Ears To Hear # 73

THE YELLOW LAWN MOWER

When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
I Corinthians 13:11

PICTURE THIS

           I left this picture large on purpose. I want you to get the same picture I received from our Lord for several days in a row. It represents my first Step out of Poverty and a “poverty mentality”. 
           As our dear Holy Spirit began to bring information to me about His sincere desire to bless His children abundantly, I was determined to ‘camp out’ on that information from His Word, until I knew it had become a part of me because it was settled in my spirit.
           Keith Moore was not the first to try to teach this message. I have heard it for years but never “received” it. I praise God for the boldness and faith He has given Keith to speak the Truth using God’s own Word to Prove His Will for our lives.
           This does not happen just because someone says it. There is a sequence. And from where I sit, one must learn to hear from the Lord for themselves, or they will make foolish attempts and fall into greed. They must know what God’s Word says and desire to see His kingdom and children blessed. Their Faith must work from a pure heart to the best of their knowledge. 
           The first scripture this lesson is standing on is: 3 John 1:2 “Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.”

“FOLLY” VERSUS “FAITH”

           In my early walk in the “spirit-filled” life, I did many things that seemed foolish. But, God blessed the heart of a sincere youth. Now, I am getting the meat of His Word and believing and receiving in ways so substantial that they cannot be denied. In the past it was only, “I hope this giving thing works….” Today, it is faith in seeing and knowing in the natural, that His Word really does work for our benefit as parts of the Body of Christ. He desires that ALL His children be blessed more abundantly than they have ever been before.

MY FIRST STEP IN “REAL” FAITH

           Through a process of revelations, the Holy Spirit began to present the question: “If you want your yard to look nice but you don’t have time to do it yourself, why don’t you hire someone to do it for you?”
           My first and old reaction was: “Oh, I’m too poor. I can’t afford that.” 
           But then, considering my new study in faith, I asked myself, “Well, why not?” I had never considered paying someone to do something for me that I could do for myself. But, time wise, I knew I could not be a ground keeper and continue writing. One would have to go. I did want my place to be beautiful to the Glory of God. 
           So the Lord and I reasoned on this matter for several days. Not arguing, just allowing Him to build His case as to why and how He wanted to bless me.
           After about 3 days of going to bed and getting up seeing that beautiful yellow lawn mower in my thoughts, I decided to take that leap of faith. Immediately, Faith rose up in me and I was determined that the next morning I would walk in and buy that lawnmower. I had the money but was AFRAID to spend it. Now, the fear was gone.
           Two days earlier, I stopped by Tractor Supply to check it out. As I was getting out of my car, I felt like the Spirit of the Lord was walking right beside me. I felt His presence so strong. I could hear Him saying, “Come on girl, let’s go look at your lawnmower and see which one you really want.”
           Starting with the prices, I considered which one I could afford.

THE NEXT DAY
WAS
MY MIRACLE DAY

           This day, I walked in a Glory Cloud all day. From morning until night. It was awesome, the way I felt the presence of our Lord. I easily got dressed, taking my time knowing what I was going to do, but like Christmas mornings when I didn’t want to open my presents too soon.
           I had already decided which lawnmower I wanted. I wanted the Best. Most of my life things had always been second hand or whatever cost less. Not today. God had broken through the barrier of my worth to Him, but even more to my understanding of just how rich my Heavenly Father is and how easy He makes it to bless those who love Him and Believe Him. He had even convinced me of how much He wants to bless us.
           As I was driving to Uvalde to make my purchase, the Holy Spirit asked me, “Is there something else you want?”
           “Yes.” I said. “I want to have it delivered today.” 
           So He told me to tell the salesmen that. I did, and in miraculous ways, arrangements were made to do just that. There was no arguing with the salesmen. God had gone ahead of me. It was already taken care of.
           I drove into the parking lot, smug as could be. Opened the door to my car and got out. I felt our Lord’s presence again as though He were my Very Rich Father, walking beside me. I could feel Him smiling like a doting father.
           “Come on Honey (daughter), let’s go get your lawn mower. Don’t look at the price, just pick out the one you really want. Money is no issue with Me. I want you to have it. I want you to have the best so that no one will think less of Me for the way I treat My children.” He was glowing with pride for the chance to bless His daughter.
           The sales people must have seen my richness because they were running here and there, getting everything I needed, serving me like royalty. The Lord and I just laughed.
           It was the smoothest transaction I have ever made. I seemed to know exactly what I wanted and even how to pay for it.
           I had asked the Lord how I should pay. I desire to begin paying things more in cash than credit. He said to make 3 payments. And that worked out perfectly as they had a plan where I could do that without paying interest. Praise God.
           Out of 3 different men who offered to deliver the lawn mower, the manager ended up doing it. I had been prepared to pay one of the young men to make the delivery but the manager said: “No, we don’t charge for delivery on our lawn mowers.” 
           Okay, Lord…more favor. Thanks.

