Biblical Submission and a Minivan

I AM COMPLETELY FULFILLED AND AT PEACE WITH MY LIFE

If something happened to me today – this is really shocking that I can actually say this – I have no regrets!  I used to be consumed with regrets.  But now, I know that if I were to meet Jesus today – I know that God has used me to reach many people for His Kingdom and I am so thankful for the fruit I have already been able to see God growing in others.   I can’t wait to see all of His plans for each of you.  Y’all are precious to me!  I am thankful for the 40 years I have had and for the opportunities God has given to me.

I pray that He might empower me to be a godly steward with all that He has given me and that He might use me for His purposes every moment of the rest of my life.  I trust Him fully.  I yield myself completely.  I love Him with all my heart.  I want to be in the center of God’s will – nothing less and nothing more.

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Ok, on to the story…

A CHANCE ENCOUNTER AT WAL-MART

I was pumping gas at Wal-Mart today (3-18) and right before I got out of the car – I said, “I would really like to have a smaller car that didn’t use so much gas.”. While I was finishing up, an elderly man at the pump next to me asked if I wanted to sell my minivan. (He did not hear me say anything – I said I wanted a smaller car to my children before I opened the door.) WEIRD!

Hmm… I have been thinking about how I would like to get a smaller car now that we don’t have pac-n-plays and strollers to carry on vacation anymore. This man loves Chrysler Town and Country minivans – but his has over 200,000 miles on it. Mine has 92,000 miles. It has been paid off for awhile now. I love not having car payments!

I have asked my husband before about the possibility of trading my minivan for something smaller and more fuel efficient. 18 MPG in town is not very impressive to me! But, in the past, he has always said that since we don’t have a car payment – we might as well just keep the minivan.

I told the man that I needed to talk to my husband. He said he would call us in about a week.

I CALLED MY HUSBAND

I called Greg and said, “Something interesting happened today at Wal-Mart! A man asked me about buying my car. I would love to have a smaller car that gets better gas milage. I don’t know how much he might offer. Maybe we could look at getting a used car for me that costs the same amount as what we can sell the van for? Does that sound crazy?”

He said, “It could be interesting. I don’t know how much you could get for it. Maybe we could look into it and see.”

THE PLAN

I prayed, “God, if it is Your will for me to be able to get a smaller, more fuel efficient car – please provide one at the right time. And please give Greg wisdom about this decision. I trust You. I seek only Your will.”

Now – I wait. Peacefully. Cheerfully.

I don’t obsess.  I don’t struggle.  I don’t worry.  I don’t try to play out every possible scenario in my mind.  I don’t try to figure out how to MAKE everything work out the way I think it should.

I don’t lean on my own understanding but trust God’s sovereignty and trust Him to lead me through my husband and the circumstances.

This is how I approach decisions now – whether it is home schooling the children or not, or adopting a child or not, or giving more money to those in need, etc.

  • If I get to sell the minivan and get a smaller car – that’s AWESOME! I will be excited!
  • If Greg decides it’s not worth it to sell the minivan – that’s AWESOME! I still have a wonderful, working car with no payments.

The key to peace is to not get attached to the outcome – but to trust that God will lead me to the doors He has for me and to be grateful no matter what happens.  Then I get to have an adventure as I see God’s sovereignty work out His will in my life in all the decisions and details.  It’s amazing! 

TO BE CONTINUED…