Jehovah Jireh!

According to the Book of Genesis, Jehovah-jireh (or Yahweh-yireh, The Lord will provide), was a place in the land of Moriah. It was the location of the binding of Isaac, where God told Abraham to offer his son Isaac as a burnt offering. Abraham named the place after the Lord provided a ram to sacrifice in place of Isaac. Today I was thinking much about how the Lord provides for all our needs and the fact that His timing is perfect.


These past few days I have been using my afternoons to go apartment hunting. I have seen so many apartments and it has been some what tiring going in and out of places but one of the benefits of doing this is seeing the different styles of apartments and getting an idea of what I would love to have. I have never had to really do this before as I have lived most of my life at home and when I did share a condominium with friends, I was just a tenant. So this experience is something new as I am discovering what 'my style' is.  As I have been thinking through this process, I am realizing how much of a blessing our current Ratanak apartment is. God totally gave us a gift as the apartment is located on one of the safest street that is in the heart of NGO land, near a variety of restaurants (which is good for yours truly who is not inclined to cook),  but also it is in one of the best neighborhoods in Phnom Penh. It is not too far from Norodom Street which happens to be the home of many embassies and diplomatic offices. We have an amazing landlord and security guards who are very helpful. But for me a financial type, it is the price that we are paying on this apartment that amazes me. Most other apartments in this area go for much higher and this had me thinking how amazing God is that He provided for us an apartment that truly is a 'steal' both in terms of price, size and the extra benefits compared to others I have seen. He truly is our Jehovah Jireh. Having said that, I will be living in this apartment until the end of October as my colleagues Beth & Stephen Lauer will be returning at the beginning of November and will be staying in this place. So I am praying and looking to the Lord to provide for me a similar priced apartment in this area. One that will have all this one has and hopefully more! I look forward to seeing my 'new home' and finally planting my roots and decorating it ---this could be an interesting sight since I am creatively challenged! So stay tuned!


Nonetheless, I am encouraged that the Lord knows what we need and when we need it. These past two days, the gas burners on my stove suddenly stopped working. So while I wait for it to be fixed, I am thankful for the microwave to make my scrambled eggs. But today, one of my friend's came over to drop off a beef stew for me. She was not aware that my stove had died. Her timing was perfect as it was close to dinner so I had an instant meal on my hand! Does God know that I am not the domesticated type and that I am not into cooking? I think He absolutely does! So I jokingly said to my friend that I would gladly outsource my cooking to her and pay her a catering fee! All this to say, these experiences serve to remind me of the verses in Matthew 6:25-27, 33 --- ²⁵ “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? ²⁶Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 


Indeed each day I continue to be thankful to the Lord for the many ways He shows Himself as my Jehovah Jireh. Truly He is providing in unexpected ways showing Himself in the intimate details of my daily life here. My role is simply to keep seeking His face and seeking His purposes and to rest in His promises that He will provide all I need. He truly has me covered on all sides! What a friend we have in Jesus!