"Have the Ravens Come?"

2 weekends ago, Jason was able to go to a conference titled "Generation Reformation". It was a round table discussion of 20 people at a time, discussing the church body and where the younger generations (20's and 30 somethings) see how it's working and what is our part in the church in the state of the country. Many topics were discussed and many contacts were made for Jason. He really felt like he was supposed to be there and it turns out that it fit with the things he has been feeling lately. It was God ordained, let's just put it that way.

While he was there, he was able to see our friends, Travis and Jenna Vaad. They are a couple of faith. While Jason was there, Travis shared with him their financial situation, which was pretty tough. They barely had enough money for any necessities . They were living in South Dakota until they felt this last summer, that they were to move to Nashville, so Jenna could do a Thunder School and Travis would watch the kids. They didn't have money to get there or to do the school. Before they left SD, Travis felt they needed to see his grandma. Before they left her, she wrote them a $1000 check! As the school went on, once again, their finances were depleting. When Jason saw them, Travis told him about a dream he had the night before. There were ravens flying in his dream. He didn't know what that meant until he did his devotions in the morning. He read the story about Elijah and how the ravens brought him his provision. Travis felt the Lord tell him that He was going to provide for them. Not through a job for Travis but that God would solely provide for them. Even though travis had been out trying to find work. That day, Travis went out for something, came back and found a raven sitting on his front step. He went out again later on, and had 5 different people give him money & checks to the total of around $1000!

When Jason got home, he shared this with our Pastor on Thursday at lunch. Roger had shared that on Wednesday he had seen a huge flock of Ravens circling our church. The story Jason told made sense to him now. 1/2 an hour after we left lunch, Pastor Roger called Jason and asked if he was sitting down. When he got back to the church, there was a Christmas card with a check for $20,000 written out to the church! $10,000 was ear marked for a family in Powell, but $10,000 was for the church to use as we needed it! Our church has been low on funds lately and we've had to turn away people that have asked for financial help. So this came as a huge blessing. Roger and Jason both shared this on Sunday morning. What's funny is that Roger learned our church is in the raven flight path from the river to the dump, we are in the middle of it! That brought a chuckle to many.

Jason hasn't had a chance to talk to Travis yet and tell him this story, but Travis did facebook Jason and asked if the Ravens had come yet? After our friends heard about the gift to the church while they were driving and they started looking for Ravens! :)

Our ravens will come all in God's time, even though sometimes it is hard to keep going or have the faith when things are tough.


I took this picture last night and it makes me tear up looking at. Tears because they are the loves of my life, but it is also a picture of how I want to be with the Lord. Safe in His arms. Not to have a worry in the world because He's got everything in control. He gives me what I need and like Katelyn, doesn't worry about if she's going to be fed or changed when she needs to be changed, her Daddy will take care of all of that. We need not worry.

I am so happy that Jason was able to go and be re-energized, refreshed with the Lord and get answers to some of the things he's been struggling with. God showed up and showed off!