parents never got a chance to worship in the new building as members. When my mom went to the church for a visit recently, she took her camera and snapped away taking pictures of the beautiful building and the stained glass window that almost wasn't until she made a few phone calls and overnight raised enough money to pay for it. At this recent visit, she saw all the many people worshiping in it and got teary realizing this was God's building and God's plan all along.
Here's the part I didn't know. Mom had said when the money raised was cut back severely after the church split, there were many alternations they needed to make in the design. The original design called for a sloped floor. This design element was put in place because they wanted everyone in the church to be able to see over the heads of those in front of them in worship. Alas, this was too pricey with the new budget and was cut. However, when the contractors went to dig for the foundation on the new property, they hit solid rock ... a solid sloped rock. When putting in the church floor, it had to be sloped, perfectly slanted to the front of the building. The Father had provided for even this in the midst of such a sad and often times ugly scandal.
We so often forget that our Lord is in the details. He loves us to very much. He provides our needs and then to our surprise, often provides our wants in beautiful, miraculous, God-only ways. It's then we can sit back in awe, yet again, of our amazing, loving Father.
I have often said my faith, my taught faith, came from the two greatest people I know: my Father, with his head knowledge of the Word and generous spirit, and my mother, who has a child-like faith completely relying on Jehovah Jireh - God our Provider - and her unconditional love for everyone around her. I have been blessed indeed by both of these spiritual mentors in my life.
And to hear how our Father provided for this, and my mother's complete joy in telling the story, forced me to my knees in worship of this Awesome God. Not just cause He provided a sloped floor, sent an angel, or inspired hearts to give abundantly for a stained glass window, but that He provided me with such powerful witnesses of the Almighty in the sweetness and faith of my parents. Thank you, Father God. All glory to you.
