Fresh Mannaby Pastor Tim BurtDale and Patty were a young couple in their early 30s with a passion for God and life! Their days were busy with four very young children. They deeply loved the Lord and were fully committed to raising their children with a strong faith in God and His Word.Patty had previously worked full-time, but after their first child was born, she strongly desired to be a full-time mother. Dale wholeheartedly supported her decision. He believed deeply in the importance of a stable home. He was confident that Patty would be an exceptional mother who could provide love and care and contribute to the children's spiritual upbringing and well-being. They both wanted their children to thrive in a home where they would learn God's word and grow in His ways.However, this choice came with challenges. Dale's income was modest, and because they lost her income, they were on a very tight budget and struggling to make ends meet. But, determined and resourceful, Patty became an expert at stretching their finances. She mastered the art of coupon clipping and smart shopping, becoming known among friends and family for her ability to save money and find deals. Despite the financial constraints, Dale and Patty managed to create a joyful and loving environment for their children, focusing on what mattered most to them—faith, family, and love.One Saturday morning, Dale was looking for Patty but couldn’t find her anywhere in the house. He saw the kids huddled around the TV, watching their favorite show, Gospel Bill.“Have any of you kids seen your mother?” Dale asked.“She’s in the backyard, sitting on the picnic table reading her Bible, Dad,” their daughter answered.Dale peered out the window into the backyard and saw Patty sitting alone at the picnic table, her Bible open in front of her. As he walked outside and over to her, he noticed her head was bowed and her hands covered her face. She was crying.“Honey, what’s wrong?” Dale asked gently, sitting down beside her.Patty looked up, her eyes red from tears, and wiped her cheeks. “Dale, you know I do everything I can to save us money and make it stretch as far as possible, but we’re just not making enough. I was meditating on Psalm 37:25 this morning: ‘I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread.’ I’ve been crying out to God because we are literally out of money. I have nothing left for groceries this week and don’t know what to do. I’ve just been praying and trusting God because He is always faithful to His promises. But I’m scared, Dale. We’ve never been in this position before.”Dale reached over and took her hand, squeezing it gently. “Let’s pray together,” he said. As they bowed their heads, Dale began to pray, thanking God for His faithfulness and reminding Him of His promise to provide for them. He asked God to show them His provision in this moment of need and to give them peace in their hearts.As they finished praying and lifted their heads, they noticed a woman walking into their backyard. It was Jolene, a dear friend from church. Patty and Dale stood up, surprised but happy to see her. They greeted her with a big hug.“I’m so sorry to interrupt you,” Jolene said, slightly hesitant. “I was at home this morning, and as I was praying, I felt God telling me to bring you $100 for groceries. It was so clear in my heart that I asked my husband, and he agreed it was the right thing to do. So, I came right over.”Tears welled up in Patty’s eyes again. She hadn't told anyone about their situation. She looked at Dale, her voice trembling. “We just finished praying to God for help because we didn’t have any money for groceries. We were reading about God’s promise in the Psalms, and now you are being used by God to fulfill it. Thank you, Jolene. You have no idea how much this means to us.”All three of them hugged tightly, overwhelmed by the goodness of God. They prayed together, thanking God for His faithfulness and using Jolene and her husband Dan as an instrument of His love and provision.Later that day, Patty turned to Dale with renewed determination in her voice. “We will never panic again, Dale. God is faithful and true, and we will stand firm on the rock of His word and promises every day of our lives. It’s always Satan’s goal to undermine our faith, but Jesus reminds us to build our house upon the rock of His word. When we do, we will stand strong in the storms of life as He leads, guides, and provides for us. And you know what? We will be blessed to be a blessing! Just like Joleen was to us!"Dale nodded, smiling at her, and said, Amen! That's my girl! Glory to God forever!”From that day forward, Dale and Patty determined they would never forget this miracle. They would face challenges with a strengthened faith, trusting in God's promises and knowing He would always provide for their needs.Today they testify that He has provided repeatedly throughout their lives, and they rejoice that they are now the ones who can show up in someone's backyard with a blessing!
