God's Provision - A Summer of Miracles!

Have you noticed that everything that can be shaken is being shaken both in the natural and in the spiritual? As for me, the second half of 2011 has been a year of extreme shaking for me in my family, relationship, finances and work.

I believe the shaking that I am experiencing is no different to the uprising in the Middle East, Africa, and now in Europe. The earth itself is shaking with numerous earthquakes, hurricanes, tsunami and tornadoes. In addition to the natural disasters there is the major economic collapse being experienced in Europe and other parts of the world.

My shaking last summer began when I was laid off from my job for two months and my son arrived to live with me in a new city. Both these things happened at the same time and had it not been for the Grace and faithfulness of God, I believe I would have lost hope and lost my mind. I now understand why some people become homeless and lost, because it is so easy to give up and lose hope when everything around you is being shaken and crumbling before your eyes.

When I was laid off from work it came unexpectedly, I had no idea that things were so bad with the company, that they couldn't guarantee if we would be called back to work or when we would be called back - we were out in the cold. The job itself did not pay much and it was part time, so I didn't have much laid up in savings.

Around the same time I was laid off, my Landlord asked me to move from my apartment because she had decided to rent the building to one family. This was my second shock in a space of two weeks. I was really shaken by this new crisis, because I never expected this to happen since I was a good tenant; I took care of the place and I paid my rent on time all the things that a good tenant should do. Not only did my Landlord ask me to leave, but she only gave me 2 weeks notice. The notice was short, but added to that who would want to rent an unemployed person an apartment? I was at a crossroad, I didn't know what to do. I needed money for the first month rent and the security deposit, but first I had to find a place that good and reasonable.

The first thought came to mind, is that this is unfair and I am going to fight this eviction notice, which will also give me more time to look for a new place. I prayed a lot during this period because it was quite stressful and I needed direction. I reminded God of His faithfulness and His Promises to me- such as: "He will never leave me or forsake me," "He is my Shepherd and I shall not want" and His Word that says: "In my father's house there are many mansions...because I go to prepare a place for you..," I quoted scriptures day and night for comfort and strength as all of hell broke loose on me.

I did take my complaint to the Residential Tenancy Office and I won the right to remain in the apartment. I had kept all my emails exchanged between my Landlord and myself and it proved that the eviction notice was unfounded. Although I could have stayed in the apartment, I realized that with the new tenants who had already moved in, that it was going to be uncomfortable for me and for them because they wanted to rent the entire building. I now had some more time to look for an apartment.

Fortunately for us my son, Maurice and I came up with the money for the first month rent and the security deposit. However, there was another obstacle to overcome, how could we rent an apartment when neither one of us had a job? Besides my employment income I was also on a partial pension, but most landlords want to know that all the tenants are working.

However, I did not let the fact that we don't have jobs deter me from looking for an apartment. I prayed and ask the Lord to lead me and guide me to the right place. I remember one Sunday I was looking at TD Jakes service on the Internet and he said "God says you are moving, but he is not going to give you the address, you will have to use your discernment." This confirmed to me that I was going to move. The next confirmation came when I started looking and I got a strong impression of a song that I had never sung, I just kept on hearing one line of the song over and over in my spirit it was: "There's a place for us." I did find that place.

The first apartment I looked at was not too far from where I lived, and I kept in mind what TD Jakes had said use my discernment. The outside of the building was quite untidy and the manager gave me an application form to fill out asking for reference from my previous landlord and job reference, so I knew that was not the place for me. If even I had a job reference and used my landlord's name the building was much to untidy for me.

My second search led me to an apartment in an upscale neighborhood. The rent was the same as the previous one, but this apartment was 5 minutes walk from the pacific ocean with a long trail and beautiful flowers along the trail. The apartment itself was large and modern with wall to wall carpet and modern appliances. What really convinced me that this was it, was the living room painted with burnt orange and white, exactly like my house in the Caribbean which is rented out while I am in Canada. It was like a home away from home and my house in the Caribbean is not very far from the Ocean. God is truly a God of miracles. As the Word says: "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him"

I told the owner that Maurice and I liked the apartment and we would like to rent it, and he said "okay, you can have it." That man did not ask me for reference, work information or to fill out an application. He made up the rental agreement and I signed it and it was a done deal. There was a place for us!

In the meantime, I experienced another shaking. I had applied for Employment Insurance benefits and I was told based on my R.O.E. (Record of Employment), I did not have enough hours in the past 52 weeks to qualify for benefits. I was really upset and disappointed because I needed an income to pay my bills and take care of our needs.

One morning I awoke about 5:00am and I was thinking about the unfairness of it all, because I was just short of a few hours. As I laid in my bed a still small voice said to me "go and get your pay stubs (which I always kept) and count the hours on each pay stub. I got out of bed and took my calculator and checked the hours on each pay stub and was amazed to discover that I had 36 hours over the required amount of hours that I needed to qualify for benefits. I went back to my employer and had them check their records and they found out that they had made an error and a new R.O.E. was issued and shortly after I began to receive my E.I. benefits. Again God's guidance through the Holy Spirit spoke to me and guided me to the action to take. He is a miracle working God. When man says no, He says yes!

We moved into the new apartment on September 1, 2011 and we spent the days unpacking and organizing the new place. Although I was happy to be in my new place there was still that disquiet about not having a job, because the E.I. benefits was not enough to cover our expenses. So many times God will do something great in our lives and like the Israelites in the wilderness, we soon forget how He came through for us that time and when we approach another situation we lose faith and start to become fearful again. That's how it was with me, and at those times I just had to press in with the Word and Praise and Worship early in the morning and late at nights. I was fighting a spiritual battle and I had to use my weapons of war.

On September 9, 2011 I received a phone call from my workplace asking me if I was available for training to start a new project on September 13th. Needless to say, I was ecstatic the breakthrough came right when I was finished moving and unpacking. God's timing was perfect.

When Maurice arrived to live with me after moving from Ontario, he realized that the job market was different and he would need to obtain different skills. He has a degree and other training, but he needed to become certified in his field. He applied to attend College in the Fall and he was told that the program was full and he would have to wait until 2012. However, around the middle of September he received a phone call from the school telling him that he can start the program in September. I knew the Lord had opened that close door for him, so I told him to go ahead and we will make it through with the help of God, because when He gives a vision He also gives the provision.

When Maurice had first arrived he had gone for an interview at an IT firm and the Manager was quite impressed with him, but for some reason did not employ him. This same manager one day called him and said he was speaking to some colleagues of his in Switzerland and they are looking for someone like him with his credentials to work for them online. Maurice explained to them that he was attending school and they said that's okay and offered him a part time job during the school year.

God continues to bless us in many ways such as last week when my girlfriend surprised me by showing up with a basket full of tomatoes, sweet peppers fruits and preserves from her garden. The following week my son went to play soccer at a charitable function and he received several gifts donated by local business places and he came home with packages of cheese, drinks, bread, gift cards and dinner for two donated by a restaurant. When he left home he said he was going to buy something for our dinner, but I was most surprised when he came back with two Italian dinners above what he was able to afford.

Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Eph. 3:20. My faith has been tested over the past six months, but as Job said:"Though He Slay Me, Yet Will I Trust in Him". Job 1:4-5.