THE MOWER ARRIVES

           All the way home, other blessings began to chase me down. Every thing I desired was made easy for me. I nourished each thought of what happened to and for me this day. Not so much the gift, but the Giver and the way He had given it to me. The experience was grander than the lawn mower itself, which was awesome.
           I wanted to tell someone, but I instead, I treasured it to myself for awhile…. I didn’t want unbelief from others to damper my new found faith in God’s ability to bless me and others. It was too precious to share right away.
           Somehow, I knew that every time I looked at that yellow lawn mower, it  would represent my first faith step out of poverty into abundance. Not for me only, but for all those I could share with.
           The young man drove up and unloaded my shining new lawn mower. Everything I have has a name, so I wasn’t sure whether to call her Betsy…from a song my son Brent wrote, or “My Girl”…so maybe she is both: “Betsy, My Girl.”
           The young man whose name was Mike, seemed as excited over Betsy as I was. He said she is the Best! And that, when he saw our lovely river side place, he could see I needed her. 
           As you may guess, we began immediately getting to know each other and soon were in a full-fledged conversation praising the Lord. All in all, my spirit and soul were full to over-flowing. After Mike gave me a few driving lessons and left, Betsy and I took several turns around the place just for practice and pleasure. I was more pleased with her than a new car. God knew the desires of my heart much better than I did.

THIS IS NOT
THE END

           Today while I was in the middle of sharing this with you, a young friend knocked at the door. I don’t know another Christian who glows more with the Spirit of Love than she does. She came to invite me to her son’s graduation but in the process I couldn’t help but share what God had done for me…and knew in my spirit that she would receive the message and many blessings would overtake her also.
           I told her of my desire for a caretaker for my property. And the experience I had finding one who had never returned me call. (I’ve learned to just let those things flow and God works them out.)  She said her husband, Chuy, had recently decided to go into the lawn care business. She was excited and called him right away on her cell phone.
           Would you believe? Yes, by now, I think you would. Chuy was already driving near my house, so he stopped in.
           Delia, my friend, was the first to see Betsy. As she, Chuy, their son and I admired Betsy and talked over a business deal, she asked. “What will you do with your old riding mower?”
           I said, “I guess it goes to you.” 
           “What!”, she said. “You mean it? I can’t believe it. How much do you want for it?”
           I said, “It’s yours. God gave me a new one and I knew He would show me who He wanted me to give this one to. So it’s yours from God.”
           Delia was jumping and squealing all over the place. Her excitement was so much like mine, because you see, it wasn’t so much the lawn mower being given to her, but the fact that God had answered her prayer of faith. She had recently been in agreement with another sister, perhaps even that day, that God would give her and her husband a riding mower.

THE POVERTY SPIRIT LEAVES
WHEN

           I recognized even more how God was delivering me from the spirit of poverty when Chuy began teasing me, saying, “Hey, I want that one.” Of course meaning Betsy. And for the first time I can remember, I did not feel guilty. In the past, I felt I should always give the best to someone else and keep the lesser for myself.
           This time, I said, “No, My Father gave this one to me.” And I laughed right back at him…although in my heart, I knew I meant it. Poor No More! Not in word, or action, or attitude. My Father has made me Rich. Thank You, Lord!

THE GREATEST MIRACLE

           The greatest miracle was that God prepared me to take that Step of Faith. He gave me the dream. He gave me the Faith. Then, He walked right through the whole process with me…never allowing room for doubt. Oh, Satan would like to come and steal this confidence from me, but the more I share it, the stronger I believe. 
           This message is available to any of God’s children who are willing to listen to His Word, and commit to hearing it until it is sealed in their hearts. It is TRUTH as many of us have never known it before.
           What if…I had not hear His Word?
                       What if…I had not committed to hearing Him out?
                                   What if…I were afraid to share this good news because of what people would think of me?
           Others out there, would not consider that they too, can be blessed in such a way. I so desire to be a blessing to others. That is why He delights in blessing us. So He can bless others through us. When our souls prosper, so will ALL areas of our life. He will daily give us more understanding of how to walk in His blessings. Just as I explained the “extenuating circumstances” in the little book Angel Food.

Say “Hi” to Betsy
She is the Best!