As I write this, the snow is falling. I’m sitting by a warm fire and coffee shop jazz is playing in the background. I’m surrounded by the treasures that adorn our home and my husband, Joe is outside hanging the ‘Star of Bethlehem’ on the front of our home, then preparing to set up the life size nativity we built last year.
In addition to this idyllic environment the 2 of us have just come back from a beautiful stroll through the woods in the fresh snowfall.
The peace of the day, and surrounding environment is tangible; a stark contrast to the chaos and fear raging worldwide.
This year it’s 2021. Everyone is impacted in some way by the political and media messages imposing new rules and regulations that impact lives in one way or another, many with financial implications.
The Christmas of 2009 was another such year where people in many parts of the world were impacted by financial and political events beyond their control.
Songs and movies are made about worldwide events such as these, that have a profound impact on many people’s lives. We relate to the stories told because we all live through them in one way or another.
If you’re in the middle of a storm personally, the ‘happy ending’ of the story we tell later, is a blur or perhaps seems impossible. Emotions and decisions are triggered by anxiety, and fear of some sort of loss – real losses, that have the potential to impact lives for generations rage, as inevitable disaster seems to loom just ahead with no way to stop it!
During times of intense financial pressure, the common action is to retreat.
Around the world, finances have become a measure of worthiness, of identity, of security, and of hope. It doesn’t matter what worldwide event might have triggered a personal financial stress; the result is still personal – where the most intimate relationships we have are impacted, and every area of our life is affected.
Jesus was very clear when he said in Matthew 6:24, that we cannot serve 2 masters – God or money. This well-known verse has caused so much guilt, shame, control and isolation that it’s important to note, that the original word translated as ‘money’ is actually ‘mammon’. Mammon is a spiritual entity that uses financial control in its attempt to ‘steal, kill, and destroy’ anything good (John 10:10).
Knowing this, might not seem like it will change circumstances, but it’s extremely helpful knowledge when faced with situations that require a calm and peaceful mind to navigate tough decisions when circumstances around you are chaotic or seem to point to imminent loss or negative consequence…
When we’re confronted with situations and facts that throw us off guard, underlying beliefs and thoughts will trigger a response. If you’re stressed and see lack and loss in your future, that stress creates a tension that can lead to a self-fulfilling prophecy – not good…
But,… with this as the background, remember that information that can be easily dismissed or ignored in times of crisis, but in this $3.79 Christmas Miracle story, it was this knowledge that became a tiny seed that opened a door to a family Christmas that our daughter described at the time as, ‘the best one ever’.
During a season when circumstances outside of our control led to near financial devastation, where 4 days before Christmas the mortgage on our home was about to enter into default, there seemed no way out of this horrible loss.
A family member had got word of our stresses and had called a family meeting that ended up with one person who could have helped replying that they were worth about $2m which had to last the rest of their life (they were in their early 70’s at the time), and couldn’t afford to lose $5000 to help us out.
We hadn’t gone to them for help, but the meeting or the response didn’t help the stress. Now, on top of the circumstances we also had the family knowing our plight, judging the situation, and verbalizing something we didn’t need to hear.
It was not a good scene in the movie if you were watching it on TV.
Christmas brings social and family pressures regardless of whether they are financial or not. If the enemy has plans to ‘steal, kill, and destroy’ lives, relationships, hopes and dreams the Christmas season is the time to ramp up pressure…
In our family, this particular Christmas, that’s exactly what was happening!
But God…
That little bit of knowledge about the spiritual impact of life, gave flicker to a teeny bit of strength, and clarity of mind to at least tally the numbers in the bank accounts despite the mental calculations that were sure there wasn’t enough…
The physical and mental strength required to open the computer to look at the accounts; to record the numbers, and do the simple math was nothing short of supernatural given the perceived consequences and lifestyle losses that seemed to be imminent from what we could see…
But God…
$9 here. $35 there. A few hundred there… When all the pieces were added together including little bits available on credit, the mortgage payment amount was subtracted… with $3.79 left over!
Whew…Relief… Peace… Calm…
At least for the moment…
We had a child with Christmas expectations based on our lifestyle and family traditions.
A different kind of anxiety arose, but the relief knowing the mortgage payment was covered, and that we had time to figure out the next month’s bills, gave rise to joy, and a knock on the door…
A gift card for $500.
Another knock and some gifts for our daughter.
Friends and family seemed to come ‘out of the woodwork’ to bring abundance into our life.
That night we watched a documentary on the Star of Bethlehem that is an annual tradition in our home after our first viewing had us picking our jaws off the floor to marvel at the evidence of God (Yahweh) hidden in in the stars in plain sight – His almighty, all powerful, all knowing love available for all of us to see anytime we open our eyes to look – any time we choose to let go of what we think, and instead to seek with our whole heart the peace that surpasses all understanding…
The Star took on new meaning that night, and remains a constant reminder that Yahweh’s timing is always perfect, and that He knows who we are and what we need, when we need it –
We bought groceries and personal items, then individually wrapped each and every tiny item.
The stockings and the tree overflowed with cereal, toothpaste, shampoo, fruit, and basic household items.
On Christmas morning we enjoyed a wonderful time together as a family taking turns opening gifts and enjoying sitting by the fire in our warm, comfortable home. Gratitude didn’t seem to be a big enough word for the abundance of peace, love, and joy we experienced that Christmas day!
A couple days later I put on some warm clothes, took my bible and notebook, a blanket, and went to sit on my special rock overlooking the ocean where we lived in Victoria, BC. I was well aware that the stress and anxiety had almost caused us to miss the abundance that was all around us.
I sat there in the cold, on a bright sunny day, not even sure how to pray, but aware that Yahweh – the God of heaven and earth, the God of everything good, who calls each of us by name, and has good plans for each of His children, had made a way when I was sure there wasn’t.
It was here, that He again, gently wrapped me in that tangible peace, and spoke an idea so simple and profound into my mind; an idea that began with a small $10 seed, that could multiply into more than enough to meet any situation…An idea that produced more than enough to meet our family’s needs going forward, and that produced incredible abundance in other’s lives as well!
Even if we hadn’t made the mortgage payment that year, I am convinced now, that His Spirit within us would have empowered a creative solution or provided the strength and peace to move through the situation. We would have called the bank and given what we had, or let the finances be what they were, knowing that we still weren’t going to be out in the cold on Christmas day…
And so it is… that regardless of the circumstances, and regardless of what the numbers may seem to be showing, from our family to yours, we say… rise up – God is always and all ways more than enough – even when we don’t think we see a way…
He is Yahweh – He has a way, and He promises goodness, grace and abundance far above any dark spiritual entity that might seem to be succeeding in stealing His goodness. When we stop trying to figure it out on our own and trust Him regardless of the circumstances and outcome, He shows up and He provides exactly what we need in the quiet abundance of His peace!
Here’s a couple videos where I’ve shared this story in the past:
$3.79 Christmas: https://youtu.be/d_vO87-YiDY
Faith for Finances Christmas Gifts: https://youtu.be/BbZSzyzRAZA
Mana, Mammon, and Christmas: https://youtu.be/ZDXjWqdlSn4
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