God is SO good!!!!!

Take a deep breath, it's a long one. But it's worth it, I promise...........

God is so good!! I love it when you get to experience something that is an obvious, hit you between the eyes, kind of "God did this" moment. Well, the Bryan family was SO BLESSED to get to experience one of those kinds of situations this past weekend....

Blue and I bought a pathfinder back in April that we absolutely loved. It was in our budget when we bought it, but as months passed and some medical bills surfaced we were realizing more and more that our car payment was causing a little stress and resulting in us pinching pennies. Through some conviction we realized that we needed to sell it and get something cheap and reliable that would last us for the next 2-3 years, or at least until Blue graduated from the doctoral program. Something that was probably high in miles but still a reliable vehicle. Again, this is not something that we wanted to do, but something that the Lord made aware to us that we needed to do. Admittedly, I was also kind of bummed to say good-bye to the DVD player that was in the pathfinder because I knew that would prove to be SO beneficial to have for Campbell on road trips to Alabama to visit family.

A family in Georgia contacted us last Thursday and, after some communication, decided to drive up with the intention of buying it. We met them at the bank on Friday evening to transfer the title and receive payment. From the very beginning I just LOVED them. We felt like we had known them much longer than a half hour:). They were downsizing from their Toyota Sequoia because Dana just wanted something smaller. She is a real estate agent and had her advertisement on the windows of the vehicle. So I asked her how business has been and she just started telling me about how much the Lord has blessed them. She said when people apologetically ask her how work as been she is able to use those moments as a way to give a testimony as to how the Lord has blessed and provided for their family because business has been great for them despite the tough economy. The next hour or so resulted in us getting to be encouraged by hearing them discuss how the Lord has blessed them over the years, hearing Scripture that has encouraged and directed their lives and testimonies of how the Lord proved Himself faithful to them even when He surprised them with changed plans. It was so encouraging!! Anyway, when we were saying good-bye they mentioned that they were trying to decide what to do with their vehicle. I did not think anything of it because I knew we could not afford a Sequoia so I did not even let my mind go to the option of purchasing it from them. Afterward, Blue and I went to test drive a Chevy Equinox that we ended up loving that was priced at $9000, which would have been a little easier on our checkbook. We decided to go home and pray about it and we needed to let the dealer know the next day. The next day we woke up and we both had a peace about the vehicle being a good buy - it was a great car at a great price. But something kept us from saying "yes" immediately. We told the dealer we would come on Monday in order to take it to a mechanic and have it checked again, and we would just hope and pray it didn't sell before then.

So Saturday afternoon, OUT OF NO-WHERE, I thought "I should ask Dana what they plan to ask for the Sequoia if they decide to sell it." To the point where I was SO anxious to get to my phone to ask her. Her response: "We have looked at a couple of options: donating it to a ministry or selling it. Joe and I have talked and if you and Blue would like it we will sell it to you for $3000. Then we will reach a happy medium of selling it and donating it to a ministry for the use of His shepherds." CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT?!?! But wait, it gets even better!! Because it is higher in miles she proceeded to say that they have already given it a brand new transmission within the last year, new brakes and the tires still have a good year and half on them!!! Keep waiting.........there is still more!!! She also wanted to let me know that she was going to include the DVD player with 2 screens!!! WHAT?!?! Can you believe it???? We are now saving around $300 a month and have more than we could have thought to ask for. God is so good.........all the time, He is good.

There are so many details in this story, even some that I haven't written about, that make it so obvious that the Lord used His gracious hands to orchestrate this entire situation. Our God is so amazing. It as such a sweet reminder that when we are obedient to Him, even in situations that we are not "excited" about, He blesses us so abundantly. Not only did the Lord provide buyers for our pathfinder and, in turn, supply us with a vehicle that is reliable and something we absolutely love, He also gave us such precious new friends in Him. We are on each other Christmas card list :)

Wait, there is still more................

My absolute favorite part about this entire story is how this lovely couple behaved in the midst of such great generosity. Every time I went to thank Dana for being so incredibly gracious her only response was to give thanks to the Father. In the most beautiful and gentle way possible she held me accountable in pointing my thankful fingers to the Lord, not to her and Joe. They were so humble. She told me that they had lumps in their throats to even be able to play a role in such a blessing. What an amazing example of a believer in our King who has a willing and giving spirit. When I told her I was struggling with even know how to show how thankful I am she told me that she has learned that the best way to say "thank you" to our Lord is reciprocity. Go and bless someone else.

I just love our Lord so much. I also love Dana and Joe for being such a radiant light for our Father.