TRUSTING that GOD will PROVIDE

 or 

 

How many drips of water does it take to fill a cup?  I’m not sure, maybe 173?  How many 5 gallon buckets of water does it take to fill an Olympic size lap pool?  I’m not sure, but probably a few more than 49.  J  Changing variables make some measurements extremely difficult.  For example, how many banana boxes of clothes do we need for a Children’s Clothing Day at the Oasis?  In April we used 14, but we didn’t know if the same number of people will come for clothing in May, and although we had 14, we only needed 10.  I know there were times in the past 6 years where we used only about 6 boxes for one children’s clothing day.

It is a wonderful thing to continually learn how to TRY to plan, TRY to change, and above all TRUST  the Lord.  At the Oasis during the years 2008 to 2012, almost every month, the Men’s Clothing Room Day was huge and stressful.  We consistently gave clothes to 140 to 160 men in a fast-paced 6 hour rush, and we had to tell many (above the 160 number) that we could not give them clothes.  Much of the time we had to limit each person to 2 items.   Then between 2012 and early 2014, there was a period of 14 months or so where we only served 90 men at each Men’s Clothing Room and we did not have to turn anyone away.  Recently the numbers are back up and we are having to turn men away because we don’t have enough clothes nor enough physical energy for one day.

The Oasis is located up the street from where Austria houses people who are seeking refugee status.  We do not always know how many people are in the camp AND that unknown number is always changing.  We do not always know how many will come to clothing room.  On Wednesday night when we share the gospel message, we do not always know how many will openly respond and how many will need weeks to think about Jesus and who he really is before they decide to seek Him.  But, although we do not know how many will respond or when, we continue to give the message.  Although we do not know how many will show up for a clothing room day, we continue to plan for, and offer clothing to refugees.

Where will the next boxes of clothes for Men’s Day come from?   I don’t know. 

What will we do if 200 men show up at 1:30 on a Monday for clothes when we can only give clothes to 140?   We have to tell at least 40, “no”. 

How many will respond to the next Wednesday night message?  I don’t know.

How many will watch the whole Jesus film in their language on next Thursday night?  I don’t know.

I am reminded of 2 scriptures that are an encouragement to me and remind me what I DO know:

Matthew 6:33  But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

And

James 4         ¹³ Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” ¹⁴ Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. ¹⁵ Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.” 

These two scriptures are a huge encouragement to me, because they are a reminder of why we are doing what we do AND where our HELP comes from.  We are giving clothes to refugees, because we want to share Christ’s love.  We share the message of Jesus because there is no other name by which we can be saved.  We share the love and message of Jesus with refugees and trust God will provide for what we need.  We plan  as much as we can for “today” and  trust God for “tomorrow”.

Thank you for PRAYING WITH US so that  we will continue to  GIVE what we can!

Dan Lincoln