God Will Send The Ravens

God's timing is always perfect. He sees our deepest heart aches and problems and knows the solutions before we do. But so many times we think in the natural and that if something happens beyond our control we will let the brain take over, and not even realize it. Trying to frantically in the natural to figure out a solution, rather than first seeking (in step one) the one who already sees the problem and knows  what you need.

We recently got hit again with life. My husband lost his job due to reasons beyond his control. We had been down this road before and the uncertainty and shock can consume you if left to it's own. But this time instead of panicking while still numb from shock I felt we should run away. Literally get in the car and just run somewhere with Jesus. I had tucked a few dollars away just for an emergency like this because we had been there before. This time we knew we must approach it differently. Mental health is so important and I knew if we did not do something different asap my husband might fall again into a deep depression. So off to the beach we went. 

Photo by Susan Jackson using no filters

Of course with my husband being from the coast of Rhode Island and an ex cruise director I knew hearing waves would be soothing. It was! It helped him so much. He surprised me one afternoon and started reading to me a page in Our Daily Bread. I had no idea he was reading it at all. He read a verse out of 1 Kings 17:6 NIV the ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning and bread and meat in the evening and he drank from the brook. This was God's way of taking care of the Prophet Elijah daily as he camped where God told him too.  So that really spoke to my heart and I journaled it declaring that as our first sign of hope. 

A little while later as my husband walked the beach alone this time, I stayed behind to spend some alone time with the Lord. I just felt to get up and go stand at the balcony and watch the waves. I saw my husband looking up at the fourth floor balcony but as I waved down to him a couple of sea gulls flew by but beside them was one lone raven. It was almost as if it flew by in slow motion looking at me. I was shocked. I had not seen a raven the whole time I was there and I spend a lot of time looking at the nature around me. 

My husband did not fully understand my excitement later when I told him of it. I said, " It was a sign from God he is going to take care of our needs because he even used ravens to take care of Elijah! Why not us! I think it was a God wink. Well my husband did not see the raven so it did not mean a lot he wanted to see something himself but he did not say although I knew. 

Later the next day as we where leaving the island we pulled over to get a snack before we left the island. As we got out of the car he was so excited saying , "Susan look, look!" I look over next to me on the bush only inches from me is a raven, sitting just staring at us. I walked up nearer to it and said, "did God send you?" Most of the time if I have ever seen a raven or any type of bird in my life if you try to approach it , it will flee. This one did not. I said, thank you bird for obeying God and coming to give us a message of hope. 

We are only two weeks post that day and we are still talking about those two raven sightings after we read that verse. It was the hope we needed at just the right times.

My eyes are open with expectancy as we wait on God and see how he provides. Meanwhile every provision we see I say there is another raven provision! I want to share with you the first one. Bible Gate Grid Bloggers sent me a new Artisan Collection Bible to review. It came at just the right time just to bring me hope just like God used the ravens. This Bible is a type I have always wanted but never got. it is a New International Version with journal space on each page! 

Of course the first verse I had to journal and highlight to test it out was the verse from that day that began my quest for verses and promises of God that we could claim and proclaim and hang onto in these trying times. It brought me such joy. God knows the desires of our hearts and he knows I have been wanting a Bible just like this! 
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This Bible is stunning in every way. I love marble and this has a marble look to it. I love the gold accents here or there. Every time I hold this Bible it evokes joy not just because it is the word of God but also it was a raven provisional to make me smile and it was even in the color I wanted as well. God knows the desires of our heart even when we do not pray to him about it.
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He cares about every single detail. 

Here are somethings I am enjoying about this Bible so far.

• I have enjoyed NIV as one of my favorite translations since I was first saved. It was the first translation that helped me understand the word of God because when I would read the King James Version as a new christian I was left with a lot of confusion.  
• I love the wide margins.
• The pages with golden edges are delightful.
• The words of Jesus mighty Yeshua are in red.
• Comes with two ribbon bookmarks inside.
• The outside is solid and sturdy yet beautiful in it's pink marble appeal. 

I am so grateful for God's word in any form be in print or digital. If you would like to get this Bible yourself ( they offer various colors) visit the Bible Gate Way Store.

Or you can study God's word for free in any translation at BibeGateWay.com it is my most favorite Bible resource site when I do not carry my Bible with me. 
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I thank God for his God winks of hope to us.