God Is Beyond Creative.

In Kansas City, during our weekend getaway, I prayed, "God, during this conference I want to hear a direct word from you. I want a stranger to walk up to me and give me something on your heart."

One hour later it happened. Through a young girl who sat behind me and tapped me on the shoulder. She handed me a note with a bullet point list of things God laid on her heart specifically for me.  She wrapped it up in a package of humility with the final comment being:  This is just my interpretation of what the Lord is saying. Ha, if only she knew.

Story #2 on praying boldly.  The next night in the hotel, while taking a bath, I prayed:  God, do it again. But this time for Jeremy.  Also, please have someone walk up to me with $500.00 so I can give to Mary (Fictional name. Mary was a women in my life raising many children alone and working in the ministry field of investing in other children as well.

The next day at the conference, a man sitting behind Jer tapped him on the shoulder. Jeremy turned around and sure enough received a "word" that God laid on this strange man's heart to give.  It was right on.  That was awesome.

But I didn't come home with the 500.00.

Fast forward to today:

Our finances are sucking more than normal this time of year.  Blah blah blah. Not complaining. We choose to be abnormal and homeschool vs. me going out and getting a job.  But I'm just say'n. I had to say it. You'll see why....

So, we file taxes and wonderfully forget that in South Dakota there is no state tax. Crap. Was kinda really banking on a fat return (like we'd always get living in Iowa). Yeah, not so much. Many of you know how it is. La de dah.

So I go to bed that night feeling unusually anxious about everything. Which typically I don't, because God always pulls through. But this particular night I was really doubting Him and starting to worry.  The next day I have Dyson in the car with me and we head to our mailbox.  Inside are some awesome unexpected medical bills that I thought I had paid off.  But alongside was a card from a woman in Nebraska.  That was odd.

I opened it up and she wrote words of encouragement to me about how she enjoys reading my blog and such.  Then, I nearly had a heart attack when I saw a beautifully written very fat check inside.

Holy crap!

Tears welled in my eyes and I looked at Dyson and I said, "Listen Dyson! These things don't just happen! These are miracles that God will do for those who love him and obey him with all their hearts!"

I was jumping with joy and called my husband right away! He was so humbled and confused and then sarcastically said, "Just keep writing those blogs babe!"

Ha ha.

30 minutes later I jumped in the shower to get ready to head to church that night.  As my heart was dancing and giddy with the awesomeness of God, I reflected back to when I had those same feelings in Kansas City. Then suddenly, I stopped and (excuse my lingo. Just being honest) let out an...

 "Oh Shit."

Yup. You guessed it. My unanswered prayer wasn't so "unanswered" anymore.  There wasn't even room for argument because it was the very specific answer to my specific prayer.

So I texted Jeremy and he responded: Stupid prayer.

:)

But it's all good, God's got our backs. Because in this moment He reminded me of a few weeks back of me standing in a room of Kasiah's dance studio, tears welling in my eyes.  I received the very unexpected, out of nowhere, and would "never ask or hope for this" news that Kasiah was being gifted with a nearly free ride to be on dance team next fall.  Talking like $600-$1,000 free.

I nearly had a heart attack in that moment too.  Kasiah loves to dance. She's been wanting to be on team, but we've always responded with an "absolutely not" response.

So, after remembering that moment I felt God say to me:

Danielle, 

I might not be working in the ways that you expect, but I'm working... and I've got this.

Love you.
God.